puricare chronicles: Miracles

Showing posts with label Miracles. Show all posts

Thursday, April 15, 2021

WHAT'S IN YOUR HOUSE? - When you are in "trouble," seek Godly wisdom to gain a new perspective. Use what you have to get what you need. Sow where you want to go. Don't be tempted to hold on to something because you can't see where the next supply will come from. God's math is different and He will multiply your seed if you trust Him. This poor widow woman became a distribution channel for the Kingdom of God with just one small jar of oil. She did not depend on just her own supply. Even in the midst of her own problems, she was a solution. God gave her SUPERNATURAL ABUNDANCE, RESOURCES, AND PROVISION because she obeyed His Word. In this widow's indebted state, God made her an entrepreneur. She used what she had, despite how weak/scared she felt, and the Lord turned her biggest misery into her greatest miracle, and He will do the same for you. Be encouraged today. In your place of weakness, you will find your greatest strength - God. - This widow came to the Prophet Elisha fearful because a creditor had threatened to take her two sons as slaves unless she paid the debt that she owed. Elisha asked her, "What do you have in your house?." "Nothing except a small jar of olive oil," she replied. At that point, Elisha told her, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”

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What's in your house?

The story of the Widow's Oil

When you are in "trouble," seek Godly wisdom to gain a new perspective. Use what you have to get what you need. Sow where you want to go. Don't be tempted to hold on to something because you can't see where the next supply will come from. God's math is different and He will multiply your seed if you trust Him.

This poor widow woman became a distribution channel for the Kingdom of God with just one small jar of oil. She did not depend on just her own supply. Even in the midst of her own problems, she was a solution. God gave her SUPERNATURAL ABUNDANCE, RESOURCES, AND PROVISION because she obeyed His Word.

In this widow's indebted state, God made her an entrepreneur. She used what she had, despite how weak/scared she felt, and the Lord turned her biggest misery into her greatest miracle, and He will do the same for you. Be encouraged today. In your place of weakness, you will find your greatest strength - God.

Natasha T. Brown

The other day I was reading 2 Kings 4:1-7.

It's the story of the Widow's Olive Oil.

This widow came to the Prophet Elisha fearful because a creditor had threatened to take her two sons as slaves unless she paid the debt that she owed.

Elisha asked her, "What do you have in your house?" (2 Kings 4:2).

"Nothing except a small jar of olive oil," she replied.

At that point, Elisha told her, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”

Once the jars were filled, Elisha told her to "sell the olive oil and pay your debts and there will be enough money left over to support you and your sons."

She came to Elisha at her wit's end - she was in desperation, and her back was against the wall.

There are so many lessons here, but a few takeaways and my reason for this message is to encourage you with these

SEVEN LESSONS FROM THE WIDOW WITH THE OLIVE OIL

1. When you are in "trouble," seek Godly wisdom to gain a new perspective.

2. Use what you have to get what you need.

3. Sow where you want to go. This widow only had one small jar of olive oil. Yet, she was instructed to POUR IT OUT. Don't be tempted to hold on to something because you can't see where the next supply will come from. God's math is different and He will multiply your seed if you trust Him.

4. This poor widow woman became a distribution channel for the Kingdom of God with just one small jar of oil.

5. She did not depend on just her own supply. She sought her neighbors and friends' resources, and they invested in this new venture. Don't be afraid to ask for help!

6. She was quickly able to sell her product because she was providing something that everyone needed at the time.

7. Even in the midst of her own problems, she was a solution. God gave her SUPERNATURAL ABUNDANCE, RESOURCES, AND PROVISION because she obeyed His Word.

Be encouraged today. In your place of weakness, you will find your greatest strength - God.

