Stretch Assignment

My son recently was given an assignment which he termed as a "stretch assignment" and as I spoke to him on the phone, I began to look up the meaning. The definition of a stretch assignment is this: a stretch assignment is a project or task given to employees which is beyond their current knowledge or skills level in order to "stretch" employees developmentally. The stretch assignment challenges employees by placing them into uncomfortable situations in order to learn and grow.

I almost jumped out of my chair as I read this definition, because it gave me a visual of what God is doing with the Church right now. He calls ordinary men and women to do extraordinary exploits. He spreads super on our natural and then places us in uncomfortable situations; we call them trials, to do what we could not do without being anointed to perform a job, or to change from carnal to spiritual. He stretches us past what we think we can do in order to build up our trust level in Him {I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me} that may not be where it need to be. When the enemy strikes us, the Lord uses that very opportunity to develop our warring skills and prayer life. He gives us hinds feet to war effectly instead of boxing with the wind. When I was young in the faith, I cringed at trials, but when I became mature and have tried and tested the Word of God; I soared in times of trouble, because I know that my Deliverer lives. I can say, although I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for the Lord is with me. Hallelujah!!! We know that our names are etched in God's hands and that He calls us by our name. What and who shall we fear?

You may be going through something in this season, but beloved, trust God. This trial shall not overtake you. It will not destroy nor defeat you. The trial may appear to be beyond your scope of understanding, but keep the faith, your skills are being developed and stretched in this place so that you can minister and comfort others in the very near future, after you have become skilled in spiritual warfare. If a difficult relationship is your "stretch assignment" you will learn how to discern the spirit of a man or woman next time. If sickness is your "stretch assignment" you will become skilled in ministering healing, empathy and understanding for those who suffer. What if your issue deals with financial debt? Your stretch assignment is to learn how to correctly spend money and to have a savings. We learn something in every trial if we are wise to understand that our trial may be beyond our current level of understanding, but you will soon grow and mature to the level of the trial. It is in this place that you are able to maneuver through the trial without fear, because you know your God and have learned how to teach others how to avoid the pitfalls.

The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." Luke 10:7

Jesus placed His followers into a stretch assignment and sent them out to do ministry that was beyond their current ability up that point. They were shocked out of their minds and after the assignment they returned to Jesus with joy telling Jesus that the demons had to do what they said. They had witnessed Jesus healing many times before, but He didn't go with them on this assignment. He was stretching them beyond what they could have ever imagined to do and they did mighty exploits in the name of Jesus. He told them after they returned and not before that He had given them authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm them. vs. 19. Beloved, the Lord is doing the same for you. He is stretching you in this season to do greater works and to exercise the authority He has given you. You shall overcome all the power of the enemy as you trust the Spirit of the Living God who dwells in you. Take authority and realize that this "stretch assignment" will be over the minute you realize that you have been given power and authority by God to bind and loose in this season. This has been only a test; it is time to operate in real time. God bless you as you go forth in the name of Jesus.

Cynthia Brooks

The Word Will Never Die

The grass withers and the flowers fail, but the word of the Lord endures forever.
Isaiah 40:8

My youngest daughter bought me a vase of two dozen mixed roses for Mother's Day and I loved the beauty and the fragrance of the flowers.  I was quite surprised and excited to recieved them, but in a week their vibrant color and pretty smell began to fail as they began to wither and die. I thought of ways to save them a little longer, but as nature will have it; they died.   I began to think of the cycle of life whether it's an animal, plant or human...everything in nature dies, but the Word of God.  My flowers withered, but God's word will remain forever.

People think they can rewrite the Bible to make it say what they want it to say, but that means nothing.  God's word will remain forever.  Anybody can change words, but only God can bring life and power to the Word.  Change the words and meaning if you wish, but it becomes of no effect, because  the Word of God is active and living; it is powerful and true.  The Holy Spirit upholds the integrity of the Word, for He inspired holy men to write it.

From papyrus to cell phones, God's word has remained intact and living.  Logos to Rhema, the written word becomes spirit to feed our spirit and soul. The Word of God is spiritual and provides whatever we need, when we need it.  When life is unsure; it provides the answer.  When in grief or sorrow, it comforts.  When angry or frustrated, it calms the soul.  When in sin, it leads to repentance and when fear strikes, it provides peace.  When we are lonely or feel unloved it reveals the love of God towards us and reassures us that we are not alone.  What other book does that?  No other book can take the natural and make it spiritual.  Living things will die, but the Word of the Lord endures forever.

How Big Is Your God

Great is our Lord and abundant in power; His understanding is beyond measure.
Psalms 147:5

When the goliath trial come into our lives, we often withdraw in disbelief or dispair.  Why me or God, why did you let this happen, are the questions we ask ourselves.  We never think how we are getting ready to go through another opportunity to become spiritually stronger or wiser. We ask, "why me, God?"  The answer is, why not you? 

