FIX YOUR GAZE... - Fix your eyes on Jesus, the Author and the Finisher of your precious faith. Don't look at the wind and the waves. Don't listen to those who strike fear into your soul. Don't even give your rogue thoughts free rein. Dwell in the presence of God. Ponder His promises. Remember His faithfulness. Rehearse the countless ways He's been good to you. He'll keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon Him. We live in a day of distraction, and it's never been more important to guard our hearts and fix our eyes on the One who promised to get us safely home. “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.” ~ Isaiah 26:3-4 (NLT) - May you pay attention to what you're paying attention to. Where your gaze falls, your heart goes. This is great news because you get to choose what you'll behold! So, behold HIM! Magnify the Lord with me! Fix your eyes on Jesus, the Author and the Finisher of your precious faith. Don't look at the wind and the waves. Don't listen to those who strike fear into your soul. Don't even give your rogue thoughts free rein. Dwell in the presence of God. Ponder His promises. Remember His faithfulness. Rehearse the countless ways He's been good to you. He'll keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon Him. We live in a day of distraction, and it's never been more important to guard our hearts and fix our eyes on the One who promised to get us safely home.

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Fix Your Gaze...

Fix your eyes on Jesus, the Author and the Finisher of your precious faith 

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Don't look at the wind and the waves. Don't listen to those who strike fear into your soul. Don't even give your rogue thoughts free rein. Dwell in the presence of God. Ponder His promises. Remember His faithfulness. Rehearse the countless ways He's been good to you. He'll keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon Him. 

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We live in a day of distraction, and it's never been more important to guard our hearts and fix our eyes on the One who promised to get us safely home.

Daily Blessing

Susie Larson

 

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.” ~ Isaiah 26:3-4 (NLT)

 

May you pay attention to what you're paying attention to.

Where your gaze falls, your heart goes.

This is great news because you get to choose what you'll behold!

So, behold HIM!

Magnify the Lord with me!

Fix your eyes on Jesus, the Author and the Finisher of your precious faith.

Don't look at the wind and the waves.

Don't listen to those who strike fear into your soul.

Don't even give your rogue thoughts free rein.

Dwell in the presence of God.

Ponder His promises.

Remember His faithfulness.

Rehearse the countless ways He's been good to you.

He'll keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon Him.

We live in a day of distraction, and it's never been more important to guard our hearts and fix our eyes on the One who promised to get us safely home.

God bless your day.

Susie Larson is a talk radio host, national speaker, and bestselling author. In both 2016 and 2017 Susie was nominated and voted into the top ten groups for the National John Maxwell Leadership Award. Susie has been married to her dear husband Kevin since 1985 and together they have three wonderful sons, three beautiful daughters-in-law, two beautiful grandchildren, and one adorable pit bull named Memphis. Susie’s passion is to see women everywhere awakened to the value of their soul, the depth of God’s love, and the height of their calling in Christ Jesus.

https://www.susielarson.com/daily-blessing/2021/1/31/fix-your-gaze

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RESTORING THE ROAR OF GOD’S SPIRIT WITHIN - God will often whisper a message to you that eventually becomes a public proclamation. We are called to be bold as lions! You and I are called to roar! Regardless of how exhausted and weary we become we must seek the Lord once again. We must once again take our rightful place of authority. And when we do, God will provide what we need for the battle. "The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing." The Lord is saying the restoration of the roar is when His Spirit arises once again from the depths of our bellies, where the roar has been caged under lock and key by low expectations, wounded spirits and lack of hunger. He desires to awaken our prophetic voices once more. See your fear as a ploy of the enemy and allow your faith to overcome it as you increase your trust in God and in His Word. The wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions.

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Restoring the Roar of God’s Spirit Within

Why God Calls Us to 'Restore the Roar' of His Spirit Within

Pat and Karen Schatzline

God is eager to awaken you once again to go deep in Him.

"Deep calls to deep at the noise of your waterfalls; all Your waves and Your billows passed over me. Yet the Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song will be with me, a prayer to the God of my life" (Psalm 42:7-8).

I believe that if we ignore the "deep calls to deep" moments, we will soon believe the shallow end of the pool is deep.

If you want to go deep, take off the floaties and dive in where you cannot stand up on your own. I must warn you, though, that when you try to go deep in God, someone will always try to throw you a rope called settling.

You cannot settle in the depth of God.

I have learned that the longer you are away from the place of encounter with God, the more satisfied you become with being normal according to the world's standards.

In fact, it is much like what happened to the prophet Elijah when he ran into the cave in fear for his life.

God said to him, "Why are you here, Elijah?" (1 Kings 19:9b).

Remember, Jezebel had threatened Elijah after he had killed the prophets of Baal, telling him through one of her servants, "So let the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as one of them by tomorrow about this time" (1 Kings 19:2b).

