May 5, 2009 |
Cindy McGill: “Certainty in Uncertain Times – There is HOPE in Our Future”by Cindy McGill May 5, 2009
With all the world’s changes, you might find yourself wondering, “Where can we find a place of stability?” I am hearing of people returning to church and people leaving church. This revolving door of movement is causing us to reevaluate issues in our lives, our walk with God, our relationships and ourselves.
What is going on? Just when we think we have an understanding on things, something else comes up and we are back to this perplexing place of questioning and unsettledness. It is a “God” thing. The pressure is on and changes must be made. We are brought again and again to a place of choice. Do we choose to adjust our lives and mindsets to God’s order, or do we resist these changes and try and find comfort in the familiar ways of life we have known, yet are being shaken as well? Nothing and no one seems to be exempt from these trying times.
It Leads to Hope
While in the U.K., I had a dream about hope. In this dream, I was in a house that was not my own, and a family was in the house that I didn’t recognize. At the breakfast table, a well-known prophet was sitting there. I walked in the house, but I was covered with dirt from working outside. This prophet stood up to hug me and I quickly resisted the embrace because of the dirt. I knew in the dream that the dirt was because of hard work and not because of sin.
I asked the prophet what was going on, and his response was, “It results in hope.” At that moment he handed me a Scripture, but I couldn’t remember what it was. When I got up, I researched the Scriptures containing the word hope, and I found the one I felt he gave me in the dream. It is Romans 5:1-6:
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.
“And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.”
If we understand why we are going through what we are going through, then we have strength and courage to go through it. God is taking us through a time of refining and purifying to prove our character and give us hope. As the Church, we must become strong in character, living in the hope of God that does not disappoint.
The Absence of Hope Results in Hopelessness
We have the strength of God to draw from in these troubled times, but the unsaved world is becoming increasingly hopeless. People are searching, and God is raising up men and women to shine in very dark times, proclaiming truth and displaying His power and love. We are being prepared to advance forward, unhindered, and give a message of hope and refuge in times of trouble when men’s hearts would fail them for fear. It’s a process that brings about proven results. Tribulation results in perseverance or endurance. Endurance is the ability to exert ourselves for a long period of time and is a key character trait we often neglect.
Hebrews 10:36 says, “For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.”
Endurance is the key to receiving the promise. So often we “jump ship” when things get hard. We often criticize what we don’t understand and make rash decisions that further delay the work in our lives. God is after something in us. He wants to perfect our character and walk with Him so our walk will not be shaken when the winds and waves hit our house.
Endurance produces proven character and proven character is moral and ethical strength that is noticed by others. It is a mind-and heart-resolve that will not yield to wrongdoing even when no one is looking. It is a built-in attribute that defines us; and proven character is a life stone that attracts God’s favor and anointing. This attribute produces hope that does not disappoint.
Learning to Cast Our Care
The word “cast” literally means to “throw with force.” As we walk through these difficult times, we must learn to cast our care on Him because He cares for us. There are things we are asked to deal with and there are things that are out of our hands to “fix.” If we don’t have the ability to “fix” something, then we must release it to the Lord and let Him take care of it. If we are weighed down with the cares of this life, we will fall under the pressure. Our hope and strength come from God, and His strength is made perfect in our weakness. This dependency on God must be established in these days.
Jesus told us to take His yoke on us and we would find rest for our souls. In Matthew 11:29-30, Jesus said, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
In this place of learning to separate ourselves from things too heavy for us, we realize that we really are partakers of a Divine nature—that Jesus lives in us and is for us. He is causing us to become strong and weak at the same time. He is with us in trouble to deliver us from it, and He is making sure His face is the focal point of our lives and vision.
There is Hope in Our Future
“Thus says the LORD: Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for your work shall be rewarded, says the LORD, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. There is hope in your future, says the LORD, that your children shall come back to their own border.”—Jeremiah 31:16-17
We have hope. Hope is defined as a belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in our lives. God is rewarding us for the work we have done and the work we will do. He is involved in our lives and our children’s lives. The one’s we have been praying for will come back from the land of the enemy. Satan has no hold on our kids whom God has promised to deliver back to us and their borders and destinies. THERE IS HOPE IN OUR FUTURE. At the end, three things are left…faith, hope and love.
Let’s not get discouraged, but let us be encouraged that this process will result in hope and we will see God’s promises fulfilled in our lives. We can do this thing. Let’s encourage each other and get God’s perspective on this, and we’ll all experience this victory together.
