How To Develop Your Mind

How can you develop your mind? A professor came upon a discovery and with it found out how to develop his mind. One day while getting dressed he was buttoning up his vest, actually his vest wouldn’t button, the reason? His daughter had sewn up the button holes. His fingers were going along as usual in their buttoning the vest when something happened; a button wouldn’t button! He looked down and realized why, but then a new idea was born!

The professor discovered that the fingers could remember. It’s called physiological memory. The mind trains or relegates functions to our body. In other words, as long as we keep doing the things we always do our minds won’t work. But when we are forced to do it a different way, go a different direction, get out of the box of routine, it activates our minds again. Physical life brings happiness, but mental life brings interest, a consuming and absorbing interest. Our mental development should not end with school; we must become a student of life. Stagnant minds are the greatest obstacles to progress.

How can we develop our minds? Nobody is born a genius. The famous Thomas Carlyle said the definition of a genius is, “An infinite capacity for hard work.” Today with all the technology and access to information we have become no more than headliners, knowing a little bit about a lot. Let’s be the person that at least knows one thing well! Like the Apostle Paul who said in Philippians 3:13, “This one thing I do.” Make a decision and determine to know one thing well.

Next, read the right type of books, they will stimulate your brains and improve your understanding. The right kind of books are the ones that help you prepare for opportunities. Also learn to think creatively, when a new thought, idea or concept comes think of ways to apply it to your life. Venture courageously into new mental realms. Finally, don’t stop until that good idea, thought or concept pushes you into new arenas.

Maybe you’re thinking “I can’t do that” or “I’m not that smart.” Stop thinking about what you can’t do, instead, what can you do? Are you satisfied with what you’ve accomplished so far? If not, your job is to know how much more mental ability you have, then dare to use it. Remember, things multiply when shared. So create discussions with others that like yourself who want to do things in life.

For more on this download my series “I Dare You” and start your adventure.

-Dr. Rob Carman, Is the founder of Victory World Missions, a prolific author, church planter and well-know conference speaker. www.robcarman.com

How Does God Prepare Messengers?

In today’s world it’s as though everyone is just looking for a new way to get ahead. More and more you find people trying to become more motivated, more wealthy, have the most successful career, or the healthiest body. The volume and amount of these voices have seemingly grown exponentially in the last few years. The questions of WHO should be listened to, WHO should be followed, or WHO should command the center of our attention have become more prevalent than possibly ever in history. These questions are coming out of a deep-seated need to know how to simply just succeed in the world we live in.

With all of the channels of input given to us through social feeds, news outlets, and educational institutions, we can almost drown into an over-saturated halt by the sheer volume of the noise. Our fears of missing the change that will revolutionize our lives or that we will once again fail in accomplishing all we were made for, have become dangerous—potential masters of our hearts and minds. Today’s prophetic voices can often shrink back because there seems to be no way to speak or be heard because of society’s screaming loudspeaker filling everyone’s ears.

Let’s consider these questions: How exactly does God form men and women who will be messengers for Him in today’s culture? Is there a risk that the noise of our society will drown out the voice of God to the man and women called to be something different in their generation?

God spoke to people like Moses, Esther, David, and Daniel, making them the very vehicles of change for God’s purposes in their day. God fashioned these powerful vessels out of very ordinary people who chose to set their ears and eyes on God and His spoken word to them. Their radical lives weren’t based on their abilities or how they maximized their life’s potential to be noticed. What separated them and men like John the Baptist, was their intent lean into listening for God’s voice. In fact many times, it was in silence and quietness that they became part of God’s message needed for their day and hour. Whether on the hills of the Israeli countryside, in the courts of pagan kings, and even in exile from their homes and loved ones, God formed these men and women in a way He called perfect. They were never limited by the situations they were placed in. It was never about their potential to be great, but rather, how they had drawn near to God in the places and cultures they were placed in. They made themselves available to God, and He placed them at the very cusp of the changes He was bringing in their generation.

God forms His messengers through a patient process, requiring an attentiveness to Himself that feels a lot like listening before speaking. Messengers are first and foremost observers of God’s Word from BEFORE and God’s Word NOW! Every messenger has taken the test of patience to carry both of these elements. There are no quick fixes for God placing roots in our lives. Jesus gave us the parable of the sower in Luke 8 as a picture of how much fruit is possible when His word lands in the right soil. Every man or woman sent from God will go through the process of becoming properly prepared soil. Again, the way of the messenger is a lot more like listening than it is about speaking. God will always offer to prepare us before the time of fruitfulness. Timing is just as important to our Father as visibility.