Elijah ran for his life and was now hiding in a cave. God was not really asking him, "What are you doing here?"

Rather, He was reminding him of his mission.

Leonard Ravenhill once said, "A man who is intimate with God is never intimidated by man."

We must no longer be intimidated by man or accusations or threats.

Early one morning in a hotel room in Pennsylvania, I was awakened by the voice of the Lord.

He said to me, "Pat, where did your roar go? Where is the roar of my lions?"

Startled, I sat up in bed. And immediately began to pray.

The whisper of God had shaken me to the core, bringing to mind one of my favorite verses in the Bible, Matthew 10:27 (NIV): "What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs."

God will often whisper a message to you that eventually becomes a public proclamation. This was one of those times.

The Lord went on to say to me, "My people are perishing for lack of knowledge. They have lost their will to fight. Fear, exhaustion and culture have taken their roar away. They must awaken and realize they must be voices of truth that carry freedom in their hearts and fire in their spirits. Restore the roar! Tell My lions to roar once again!"

I must admit I was perplexed and confused, and I began to weep before the Lord.

In fact, I stood in my hotel room that day, praying and crying out for over an hour with the realization that I too had become quiet.

One of my heroes, Salvation Army general William Booth, said, "We must take the message of 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (MSG) and make it our marching orders: "Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you've got, be resolute and love without stopping’"

Karen and I had just spent a year in fear. The battle had been intense.

Just as a parent awakens a child from sleep to get ready for school or a teacher raps a ruler on your desk to end a daydream, God was saying, "Wake up, Pat! Your mission is not over. Put your armor on once again and enter the fight."

I had been wandering a bit aimlessly since our battle, and God was calling me back to the field.

Many who are reading this right now wear nothing but the helmet of salvation.

The Bible tells us that God has a whole suit of armor for us (see Ephesians 6:19-18.)

He provides all we need for any battle we face. We just have to equip ourselves.

With God's word ringing in my heart, I immediately began to search the Scriptures concerning lions.

Proverbs 28:1 (NLT) says, "The wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions."

Did you hear that? We are called to be bold as lions! You and I are called to roar!

Regardless of how exhausted and weary we become we must seek the Lord once again.

We must once again take our rightful place of authority.

And when we do, God will provide what we need for the battle. "The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing" (Psalm 34:10, NIV).

I believe the Lord is saying the restoration of the roar is when His Spirit arises once again from the depths of our bellies, where the roar has been caged under lock and key by low expectations, wounded spirits and lack of hunger.

He desires to awaken our prophetic voices once more.

Just look at Amos 3:8: "The lion has roared — who will not fear? The Sovereign Lord has spoken — who can but prophesy?"

Prayer Power for the Week

This week, see your fear as a ploy of the enemy and allow your faith to overcome it as you increase your trust in God and in His Word.

Continue to pray for our nation, its allies and our leaders.

Remember those who serve us as first responders, be they in the military, law enforcement, border security, fire and rescue or medical personnel.

Continue to pray for our president and those working with him to lead our country into peace, prosperity and security.

Pray for those who have suffered losses through crime and domestic terrorism.

Pray that the Lord would pour out His Spirit on the land and bring revival that spreads worldwide.

Read: 2 Chronicles 7:14, Amos 3:8, 1 John 4:18.

Adapted from Restore the Roar by Pat and Karen Schatzline, copyright 2019, published by Charisma House. Having lived through a year of battles and great fear, the authors have compiled a handbook that will help you find peace in the storm, be courageous in battle, defeat the lies of the enemy and increase your faith in God. To order your copy, click on this link.

For more on the Schaztlines' message of restoring your roar, listen to the podcast included here.

Patrick and Karen Schatzline founded Remnant Ministries International (RMI) in 1997 after serving as youth pastors at three incredible churches. Pat and Karen launched RMI in order to fulfill the great commission. Since the launch of RMI in 1997, Pat and Karen have become two of America’s leading church speakers, revivalists, youth communicators, and university and conference speakers.
With a schedule that stays full year-round, Pat & Karen have established a reputation for bringing purpose through the power of Christ, and a longing to grow deeper in the presence of God. They minister in churches, schools, universities, stadiums, outreaches, retreats, camps, leadership conferences, men’s & women’s conferences, and marriage retreats. They both travel globally seeing salvations, miracles, and signs & wonders. They have ministered at some of the largest youth conferences in the world. They travel often to Australia, Singapore, New Zealand, Venezuela, and Canada fulfilling the great commission.

https://www.charismamag.com/blogs/power-up/42413-why-god-calls-us-to-restore-the-roar-of-his-spirit-within