Bless ya,
Cindy McGillHope For the Harvest MinistriesEmail: dreaminslc@hotmail.com
Cindy McGill’s Itinerary:May 15-18, 2009San Francisco – Dream Team meetingsDream team training with San Francisco Dream team Email: dreamingina@sbcglobal.net
May 22-23, 2009Christ in You MinistriesDream workshop in Orange County, CAEmail: Ciriza7@aol.com
June 5-7, 2009Wild Kingdom Conference – Prophetic/activation conference with Ray Hughes, Steve Swanson, Cindy McGill and Joann McFatter Revolution Church650 West Lancaster Road; Hayden, Idaho Email: info@revolutionchurch.us or call 208-641-9380Permission is granted (and you are also encouraged) to reprint these articles in hard copy form, as well as sending them to your own email lists and posting them on your own websites. We ask only that you keep ElijahList website, email contact info, and author contact information intact.
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Apr 27, 2009 |
Recently I attended a prayer meeting one cold winter night. It was a beautiful prayer meeting with every indication that God’s presence was there and prayers were answered by the Almighty God.
As we got back into the car to go home the car refused to start. We did all the checks we know/knew how to do but the car would not just move. By this time, around 11 pm, all the other brethren had left and the chilly wind, with the snow, started around 11.00pm. This development was unexpected and I was quiet, and puzzled initially. My wife, who was to drive, started singing but I did not join her immediately as I was still trying to figure out what to do, checking the engine out. Momentarily it started and we moved a few meters/yards from the parking lot to the main road and right there on the road it stopped again. We got out to push the car off the road in that chilly cold night but my wife and I could not, either because our hands were already numbed by the cold or the weight of the car was too heavy for both of us. God sent help; three men, including an aged man who put down his bag by the roadside, came to help us push it off including an aged man who put down his bag by the roadside. By the time we got the car off the road it was well after midnight and as I sat back in the car the song “Only You will I serve I have no other God” came to me and I realize that it is not easy initially to praise God when the unexpected happens.
That night our car could not take us home. In fact while we sat in the car we kept praising HIM and a cab pulled up which took us to another taxi park which eventually got us home by the early hours of the day. We praised HIM with expectations that the car would take us home but it did not. It only took us to the main road only to stop again. We now started praising HIM for HIS Sovereignty because we did not understand why it had to stop again.
We meet many different unexpected situations these days and I know every Christian has his /her own share. To some it might be unexpected job loss .You go to work without anticipating any problem but you are called and given the termination just like that! What do you do? To some you might receive some news that are not within your frame of thoughts like one of my friends will say,” things that did not even show up on your radar screen” that it was coming in. Life has it shares of the unexpected and whenever you are privileged to have that test of life you have to learn how to respond by praising God. You and I do not get to choose the type of test our faith need to go through before we move on to the next level .God who created us and knows our destination allows it to come to us so that we can graduate to the next level of fulfillment. When we take it badly and keep asking God questions like John the Baptist did when Herod put him into prison, we lose focus of God.
Today, I want to encourage you to keep PRAISING God when things are going on well and when the Unexpected happens also Praise HIM. That night in the car my wife started praising HIM immediately the car did not start, it took me a while before I could engage in Praise and I realize that the more addicted we are to praising HIM at all times the better we are at handling the unexpected .As HE that allowed that test will show us a way of escape and we would have moved one more level up in fulfilling our destiny. Weeks later, we now realized for some reasons that the engine oil in the car that night was so low that if we had driven it home the engine would have knocked.
Jan 8, 2009 |
2009 has just begun less than 12 hours over here but I am being led at this time that we are busy saying Happy New Year and Seasonal Greetings to each other to ask you HOW DID YOU RECEIVE THE YEAR ?.There is a saying that says “Morning shows the day” that is how you handle the first few hours might be an indication of how you will likely spend the rest of the day.So by the Spirit of the Lord I am being asked to challenge you today to take charge of this First Day to spend it well Glorifying God, thanking HIM for what HE has done in the previous years and receive concrete wisdom that will make you avoid the mistakes you made in the past.Remove fear from you in all what you start out doing today. Fear of failure must not be allowed in your thought life today.Don’t give up on any of your unfulfilled dreams .The Year 2009 is the Year of Fulfillment .Please make sure that what you are believing God for has the promise of God based on HIS revealed Word attached to it .Anything you are believing God for that is not firmly rooted in the word of God is not Faith. Faith is trusting God for the performance of what HE Has promised you in HIS Word.As you commence 2009 start it right by Making the Right Choices from DAY 1 In all areas of your life.Some people in major parts of the world ushered in the New Year by looking at fireworks of different dimensions and colors and as the days unfold they have nothing in their spirit man to guide them for the year but thoughts of entertainment and pleasure. Gone are the days when what welcomes the New Year in major parts of the World are the bells from the Cathedral Churches and people singing Hymns Glorifying God.You have the unique opportunity now to start right and do the right things today the first day of this brand New 2009HAPPY NEW YEAR
Dec 30, 2008 |
Who Will Bail You Out?