For example, had Esther had taken matters into her own hands to rush before the king, she may never have lived to save the thousands of men, women and children slated to die. If Daniel had not kept his life of steady prayer, would he have had the courage to stand in lion’s den and testify that there is only one God who can save men? These men and women had these significant moments where their hidden history in God became the very bedrock for God’s power to be seen and His word to be heard through them. All of the years of struggling through boredom, discouragement, successes and the changes of their own lives mattered. Their constant, steady lives of prayer and drawing near to God were rewarded with authority in these significant moments.

God never created a person who would not be granted the ability to choose how deeply they would dive into God. It is within our choices that incredible faith is formed, the opportunity for miracles emerges and steadfast love for Jesus is grown. God makes Himself available to every man, woman and child, but He shows more to the ones who dive in asking Him for more. James tells us that Elijah was a man just like us. Was he called by God, yes, but He also drew near to the living God, he inquired of Him and saw His hand move in mighty ways.

God’s eyes are on the willing who will pull back to look for Him first in this generation. His conditions on not built around who is more capable, but rather who is more willing to be patiently molded in His hands. Messengers of God are willing for God to put His hands on them by His very words and receive it as their bread. By this they begin bear His name and have living bread they’ve found in God to give to the world around them.

- Aaron Phillips; Director, Operations IHOPU

Ten Prayers to Strengthen Our Inner Man

Ten Prayers to Strengthen Our Inner Man: F-E-L-L-O-W-S-H-I-P

Prayer for my personal life: Breakthrough of grace on my inner man, in my circumstances (physical, financial, relational, etc.) and my ministry as God’s power is released through my hands, words (singing, speaking) and I receive prophetic revelation to help others (1 Cor. 14:25).

I urge all to schedule prayer times and to establish prayer lists to give focus to their prayer time. Most will pray ten times more with a schedule that establishes when they pray and a prayer list that focuses them on what to pray. Many who love Jesus never develop a consistent prayer life because they lack the practical aspects of scheduling prayer time and having a prayer list. I take liberty to deviate from my prayer list or omit parts of it as the “winds of inspiration” touch me.

God’s commands contain a promise to enable us to obey them. Obedience requires the work of the Spirit on our heart that increases as we ask for His help in each area. He knows our needs but requires that we ask Him for increased blessing, because it causes us to interact with His heart.  You do not have because you do not ask. (James 4:2)

To ask implies that we verbalize our prayers, not just think on them. We must articulate our love and gratitude to Jesus in simple phrases. This is used by the Spirit to effectively change our life as we often say, “Jesus, I love You, I thank and I trust You, etc.” Take words with you, and return to the LORD. Say to Him, "Take away all iniquity; receive us graciously, for we will offer the sacrifices of our lips. (Hos. 14:2)

Our highest call is to fellowship with God, so we use the acronym F-E-L-L-O-W-S-H-I-P, Each of these ten requests requires the work of the Spirit on our heart to enable us to walk in them.

Truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. (1 Jn. 1:3) ten prayers to receive strength in the inner man: F-E-L-L-O-W-S-H-I-P. To be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man… (Eph. 3:16)

F- Fear of God: Father, release the spirit of the fear of God into my heart. Release the lightning and thunder from Your Throne (Rev. 4:5) to strike my heart with Your majesty. Release holy dread on my heart that makes me tremble before You. Unite my heart to Your heart and Word. I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me. (Jer. 32:40)

The Lord…you shall hallow; let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread. (Isa. 8:13)

Unite my heart (to Your heart and Word) to fear Your name. (Ps. 86:11), His delight is in the fear of the LORD… (Isa. 1:3)

E- Endurance (perseverance, patience): Father, strengthen my spirit with endurance that I may do Your will with zeal (diligence) and that I do not quit in my fervent pursuit of You and Your will.

(Col 1:11 KJV) Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness;

1.  Father, direct my heart into the endurance of Jesus and I ask to be strengthen to follow through in my commitments to You and to fulfill my ministry assignment when it is hard. I am also asking for physical and spiritual endurance for fasting, praying, preaching, and writing, etc.

May the Lord direct your hearts into…the patience (endurance) of Christ. (2 Thes. 3:5)

2.  Lord, impart Your zeal to my heart as You gave it to Phineas. It was written, "Zeal for Thy house will consume Me (Jesus)." (Jn. 2:17, NAS) Phinehas…was zealous with My zeal among them… (Num. 25:11)

L- Love: Father, pour out Your love into my heart by releasing the influences of the Spirit to give me revelation of Your love for me that it may overflow in love back to Jesus and to others. (The anointing to love God is my greatest goal, possession and reward in this age). Father God I pray that I put on the Lord Jesus Christ and put on the armor of light and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. Help me love my neighbor.  