We hear people say that they are strong or they know that God will take care of whatever trial has come into their lives, but they may never tell you the rest of the story of how God has delivered them again and again so they trust Him. We love to speak of being delivered from a trial, but I never hear anyone say that If God chooses not to deliver them, there's no worries because they trust God.  These people know and trust God, because He has been a part of their lives.  This is what the three Hebrew youths knew when refusing to bow down to Nebuchanezzar's idol, that God could  deliver them, but even if He didnt, they would still serve Him.  This wasn't cheap talk because, they entered the fiery furnace to what should have been their untimely death, but The Word stepped in with them.

The Living Word, the one who became Jesus stepped into their circumstance and delivered them from fear and death and did it so well that they didn't even smell of smoke.  They didn't look like what they had gone through. How often is our first defense the Word?  They didn't see the Lord when they stepped into the furnace; He showed up after the trial got hot.  Glory!  When it gets hot, hard, difficult or look as if all is lost, take the Word and use it like a sharp sword and cut your fear or feelings of hopelessness.

What I love about the times we live in today is that we have the written word, the Holy Spirit and ministering spirits to intervene on our behalf.  If we have an intimate relationship with God, we know that He can deliver, but if He chooses not to on this side, it's alright because we will see Him. 

God works in impossible situations to bring about victorious outcomes.  We don't have to fear the size of the trial when we know the size of our God.  Gideon won the battle with only 300 men against a mighty army of 120,000 Midianites and David won the stand off with the fully armed and dressed for battle giant Goliath, with one stone.  What's in your hand people of God, do you understand what you're working with?  The sword of the Spirit.. your Bible.  Get to know it if you want to war effectively.  How big is your trial, problem, challenge or issue?  They are only as big as you make them, because your God is bigger. 

Artist of photo is unknown.

The Road to Maturity

Let patience finish it's work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  James 1:4

We all hate to suffer and go through trouble and difficult times in this life, but Jesus prepared us for these times by telling us that He would send us the Comforter.  Trials and hard places and times in life are necessary to mature us on our spiritual journey if we stay focused on Jesus, who is the author and finisher of our faith.  Troubles and hard times put spiritual muscles on our faith if we understand that's it's a teaching experience.

We learn something from every trial, but the greatest principle we should learn is that God goes through the trial with us. If God said it to you, He will perform it.  Stay focused and faithful to Him because He is faithful to His promises concerning you.  

Jesus is the author of our faith, which means that He writes the story of our lives in the beginning, as an author writes a book.  The author pens how the story will end, no matter what has to transpire within the pages of the book.  So it is with God.  He direct our lives from the beginning and He perfects us in the process through trials which causes us to attain the victory in the end.  He matures us in the hard times.  

We often think that we are self made people until trouble hit our lives that we can't control.  God admonishes us to look to Him in these hard times for strength that will eventually lead to understanding.  At this point the book of our life is almost finished as we realize that we couldn't have done it without Him.   We begin to say to ourselves that if it hadn't been for the Lord who was on my side, where would I be.  We proclaim to others, how I got over;  the Lord brought me from a mighty long way.  He kept me time, time and time again.  We speak these words from the depths of our soul.  He is the author who allows the trouble, because He has finished the outcome.  I can shout on that one!   He is the author and finisher of our faith.

Lazarus had troubles that caused his death and he was a friend of Jesus, but the Author wasn't through with him because He had one more move to bring victory over death and the grave.  Jesus wrote the last chapter about Lazarus trouble by raising His voice and shouted, "Lazarus, come forth."  The author who was also the finisher, brought a dead man out of his grave; just as He will bring you out of yours.  Your situation may seem grave, but remember, God is bringing the best He has for you forth.  He's calling you to COME FORTH.

Let those dead situations stay dead and you come forth in maturity to finish the book of your life.  Keep your eyes focused on Jesus and His Word to do a complete and beautiful story of courage, faith, strength and perseverance in you.  Here's the best news ever; that Jesus will finish the good work that He started in you and say, "well done, my good and faithful servant."   Hallelujah!  Be exceedingly blessed.

Seeking Truth

But if you bite and devour one another beware lest you be consumed by one another. Galatians 5:15

Everyone has an opinion on any given subject.  Whether their opinion is based on truth or not, they will state their opinion.  The sad thing is when a person's opinion is based on theory, gossip or plain lies.  I believe; I think, I heard this or that, are the arguments of many who demand to be heard whether their statements are right or wrong.

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord.  Psalms 1:1-2

Taking advice or even believing the words of an ungodly person is tantamount to repeating the opinion of a fool.  Where is he getting his information?  It amazes me when a young person seek advice from another young, immature person about serious issues.  People can give advice that sounds great, but if you follow that advice you will be sorry.  The friend may sound deep, but have they lived long enough to experience life or can they hear from God?   We should seek counsel from those who delight themselves in the Lord and are lead and directed by Him. 

