The three doves

Job 12:7 (ESV)

But ask the beasts, and they will teach you;

    the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you;

Here is a fun story to show the power we have in Jesus Name.

 An office park doesn’t seem like a nice place to call home. But this was no ordinary collection of buildings. Each three story glass building was surrounded by native shrubbery and flowers. A stream ran between the buildings connecting several small lakes. A walkway flanked by towering Magnolia trees linked each building with the others. Patches of Pin Oak and Crape Myrtle trees made this a paradise for the three doves that lived there.

Their names were Ashley, Jacey and Tilly. With all the seeds, insects and plants nearby, they never strayed far from their favorite tree. But on one particularly beautiful day, they decided to sun themselves on the little bridge in the center of the office park.

“What do you want to do today?” asked Jacey.“Do?” replied Ashley. “Can’t we just enjoy the warmth of the sun?”“I agree with Ashley,” said Tilly. “Let’s just enjoy the day that God gave us!” They all laughed.

Up above a hawk was making slow circles looking for dinner. The doves had not noticed him. In fact most of the birds were busy hunting food and were not paying attention at all.

The Blue Jays were the first to notice the danger. They began shouting among themselves to get their young back into the safety of the trees. Since the noise was behind them, the doves ignored it. “Wouldn’t it be great to enjoy the sun without the Blue Jays making all that racket?” asked Ashley as she closed her eyes and stretched her neck.

The other doves cooed in agreement. Ashley opened her eyes just in time to see the hawks shadow below the doves. The others were looking away. “Everybody fly!” shouted Ashley. All three doves shot off the bridge and dove down to gain some speed. As their parents had taught, they immediately split off in three directions, hoping the hawk would not be able to focus on just one bird. But this hawk was a veteran. He locked on Tilly and followed her every turn.

The doves had been out in the open and too far to reach the safety of trees. Tilly could hear the hawk behind her and knew she could not outfly him. Instead, she would try to lose him by the office buildings.

She made a sharp turn around one building and snuck a peek back to see the hawk right on her tail. She made another quick turn and everything went black.

Ashley and Jacey made it back to the safety of their Pin Oak. They waited for several minutes, but Tilly did not return. They knew exactly what they had to do. They closed their eyes and thanked God for protecting their friend. Just as they finished, Tilly arrived and landed next to them. She was a little ruffled, but safe.

“You will not believe what happened!” said Tilly. Tilly did not even give the others a chance to ask. “We all separated, but the hawk kept following me,” explained Tilly. “I thought I could lose him by the office buildings, but I turned without looking and ran into the glass. When I woke up, I was flat on my back.

Ashley and Jacey looked at each other and back at Tilly. “What happened to the hawk?” asked Jacey. “I guess when I turned, he pulled away. When I woke up, there were some birds chasing him away. I was a sitting duck if those Blue Jays had not been after him.”

“That is wonderful,” said Ashley. “We’re so glad you are safe.” “But that is not all that happened,” said Tilly. The doves were a little surprised, but waited for the rest of Tilly’s story. “When I woke up I was a little woozy. There was a human standing over me. He pointed at me and said, ‘In the name of Jesus, be healed!’ And then he just walked away.”

“Wow!” exclaimed Ashley. “He didn’t stay to see if you were well?” asked Jacey. “No, he just walked away. I guess he had enough faith to believe that whatever he says in the name of Jesus would happen,” explained Tilly. “The next thing I knew my vision cleared and I wasn’t dizzy anymore. I rolled over and stood up. I tested my wings and everything was working fine. I just started praising God and flew here to find the two of you.”

“That is some bold faith,” said Jacey.

“Can you imagine what the world would be like if all humans had the faith to use the name of Jesus like that?” asked Tilly.

The next day the hawk was back circling overhead. But the three doves weren’t scared. They knew God had their back.

As a Christian, you have been given the name of Jesus to heal the sick and conquer all the power of the enemy. God has delegated His authority and power to those willing to believe in Jesus. But to effectively use the name of Jesus, you need to understand all the power behind that name and your right to use it. And remember, nothing is impossible if you believe!

Dear Lord, we thank You that we have been given the power of Your name and with it we can conquer all that comes our way.  In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

God's power

Luke 10:19 (ESV)

Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.

Have you ever thought about how much power God is releasing in our midst right now? Is it 20%... 50%... 100% of His great power?? I would venture to say that God is not even releasing a fraction of 1% of His power today. That might sound crazy but think about it. If He were to release all His power on this earth, don't you think that sin would be completely destroyed and righteousness and holiness would abound?