The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit... (Rom. 5:5) … for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. (Rom. 13:8) …Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. (Rom. 13:12) But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. (Rom. 13:14)

I pray, that your love may abound still more…in knowledge and all discernment. (Phil. 1:9)

May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God… (2 Thes. 3:5)

Set Me (Jesus) as a seal on your heart…for love is as strong as death…its flames are flames of fire…7 Many waters cannot quench love, nor can floods drown it. (Song 8:6-7)

Father, impart Your love for Jesus in my heart (Jn. 17:26). I agree with Jesus’ prophecy (Mt. 22:37) to receive grace to love God with all my heart and soul and mind.

…That the love with which You loved Me may be in them… (Jn. 17:26)

You shall love the Lord…with all your heart…soul…and mind. (Mt. 22:37)  Father, allow me to understand Jesus’ love for me and to abide in it (stay connected to it). That you…may be able to comprehend…what is the width and length and depth and height…19 to know (experience) the love (affection) of Christ… (Eph. 3:18-19)

As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. (Jn. 15:9)

Father, I agree with Jesus’ command and prophecy in Mt. 22:39 that I will love others. Let me abound in love by seeing what You see and feeling what You feel about others. …You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (Mt. 22:39)

May the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another… (1 Thes. 3:12)

L- Light of glory: Father, I ask You to let me see the light of Your glory (or encounter the glory realm). I am asking for Holy Spirit encounters (dreams, visions, angelic visitations, manifestations of light, fire, wind) as You gave to Moses, Isaiah, Ezekiel and John (Ex. 33; 34:29-30; Isa. 6; Ezek. 1; Rev. 1). 

A great light from heaven shone around me…8 He said to me, “I am Jesus of Nazareth…” 11 I could not see for the glory of that light…I came to Damascus. (Acts 22:6-11)

And he (Moses) said, "Please, show me Your glory." (Ex. 33:18)

Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us. (Ps. 4:6)

Restore us, O God; cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved! (Ps. 80:3)

His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. (Rev. 1:16)

Send out Your light and truth! Let them lead me…bring me to Your holy hill… (Ps. 43:3)

You shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending… (Jn. 1:51)

I pray, open his eyes that he may see. Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man…the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (2 Kgs. 6:17)

O- One thing life focus: Father, I choose to be a person of one thing who often sits at Your feet. I set my heart to spend quality time with You and to cultivate an inward gaze toward You.
Alert me when I lose this focus, align my life circumstances so I can walk this out and anoint my times with You that I may feel Your love and feel desire for You and Your Word.

One thing I have desired…all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord. (Ps. 27:4)

But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part… (Lk. 10:42)

The Word is to create a living active dialogue in our heart with God. We pray-read the Word or converse with Jesus as we read it. To love God with all our mind involves taking time to fill our heart with God’s word. We gain revelation of God by meditating on it.

We gain the “fuel of intimacy” in times of prayer by connecting and relating to God as a Person. This empowers us to love God and man. This is the key to not burning out. David set his heart to consistently set the Lord before him as a lifestyle.

I have set the Lord always before me… (Ps. 16:8)

Daniel sustained his prayer life for decades (from about age 16 to 82 years old).

Daniel…knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed…before his God, as was his custom since early days. (605-539 BC or 66 years) (Dan. 6:10)

W- Count me worthy (faithfulness unto fullness): I ask Father God to strengthen me to walk in such faithfulness that You consider me worthy to walk in my highest calling in this age and the age to come. I need You Jesus and Your help to see and gain victory in the blind spots in my life that are not focused on.

Jesus ASKS us to pray this for ourselves. In context it is talking about the end times: (Luke 21: 34-36)

Luke 21:34-36 NKJV: "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come on you unexpectedly.  35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the son of man."

We pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power… (2 Thes. 1:11)                 

And that Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we saw the glory thereof, as the glory of the only begotten Son of the Father) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

No one is “worthy” to receive forgiveness. It is a free gift because of Jesus’ worthiness. Rather, we are to have a worthy response to God by living free of compromise, thus we are prepared or are found worthy to walk in the fullness of our calling.