”And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Natasha T. Brown

10 Blessings Inspiration, Inc. is a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that empowers trauma survivors, supports domestic violence victims, and serves as a spiritual community to those in search of greater hope. With a guiding scripture of Luke 4:18, 10 Blessings operates with a heart for people and compassion for the mission of Jesus to bring Good News to the poor, proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, and that the oppressed will be set free.

https://www.10blessings.org/news/2018/8/18/whats-in-your-house-m5n9p

THE FOUNDATION FOR MIRACLES - God is no comparison to your earthly father. Your own father may have rejected you, but your heavenly Father accepts and loves you perfectly. The Son of God, who loves you, gave Himself for you as if you were the only person who ever lived. God does not love you for what you do. God does not love you for your service. God loves you because that is what He does; He is a God of love. When you live from the foundation of how much you are loved and accepted, and that God is your loving Father, you will find yourself loving God back with all your heart, soul, and mind. The beginnings of the foundations will be set correctly where miracles will flow because of your identity of Him in you and you in Him. - ”In this is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us.... We love Him because He first loved us.” In the late ‘90s I went to my senior pastor one day and declared to him that I was going to commence a lifetime fast until I saw breakthrough. I was really hoping that he would talk me out of it, but his only words of comfort were to be careful. So now that I had committed to this, I had to carry it through. The first day was easy and the second day I was getting hungry, but by the third day I really thought I was going to die. I came home from work one night and fell on the couch and called my wife and said, “I feel so hungry and so sick that I really feel like I could die.” My wife gave me two options: break the fast and eat, or die, but if I chose the latter option, then to do it quietly. She left the room laughing, and I had to make a decision, as I was miserable. No matter how much we do in works, I have found that it is never enough.

The Foundation for Miracles

God does not love you for what you do. God does not love you for your service. God loves you because that is what He does; He is a God of love.

God is no comparison to your earthly father. Your own father may have rejected you, but your heavenly Father accepts and loves you perfectly. The Son of God, who loves you, gave Himself for you as if you were the only person who ever lived.

When you live from the foundation of how much you are loved and accepted, and that God is your loving Father, you will find yourself loving God back with all your heart, soul, and mind. The beginnings of the foundations will be set correctly where miracles will flow because of your identity of Him in you and you in Him.

Written By Destiny Image

”In this is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us.... We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:10,19).

In the late ‘90s I went to my senior pastor one day and declared to him that I was going to commence a lifetime fast until I saw breakthrough.

I was really hoping that he would talk me out of it, but his only words of comfort were to be careful.

So now that I had committed to this, I had to carry it through.

The first day was easy and the second day I was getting hungry, but by the third day I really thought I was going to die.

I came home from work one night and fell on the couch and called my wife and said, “I feel so hungry and so sick that I really feel like I could die.”

My wife gave me two options: break the fast and eat, or die, but if I chose the latter option, then to do it quietly.

She left the room laughing, and I had to make a decision, as I was miserable.

I chose to break the fast and went to the fridge and ate an entire packet of sausages and a whole loaf of bread.

I really thought I was going to die after that; I felt so much worse.

No matter how much we do in works, I have found that it is never enough.

You read three chapters of the Bible and the enemy comes along and says, “If you had read six chapters, you would have gotten a breakthrough.”

You pray for 60 minutes and that same voice says, “Maybe you should have prayed for two hours and you might have had your breakthrough.”

You fast for 21 days, and that condemning voice of the accuser whispers in your ear, “Maybe a back-to-back, 21-day fast would have gotten you what you need.”

Often we do works-oriented things out of a place of desperation to see God move or to please Him.

We believe that the things that we do will cause God to love us more, and the supernatural will flow.

This mentality leaves us in a position of working for God’s love as opposed to working from God’s love.

I spent many years working hard for His love because of the lack of revelation on just how much He already loved me and liked me.

Many Christians may know that God loves them, but when you question them, they really have no revelation on just how much God also likes them.

Though they know in their heads that God loves them, they may also believe the lie that God just tolerates them.

God likes to hang out with us and to do the things that we like to do.

When we have the revelation of His love, grace, and goodness, then we really begin to understand that He can’t love us any more than He already does.