LET'S TALK ABOUT WATER - In all the exploration of the solar system and space beyond it, we’ve not found water on any planet. Ours is the only one with water on the surface in abundance – and an atmosphere that is perfectly in balance to maintain water on it. So, before we begin to think that we’ve got wisdom enough to run our own lives – we ought to also consider the water on our planet and God’s orchestration of it by creation and by wisdom in how it works in our world. We consider all that we see with our current lakes, rivers, and oceans a given – and yet to begin to comprehend how God gave us these things is beyond our understanding. We take water for granted, and yet if we stopped and though about it’s rarity in the universe we would be filled with wonder as to its presence and origin. The utter brilliance that formed it and fashioned it is also the same utter brilliance that manages our days according to the will and purpose of God. That, hopefully, is of great comfort to you. It was meant to be.

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 Let's Talk About Water

Job 38:8-11

Calvary Chapel of Jonesboro

"Or who enclosed the sea with doors When, bursting forth, it went out from the womb; When I made a cloud its garment And thick darkness its swaddling band, And I placed boundaries on it And set a bolt and doors, And I said, 'Thus far you shall come, but no farther; And here shall your proud waves stop'?“ Job 38:8-11

We take water for granted, and yet if we stopped and though about it’s rarity in the universe we would be filled with wonder as to its presence and origin. 

So far, in all the exploration of the solar system and space beyond it, we’ve not found water on any planet. 

Ours is the only one with water on the surface in abundance – and an atmosphere that is perfectly in balance to maintain water on it. 

So, before we begin to think that we’ve got wisdom enough to run our own lives – we ought to also consider the water on our planet and God’s orchestration of it by creation and by wisdom in how it works in our world.
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The language used here is not limited to describing water in its current state. 

God speaks of how the sea burst forth through doors and out of the womb in the earliest moments of creation. 

Some creation scientists postulate that there was a different way that water worked in the Eden environment. There was no rain until the time of Noah. 

The water cycle before that time involved a mist that would arise and water everything on the planet. 

This would explain the lust green forests that have been found in the midst of the icy confines of the polar caps. 

The event by which these seas burst forth through their “doors” is the flood. 

Again, creation scientists have a theory that the earth was surrounded by a water vapor canopy that not only allowed for a worldwide tropical climate, but also blocked UV rays to the point where people would not age as they do now. 

The third thing this would provide for is a rain event that would flood the entire earth under enough water so that everything would die except those preserved on the Ark which Noah built at God’s direction.

That flood would have happened at the same time that massive earthquakes (described in Genesis as “all the fountains of the great deep bursting open.”) would have opened up fissures in the earth where massive underwater reservoirs would have let loose their water into the seas, helping the earth flood greatly. 

This cataclysmic event would have radically changed the face of the planet. 

At the end of this event God describes the way that he established boundaries for the water where the water’s proud waves would have to stop. 

We consider all that we see with our current lakes, rivers, and oceans a given – and yet to begin to comprehend how God gave us these things is beyond our understanding. 

Water, and the current water cycle, was set into place. Thus, we’ve had water ever since. 

But as to how it got here – we are clueless. Why our planet alone has it like this is even a greater mystery. 

So, we have an all-powerful God by whose wisdom all that we see was put into place. 

We have an all-wise God who gave it to us according to a sheer genius that is beyond anything we could ever conceive. 

When we go to the beach – the water comes in waves and crashes against the beaches of the planet. 

Why it works this way – and how it came to be this way is attributable to God alone. 

The utter brilliance that formed it and fashioned it is also the same utter brilliance that manages our days according to the will and purpose of God. 

That, hopefully, is of great comfort to you. It was meant to be. 

Remember that the next time you go to the beach.

Welcome to Calvary Chapel of Jonesboro!
We are so glad that you've taken the time to visit our website.  You'll find a lot of things here.  We have our service times, several places where you can read various kinds of articles, as well as ways for you to listen to past teachings and to sign-up for events and ministry taking place in the fellowship.  Take a few moments and browse the site.  We hope you choose to visit the church soon to worship and hear the Word with us.  Thanks again for coming to our site!

https://www.calvarychapeljonesboro.org/articles/lets-talk-about-water-job-388-11

WHEN A SEA OF FEAR IS RAGING ALL AROUND YOU - Fear can take many faces and be the driving force behind good as well as evil. The problem is when fear is the driving force, there is no peace or joy. As children of God, we are created to live out peace and joy. Oftentimes, we are so caught up in the storm of fear that it becomes our norm and we don’t see life as it really is. The Word of God gives us multiple examples showing us the way out of fear. As we familiarize ourselves with the God of the storm -- the God over fear -- He gently leads us out of fear and into faith. When a sea of fear is raging around us, He shows us the way out.