May the God of peace sanctify you completely; may your spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless (without compromise) at the coming of our Lord… (1 Thes. 5:23)

That He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before God… (1 Thes. 3:13)

I have made a covenant with my eyes; why should I look on a woman? (Job 31:1)

S- Speech: Father, set a guard over my lips. Free me from defensive, angry and foolish speech (Eph. 4:29; 5:4).

Sustained communion with God requires restrained conversation with man. The Spirit is quenched in our life by unwholesome speech: filthy, foolish, coarse jesting (Eph. 4:29-5:4).

Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips. (Ps. 141:3)

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable... (Ps. 19:14)

H- Humility: Jesus, I want to learn from You how to walk in lowliness. I commit to take Your yoke of humility (lowliness of heart) on my life in my attitudes, speech, and actions.

Take My yoke…and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart… (Mt. 11:29)

I- Insight unto intimacy (wisdom): Father I am asking please give to me insight into Your Word, will, and ways. Also I am asking please to give to me wisdom that I may walk with You in intimacy under the Spirit’s creative leadership. I want and desire to partner together with You in every issue in my life including my finances, schedule, emotions, fears, addictions, circumstances, physical body (diet, health), relationships (in the home, office, ministry), my future, etc. I ask You my Lord please give me new ideas in each area of my life so You can get full glory from my life.

May give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him… (Eph. 1:17)

Ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may have a walk worthy of the Lord… (Col. 1:9-10)

The Holy Spirit…will teach you all things... (Jn. 14:26)

P- Peace and Joy: Father, strengthen my heart with supernatural peace and joy that overpowers fear, anxiety, phobias and addictions, In the name of Jesus Christ my Lord.

Note :(sin grows fastest when fear and anxiety are present in us.)

The peace of God…will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:7)

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope (confidence) by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Rom. 15:13)

Psalm 19:12-14 NLT How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. 13 Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. 14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

I pray all of this in the name of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

Forerunner Christian Fellowship (This document has been modified from it's original format. This is notes from a teaching from – Mike Bickle) http://www.ihopkc.org/resources/asset/2015_03_06_1900_FCF_MB/auto/true/

-Donnelly Cameron

Hearing From God

How do I hear from God? Hearing from God for your own self can be difficult for most people because most people would rather have man to approve them, when God has already given each of us clear directives.  Are you working, going to school, studying, reading, working out, building friendships, but would love to spend alone time with God.  At times you may feel many things pulling you away from doing the very thing God has called you do. Those entire things are great in them self but we need to find what we are called to do and stick to that.  When the Lord calls your name, how will you answer? Here I am, and then you hear “I am God; do not be afraid I am with you.” This is just like when God spoke to Jacob (Israel) when he was going to Egypt and God spoke and said He will make Israel into a great nation there.  Genesis 46:2-4.  I know God leads us into the wilderness to mold us so God can lead us back again to use us for His will.  I am willing, and my prayer is use me, and send me.  Make that your prayer today as well.

Recently I was reading James 4:8 come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash yours hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  This is something God is calling all Christians to do, choose this day to surrender to God’s will because no one is born Godly but the opposite is true as we are born sinful.  I believe that for many years in my life I could not understand God because I could not hear His voice.  Isaiah conforms this in Isaiah 59:2 but your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.  In Luke 14:15-18, 20-24 talks about a great banquet and who will get to come to the banquet.  I would like to write so much on this great banquet, but I will just say in short who will be invited and I will encourage you to read about this banquet over and over again and ask God to speak to you and show Himself real to you.  This great banquet does not have a maxim guest list; all are invited to the banquet.  God’s eyes are seeking back an fourth; God is looking and caring for the poor person.  The poor person is not what we think as poor, but a poor person God is looking for is a humble person.  God rejects the prideful and gives grace to the humble no matter what status you are.

One day while I was at Church I thought about how great God is and how he cares so much about me.  The worship ministry began to sing “How Great is Our God” and I could not hold back any more I went to my knees and lifted my hands and began to sing with tears flowing down my cheeks.  I was thinking about this past year and how I am falling deeper and deeper in love with God, and what He has done for me and for people I know, and thinking on how God demonstrated His love on the cross for us.  I am broken before the Lord.  If you are in Church and you see someone doing what I some people may think this person on the floor is repenting or something bad must have happen to them.  No not one of those things I am broken before my Lord.  My tears are from the Lord that I may bring Him as an offering with my life.  My tears are for the way He Loves me, the joy I fine in Him and thankfulness for who God truly is and what He is teaching me.  To help illustrate brokenness, on how a horse is broken you may understand brokenness.  A broken horse is trained and is taken care of by its owner.  When the rider is on a broken horse the horse does exactly what the rider tells it to do.  Just think about a Police horse they stand firm and will walk right into a crowd of people with no hesitation if the rider leads and gives the commands to the horse will do as it rider says.  If the rider tells the horse to move left or right, backwards or forwards the horse will as commanded.  A horse that is not broken will break free and run away from the people.