The apostles Peter and John are two of my favorite people in the Bible. It appears that they were wired totally differently.

Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved (John 13:23).

The Bible calls John in this passage “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” so we could take from that that Jesus loved John the most.

It’s interesting that this phrase only appears in the Gospel of John, of which John is the author.

So what exactly was John doing?

We know without question that Jesus loved all the disciples intensely, but I believe that John had a revelation that maybe the other disciples did not have.

John knew that he was loved. Could it be that John was the disciple who most knew how to practice enjoying the presence of Jesus and His love?

On the night of the Last Supper, Jesus made a statement that must have been hard for the disciples to take.

He told them they would all fail Him and they would all fall away from Him.

I am sure they were all shocked because without question, they all loved Jesus so much.

When Jesus said this, Peter took Jesus aside and essentially agreed with Jesus that the rest of the disciples would probably fail Him, but “not me,” he said to Jesus.

Peter said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be.”

Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.”

But he spoke more vehemently, “If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And they all said likewise (Mark 14:29-31).

The setting in John 13:23 was during the Last Supper.

We see the disciples at the table with the Lord, including the two I have mentioned, Peter and John.

At the table we could say that there were two kinds of Christians represented.

One was represented by Peter, whose name means “stone” or “rock,” and if we break that down further, means “law.”

Peter represents the believers who declare their love for the Lord, just as we all do.

John’s name means “beloved,” “loved one,” or broken down further, means “grace.”

Now John leaning on the breast of Jesus is a picture of depending on the Lord’s love for him; he represents every believer who declares the Lord’s love for them.

We could say that one represents Christians under the law, and the other represents Christians under grace.

But the one who was always declaring how much he loved Jesus, before the night was out, was found denying Him three times, while the one who was dependent on the Lord’s love for him was there to minister to Jesus at the time of His greatest need.

Jesus knew that each of the disciples would fail Him.

But Peter’s dependence on his love for Jesus instead of a solid foundation of Jesus’ love for him actually caused him to fail Jesus in His time of need.

Jesus said that each of them would fail Him. John also failed Jesus that night, but because his foundation of their relationship was first on how much Jesus loved him, even when he failed Him in the garden, he was able to step over the failure to be at the feet of Jesus at the time of His need.

John was the only disciple of the twelve who was at the cross with Jesus. The others were alone, feeling bad, and probably drowning in condemnation.

While Peter was feeling unworthy and drowning in condemnation, John was at the foot of the cross because he clearly understood that his relationship with Jesus was not based on how much he loved Jesus but how much Jesus loved him.In my years of ministry, I have met many people who have asked me, “Chris, I love God so much, yet why do I fail to see the power of God displayed through my life?”

I love to look into their eyes and ask if they know how much they are loved.

Very few look me back in my eyes and tell me how much they are loved. Many look away or look down or divert the subject.

We need a greater revelation of the Father’s love toward us.

I so believe in loving God with all my heart, soul, and mind, but I can’t help but fall in love when I see just how much I am first loved.

My love is the byproduct of knowing how much I am loved.

”In this is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us.... We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:10,19).

God is no comparison to your earthly father.

Your own father may have rejected you, but your heavenly Father accepts and loves you perfectly.

The Son of God, who loves you, gave Himself for you as if you were the only person who ever lived.

God does not love you for what you do. God does not love you for your service.

God loves you because that is what He does; He is a God of love.

When you live from the foundation of how much you are loved and accepted, and that God is your loving Father, you will find yourself loving God back with all your heart, soul, and mind.

The beginnings of the foundations will be set correctly where miracles will flow because of your identity of Him in you and you in Him.

Destiny Image

If you’re passionate about hearing God’s voice, walking with Jesus, and experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit, then you’ve come to the right place.

Destiny Image is a community of believers with a passion for equipping and encouraging you to live the prophetic, supernatural life you were created for!

