Encouraging Word

Intro:
Jesus’ prayer in Matthew 6 was that God’s will be done on earth, just like heaven. Hi this is Dorette Schaal with your daily eword. God wants us to experience a taste of heaven on the earth. He wants heaven to come where we live. That was the original design in the garden of Eden. But Jesus came, as a baby to re-established the original, and to reverse the curse for us. In Matthew 6:9-13 what is commonly known as The Lord’s Prayer, Jesus taught us how to pray:

Our Father, who art in heaven
Holy is your Name
Your Kingdom Come
Your Will be Done
On earth
As it is
In Heaven

Let’s experience Heaven on Earth, today, throughout Christmas and into the New Year!
Here is your daily eword.

Monday
It sounds like Jesus’ model prayer gives place for the original design to be re-established on the earth. “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” A thought hit me one time that really is astounding….for the believer, earth is as close to hell as we will ever be, but for the unbeliever, earth is as close to heaven as they will ever be. Wow! So for the believer, earth can be really good, plus we have heaven to look forward to, so the best is yet to come. For the unbeliever, without the peace of God in their life, earth can be ok or pretty bad, and there is nothing good past their final breath. For them, this life is as good as it gets. It puts things into perspective, doesn’t it?

What does heaven manifested on earth it look like? When I think of what heaven is like, I think of wonderful communion with the Father, a place of rest and peace, joy that is too amazing to explain, worship around the throne all the time, and beautiful ways of communicating our love for God all around, with absolutely no need for anything else. Wow, if heaven is even half of that, it will be abundantly above all we could ever ask or think! So what should heaven on earth look like? Probably a lot of the same things!

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When we look in the Gospels, we see that one of the things God is looking for is people who understand submission and authority. It is good for us to know when and where we have authority. Did you know that Jesus commended the one who had the greatest faith as the one who understood submission and authority? He looks for those who understand that He’s the boss, and that when He asks us to jump, our answer is, “how high?” He also is seeking those who are not “know it all’s”, but really seek His wisdom in every situation they come up against. They are teachable, and open to hearing specific direction from Him. Do you think it is possible to walk in dominion, and to take dominion, yet still be under submission? I think this story of the centurion in Matt 8 makes it clear that we can. In fact, when we do walk in submission and operate in the authority we have in Christ, we can see mighty things take place. Because the centurion’s servant was healed, we see that miracles and healings can take place from being people of faith and having great faith. Faith changes things. Faith is the evidence of things unseen. A healing was needed and then became manifest, because of knowing the power in the words of Jesus. We have his Words available to us. We can other tools as well. We can use His name, we have the power of the Holy spirit on the inside of us. We have the keys to the kingdom. God wants to manifest His anointing and power on the earth through us, as yielded vessels, under submission to God, and operate in the authority God has given us.

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Hi kids, thanks for reading encouraging word for kids today. This is Dorette with some thoughts for you to think about today. With thanksgiving this week, I hope you know how important it is to live in an attitude of gratitude. We know that God is looking for worshipers who live with a grateful heart. Is that what he finds when he looks at you? I hope so. Here is your encouraging Word for today.

Have you ever wondered what characteristics God is looking for when He looks at you? That may sound like a silly question, but the Bible tells us to knock, ask, and seek, and the door will be answered, God will hear us, and we will find Him. In other words, we are to be looking for God. But in John 4:23, it says that God is seeking or looking for a certain kind of person. He is looking for you! He is looking for someone to worship Him. God doesn’t have a big ego that needs to be stroked, He just wants us to choose Him above everything else. Matt 6:33 says for us to seek Him first. What is amazing is that when we do, He promises to supply all of our needs. It sure sounds like we get the best end of that bargain! So what else do you think He is seeking or looking for? We know he is looking for worshipers, but he is also looking for faith. Without faith we can’t be God pleasers, so he is looking for people who have activated their faith life, because faith without works amounts to nothing, or as the Bible says, is dead. He seeks those who understand authority that He is the boss and that although He has called us friends, we still are called to serve Him. He also is looking for those who have a heart that is open, and are sensitive to His Holy Spirit. One last thing I know God is looking for is faithfulness. I know that sounds like a lot of stuff all at once, but God’s Spirit lives inside of you, and He has given you power to live a life that is committed to H im, for all the days of your life. So what is God looking for in you? He’s looking to see a heart that is completely His. I know He’ll find that in you.