I will end with this, fear the Lord, this is not to be scared but the fear of the Lord keeps you from sin.  Exodus 20:20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid.  God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”  John Bevere said when he met with Jim Baker in prison he asked him when did you stop loving God and start sinning.  Jim Baker said I never stop loving God I loved God all throw my sin, but I stopped fearing God.  Isn’t this a living testimony on never stop fearing God.  As the scripture says in Psalm 25:14 The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.  May the Lord bless you and keep you close to Him with His Love, Peace, and Thanksgiving. 

- Donnelly Cameron

Who Told You?

You can reach your full potential, but it will require you to question and stand up to the “Who Told You’s.” Soon after the first man, Adam had fallen from grace, God had a conversation with him and asked him several questions one being, “Adam who told you that you were naked?” It is those three words that we must question and stand up to so we can reach our full potential. Who told you?

Sonia was 13 when she gave birth to Ben, two years later at the age of 15 she gave birth to Curtis. She had no education and worked from sun up to sun down as a scrubwoman. Sonia found herself raising two boys without a husband in the ghettos of Detroit during the 1950s and 60s. Being an African American at that time was not in her favor. Their lives began to change with the possibility of gangs and drugs as Ben and Curtis were getting older.

One afternoon Sonia received a phone call from the school asking to see her. They informed her of her son’s progress which was terrible. They had zero interest in school and were failing all of their classes. Faced with eventually losing them to the streets, Sonia locked herself in the back room of her apartment and prayed for hours. When she emerged from her room, she told Ben and Curtis that God had spoken to her and that they were to read two books a week and write a report. Being respectful of their mother the boys went daily to the school library read books and wrote reports. Sonia never told them she couldn’t read.

After several weeks of this exercise one day, Ben was in his 5th-grade science class when the teacher asked the class a question. Ben was the only one that knew the answer. It was because he had read a book that week on that subject. Ben’s teacher could hardly believe that Ben knew the answer, but he did to the amazement of everyone. Ben later said, “It was at that moment, that exact moment that I knew one thing, that God had made me smart.” Ben questioned, challenged all the “Who Told You’s” and so must you to reach your full potential.

Ben Carson went on to become one of the greatest neurosurgeons in the world. To reach your full potential, challenge all the “Who Told You’s” or to hear this story and more,

You can preview the first part of this series called “How To Change Your Future” and begin to change yours. Buy the full series.

-Dr. Rob Carman, Is the founder of Victory World Missions, a prolific author, church planter and well-know conference speaker. www.robcarman.com

Heritage of the Founding Fathers

REVEREND PETER MUHLENBERG

  By:Josh Pittman; from http://www.heritageofthefoundingfathers.com/article11.html

It was Sunday morning early in the year 1776.  In the church where Pastor Muhlenberg preached, it was a regular service for his congregation but a quite different affair for Muhlenberg himself.  Muhlenberg’s text for the day was Ecclesiastics 3 where it explains, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted….”1

Coming to the end of his sermon, Peter Muhlenberg turned to his congregation and said, “In the language of the holy writ, there was a time for all things, a time to preach and a time to pray, but those times have passed away.”2As those assembled looked on, Pastor Muhlenberg declared, “There is a time to fight, and that time has now come!”3Muhlenberg then proceeded to remove his robes revealing, to the shock of his congregation, a military uniform. 

Marching to the back of the church he declared, “Who among you is with me?”2On that day 300 men from his church stood up and joined Peter Muhlenberg.  They eventually became the 8th Virginia Brigade fighting for liberty. 

Frederick Muhlenberg, Peter’s brother, was against Peter’s level of involvement in the war.  Peter responded to Fredrick writing, “I am a Clergyman it is true, but I am a member of the Society as well as the poorest Layman, and my Liberty is as dear to me as any man, shall I then sit still and enjoy myself at Home when the best Blood of the Continent is spilling?...so far am I from thinking that I act wrong, I am convinced it is my duty to do so and duty I owe to God and my country.”2

During the war there were rumors that the British wanted to hang Peter’s father, Henry Muhlenberg.  Henry wrote, “Toward evening came a report that they were near-by and going to take me.  I cannot flee, much less leave my sick wife behind, so I must await whatever God’s holy providence and governance…has ordained for me and commit it to him, the Lord of Lords…”2Miraculously, the British never came for Henry Muhlenberg.

