Tag: Life

the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death.
“the origins of life” GOD

 

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Life’s Ups And Downs

I always say life is like a roller coaster. In life, we all have ups and downs. This time of year can be especially challenging. There are seasons that are more difficult when our character is being developed, and our faith in God is being strengthened. Sometimes, it can feel like we are taking two steps forward and three steps backward. If we’re not careful, we’ll start thinking that life is always going to be this way.

God doesn’t want us to live life like a roller coaster. He wants to bring us to a place of stability, so we can remain strong in Him. Jesus said, “I am the vine. You are the branches. If you abide in me, you will bear much fruit and your fruit will remain.” The word “remain” means “to be fixed, immovable, not affected by circumstances.”

Today, if you will just keep abiding in Him, just keep meditating on His Word, He’ll bring you through. He’ll make you strong. He’ll keep you stable, and you’ll embrace the life of blessing and focus He has prepared for you!

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

(John 15:7, NIV)

Pray With Me
Yahshua, thank You for wanting to remain with a sinner like me. I choose to set my heart and mind on You, despite the roller coaster of life, knowing that You are good, faithful and stable. Father, I trust that as I seek You and put You first, You will direct my steps. God, today I’m choosing to remain in You, and follow You in everything I do, in Jesus’ Name! Amen.

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God Has Prepared Your Blessing

Victory In Christ

God took Adam, who He had just breathed life into, and put him in the garden. Notice Adam came into a prepared blessing, something that God had already finished for him. Think about Adam and Eve in the garden. God took the first five days and created the heavens, the earth, the sky, the land and the water. He planted a garden. He put in it beautiful flowers and luscious fruit. He designed rivers to flow through it. He put precious treasures in the ground: onyx, gold and silver. Yes Adam came into a prepared blessing.

When God laid out the plan for your life, He lined up the right people, the right breaks and the right opportunities. He has blessings that have your name on them. If you will stay in faith and keep honouring God, one day you will come in to what already belongs to you. It’s a prepared blessing! Hallelujah!

Today, in the same way, God has some prepared blessings in store for you. He has worked, arranging things in your favour, getting it all perfectly in place. You couldn’t make it happen on your own. It’s just the goodness of God bringing you into a prepared blessing!

“You prepare a table before me”¦”

(Psalm 23:5, NIV)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, thank You for preparing a place of blessing for me from before I was born. Father, I choose to trust You and Your timing, knowing that You are working things out on my behalf. God, I glorify You for Your awesome timing and preparation in my life, in Jesus’ Name! Amen.

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Spotlight with Rob DePalo Writer/Producer Tapestry (2019) – Christian Film

In 2011 I was called into meet with my boss at a major commercial bank in New York City. After 25 years of top-performance,  I was told that my position was eliminated and there was no longer a place for me in middle-management.  I was angry, devastated, bitter and worried. My oldest son was about to enter an expensive college, we had just booked an expensive 7-day cruise for our family of five and suddenly like the flip of a light switch, things had turned dark… a 50 year old family man with no job! 

To compound matters,  my marriage was in a bad place, my kids were at the point where they no longer needed me,  and my mother was in the hospital dealing with a life-threatening illness. I managed to stay on with the bank but in order to do so I had to take a lower level position which began to create episodes of panic attacks and long-term depression.  All along I was still dealing with the problems within my family life and my ailing mother.  My world was crumbling. Just when all seemed lost, events started to unfold which led me to a different perspective on life and God’s involvement in our lives. 

I wrote a story and called it “TAPESTRY” and that story became a film.  Not only had God aided me in my life, but I truly feel that HIS hand was weaving a Tapestry that would take me down a road of discovery and ultimately peace in my life. This film in many ways was written by God as HE gave me the gift and inspired me to tell a story that I truly feel God wanted me to tell. I am a first time film maker who had a very small budget to make this film with but thanks to God’s will, and many very talented Christians who came together in a labor of love, we were able to get veteran actors such as Stephen Baldwin, Tina Louise and Burt Young to play the main characters in the movie. My name is Rob DePalo. 

I hope that people will watch this film,  and take from it the messages of Hope, and Love, and Christianity. The film is streaming on Amazon Prime, iTunes,  Christiancinema.com,  Comcast Xfinity, and VUDU  and is also available in DVD format as well.  