When we learn to meditate on God's word the Holy Spirit bring that word back up to us when needed.  That is wisdom at its best; being led by God.  God's Word or discernment from the Holy Spirit, is where true knowledge is obtained and if heeded, yields life.

Stop taking advice from stupid or evil people. Being street smart is no match for true spiritual discernment. Take you advice or counsel from godly people who sit with Christ in Heavenly places.

We are witnessing some tragic nonsense in the Church today as people practice assumptions and witchcraft against fellow members and call it prophetic; it is pathetic. I have known God for many years and He doesn't spend all His time revealing other people's issues to us; He reveals our issues to us. The Holy Spirit reveals the heart of the Father to His servants. Got a word for somebody, check and see if it was for YOU first. It baffles me when people say that they "feel" negativity when they enter a church or come around certain "church" people, but don't experience that same spirit when they enter the Mall, grocery store, hospital or any other source where people gather. If you feel it whenever you go around good people (I didn't say, "perfect people) you may be the culprit. We are told to enter in His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise and if this is done, we will be atmosphere changers. It doesn't matter how anyone else feels or is doing, we are suppose to change the atmosphere and usher in the presence of God. The spirit of heaviness that they think is coming from some other source is most likely coming from within. You get my drift.

I had to giggle when I began to think about Jesus followers when they were still students under Him. They didn't want Him to deal with the children and He had to tell them to not stop the children from coming to Him. Then there was the issue with the woman who anointed him as they stood by and criticized Him that he didn't know what kind of woman was touching Him. When the woman with the issue of blood touched Him, they seem aggravated because He felt virtue go out from Him to heal her and they tried to pass it off. I realized that they probably thought Jesus was kinda "out there" and didn't know much about people's behavior. Jesus didn't deal with people according to His feelings; he moved on people according to His immense love. The woman with the alabaster box was criticized by Judas for wasting precious oil on Jesus and we know that he was the person with the spiritual problem. Assumption, criticizing and sensing something about a person is NOT the prophetic. You are hearing from another source and not from God. He judges and tells us not to. Our job as Believers are to love and pray for one another. Prayer changes situations and people and we are changed in the process to love those who may have been difficult to love. Think about this; when we are loving people, that's when we are most like God. Perfect love cast off fear, so ask yourself, are you fearful of someone...what's bothering you about a person. Yes, there are aggravating people out here but, we have the Holy Spirit, the Helper to get us through situations with people.

I have always loved the Church and I will continue to love the people of God. We are exhorted to love one another as He has loved us. Yes, we can be fruit inspectors if we wish; looking for the evidence of the fruit of the Spirit in people, because that's the only sign that reveals that a person belongs to God. Remove the log from your own eye and then you can speak on the splinter in the eyes of others. I am sick of negative church folks who refuse to submit to God and to others in love. Week after week they will attend a church just to complain about what this one or that one did or looked like. What about you? Really, what about you? What do people see when they see you? You may think you're a super fantastic person, but someone else may think you're a donkey's hind side. If we are focusing on God and loving His people, we will see few issues with people. Now I am not speaking of those with real problems, because we know the wheat and tares are to grow up together, but I am speaking of those who nit pick every week about somebody's issues. Breaking news...there are NO perfect people. You won't find them anywhere, but there are born again people who struggle in this life against the powers of darkness and those who oppose the things of God.

People of God, please stop persecuting and slandering one another, because you are assisting Hell and become Hell's agent against your brethren. I remember when there was much fear regarding the KKK with Black people in the south, but the truth is Black on Black murders have killed more of our sons and daughters than the KKK ever could. It is the same with the Church, stop persecuting one another. We may be able to do a better job in demolishing spirits than Satan ever could; God forbid. You may think it's a small thing, but it is not. It's devastating to the person unless they are mature enough to recognize that a foolish person is speaking against them. Let's love for real; practicing acts of kindness and goodness toward one another. That person you slander may be the very one who will save your life one day.

What Does Love Look Like?

I can sense the heaviness in the heart of Jesus for His beloved Church as the flames of her love dims to smoldering embers.  Where is the love?  Oh we think we are vessels of love, but we have allowed our love to fizzle.  We can preach and teach the walls down and  bring people to tears, but our inner fire is going out.  We have become judmental, critical and unforgiving of others because we can "see" rght through them we  profess,  but are we discerning or assuming?  Are we judging ourselves by the same  standards?   I can assure you we are not.  We have become  rebellious to the word of Jesus command to "love one another as I have loved you."

Jesus Christ knew that we would have difficult people within our fellowships and mandated us to love them anyway, especially those of the household of faith.  No way am I going to love this person or that person, you say, because they did this or that, all the while not realizing there is a spiriual plumbline  hanging next to us.  Yes there's grace, but, we must apply grace and forgiveness to others.