Peter Muhlenberg was a great soldier.  He became a Major General under Commander-in-chief George Washington.  Baron Steuben, in general orders, requested “General Muhlenberg to accept his very particular thanks for his gallantry and good dispatches.”2Because of his actions, Muhlenberg was given command of one thousand light infantry.  Muhlenberg finished the war strong and is portrayed in a painting displayed in the United States Capitol Rotunda of the surrender of the British at Yorktown. 

After the war, Muhlenberg continued to serve his country.  He was a member of the Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives not once, but three times.  He was also elected to the Senate in 1801.

Peter’s brother, Fredrick, had a change of heart to his brother’s doings.  Fredrick became elected to the House of Representatives and was Speaker of the House twice.

Peter Muhlenberg passed away in 1807 at the age of sixty-one.  He was a great patriot as can be seen on his tombstone which reads, “He was Brave in the field, Faithful in the Cabinet, Honorable in all his transactions, a Sincere Friend and an Honest Man.”2

Footnotes:                                                                                                                                         1.  Biblegateway.com                                                                                                                        2.  Ryun, Jim and Sons.  Heroes Among Us.  Shippensburg, PA: Treasure House, 2002.                  3.  Wallbuilders.  The Role of Pastors and Christians in Civil Government. A video by Wallbuilders and Vision Video.

Tears & Alabaster Jar

Prayer is so important. Prayer is touching God, and to reach the world we must do it through prayer first. In Luke 18:1 Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them not to give up on praying. Jesus also said “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations” Mark 11:17.  In James 4:3 is all about our motives for praying, what motivation and why are we praying. It is clear to me that God wants us to pray selflessness. I know at times I can pray God please let me get this job, God please let me get this raise, and God give me this and that so I can give more.  God wants to hear from our mouth which is poring out from our heart “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:9-13. Prayer is acknowledging of a need that we can not fix, but we have a Friend that does, and he calls us friend.

This past week while studying the word of God the book of Luke 7:37-50 opened my eyes to what Jesus is all about and what He wants from us. These verses are about Jesus being anointed by a sinful woman. The Blood of Jesus Christ was not shade for our issues or things in our lives, but for our sin. We must confess our sin to Jesus so He can forgive us. This woman brought her tears and an alabaster jar of perfume and poured her heart out with tears and the perfume on His feet and wiped them with her hair. To understand the value of this perfume and the amount she poured out at that time it would have been a year of wages, so she gave everything she had and much more. She poured it all out and God wants us to pour out all of our worship and the best to Him. If we hold something back then that is the thing we worship. The true since of what God wants from us is to give everything we have to Him.

I remember one night I was talking on the phone with a Brother in Christ and we were catching up on what we have been doing. He told me that one night when a group of his friends were out preaching in the streets. He began talking with a man about God and how to have a personal relationship with God. Before they departed from one another my Brother in Christ gave this man his shoes and his Bible that he has had for a long time with study notes and underline words. At that time My Brother in Christ gave this man everything he had. Luke 7:38 She brought humility, and she came to Jesus in brokenness. We have to come in brokenness in tears and come to Jesus as we are. This woman did not say ‘Jesus is in that house, so let me go and clean up and put some nice cloths on and clean my life up before I see Him’.  No, she came as she was a sinner and what she had to give was her tears and perfume. When I gave my life to Christ back in July 2000 I brought all my sin and let me tell you it was a yoke that lifted off of me when I gave it over to the Lord that night. The Lord has been molding me since that time and making it a process and I love it. I sing to my King with a love song about how He found me in my brokenness and I give Him thanksgiving.  My King sings over me and over everyone {that you are my beloved and my bride so come away with me my love, so we can stand face to face and I can not see any stains on you my child you are beautiful to me so beautiful to me. I sing over you my song of peace, cased all your cares down at my feet come and find your rest in me.} God has overtaken me and has taken my bitterness and making something sweet from it. We must come to Jesus with humility, brokenness, and with everything we have. Jesus came to proclaim the Gospel and bind up the broken hearts. There are three keys we can take with us from this woman.

1) Willing to server, she washed Jesus’ feet.

2) She came in faith (peace with God will give you peace when the storm is all around us.)

3) She came to worship Jesus. Give it all with passion, power, and at that present time. 

I love you in Jesus Christ; know His Love, Grace, and Peace is with you. Now receive them.