Tapestry was an official selection at the following film festivals:  International Christian Film Festival,  The IndieFest FilmAwards, The Green Mountain Film Festival,  The Winter Film Awards and the International Online Web Fest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIfIhxjUvXk

Director:

Ken Kushner

Writers:

Rob DePalo, Ken Kushner 

Stars:

Tina Louise, Stephen Baldwin, Burt Young 

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A NEW YOU: God can change impossible situations

Does this situation look impossible? It’s time to believe God for something that seems impossible? We serve a great and mighty God, and He can create something out of nothing! He can make a way when there seems to be no way. Before God spoke the world into existence, it was formless and void. If God can make the world out of nothing, He can take the empty places in your life and create something beautiful too.

Today, God can speak light into your darkest hour. He can take your formless dreams that seems to be fading and give them shape. He can resurrect your dormant gifts and talents! He can make your crooked places straight! Trust Him in all things, because He can make something out of nothing, there is nothing too hard for Him! trust Him at this time!

“The earth was formless and void”¦and God said, let there be light.” (Genesis 1:2—3, NASB)

Pray With Me

Yahweh, I trust that You will make a way where there seems to be no way. Father, thank You for forming my shapeless life. Now God, fill the void that is in my life today because of this world’s circumstances and instabilities. Please, I beg You, turn on the light in our darkness today. Give me Your peace and faith, and give me a vision of hope which is bigger than my now. I trust You in Christ’s Name! Amen.

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God Kill Those Weeds

I visited the four seasons nursery in Malawi some years ago and I was looking at the weeds. I am reminded of Jesus in Matthew 13, telling a parable about a man who went out to his field and planted wheat in the ground. He sowed good seed. This represents that he was doing the right thing — honouring God with his life and being good to others. But while he slept, an enemy came in and planted weeds. The man didn’t know what had happened. He was expecting to have a great harvest; after all, he had done all the right things, but the weeds still sprang up among his wheat and cause destruction amongst many.

When life seems great, unexpectedly things will happen. The enemy comes in and sows weeds to strangle us, and cause destruction that we didn’t have anything to do with. The key is to keep the right attitude and stay focused on God, the sower of goodness. When these unexpected challenges happen, we must say, “it’s just another weed, I won’t panic, I didn’t sow it, the enemy is not going to get me off focus, so I don’t have to reap it.” Then we can keep the door open for God to move on our behalf and deal with what the enemy has done.

Today, don’t let the weeds in your life take root. Don’t let discouragement creep in. Instead, lift up your eyes of faith to what your Father God can do for you. He will protect you from all evil, so keep believing, keep praying and keep hoping, because your harvest is on the way!

“Jesus told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.’”

(Matthew 13:24—25, NIV)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, thank You for the truth of Your Word which sets me free from the weeds the enemy has sown in my life. Help me to keep my heart and mind focused on You and not the weeds. Father, give me Your peace, strength and wisdom, as I uproot the weeds in my life, and focus on the harvest that You have for my future. God, please remove the devil and his weeds today, so I won’t get strangled by them, and totally lose my focus, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

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More Hope Than Optimism

Talking to some of the youth at school yesterday, amidst their optimism, there also seems to be a lot of hopelessness. It’s time to set our hope on God so we are not easily swayed by the trials of life.

Setting our hope on God means we set our lives in the right direction. One translation of today’s verse says, “look forward to more and more of God’s favour.” God wants to pour out His goodness and grace on you. He wants to help you get ahead in this life. He wants to lead you to the right job. He wants to lead you to the right relationship. But here’s the key: we have to be on the lookout for more and more of God’s favour. More and more of God’s hope. More and more of God’s grace. That tells me that we can’t get stagnant.

Today, meditate on the truth that God wants to do more than you can even ask or think. It says in Ephesians that He wants to show us the immeasurable, limitless, surpassing greatness of His free favour. In other words, God wants to go above and beyond what we’re used to! He wants to show you favour in unusual and extraordinary ways. Set your hopes dynamically higher today, and increase your expectations of what God will do in your life!

“…set your hope wholly and unchangeably on the grace (divine favour) that is coming to you when Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is revealed.”