We offer a fresh helping of practical articles, dynamic podcasts, and powerful videos from respected, Spirit-empowered, Christian leaders to fuel the holy fire within you.

And best of all… it’s FREE.

https://www.destinyimage.com/2016/08/15/chris-gore-the-foundation-for-miracles/

Tuesday, March 2, 2021

WHAT’S IN YOUR HANDS - It is God’s job to make more of what we have. No longer do we need to try harder to bring more to God, let’s have the faith to believe that He makes something good out of whatever is in our hands. Our skills, our resources, our money and our time is enough. Bring it to Him, without hesitation, without excuses, without embarrassment. And that is just what God wants us to do too with what’s in our hands. Whatever is offered, meager and broken as it may appear, God is able to use it for His good purposes and glory. Offer whatever He has blessed us with just now and watch what God will do. - By using the resources that Jael had a hand, she had the honor of defeating the enemy and bringing glory to God. It takes courage and initiative to use what we have been given to do the work God asks us to do. Sometimes we think we need more. More time, more money, more skills, more resources. But in fact, we need to simply consider what is already in our hands. The little we have to offer is enough. God multiplies our offerings to bring an increase beyond our imagination. One boy brought two small fish and five loaves of bread, yet God gave the increase. One widow brought a meagre offering of flour and oil, yet God gave the increase. Vats of water are turned into wine, empty nets are soon bursting with fish, blind eyes are given sight, ailing bodies are made well. Whatever is offered, meager and broken as it may appear, God is able to use it for His good purposes and glory.

What’s In Your Hands

Whatever is offered, meager and broken as it may appear, God is able to use it for His good purposes and glory. Offer whatever He has blessed us with just now and watch what God will do.

It is God’s job to make more of what we have. No longer do we need to try harder to bring more to God, let’s have the faith to believe that He makes something good out of whatever is in our hands. Our skills, our resources, our money and our time is enough. Bring it to Him, without hesitation, without excuses, without embarrassment. And that is just what God wants us to do too with what’s in our hands.

listenandprosper.com

‘But Jael, Heber’s wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died.’ - Judges 4:21 (NIV).

Because women of this time were in charge of pitching

the tents, Jael had no problem driving a tent peg into Sisera’s head while he slept.

By using the resources that Jael had a hand, she had the honor of defeating the enemy and bringing glory to God.

It takes courage and initiative to use what we have been given to do the work God asks us to do.

Sometimes we think we need more. More time, more money, more skills, more resources.

But in fact, we need to simply consider what is already in our hands.

The little we have to offer is enough.

God multiplies our offerings to bring an increase beyond our imagination.

One boy brought two small fish and five loaves of bread, yet God gave the increase.

One widow brought a meagre offering of flour and oil, yet God gave the increase.

Vats of water are turned into wine, empty nets are soon bursting with fish, blind eyes are given sight, ailing bodies are made well.

Whatever is offered, meager and broken as it may appear, God is able to use it for His good purposes and glory.

Prayer:

‘Heavenly Father, thank you for the gifts you’ve given me to use for the blessing of others and to glorify you.

Help me to give what is in my hands with faith, in humility and with deep love and gratitude to you.’

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

AMEN!

Final Thoughts:

It is God’s job to make more of what we have.

No longer do we need to try harder to bring more to God, let’s have the faith to believe that He makes something good out of whatever is in our hands.

Our skills, our resources, our money and our time is enough.

Offer whatever He has blessed us with just now and watch what God will do.

Bring it to Him, without hesitation, without excuses, without embarrassment.

The poor widow with one mite gave all that she had and Jesus was pleased with her small offering.

She did not think, ‘this isn’t enough, it won’t do.’

She gave in faith, in humility and in love.

And that is just what God wants us to do too with what’s in our hands.