-Donnelly Cameron

How To Have a Constant Flow of Energy

How can we live with a constant flow of energy? Is there a law of vitality? This flow of energy develops when we hold thoughts of hopefulness, confidence, positiveness and goodwill. When these types of thoughts dominate our mind, they result in high levels of energy.

The entire universe is charged with a constant flow of energy, since energy is maintained consistently in the physical world we must come to the conclusion that God meant the same for us.

A 53-year-old man complaining about his lack of energy discovered that his tiredness centered in his mind, so he was told to refresh and re-stimulate his thoughts. He did, and his flow of energy returned. We need to understand that much of our physical condition is determined by to a large extent by our emotional and spiritual state. And our emotional life is primarily regulated by our thought pattern! Not just our thoughts but our pattern of thinking. We were created to have life, to have a constant flow of life, and energy. The big question that I’m certain you’re asking is how can I have a constant flow of energy?

1) Don’t be in a hurry. Learn to practice a slower pace of life. When we are in a hurry, we get stressed, agitated, and worked up which drains our energy. Years ago like clock-work on Monday afternoon, I would get a severe headache. Why? Because I was stressed out thinking of all I had to accomplish for that week. When I changed my pace, learned to relax and had the attitude if I didn’t get everything done, there was always tomorrow, the headaches stopped.

2) To maintain a flow of energy we need to realize that much of our tiredness originates in our minds. We become tired because our thoughts are tired. If we desire a flow of energy, we need to reintroduce energy producing thoughts. The right thoughts will free energy, thoughts of hopefulness, confidence, positiveness, thoughts that see and exciting future. Our minds through our thoughts have a significant influence upon our bodies. UCLA Medical Center discovered years ago that our thoughts produce over 2000 chemical changes in our bodies, either good or bad.

3) Think energy, talk energy. When you think it, speak it, you will produce it! As your mind begins to shift into an energy pattern of thinking it will start to eliminate thoughts that drain your energy. Thoughts of excitement and enthusiasm will surge in, and a constant flow of energy will come.
For more on this subject, download my series “Renewable Energy.”

You can preview the first part of this series called “Renewable Energy“ and begin your journey today.

Buy the full series here

-Dr. Rob Carman, Is the founder of Victory World Missions, a prolific author, church planter and well-know conference speaker. www.robcarman.com

What does God think about me?

Looking back on my first week at Bible College I see now that God was shaping my identity. I remember thinking during my first week at Bible College is this how it is going to be, I can only imagine what the next few years were going to be like, in a good way. All that week the Lord kept speaking and pulling me closer and closer to Him. Understanding the context for me during this time, here I was unsure about everything because I left my career in the hotel restaurant industry and it had seemed that all I know to do was surrender. When I moved to were the Bible College was I had not found a job yet, so I spent most of my time in prayer, worshipping God, and Bible study. I thought I had surrendered everything but God wanted more and that was my heart and mind. As it is written in Mark 12:30-31(NKJV) And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. Spending a lot of time in prayer, Bible study and worship; during this time God was speaking to me, but I felt that I was an unworthy person that does not deserve anything or God to speak to me. Feeling of over whelming peace of God and contentment where I was and what I was doing. I started to really understand that God cares so much for me. If God cares so much about me and He wants me to hear from Him to be more like Him. Then it is also true that God cares about everyone else on this earth. This is where I believe when a Christian really understands Who’s they are, and what God has done and is doing today they will want to go and tell everyone that would listen.     

That first week listening to different speakers I could relate to everything they were saying as it made me think more about how I got here and the different decision I had made to be where I was it is now part of my testimony. The year was 2006 for me which was the year that God was going “to better myself” this is God’s vision for my life. Lead by the Spirit to better myself in mind, learning, heart, and loving others. This was my perfect world what would hinder this or what would be the common stumbling blocks that I would need to avoid.

1)     Find a good local Church and plug in.

2)     Matthew 6:33 seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Job 31:1, and John 13:24.

3)     Truly connect with my roommate as a brother in Christ.

4)     Be a good steward of my money. 

God is not going to microwave me; He is going to marinate me to His perfection. I have put myself on God’s surgery table and God is going to make it a process. During this process God wanted me to do ministry in pain. As we can see in Matthew 14:11-14 in this passage Jesus is told about John the Baptist being beheaded. In v.13 Jesus withdrew to a solitary place but not for long Jesus arrived crowds of people were there and v.14 Jesus had compassion on them and healed their sick. Even in my pain, I must have character and when grieving/ hurting I still must have compassion for others. As we see in 1 Peter 2:21-23 (NKJV) For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; and in 1 Peter 3:8-9 (NKJV) Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;[a] 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. Remember we should understand we are called out from this world and what makes a Christian different then everyone is by following Jesus, do I need to say more. Four keys to Ministering in pain:

1) It requires genuine love and concern.