(1 Peter 1:13, AMP)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, thank You for Your abundance in every area of my life today. Father, I will set my hope on You, knowing that You want to do more in my life than I can ever imagine. God, by faith I receive more of Your favour, grace and hope. God, teach me to be a vessel used by You, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

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Corona Virus — No Match For God’s Covenant Of Peace

Yesterday I was speaking to some people who was frustrated with the panic over corona virus. They were full of complaints and fear. My advice to them, as it is to you is, “no matter what you may be facing in life, God is with you. You don’t ever have to feel anxious, worried or upset, because you have a covenant of peace with the Almighty.” That means His peace is always available to you.

Remember this, God’s peace passes all understanding. That means you can have peace when it doesn’t make sense to have peace. When the rest of the world seems to be upset or fretting, you don’t have to be upset or fret. When viruses appear, When loved ones die unexpectedly, you can be at peace, knowing that God has promised to supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory. When the bills are high and the money is low, you can trust that God is your refuge, and He will cause you to live in safety. He’ll make a way where there seems to be no way. Hallelujah!

Today, despite the panic of this corona virus and the death of hundreds of people around the world, begin to trust in God’s promises. Thank Him for His peace and faithfulness in your life. Declare that God’s peace and joy dwells and rules in your heart and mind. As you dwell on God’s promises, your heart will be at rest, and you’ll experience the blessing of His peace and not panic.

“And I will make with them a covenant of peace”¦” 

(Ezekiel 34:25, KJV)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, thank You for Your covenant of peace. I receive it by faith today. Father, I choose not to worry, fret or panic over this outbreak of the corona virus. God, I will keep my heart and mind fixed on the comfort of Your promises, and I declare the gift of Your peace over my heart and mind, and rebuke that spirit of panic, satanic distrust and selfishness. I lift up those around the world affected by this virus, and ask for total healing in Jesus’ Name! Please comfort those that mourn. Amen.

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Insanity Is Doing the Same Thing Over and Over Again and Expecting Different Results

Photo by Leonardo Sanches

There is an old saying – “you can’t do the same thing all the time and expect a different result.” Too often, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut, doing the same thing, the same way, over and over every day. But if we are going to live at our absolute best, our optimum, we should constantly be growing and sharpening our skills. We should strive to learn and grow every single day, because when you stop learning, you stop growing. When you stop growing, you stop living.

Right now what are you doing to stretch yourself? What are you doing to improve your skills? Don’t get trapped into thinking that what you are doing is good enough. You were created for more than just average. Hallelujah!

Today is a new day, and there are new heights for you to climb. Pursue what you love and keep developing that area of your life. Take a class, or find a mentor that will help you live skillfully. Increase in your spiritual giftings. Be skilled at your work and stand blessed before leaders, rulers and politicians!

“Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings…” 

(Proverbs 22:29, NIV)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, today I choose to rise out of mediocrity. I want to live and not just survive. I want to stop doing the same thing everyday and expecting a different result. Father, I choose to give my very best to everything I do. Teach me how to grow, improve, and stretch myself, so that I can live a better life and be the best I can be. God, teach me to live skillfully, so that my life is a continual praise to You, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

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How Can We Declare God’s Word Over Our Lives

It amazes me that we have so many weak, powerless Christians. Did you know that when you speak the Word of God, it activates power in your life? In fact, today’s verse says to not let it depart from your mouth. In other words, keep speaking and confessing the Word of God — no matter what your circumstances seem like.

When you keep God’s Word in your mind, heart and mouth, it empowers you to obey all that the Lord commands. Do you need strength today to overcome temptation? Do you need to be empowered to walk in love? Get the Word of God in your heart and declare what the Word of God says about your situation.

Today, declare God’s word and notice what will happen: you will have the keys to prosperity and success in every area of your life. As you continue to speak the Word of God, you will be empowered in every area of your life, and you will live the life of victory the Lord has promised!

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall read [and meditate on] it day and night, so that you may be careful to do [everything] in accordance with all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will be successful.” 

(Joshua 1:8, AMP)

Pray With Me

Yahweh, thank You for Your Word which gives me strength and activates power and prosperity. Father, fill me with Your power so that I can obey Your commands. God, I declare success in my life today based upon Your Word. God, I bless You today and always, in Christ’ name! Amen.

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Love From The Red Sea

This morning I was reminiscing about when Jen and I were sitting on a yacht on the Red Sea, overlooking Egypt on one side and Israel on the other. It was amazing, the lights, the stars and the bright half moon all seemed so surreal. But what was clear was God’s love. All through this region, throughout its history, we see God’s love for His people. There is tremendous power in love! In the same way that a tree will grow taller and stronger when its roots grow deep, you will be stronger and rise higher when you are rooted and established in God’s love.