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When a Sea of Fear is Raging All Around

3 Things to Do When a Sea of Fear Is Raging All around You

Misty Honnold

Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer

Fear is a force that seeks to suck us under its waves and draw us to the depths of despair or trap us in a whirlpool of never being enough. 

David certainly identified with fear in Psalm 55:4-5, 7: 

“My heart is in anguish within me, And the terrors of death have fallen upon me. Fear and trembling come upon me, And horror has overwhelmed me... I would hasten to my place of refuge From the stormy wind and tempest."

Fear can take many faces and be the driving force behind good as well as evil. The problem is when fear is the driving force, there is no peace or joy.

As children of God, we are created to live out peace and joy.

Oftentimes, we are so caught up in the storm of fear that it becomes our norm and we don’t see life as it really is.

Fear was once my closest friend. As a young adult, I had the realization that most of what I had accomplished throughout life had been done out of fear.

Over and over, I had bowed to fear as the god of my life.

Even the good that I had accomplished had been done because of fear: fear of rejection, fear of abandonment, fear of not being enough or being too much, fear of judgment, fear of pain... the list goes on and on.

I was caught in a tumultuous sea of fear; it had become my norm and I didn’t know how to escape. 

Fortunately, the Word of God gives us multiple examples showing us the way out of fear.

As we familiarize ourselves with the God of the storm -- the God over fear -- He gently leads us out of fear and into faith.

When a sea of fear is raging around us, He shows us the way out. 

Take refuge in the ark.

“For forty days the flood kept coming on the earth, and as the waters increased they lifted the ark high above the earth. The waters rose and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the water. They rose greatly on the earth, and all the high mountains under the entire heavens were covered.” (Genesis 7:17-19)

Noah’s ark was a vessel of salvation.

Noah and his family had to enter into the ark by the one door and while the storms raged and mankind ceased to be, God kept Noah and his family safe.

There was only one way to enter the ark, and there is only one way to our ultimate safety -- through Jesus Christ.

Like Noah, we can run to our ark, Jesus, when the storms of fear seek to devour us and find safe refuge and all we need.

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe.” (Proverbs 18:10)

Speak to the storm.

“A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?’

“He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?’ They were terrified and asked each other, ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!’” (Mark 4:37-41)

In this passage, Jesus has just come away from a full day of teaching and training. 

Oftentimes after I have spent a day of powerful teaching and equipping, the enemy rages around me telling me things like “you failed, you missed the mark, you didn’t represent Jesus well.”

Fears start to swell up in my mind and overflow into my heart. Like the disciples, I can easily focus on the waves.

However, I have learned the benefit of looking at Christ who was completely at rest. In fact, “He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow.” 

Jesus was resting in the boat while the disciples were trembling in fear.

He rose up at their request and calmed the storm by speaking to the wind and the waves: “Peace, be still.”

He spoke peace and peace came, not only to the wind and the waves, but also to the people in the boat.

When we let the Prince of Peace arise in us and speak to the storm, things calm down. 

“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” (Romans 16:20)

Get out of the boat.

“Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. ‘It’s a ghost,’ they said, and cried out in fear.

“But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’ ‘Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’ ‘Come,’ he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

“But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ he said, ‘why did you doubt?’

“And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’” (Matthew 14:25-33)

Here we have a great picture of the disciples once again cowering in fear.

In this story, the disciples aren’t necessarily fearful of the storm, but in fact are battling against the storm.

Fear rises up when Jesus shows Himself in a way they had never seen before. 

So many times in life we may face a storm, even a familiar storm, but Jesus wants to come and show us a new way to overcome.

Battling against the waves of fear is not doing the trick and Jesus wants us to walk over the waves of fear.

Fear arose when the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water. Maybe they didn’t want to have their paradigm of a “nice, safe Jesus” confronted. 

As disciples, we are called to do what we see our Teacher doing and if He walks on water, we need to develop the courage to do so also.

But the disciples became afraid and cowered in the boat. Jesus reminds us “it is I… do not be afraid.” 

So, we, like Peter, can get out of the boat and walk on the water with Jesus, but we must keep our eyes on Him lest we sink.

The good news is, if we find ourselves sinking under the waves of fear, all we need to do is reach out and He will take us by the hand and lift us up over the waves of fear. 

Jesus is the way out of fear. Whether we run into His name and find safety, speak to the raging sea of fear, or walk on the waves of fear, He is showing us, leading us, and guiding us on how to overcome.

We must keep our eyes fixed on Him, the Overcomer--our Overcomer.

Misty Honnold is the Founder and Director of the non-profit organization The Single MOM KC.  Misty equips, trains and empowers women to discover the source of their strength in Christ. She publishes a weekly blog on the website The Single MOM KC as well as freelances for other publications. 

https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/women/3-things-to-do-when-a-sea-of-fear-is-raging-all-around-you.html