Meeting God In The Everyday Moments

    “As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:4-5).
    Let’s go back to 1 Peter Chapter 2 to discover more instructions for living a godly life, which we are building on the framework of God’s Word.
   • Submit to the authority of those over you. When a construction crew begins the process of a new structure, they must acquire the correct permits from the proper authority. There cannot be any deviation from the procedures outlined in the blueprints. Doing what is right, even when we think no one is watching, will silence the criticism of others.
    • Live like free people. Thank God we are free! However, we must not flaunt our freedom in the face of those whom the blood of Jesus Christ has not yet redeemed. Our desire should be to model what true freedom looks and feels like.
    • Show respect for everyone. Oops, this one slips by us all sometimes. Have you ever been so frustrated with a customer service
representative who did not seem to understand your complaint that
you forgot to respect them as a person?
   • Do not retaliate for unjust treatment. “It just isn’t fair!” Maybe not. Did Jesus shout back at his accusers with insults? Did he make
threats? Or did he trust the righteous judge of all? 
   These four things can be challenging to carry out daily if we trust only in our abilities. We must
place our confidence in the hands of God Almighty, who will equip us to do the right thing. An honorable testimony goes a long way toward winning lost souls to salvation. Do you want to win others to Jesus? Live honorably among them!                   mdz

    “So that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory and power of the Father, we too might walk habitually in newness of life [abandoning our old ways]” (Romans 6:4 Amplified.)
    How exciting that we are building a new life for ourselves in Christ! Have you ever built a new home? It’s an exhilarating experience to watch it being built from the ground up – to see the foundation laid upon solid ground, the exterior walls create a secure perimeter, the interior spaces determined by the “framework,” and shelter provided by a solid roof.
    When you walk in for the first time after your home is complete,
you may experience a sense of awe. You see the finishing touches you chose to reflect you and your style. You are anxious to move in and “walk habitually in the newness of your home.”
    It should be the same for our spiritual life in Christ. An amazing
transformation took place through the sacrifice of the Son of God to
provide a safe shelter. How can we continue to walk daily in this new
life? It is imperative to abandon our old ways. We are not who we
used to be; we have been changed! We are new creatures living in a new house.
    There is much to learn as we inhabit our new home. Becoming
acquainted with and studying the Word of God will strengthen our walk. Maintenance will be required to keep it looking brand new. Don’t we repair cracks, chipped paint, and broken appliances in our temporal homes? Our spiritual home deserves the same attention to detail. We must appreciate the new residence and never take it for granted. I believe the key to walking in the newness of life is developing good spiritual habits as we learn and grow in our relationship with our Savior. And just like our physical home, our spiritual home will exponentially increase in value.
                                               mdz

    “He poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him” (Leviticus 8:12).
    A new anointing is necessary for continued spiritual growth. It isn’t
a “one and done” event. Your purpose and God’s plan for your life will require an “upgrade” of your anointing along the way. When we build a physical structure, design changes will require an upgrade or change
in the framework.
    God wants to stretch you to new heights. It’s nothing to fear, but neither can it be taken lightly. When God speaks to your heart about something new or different that He wants you to do, allow Him to equip you with a new anointing. What has He called you to do? Is it to be a witness to the lost? Is it to teach children about the things of God? Is it to be an intercessory prayer warrior? Is it to go and preach the gospel to all the world? Each one of these callings (or purposes) requires a special anointing. Whatever He has called you to do will require an anointing.
    In our scripture reference above, Moses anointed the head of
Aaron. This was done to consecrate and dedicate him for a specific purpose, to set him apart for the divine work he was called to do. The same is true for us; we need to be anointed for what God calls us to do. No matter what our purpose is, as an individual or as a church, it requires an anointing from God. To proceed in our own knowledge or abilities will usually result in failure. Success is attained when we rely on the anointing from God. Expect great things as you function in His anointing upon your life.
                                               mdz

Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”
Psalm 126:2 NIV
   Our framework is taking great shape since the year 2025 began. The posts, or studs, are being installed in their specific places for strength. We have been transformed, we believe, we trust, we are freshly anointed, we are walking in the newness of life, and we are expecting great things.
    Did you eat any corn last week? Pastor Zimmer asked us specifically to eat corn last week as a reminder of what a tiny seed can become when we expect great
things from it. The farmer plants a few small kernels to yield a field full of cornstalks, each filled with many ears of corn loaded with small kernels that nourish our bodies. Have you ever counted the kernels on an ear of corn? It will
remind you of what God can do with small things.
    The Bible reminds us of many great things that happened because of seemingly
insignificant small things. In Mark 12:43-44, Jesus said the offering of the widow’s two mites was greater than the offerings of the rich.
What about the five stones of David? He was not like the large soldiers; their armor was too cumbersome for him to use as he approached the giant. All David
needed was one of those five small stones and a determination to destroy the enemy. (1 Samuel 17:26-50).
    The widow at Zaraphath had nothing left but enough flour and oil to make one last meal for herself and her son. Yet, she followed the instructions of the prophet Elijah to feed him first. Then, her supply of oil and flour became endless! (1 Kings 17:7-16).
    A young lad showed up on a hillside with his bagged lunch. When he placed it in the hands of Jesus, that fish and bread fed over 5,000 people that Jesus did not
want to send away hungry. He cares about your needs, too. (Matthew 14:13-21).
   When we are willing to use the small things the Lord has given us, we can expect the miraculous!

          The Word Travels
“We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. (Joshua 2:10)”
    The enemies of the Israelites learned what God had done for them at the Red Sea, and they knew they were headed their way. They were fearful of their outcome because of the miraculous parting of the Red Sea. What would God do next for the children of Israel as they followed God’s instructions? Verse 24 states that the people in Jericho were “melting with fear.”
Do you want your enemy to melt with fear? As the book of Joshua
continues in chapter 3, two basic instructions are given to the Israelites to follow for victory.
• Consecrate yourselves (verse 5).
• Come and listen to the Word of the Lord (verse 9).
   How do these instructions apply to our “framework” today?
   As we continue to construct our building with a solid and sturdy frame, we must be consecrated to doing a good job, doing it the right way, and even calling in experts in their field to help us along the way when necessary. Let’s do it right the first time so our structure lasts forever!
   Secondly, come together and listen. There wasn’t one Israelite who by himself could do the job; it had to be a group effort. So it is with us today. We gather together and listen intently to God’s Word as He lays out the floor plan and the details of our assignment.
   If you want to be victorious over your enemy, then follow these two simple instructions. Remember, defeat is not an option! You can be victorious every day of your life.                                                    mdz