You may ask the all important question, how do you establish yourself in love? It starts with a choice. When you say “yes” to love, you are saying “yes” to God, because God is love! Then, you choose love again, according to 1 Corinthians 13. Love means being patient and kind. It means not seeking your own way, not being jealous or boastful. 

Today, When you choose love instead of choosing your own way, you are showing the world that God is first place in your life. The more you choose to walk in love, the deeper and stronger your roots will grow. Let me remind you, love is the greatest thing, and it is all that will last in eternity. Choose to establish yourself in love, and let it be firm within you. Let His love build security in you, and empower you to live the life of blessing He has in store for you.

“”¦May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love.” 

(Ephesians 3:17, AMP)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, today and everyday, I choose love. Father, show me how to love You and others the way You love me. Give me patience and kindness. Take away selfishness, jealousy and pride. God, thank You for setting me free and empowering me to live the good life You have prepared for me, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

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I Have The King’s Power And Authority

Did you know that you were created with power and authority. Today’s scripture tells us that we have the mark of authority of the Almighty. We don’t often hear about signet rings anymore; but in Bible times, they were very significant. The signet ring was used to identify the message or messenger, and the authority they had. In other words, you knew something was from the king because it was marked by his signet ring. It was representative of power and authority. God has chosen and set you apart to be identified with Him. Hallelujah!

When you have someone’s power and authority, it’s like having power of attorney; you have the authority to act on behalf of that individual. As a believer in Jesus, you are marked with His seal. Think of all you have access to today!

Today, think about the authority you have. Everything God has is available to you healing, provision, strength, peace and joy. You have been given authority to unlock His abundant blessings and power over all the forces of evil in Jesus’ Name. Accept His seal, and you will be marked to live the abundant life He has in store for you!

“‘”¦I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the LORD Almighty.” 

(Haggai 2:23, NIV)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, thank You for choosing me and calling me Your own. Father, help me to fully understand the authority and power You’ve placed in me, through Your Son and Holy Spirit. God, I receive all the supernatural blessings You have for me today, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

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Success: What is it? What is God’s Idea of Success?

Have you heard the saying “what goes around comes around?” God has a system in place in order to bless you, and it works on the principle of sowing and reaping. What you pour out to others, it will come back to you in increased measure. When you give generously, a generous harvest will return to you. When you help others succeed, you will find abundant success on your own path too.

Remember there are people in your life who will help you reach your full potential. These are people that God has placed in your life for you to help along, for you to sow into. The higher they rise up, the higher you will rise up too. When you give generously of your time, talent and resources, you are setting yourself up for greater success.

Today, what are you doing to invest in the lives of the people around you? Are you helping others get ahead? Step out and sow a seed, not necessarily of money. Look for ways to help others. As you sow success, you’ll reap success, and move forward and upward into the life God has in store for you!

“Send your grain across the seas, and in time, profits will flow back to you.”

 (Ecclesiastes 11:1 NLT)

Pray With Me
Jehovah, I open my heart to You and the success You have in store for me. Father, use me to be a blessing in the lives of others, helping them become successful in You. God, I believe in Your principle whatsoever we sow we will reap. Help me to sow positively, show me where to invest my time, talent and resources, to help others succeed for Your glory, in Jesus’ Name! Amen.

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What did Jesus mean when He said, “Ask and you shall receive”?

Yesterday I was thinking about one of my needs that’s not happening for me. I felt disappointed. I wonder today how many people have been disappointed simply because they didn’t pray and ask God for the big things in their hearts. You might say, “well, Ray, God is God. If He wants to bless me, He will bless me.” But no, it says in James 4:2, “you have not because you ask not.” If you’re not asking big, you are shortchanging yourself.

You will never reach the fullness of your potential if you only pray small prayers. I’m not talking about just making a wish list and praying every whim. I’m talking about asking God for what He has already promised you. The scripture says, “when you walk in God’s ways, you will lend and not borrow. With long life God will satisfy you. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Today, there are hundreds of promises that you have every right to pray and ask God to bring to pass; not only that, there are specific dreams and desires that God has placed in your heart. They didn’t just randomly show up. The Creator of the universe put them in you. I dare you to ask, and ask big, and watch what God will do in your life!

“”¦you do not have because you do not ask.”