Be Greatly Blessed!

https://listenandprosper.com/whats-in-your-hands/

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We Are An Offering

Dwight Liles

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https://puricarechronicles.blogspot.com/2018/05/we-are-offering-dwight-liles-we-lift.html

Friday, February 19, 2021

ELIJAH AND THE MIRACLE OF FIRE FROM HEAVEN - In Exodus God lit up a bush and lead people like an ever-moving campfire by night. He threw down some heat and lit up some barbeque for Elijah to demonstrate His power. God showed himself to be the one true God. When things need to get awakened, God will sometimes light a fire under our butt to get us moving. When the people all gathered on Mount Carmel, Elijah asked them to commit, to choose which God they would serve. At Elijah’s cry, God rained fire from heaven upon the altar, and the flames not only consumed the sacrifice, but the wood, the altar and the dust around it. After seeing this amazing display, the people fell on their knees and proclaimed, “The Lord, he is God! The Lord, he is God!” And as revival broke out in the land, the dams of heaven broke, too. Much needed rain pattered down on the dusty soil, bringing a new season of fruitfulness to a dead land. Elijah repaired the broken altar and called the people by name, “Your name shall be Israel.” The enemy knows our name, but calls us by our sin; God knows our sin, but calls us by our name. Sometimes a reminder of who we are is stronger than a rebuke of what we are not. Altars symbolize prayer, fellowship with God, dying to self, and trusting the will of God. The fact that the altar was in shambles was a powerful symbol of just how far the people were from God. In life there will be moments where we will be faced to choose our way or God’s way.

Elijah and the Miracle of Fire from Heaven

In life there will be moments where we will be faced to choose our way or God’s way.

In Exodus God lit up a bush and lead people like an ever-moving campfire by night. He threw down some heat and lit up some barbeque for Elijah to demonstrate His power. As Elijah promised, God showed himself to be the one true God. When things need to get awakened, God will sometimes light a fire under our butt to get us moving. When the people all gathered on Mount Carmel, Elijah asked them to commit, to choose which God they would serve.

At Elijah’s cry, God rained fire from heaven upon the altar, and the flames not only consumed the sacrifice, but the wood, the altar and the dust around it. After seeing this amazing display, the people fell on their knees and proclaimed, “The Lord, he is God! The Lord, he is God!” And as revival broke out in the land, the dams of heaven broke, too. Much needed rain pattered down on the dusty soil, bringing a new season of fruitfulness to a dead land.

In the moment of waiting for the miracle, Elijah repaired the broken altar and called the people by name, “Your name shall be Israel.” The enemy knows our name, but calls us by our sin; God knows our sin, but calls us by our name. Sometimes a reminder of who we are is stronger than a rebuke of what we are not. Altars symbolize prayer, fellowship with God, dying to self, and trusting the will of God. The fact that the altar was in shambles was a powerful symbol of just how far the people were from God.

Bianca Juárez Olthoff

PropelWomen.org, A21.org

If God had a resume, I’m pretty sure it would include “trained in the use of a flamethrower.”

In Exodus He’s lit up a bush and lead people like an ever-moving campfire by night.

And in 1 Kings He threw down some heat and lit up some barbeque for Elijah to demonstrate His power.

As Elijah promised, he showed himself to be the one true God.

In the words of my mother, when things need to get awakened, God will sometimes light a fire under our butt to get us moving.

After three years of drought and barren lands, God told Elijah to meet King Ahab.

If he confronted the king, God said he would bring rain to the land.

One small detail: AHAB HATED ELIJAH.

One big detail: JEZEBEL HATED ELIJAH MORE THAN AHAB.

God’s command could have very well been the death of Elijah, but Elijah boldly called out to King Ahab, challenged him to gather all the Israelites and the false prophets to meet at Mount Carmel.

Picture the scene. All the Israelites had come from near and far, all the prophets rolled up, and King Ahab spoke to Elijah.

There was a battle of words. Some smack talking was exchanged.

Ahab called Elijah a troublemaker. Elijah shot back a retort and even included Ahab’s daddy and family as the one to cause trouble for the nation.