God is an all-powerful, all-encompassing God, and there is no limit to what He can do. He chooses to release His power through His saints -- through sinners that have been washed by the blood of the Lamb! We have access to amazing power from on high -- but we have to be open vessels, allowing the anointing of God to flow through us!

The power to tread upon serpents, scorpions and every power of darkness has been given to us! Let's pray like we've never prayed before! And allow the Lord to use us as vessels through which His power can be released!

Dear Lord, help us to let Your power flow through us today. Help us be a clean vessel for You today. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

First gear

Romans 15:13 (ESV)

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Every time we turn on the news it seems the new buzzword is – CHANGE! So how can we just shift gears and change? Let's learn a lesson about basic automotive mechanics. Generally a car has between 4 and 5 gears. The first gear maximizes power in exchange for speed. As you move through the gears, you can continue to go faster, yet without using any more power, and before you know it – you have to look at the speedometer – cause nobody wants a speeding ticket!

So what can we learn from this? Do you want a breakthrough? Do you want a new direction? Then you need to take that first step! You need to put all your focus – all your energy into that first initial gear! Yes, it takes all your strength, and yet it seems like you're moving sooo slow -- but be encouraged, because once you start moving, you'll be able to shift gears -- and before you know it –- you'll be sailing along, and even need to check to see if you're speeding!

The first step is always the hardest -- but it's necessary for change! You can breakthrough with the power of God empowering you, so GO FOR IT! Put everything you've got into that first start. And just like driving, it'll get easier; and before you know it -- we might even have to issue you a speeding citation, just to slow you down a bit..!  Let's not stay in neutral -- let's get in gear, and start shifting!

Dear Lord, give us the strength to get started. Help us to continue to move in the direction that You have planned for us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

A tornado testimony of God's power

Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)

Fear not, for I am with you;

    be not dismayed, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Gail Mummert, a member of a church in Colorado Springs, shared this remarkable testimony of protection during a kairos moment in Lancaster, Texas:

As we were driving home in threatening weather, my husband, Gene, turned on the radio for a local report. Funnel clouds had indeed been spotted nearby. After arriving home, things grew strangely calm.

In a short while, the wind started to blow fiercely. Trees were bent over and the very walls of the house began to flutter. Windows rattled and hail beat on the car port.

"Get into the hall and close the doors," my husband shouted. "Get pillows, blankets and a flashlight." "Nana, I'm scared," cried our five-year-old grandson, William.

"Jesus will take care of us. Don't be afraid," I told him. Suddenly sirens began to go off in our small town. The walls moved as though they weren't anchored to anything. "If we're not in a tornado, we're close," shouted Gene as he ran into the hall.

"Link arms and sit on the floor," I said.

"I love you," Gene said to us as he surrounded us with blankets and pillows, covered us with his body and enveloped us with his arms.

A mighty rushing wind was all around us and sucked us together into a ball. "Pray! Keep praying," he said.

"God Almighty, help us!" We screamed.

Explosion!

Windows shattered, glass flew everywhere. Another explosion. The walls caved in. Debris shot everywhere like arrows toward their target.

"Jesus, help us! You are our Savior! You are our King!" My voice cried. I looked up-the roof was falling on us. A ladder crashed down on my husband's back.

"Now start praising Him," Gene shouted through the wind. The next blast was the worst. There was nothing we could do. Only He could help us. Everything was out of control, but we knew the sovereignty of God. We knew we were at the point of death but we shouted, "Thank you, Jesus! Thank you, Lord!"

Suddenly, peace filled me like a flood. A sweet voice filled my heart, "I've heard your cry for help. I've bent the heavens for you. No matter what happens around you, I'm here protecting you." Tears flooded my face and I knew Jesus was protecting us. It seemed His arms had surrounded us. I knew we would be safe.

The tornado was over. The rain beat down on us with a force I had never felt before. We were safe. "Mama, I see the sky," little William said.

"William, that's because the roof is gone. We probably won't have any walls, either," Gene informed him. "I'm so thankful we're okay," our daughter Wendy cried. "Jesus protected us, didn't He?" Though buried under tons of debris, our hair covered with insulation and glass, we were okay. Just a few minor injuries.

Talk about walls of protection! Several people were killed and many injured in that devastating tornado, but the everlasting arms of the Lord protected the Mummert family. Gail was privileged to share her entire story with The Dallas Morning News. The newspaper even printed her testimony about the protection of the Lord.

Dear Lord, thank You for protecting us is all things. Help our faith be strong to completely trust in You and when You do protect us help us share that with the world so they too can see Your mighty works. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

What is you perspective?

John 14:17 (NIV)

The Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

Sand particles are tiny and easily slips through our hands. Combined though, they can become quite powerful. Take, for example, glass, which is made out of sand particles. It protects us from the elements, it gives us light, and helps us to see the unknown universe and the unseen tiny world of the living.