The Global Economic Recession necessitates that various Governments take urgent steps to bail out their financial sectors hence the word Bailout plan has been the household word for most people across the Globe.
The Bailout plan had become necessary as a result of the crash of the stock market on the Wall street in the US .The US Government in other to alleviate the Grave consequences of the chaos in the financial market had put together financial aid to some of the failed institutions.
The reaction of the ordinary man is to cut costs and prepare for the period of depression that will predictably follow and somehow this panic has gripped some Christians and in their thinking of reducing expenses some are contemplating stopping the payments of their tithes and offerings as a prudent measure.
My dear friend reading this message let me ask you this question, when your own economy fails who will bail you out? The Us Government is bailing out critical institutions they considered strategic. Who are you turning to in time of financial crisis? You see as the government felt obliged to rescue these institutions how much more God is ready to rescue you out of the situation you are facing. It is only those that sustain the covenant relationship of tithing along with their regular offerings that God will intervene on their behalf. The Bible says God is a very present help in the time of trouble but its only those who signed up with the covenant of their tithes and offerings that will be bailed out by God.
I read this week in the News that the US Secretary of State was imploring donor countries not to cut off their various aids programmes to various countries because they should honor their pledges and reduce the global hardship on the poor people of the world. That is good in the wisdom of this world. My dear friend, as a child of God you have a greater pact with God than the bilateral agreements governments have with each other or the sense of patriotism that your government may have for you. Tithing is an obligation required by God from you. You are not doing HIM a favor by paying your tithes neither are you making any human being happy by paying your tithes and offerings. Rather you get HIS Favor and unlimited protection when you faithfully tithe. That is HIS Promise to You!!!!
“The LORD is good, A strong hold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him.” Nahum 1:7 NKJV
Amplified version puts it as “The Lord is good, a Strength and Stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows (recognizes, has knowledge of, and understands) those who take refuge and trust in Him.”
Just as the government recognizes the critical sectors of the economy that needs to be addressed, so much more, your creator the Almighty God knows you and is willing and able to bail you out.
The most foolish thing you may do in this season is to cut back on your tithes and offerings you will be acting like an army that is intentionally cutting off its line of food, Arms and Ammunitions in the time of war. This is not the first time that the stock market will crash or other economic disasters will hit the US .It occurred in 1819 which was the first major economic crisis in the United States, ending the economic boom that had followed the war of 1812. It also occurred in 1837,1857,1873,1893,1907 1929 (October 24 1929 otherwise known as Black Thursday) 1987 October 19, which was also called “Black Monday “ and the Dot com crash of 2001 and certainly what we are all witnessing now wont be the last before the end of this world.
Interestingly in all these crisis periods faithful Christians in tithes and offerings have emerged victorious and many transfer of wealth has occurred.
An example of this is Rockefeller in the US. He even moved beyond the traditional 10 percent .The more percentage he gave the more God gave him back. Last week Sunday I listened to the testimonies of an elderly Lady Minister who testified of how she continued tithing faithfully during the 1929 depression period and God has lifted her and her 3 children to places of fulfillment in their lives today.
The Bible says in Psalm 37 verse 25 “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
The Choice is yours- which Bailout Option do you have?
Jeremiah 29 verse 11 says” For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
Malachi 3 verse 10 says “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”
Get God’s full coverage on you finances by giving your tithes and offerings take it to the place where HE has chosen for you.
Your best Bailout plan is to keep giving your tithes and offerings.
Dec 30, 2008 |
YOU HAVE BEEN DIVINELY DIRECTED TO THE PLACE WHERE GOD IS GOING TO EMPOWER YOU TO FULFILL YOUR DESTINY.
AS YOU READ AND GIVE YOUR HONEST AND SINCERE FEEDBACK THE INTERACTION WILL LIBERATE YOU AND OPEN YOUR EYES TO SEE HOW GOD IS POSITIONING YOU TO FULFILL YOUR DESTINY.
Acts 10:38 (King James Version)
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
GOD IS WITH YOU IN THAT SITUATION OR CIRCUMSTANCE YOU ARE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW AND HE IS GOING TO TURN IT AROUND FOR HIS GLORY AND YOUR BLESSING AS YOU TRUST HIM