You know it gets serious when you start talking about family!

Elijah told the king God had brought the drought because the people had turned from the one true God and worshipped Baal.

And he didn’t stop there. The 850 prophets who ate at the royal table, who’d condoned Ahab’s sin, were called out too.

This scene may not mean anything to you, but being raised in the ‘hood provides context for what went down in my mind.

The king steps to Elijah, but Elijah doesn’t back down and calls out King Ahab to back up the smack he’s been talking.

Elijah just lays it down. This is the battle to trump all battles.

Neither the Capulets versus Montagues, the Jets versus Sharks, nor Hatfields versus McCoys could rival the drama that was about to see go down.

When the people all gathered on Mount Carmel, Elijah asked them to commit, to choose which God they would serve.

Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal, asked them to place a bull on the altar and pray for Baal set fire to the bull.

The prophets did as they were told, then wailed and cried out, but nothing happened. They shouted and cut themselves to gain the attention and favor of Baal, but no fire fell.

Elijah, tired of waiting, began to taunt and make fun of the prophets. “Maybe you should pray louder,” he said. (1 Kings 18:27)

The insults grew increasingly heated, and, as some theologians describe, Elijah asked if Baal hadn’t answered because he was busy in the bathroom. OH NO, HE DIDN’T!

Yes, he did.

There was no barbecue for Team Baal. No fire or spark sent down and now it was time for God to move.

This was the ultimate Hunger Games scenario, and the odds were not in his favor. Consider what Elijah was up against:

o The king and queen who despised Elijah and wanted him dead

o 850 prophets of Baal

o Slim chances of survival if God didn’t show up in fire

o And all of this without proof that God had ever acted as Elijah was asking.

Undeterred, Elijah trusted God, and when it was his turn to call for fire, he upped the ante.

Elijah rebuilt God’s altar, dug a trench around it, and prepared a bull to lay across the altar.

Then, he drenched everything in water four times over. Why the water? Simple.

If the sacrifice lit, no one could claim happenstance or coincidence. It would show that an all-powerful God had done what no other god could do.

And then, in his grand moment with the prophets of Baal pitted against the one man of God, Elijah cried out to God on behalf of the people of Israel.

God was the answer to this desert showdown, and only by his power would the people see his greatness.

And His greatness, they saw. At Elijah’s cry, God rained fire from heaven upon the altar, and the flames not only consumed the sacrifice, but the wood, the altar and the dust around it.

After seeing this amazing display, the people fell on their knees and proclaimed, “The Lord, he is God! The Lord, he is God!” (1 Kings 18:39)

And as revival broke out in the land, the dams of heaven broke, too.

Much needed rain pattered down on the dusty soil, bringing a new season of fruitfulness to a dead land.

In the moment of waiting for the miracle, Elijah repaired the broken altar and called the people by name, “Your name shall be Israel.”

I don’t want to glaze over this without recognizing what is needed for revival.

First, the enemy knows our name, but calls us by our sin; God knows our sin, but calls us by our name.

Sometimes a reminder of who we are is stronger than a rebuke of what we are not.

Secondly, altars symbolize prayer, fellowship with God, dying to self, and trusting the will of God.

The fact that the altar was in shambles was a powerful symbol of just how far the people were from God.

In life there will be moments where we will be faced to choose our way or God’s way.

Will we fight for control, dance at the altar of our own Baals, or will we cry out and surrender to deliverance?

Will we put our works on the altar and let them be consumed by fire. How will we respond?

Bianca Juárez Olthoff is a writer and teacher passionate about life change through the power of the gospel. She spends her week as Creative Director for Propel Women (PropelWomen.org) and Chief Storyteller for The A21 Campaign (A21.org), an anti-human trafficking organization, and shares about true freedom for those who are in bondage. Bianca lives with her husband, Matt, two children, and their cute dachshund in Southern California.

https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/elijah-and-the-miracle-of-fire-from-heaven.html

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