(James 4:2, NKJV)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, today I ask You to fulfil the promises and dreams You have placed in my heart. Father, I will be detailed and not limited in my asking of You for blessings. God, I believe that You are waiting and willing for me to ask big. God, I believe that You are able, and I believe that You are working things together for my good, as I put my hope, trust and belief in You, as I change my thinking from small to spiritually massive, in Christ’s Name! Amen. 

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Do You Need Hope or Faith for Something Today?

Since being back in the UK, I’ve noticed that folk look sad and down. The Bible tells us that Jesus came to give us abundant life. Not only did He come to give you life in eternity, but He desires that you experience abundant life here on earth. He wants your relationships to be vibrant and alive. He wants your dreams to be alive. He wants your body, heart and mind to be alive and full of vitality. God is the source of all life, and when you seek Him, you will find Him, and the result will be everlasting life.

Are there areas in your life that need to be resurrected? Are there things that you’ve put on the back burner that you need to revive again? Do you need hope or faith for something today?

Today, seek God and allow Him to breathe His life into you. Seek Him with your dreams; seek Him with your plans. Seek Him in all things, and you will find His abundant life, and everything you set your hand to will prosper in Jesus’ name.

“”¦Seek me and live.” 

(Amos 5:4, NIV)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, thank You for giving me abundant life, both now and in eternity. God, I don’t want to just survive, I want to live a powerful, happy and excited life. So God, I give You my dreams and my plans, resurrect them and make them live. I humbly seek You today, giving You all that I am. I ask for Your hand of blessing and guidance in everything I do. In Jesus’ name! Amen.

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I Wish I Hadn’t Said That

Yesterday I said something I wish I could have taken back, but I couldn’t. Have you said something recently that you wish you hadn’t? The Bible says that your words reveal what’s going on inside of you. If you go around speaking negative words of defeat, putting others down and complaining all the time, it’s a sign that you need to re-focus your heart and mind. It’s a sign that your “hard drive” is polluted.

It is said that our bodies work a lot like a computer. What you put on the hard drive of your heart, will show up on the monitor of your mouth. The good news is that you can reprogram your mind the same way you can reprogram a computer. The Bible says that your mind can be renewed–or reprogrammed. The more you read and study His Word, the more it will transform you from the inside out.

Today, ask the Lord to reveal anything in your heart that needs changing. Make Him first place in your life. Fill your heart with the good treasure of God’s Word, so that blessings come out of your mouth. Let the hard drive of your heart be filled with faith, expectancy and hope, and you’ll see God’s hand of blessing in every area of your life.

“”¦For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” 

(Matthew 12:34, NKJV)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, I humbly come before You, and ask that You cleanse the hard drive of my heart and mind of anything that isn’t pleasing to You. Father, reprogram me and renew me. Fill me with Your faith, peace, joy and love, so that I can overflow with Your goodness and positivity today and always, in Christ’ Name! Amen.

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Spiritual Seasons in the Christian Life

In this new year we expect four seasons – winter, spring, summer and autumn. Just like the four seasons in the year, God has ordained seasons and cycles in our lives. Sometimes, when our dreams aren’t coming to pass on our timetable, we can be tempted to get frustrated. We have to be careful not to allow our attitude to keep us from moving forward. Let God determine your season – He won’t give you more than you can bear, trust Him, He will get you through.

Just like in a 12 month cycle, In God’s kingdom, every season is not harvest. There are ploughing seasons, planting seasons and watering seasons. Sure, we would love for every season to be a time of increase; but without the other seasons, we wouldn’t be prepared. Seasons come to prepare for harvest and increase. It’s during the ploughing season that God brings issues to light that we need to deal with. He’s getting us prepared for success.

Today, if you’re not making as much progress as you would like, the key is not to lose any ground. Don’t go backwards. Hold your position by keeping an attitude of faith and expectancy, even when it’s hard. Keep pushing and stay positive by speaking God’s Word daily. This month keep pressing through winter, spring is on the way. Hold on during the uncertainty of spring, because the consistency of summer is coming, just before your harvest or increase in every area of life!

“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.”

(Ecclesiastes 3:1, NLT)

Pray With Me

Yahweh, thank You for Your faithfulness in all seasons of my life. Father, I trust that my time is coming, and I choose to remain faithful to You as I await my harvest and increase. God, I submit my ways to You, and trust that You have the best plan for my life, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

 

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