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Lastly, at least on my list, God is looking for people who are faithful and consistent. Often the “steady eddies” of Christianity get overlooked. They just do what is right to do, because it is right to do. They do it without fanfare or a drum roll, and with a sweet attitude and a smile. God is looking for those kinds of attributes. He’s looking to say, well done, my good and faithful servant. Not just well, you’re done! When we do our best for God, we can enter into the joy of the Lord. One of the privileges of serving God my whole life is that I don’t have a time that I can look back on when I was sowing wild oats, or that I fell away from God for a while. I am thankful for parents who raised me in church and who were always there when God’s Word was being preached, or if there was any activity that we could be involved in. They made church a priority. It was a very balanced upbringing. They loved God and were the same at home as they were at work or in church, or at school. There was a consistency that I learned to follow. We were not only taught to be faithful, it was modeled in front of us. How thankful I am for that. Because of that, I have always loved God house. I have always loved God’s people. I have always wanted to serve God with my whole heart. How about you….what are you modeling to your kids? Do they see you have a desire to stand up for truth, to be a faithful, consistent person everywhere you are? Is church life and following God a priority, or is it on the back burner for some other time in your life. I want to encourage you….seek God first. He’s looking for those who do just that. He’s seeking for you!

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Happy Thanksgiving to you! We are talking about the kind of people God is looking for, and one thing we know that he wants to find are people who have a heart of thanksgiving. As you think about the beauty of this day, and as you gather to eat some wonderful food, and have great conversation and fellowship, why not take some time and count your blessings. I love that old song, count your blessings name the one by one, count your blessings, see what God has done…. What has God done in your life.? Have you experienced His goodness? Have you seen His faithfulness manifested on your behalf? Do you see His hand of protection on your family? Do you recognize that His mercies are new every morning for you? I know you can say yes! God is so good. He is good, and He’s been good to me. For those things that you are praying for, and using your faith for, God’s Word tells us in Phil 4;6 by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving to let our requests be made known unto God. When we operate in faith, we are thankful even before we see the manifestation. We know God is working on our behalf. We rejoice knowing that the answer will come, and it is on its way. We don’t keep asking and asking, we ask and then thank Him for hearing and answering. When we are praying in line with His Word, which is His will, we will have the petitions we ask of Him. What a wonderful thing to thank God for. Don’t forget to count your blessings today.

Friday

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Would you like to be a person who is full of Faith? Count me in! In Matt 8, a centurion came up to Jesus asking Him to heal his servant. Jesus responded that he would glad go and restore him. The centurion replied that he knew how submission and authority works. He said, “All I have to do is tell one of my men go and he goes, or come and he comes, or do this and he does it.” Jesus then replied in verse 10, “I tell you truly, such faith I have not seen in anyone, in all of Israel.” Jesus told the soldier he had the greatest faith in all of Israel! So what can we learn from him? Maybe his house was dirty and he didn’t want Jesus to see the mess(!) No, he realized that there is power in the spoken word, and that Jesus had authority to heal, even by speaking alone. At that very moment, the servant was healed. There are levels of authority that we can learn from in the Bible. The military is a perfect example of how levels of authority work. You are promoted to the next rank, when you show superior faithfulness and commitment, and your abilities prove you can handle the job. The General has the right to tell anyone what to do. Jesus is like the General. When He died on the cross, and said it is finished, His work was done, and He gave His authority to us. He told us to go and be about His Father’s business. We now have a responsibility to operate in His name. So our words can be powerful. He told us to speak to mountains in our way. He gave us authority to lay hands on those who are sick. He wants us to be equipped to be His hands and feet on the earth. So will God find faith in you! I have faith that He will!

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Do you know what kind of people God is looking for? He is looking for people who are worshipers. (John 4:23). My heart has always been to be a worshiper and a God follower. He is looking for people who will passionately worship him, not only with their lips and their songs, but with their life. Don’t you want to be the kind of person that God can whisper direction to and you will know he is speaking to you? Then you will honor His leading and will listen and obey. Do you think God will find what He is looking for in you? Is your heart open and pure before Him and would he call you a worshiper? In the midst of all the negative junk that goes on in the world, I do believe that God’s people are these kind of people. They are passionate. The live what they speak. They aren’t compromising. They don’t give in to doubt or unbelief. They stand strong in the liberty that God has for them. They not only know the Word, they sing it and they live it. A worshiper worships in spirit and in truth. That means they’re not living or ruled by the flesh, and that their lives are honestly lived before a holy God. Let’s decide to seek God with all of our heart, and then we know we will be found in HIM. When we give him the top priority, and let Him rule and reign in our lives, we can say with certainty that we are who God is looking for. He will find a worshipers in you.