I had a vision of a plumbline, measuring stick and a balance scale over a opened Bible concerning the Body of Christ.  Our lives are being measured by the Word of God.  We can all point to sin, but are we  examining our lives regarding rebellion against authority or have we become proud and think  that we know better than others?  Korah continued to judge Moses and thought he was right until God judged him to his utter destruction.    Rebellion and  stubborness lies in the heart of many leaders who think they know better than the one God anointed and trust me, that is very dangerous territory to walk in.  Our nation blatantly disrespects auhority and now it has seeped into the Church.  We've never read where Jesus disputed the character of  Ceasar.  He respected Ceasars position.
Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and srubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.... 1 Samuel 15:23

There are others who have a strong dislike for those  who they "fellowship" with every week.  What's wrong with this picture?  We are commanded to  l o v e  one another.  Our love isnt or shouldn't be based on feelings,  but commandment.  Love one another as I have loved you, is Jesus command.  Can we hear the Lord?  Are we so puffed up with flesh and self pride that we can't smell rotting  flesh?  Disobedient flesh has a stench which is perfume to demons.  This is the reason so many are tormented; not realizing the many  demons that are being drawn to them by the  foul smell of hatred, anger, envy and pride.    Demons are drawn to disobedience as flies are drawn to feces; excrement stinks!  This same rebellious stench causes the Lord to retreat and He tells you to daw near to Him and He will draw near to you...resist Satan and he shall flee.  His nasty negativity and judgemental attitude toward God's delegated authority and others in your life along with pride will flee from you.  It's just that easy, but we must be honest with ourselves and our feelings that prevent us from walking in joy and pure love.

Love isn't optional; it's commanded.  Love is patient and is kind.  Love is not envy or boast; it is not arrogant. 1 Cor 13:4
There are many wonderful gifts and talents  within our fellowships to bless others and to bring God glory, but we are not impressing God with our works without love.  We impress Him first in our love walk, then our good works.  Love boost our faith walk.  We are like wandering waves going nowhere without  godly love.  Jesus is coming back for a Church without spot or wrinkle;  to a mature Church oozing with the fragrance of love, for God is love.  It blesses the heart of God when we love one another, not cheap talk or fake words, but genuine godly love for all.   God is love and He requires that we look lie Him...LOVE.

2016 Baal Returns

Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves and do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it.  I am the Lord your God 

Leviticus 26:1

Plans are being made to erect the ancient Temple of Baal on our shores in Times Square in New York City as well as one in London and eventually other countries.  Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would see anything this insane happen in the Western world.  Have we vacated good sense?  We have witnessed the removal of the Ten Commandments in cities and Baphomet erected in two American cities. 

As our nation continues to snub our noses at God, we don't seem to be aware of the crime spree throughout our nation.  We are calling right wrong and wrong right to our demise.  We are on a downward spiral to total depravity in our cities and homes.  People are doing the unspeakable as they are being led by their dark thinking and spiritual emptiness.  As many people struggle to make sense of all the madness, many are running to psychics, mediums, sorcerers, witches and warlocks for answers and some of these folks have come into the Church parading themselves as prophets and prophetess."   They parade around the sanctuaries predicting (not prophesying) things that have nothing to do with the heart of God.  They are prophets that God said He has not called. Of course, God has prophets and Prophetess, but they are not consumed with fame or money.

The people have forgotten and rejected God and sought after other god's who can't deliver them from evil.  They think that they are experiencing freedom by doing their own thing and embracing evil, but there is no freedom in seeking after other god's and little do these people realize that they are dealing with fallen angels and principalities.  They are coming into agreement with the powers of darkness as the true God withdraws His presence from them.  The nation's are being seduced by the very god's they have chosen to play with to their own destruction.  Murder, sexual perversion, thefts, slander, anger, depression, and despair have become the "new normal."

When these edifices of Baal, even if it's only an arch are erected, you can be sure of one thing and that is; all hell will break loose on the shores of this nation as we invite the principality, Baal.  This principality will take his place in Times Square as silly people dance and bow to it.  You don't  think that can happen in 2016?  Keep living and you will see.    Now I know some will think it's just a replica of the ancient temple that was destroyed in the Middle East, but they will soon see that it will be the portal to the darkside.

Awake sleeping Church and get on your post and pray.  Every evil is being done in front of many in the church and they see nothing wrong.  Can a prophet go to Capitol Hill with a gun to force a law to raise the minimum wage? Is this the work of a prophet?  In my opinion the answer is "no."  We, the Church are to be about our Father's business to rise and shine in His glory and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ...that's the message.  Wake up, Church. You have been birthed for such a time as this, to bring light to the darkness.  Get on your posts because time is short.