Kenneth Copeland: "Stick to Your Calling"

"Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God....
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our
works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in
Christ Jesus before the world began."
(2 Timothy 1:6,9)

Are you doing what God called you to do?

If you haven't ever thought about it before, that may sound like an odd
question to you. You may be tempted to shrug it off and say, "Oh, I'm not
really called to do anything. I'm not a pastor or a teacher or a minister of
any kind...I guess I'm just what you might call a little finger on the Body
of Christ."

Let me tell you something: No matter who you are, God has put a holy calling
in you. He's designed you and called you to meet a need in the Body of
Christ that nobody else can meet quite like you can.

You may be called to be so successful in business you can finance the gospel
worldwide. You may be called to a ministry of prayer and intercession. You
may be called to a ministry of healing right there in your own neighborhood.
But no matter what that calling is, it's important and you need to follow
it!

If you're like many believers I know, you may have let your life become so
overgrown with other things that you just don't have time to pursue your
calling. You may be so overwhelmed with the cares of life that you can't
imagine how you can fit in anything else.

Over the years, a pastor friend of mine got involved in so many different
areas of ministry that he was about to fold up physically under the strain
of it. The overload was actually about to kill him. Finally, the Lord spoke
to him one night and said, "John, it's not your calling that's nearly killed
you. It's everything else you've added to it."

I've had to deal with that in my own life. I've had to quit doing things
just because they need doing. I've had to discipline myself to sticking to
what I'm called to do.

Make up your mind to prayerfully trim away the extra things you've added to
your life. Stir up the gift God has placed inside you. Get back to what He
has called you to do.

After all, that calling is vital. It's holy...and it's yours. Don't ever let
it slip away from you.

Scripture Study: Acts 9:1-20

Gloria Copeland: "Go When You're Ready"

"With long life will I satisfy [you], and shew [you] my salvation." (Psalm 91:16)

Did you know that it's not God's will for you or anyone to die young? His will for you is to live the full number of your days. You ought to live 70 or 80 years, and if you are not satisfied, live a while longer! The Bible says that when Abraham died, he died at a good old age, full of years. That's the way it ought to be with all of us.

Some believers don't realize that and they've gotten themselves in a mess. When they get sick instead of just believing for healing, they start wondering if it's God's will for them to die. "Maybe He's ready to call me home," they think.

Don't ever entertain thoughts like that. If God has His way, He won't call you home until you're good and ready to come. The Apostle Paul understood that. In 2 Timothy 4:6-7, he said, "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." Paul didn't die until he and Jesus were ready for him to go.

Regardless of your age, if the devil is telling you God isn't going to heal you because it's time for you to go home, he is lying to you. God promises in Psalm 91:16 that if you are living under the shadow of the most High, He will satisfy you with long life. (That means that you are abiding in Him as Jesus taught in John 15.)

If you're not satisfied that you have finished your course yet on this earth, it's not time for you to die. So ignore the devil and keep right on living. Resist sickness and disease in the Name of Jesus. Stand on God's promise!

Then, when you're ready to go on to heaven, go! But go satisfied, healed, and ready! Go in victory shouting the words of that old joy-filled song--"Heaven is near and I can't stay here. Good-bye world, good-bye."

Scripture Study: Deuteronomy 34

Veronica Parker: Just a reminder!!

This is especially a good reminder as we enter a NEW YEAR!

Don't spend major time with minor people. If there are people in your life who continually disappoint you, break promises, stomp on your dreams, too judgmental, have different values and don't have your back during difficult times...that is not a friend.

To have a friend, be a friend. Sometimes in life as you grow, your friends will either grow or go. Surround yourself with people who reflect values, goals interests and lifestyle you have or want.

When I think of any of my successes, I am thankful to GOD from whom all blessings flow, and to my family and friends who continue to enrich my life. Over the years my phone book has changed because I changed for the better. At first you think you're going to be alone, but after a while, new people show up in your life who make your life so much sweeter and easier to endure.

Remember what your elders used to say, "Birds of a feather flock together. If you're an eagle, do yourself a favor, don't hang around chickens: Chickens Can't Fly!

I love the Lord and I thank HIM for all that he does in my life everyday and in every way. I do love Jesus and HE is my source of existence. HE keeps me functioning each and everyday and without Him, I would and will be nothing.

Remember this: Be Positive - Be Progressive - Take the time to make a positive difference in someone's life and remember this also: you walk by faith, not by sight!!!

Today, I wish you a day of extraordinary miracles!