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What is God looking for? That may sound like a funny question, but it is important that we, as His children, be who He is looking for. Hi, this is Dorette Schaal with an encouraging word for your day. This week we celebrate Thanksgiving, and one thing we know God seeks is those who will operate in faith with a thankful heart, even before we see our prayers manifest. So be encouraged today, to be the one God is looking for.

Word for the Week: John 4:23 …..for God is seeking people who worship Him in spirit and in truth.

In the King James Version of the Bible, John 4: 23 is quoted like this: The Father seeketh such …..(KJV) which means He is looking for. Do you know that there are quite a few things that God is looking for on the earth? We’ll be talking about those this week. I am so thankful that although I was once lost, now I am found. Jesus came to seek and to save those who were lost (Luke 19:10) I’m thankful that when we seek His face, He will hear us and heal our land (II Chron 7:14). He tells us to seek Him first, and to seek His ways, all the while He is seeking for us. Pretty amazing isn’t it! God is looking FOR me, and looking OUT FOR me!

A few of the things God is seeking for are people who are:
Worshipers
Full of Faith
In submission to God and understand our authority as believers
Thankful hearts full of gratitude
Faithful and consistent.

Sounds like God is looking for a few good men (and women!) Do you think He will find what He is looking for? Will he find that in you? I believe He will.

God is looking for worshipers who worship Him in spirit and in truth. God is seeking for people who put Him in the highest place, above all else. He is looking for men and women of faith who don’t just sit around or act as busy bodies, but those who really do what they say they believe. They put their faith into action, and understand our authority on the earth. He is looking for thankful hearts and faithfulness and consistency. Are you who God is looking for? I believe you are!

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Eph 3:20 has been the theme for this whole series on limitless living. When we realize that God has exceedingly, abundantly, more than we could ever ask or think for us, according to the power that is at work within us. What a wonderful thing to thank God for. Don’t forget to count your blessings today. What do you have to be thankful for? I hope your list is long. Start with the small stuff if you need to, and then end up thanking God for the huge things he has done for us…..think of being forgiven, being redeemed, being given a robe of righteousness, being called a son or a daughter of God. WE are so blessed! It is good to give thanks unto the Lord. Ps 92:1 Phil 4:8 says to think on these wonderful things! God loads us with benefits! Ps 68:19, Ps 103:2 We are blessed to be a blessing – Gen 12:2 A blessed person should be a grateful person. Our heart should resonate with an attitude of gratitude. If we want to enhance our relationships, and really just enjoy life more….we should think on and focus on things that we have to be thankful for. That brings life to our lives. Then speak words of life around the people in your life. Then do life giving actions and bless someone around you.….Sounds like living limitlessly!

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Intro:
More that is what God has for you. Hi this is Dorette with an encouraging word for kids today. Have you started to believe that God has big dreams and plans for you. I hope you know that God has given his approval for you, he has a destiny for you to reach, and He has given you the tools you need to reach it. Here is your dailyeword for kids, today.

It is a really good thing for someone to have your back. If you are the quarterback on a football team, you want the people around you to watch out for you so you don’t get tackled before you can throw the ball to a team mate. If you are running the race of life, you want to make it to the finish and finish strong. If life were a football game, to be able to score a touchdown, or kick a field goal can determine whether or not you win or lose. God wants you to win. His race for you has already been determined. He knows ahead of time what He wants for your life. That’s why it is so important, not only to believe in yourself, but to believe in God and realize that you can accomplish anything that God has planned for you. So as we finish this series on living without limits, I hope you know that the sky is the limit for you. I encourage you to dream big. Dream God’s big dream for your life. Then ask God for his direction in how to accomplish it. Do all you can do from your side and God will do what He can do from the heavenly side. That is putting your natural with his super and your life can become supernatural. Don’t put limits on what God can do through you. God can do exceedingly abundantly more than you ever ask or think……that’s pretty incredible!

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