A glass lens is nothing more than a bent piece of glass, but that curved piece of glass changes the way we perceive the world. It all started in 1608, when a Dutch spectacle maker named Hans Lippershey put two lenses behind one another and was astonished to see a close-up view of a distant steeple. Wow!

Soon, people all over Europe were putting lenses into all kinds of devices. Spy glasses became a fad. An Italian scientist named Galilelo went a step further and created what we now know as the telescope, which is a more elaborate version of a spy glass, and helps us study of the stars.

In 1764 a Dutch naturalist named Antonj van Leeuwenhoek built the most powerful microscope of his time. He discovered that a simple drop of water could teem with abundant microscopic life, unseen to the naked eye. Our universe is filled with wonders that are unseen!

David, a man after God’s own heart, also believed in the unseen. Sadly, most people in his time preferred to believe in the visible rather than in what they could not see. Take, for example, the time when a giant named Goliath defied the armies of Israel and challenged one of their rank to a duel to the death. Who in his right man would face a man measuring 2.9 meters (9 feet, 6 inches)? It’s no wonder that no one in the army of Saul took the challenge. Instead “all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.”

A bunch of chickens we may think, but would we have done any better? That giant was more than half again my height, and he was solidly muscled!

Still, aren’t those of us who are in God’s army supposed to be fearless? What happened here? Sadly the soldiers of Saul’s army became distracted by what they saw instead of relying on the invisible.

One day, young David came to visit his brothers in the army. He came just as Goliath was defying the Lord’s army. David was completely shocked when Saul’s soldiers “all fled from him in great fear.”

But David didn’t flee. No way! Instead he stood firm and cried out: “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” I can imagine the soldiers around him all telling him to be quiet.

But he didn’t stop here. Despite the fact that he wasn’t even of army age, he went directly to King Saul and convinced him that he would take Goliath’s challenge.

Why? Because he put his faith in the unseen and discarded the visible threat. To him, Goliath was only a tiny annoyance, and this was nothing more than an opportunity to show that God is way bigger than a 2.9 meter giant! He declared: “The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine”

David took his staff and picked up five smooth stones from the stream, and with them in his pouch and his sling in his hand, he confronted his enemy. Wasn’t God’s enemy his enemy as well?

The giant was astonished that the one taking this challenge “was little more than a boy . . .” He mocked David, seeing him as easy prey, nothing more than a tiny mosquito that could be squashed easily. He wondered out loud: “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?”

Unfazed, young David spoke boldly forth the following words: “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head.”

The rest is history. Goliath was struck by one of David’s stones. The mighty was vanquished by what seemed to be a weakling: “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” The seen was conquered by the unseen!

We, too, can face anything when we don’t focus on appearances. It’s all a question of perspective. After all, the unseen is far more powerful than the seen!

Just like the tiny particles of sand, which eventually turned the world upside down! We may be weak, but when we rely on the Unseen One, the One who is beyond power, we, too, can become powerful!

Dear Lord, thank You for the power that You give to each of us. Help us use that power to change the world for You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Rely on God's power

Nahum 1:3 (NIV)

The Lord is slow to anger but great in power;

    the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished.

His way is in the whirlwind and the storm,

    and clouds are the dust of his feet.

In 1930, Haile Selassie became the Emperor of Ethiopia. The Christian ruler was the 111th emperor in succession of King Solomon. Upon assuming power, Selassie sought to modernize the nation. He built schools and universities, established newspapers, expanded electricity and telephone service and increased public health services.

Then in October 1935, Italian forces under the orders of Benito Mussolini invaded Ethiopia. Selassie's forces were no match for the Italian army and in May 1936, he went into exile. He appealed for help to the League of Nations, saying:

"Apart from the Kingdom of the Lord there is not on this earth any nation that is superior to any other. Should it happen that a strong Government finds it may with impunity destroy a weak people, then the hour strikes for that weak people to appeal to the League of Nations to give its judgment in all freedom? God and history will remember your judgment."

The League did not help and for the next five years Selassie remained in Britain trying to garner world support against Italy with little results.

One day, British field marshal Sir William Edmund Ironside asked Emperor Selassie what he was going to do now? Selassie, known as "The Lion of Judah" replied: "After all, there is God!"

In May of 1941, Selassie's faith in the power of God was rewarded as he re-entered Ethiopia and remained Emperor until 1974.

Is there an "impossible situation" in your life? Rely on God’s power to overcome the situation.

Dear Lord, help us always look to Your power as we face each situation. Thank You for always being there for us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.