2) Having the ability to look beyond your own pain.  This one reminds me of a time when I was in Church and The Pastor just finished with a fiery massage and he called those that were hurting to come down front for prayer.  I answered the call and walked forward to the front.  All I could do is to go to my knees in tears.  As I was on my knees a little boy was on his knees beside me crying as well but not for himself but for his Father to come to know Jesus Christ.  I stopped praying for me and my needs and started praying for this boy and his Father.

3) Die to yourself and serve others for Christ.

4) Learn to rely upon the Lord’s strength during times of weakness. I cannot bale when I get hurt. 

How can I keep effective when I do not have character, I can not. I most have character. Having character will enable me to minster in pain. (2 Peter 1:2-8) Character – One of the attributes or features that make up and distinguish the individual; a person marked by notable traits; moral excellence and firmness. All Christians should never be too careful about sin. 2 Samuel 11:1-4, seven contributors to a spirituality dangerous environment:

1) Irresponsibility,

2) Location,

3) Laziness,

4) Immodesty (If the spirit of Immodesty is not dealt with it will turn in to immorality.), 5) Vision,

6) Companions,

7) Thoughts.

I could go in to detail on each one but at this time I will just list them.  I do not know where I heard this from but it has stuck with me for years is that “a person’s anointing will take them to great place but it is their character that will keep them there.”

So what about the question what does God think about me? Then ask God now and when you hear what He thinks of you then go and praise God and go and make disciple.   

- Donnelly Cameron

Wisdom on Raising Great Teens

Raising teenagers is tough. Any parent can tell you that. Their emotions are volatile. Their passions change almost daily. And they often lack the strength to keep their commitments.

The challenges are real, but is there a way to navigate through them to bring fruit—relationally, socially, and spiritually?

There are no easy answers, but this key truth can help guide us—and them—into greater partnership with God’s grace. And that, more than anything, is success.

What teens lack most is confidence. They have earnestness and zeal, but not the wisdom and strength to follow through. Their desire and passion gets easily overwhelmed by their array of choices. Add in some peer pressure, and they can get off track quickly.

As parents, we can bless our teens with the gift of confidence, starting with confidence in their destiny.

Confidence in their Destiny

Teens desire greatness. They are drawn to it, pursue it, and are not content without a measure of it. Trying to avoid a life of dullness and insignificance, they search for new things, test boundaries, and, at times, rebel against the status quo.

What lies behind this behavior is a heart that very well could change the world—but confidence, maturity, and reliance on grace is needed.

Take Moses, for example. After growing up in Pharaoh’s house, he observed the plight of his people, the Jews. He killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew, but that resulted in him fleeing for his life (Exodus 2:11–15).

Moses looked like a failure, and probably felt like one. He had desired to liberate his people, but now he was in the wilderness.

But Moses was born to be a liberator, and in the right time, God called him into his destiny (Exodus 3).

Our teens will undoubtedly face many obstacles, including some from their own foolish or immature decisions. In these setbacks, we can give them confidence that they are in the midst of a growth process and that their destiny still awaits.

Keep Trying

Rarely do our first attempts at greatness succeed. Most people, both in Scripture and throughout history, have a past littered with failed attempts before they experience breakthrough. In retrospect, not trying is the only thing that could have stopped them.

Some teens need confidence to take risks because they fear failure. Our culture feeds into this, but teens need confidence that what looks like failure can be a step toward their destiny.

As parents, we can share from our experiences to give them confidence to keep reaching. As we build our own relationship with God, we will be better positioned to steward our teenagers into looking to God the Father as the ultimate source of both identity and destiny. The world cannot take away what it does not give. Confidence as of a chosen son or daughter of the Most High God will give both them and us a perspective for navigating what do not need to be troubling years.

Fascinate, our high school conference, is a great place for individual teens and entire youth groups to grow their identity in God and find their calling in life. Learn more about Fascinate »

How can you help your teen encounter God?

Adam Wittenberg

A Detroit native who was raised in Vermont and Connecticut, Adam worked as a newspaper journalist until 2012, when he moved to Kansas City to complete the Intro to IHOPKC internship. Afterwards, he earned a four-year certificate in House of Prayer Leadership from IHOPU and is now on full-time staff in the Marketing department at IHOPKC. Adam is also active in evangelism and has a vision to reach people everywhere with the good news of Jesus Christ.