Guest Blogger: Saying No Requires A Greater Yes!

Tony Blair, former British prime minister, once said, “The art of leadership is saying no, not yes. It is very easy to say yes.”

God has commanded us to live separate from the world’s values, and that means we have to learn how to say no. But let’s be honest: saying no to the world is not easy. The world system is seductive and alluring.

Here is the key to victory: saying no requires a higher yes. Saying yes to an intimate relationship with my heavenly Father, helps me to say no to anything that could damage that relationship.

Daniel serves as a great example of this truth. By chapter 6, Daniel was one of the top political leaders in the entire kingdom of Babylon. This caused jealousy among other political leaders, and they began to look for a way to discredit Daniel.

There was just one problem. They couldn’t dig up any dirt on Daniel. So these political adversaries devised a plot to bring him down. They knew the one thing Daniel wouldn’t compromise was his relationship with God.

They got the king to sign an edict that for thirty days people could only pray to the king. Interestingly, Daniel’s enemies were absolutely right: Daniel wasn’t about to compromise his cherished prayer times with his heavenly Father. When Daniel heard about the new law he went home and prayed with his window open towards Jerusalem. 

Daniel’s obedience to God meant disobedience to the king and landed him in the lions’ den. Even though he spent the entire night surrounded by lions, he was not harmed. At the first light of dawn, the king rushed to the lions’ den to see if, by some miracle, Daniel’s God had rescued him.

Notice Daniel’s words. He said, “My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions” (Daniel 6:21). Daniel didn’t say, “The great creator God has spared me.” No, his response is far more personal. “My God, the God I spend time with every day, has rescued me.” His deep communion with God led to deep conviction about God, which resulted in deep courage for God.

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

What distractions or temptations from the world keep you from a more intimate relationship with God?

Today’s Takeaway

Saying no to the world is connected to your desire to say yes to God.

No More Drama! We Dont know What's Real These Days!

A teacher had a poster on her classroom door that read, "Save the drama for your llama." This poster was absolutely necessary because she worked in a middle school! But the truth is drama is not only for middle schoolers; it can be a part of anyone's life at any age. 

In the world we live in today, drama can make you rich and famous. Don't believe me look at Real housewives of ??? (you fill in the blank). It is almost like reality TV has taken over the world and we reward people for a life full of drama. We condone their lifestyles because it's entertaining. We overlook the bad habits and rude behavior because it something to watch and makes us feel better about our own lives. "We say things like my life is not that bad." 
We laugh at the drama we see on TV and even in regular TV shows, more and more is about how much drama can I put into an hour. I mean even one of my favorite shows is Scandal. Why because we all love to see a scandal unfold before our eyes. Each week it something else that makes me say "Oh my, what will happen next?" Now there is nothing wrong with watching Scandal unless God tells you not to. For the sake of making my point, we are addicted to drama. the worst it is the more we seems to gravitate to it. 

Drama tears us and others apart. Paul says in Galatians 5:15-16, “If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (NIV) Just before this in verse 14 Paul reminds them of Jesus’ teaching from the Old Testament that everything is summed up in loving God and loving others. In other words, our responsibility is to love God and others instead of causing drama by talking about each other and engaging in other sins of the flesh.

How do we stop the drama? The first thing is to walk in the Spirit. We are lead by God in the way He has uniquely made us to love Him and others. When we do this, God takes away our desire or "need" to create drama by filling it with meaningful, life-giving tasks.

Prayer:

Our Father, help us to see the meaningful purpose that you have given us. May we not be drawn in by dramatic situations that cover up what is truly going on in our hearts. Let us see who we truly are and find joy in the purpose that You have given us. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

You are Bound No More.

No More Gossip! That Includes Me Too!

Too often what’s going on in the lives of others is more interesting to us than what’s going on in our own. It’s like driving by a car wreck; you know the point where you slow down, not necessarily for safety, but slow enough to see the wreck? Am I the only one who does that? Unfortunately, not only do we pay too much attention to the wrong things in others, we tend to talk about them as well.

The truth is, the words we use and spread have power. We can tear people down just as quick, if not quicker, than we can build them up. James 3:9 warns about gossip saying, “Ironically this same tongue can be both an instrument of blessing to our Lord and Father and a weapon that hurls curses upon others who are created in God’s own image.”

Have you not seen a preacher preach Heaven down and then turn around in a few hours and during "Fellowship" say mean things and talk about another preacher. This should not be so. Many use Prayer as a way to gossip too. They talk about situations of others under the banner of prayer but when it is all said and done more talking about others was done than prayer for the situations. then we wonder why so much trouble has found it's way into our own lives. 

How do we abandon gossip? Paul, in Ephesians 4:29 tells us, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (NIV) When we do this, the quality of our relationships and the joy we experience in life will certainly increase.

Prayer:

Our Father, let our words be positive and encouraging. Give us confidence in You so that we do not feel the need to put others down. May we understand that we can use our words to serve others and build them up that can have an eternal impact on their lives. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

You are Bound No More. 

Why The Holding Pattern

It is difficult to wait on God. I don't say this to get an amen. I say it because it is true. Sometimes I want to know Why? The saying good things come to those that wait bothers me most of the time. Here's my thoughts. ..If it is good for me then why do I have to wait. 

In this passage, I find it remarkable that Jesus takes all eleven of his disciples to Gethsemane but he tells 8 of them to "Sit here while I go there to pray" (Matthew 26:36 NIV). Meaning that they could not go any further than this point. However, I also find it interesting that Jesus choose a place for them to wait. Catch this, even in our waiting it is place in your life for a reason. It may seem as though you been left out of the fight but really even those on the bench are there for a purpose. It seems as though others are able to move and do while you are in an holding pattern and as much as you would like to do more...Jesus told you to sit here and wait.

Now I also find it interesting that none of the disciples complained about this assignment. None said why do I have to wait here. They just sat and waited. They had no clue what was going on and I'm sure they wanted to know but they sat there and wait. Not even, when Jesus took Peter, James and John to continue with him. No said a word. They just sat and waited. Peter, James and John saw his emotions change. They saw Jesus in a different light than the other eight. Yet he still assigned them to "Stay here and keep watch with me" (Matthew 26:38 NIV). While he still went a bit further. Yet again, these three although closer were made to wait. Again close to the action but still not in the game. More responsibility tan the others but still waiting, and now watching.

We in our society, see this as doing nothing. Our gifts and talents are being overlooked while others are seemingly getting to play and even play poorly at times. While we are being treated unfairly. Why the holding pattern? Why cant we get in the game. Why would God call us to ministry then when opportunities come tell us to sit there and wait or sit here and watch? It makes no logical sense. Wouldn't God want his best players in the game? Does he want me to use the gifts and talents he has given me for ministry? Why the holding pattern?
Now I getting to the part that was an AHA moment for me. Jesus told them to Sit and watch. then he went a bit further and feel to his face and pray "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me, yet not as I will, but as you will." (Matthew 26:39 NIV). So here we find Jesus himself in a holding pattern. He was in action but still had to wait. He had to wait for his betrayer to come with his enemy to take him to his cross. He was in a waiting pattern too. Do you see the pattern unfolding now. True ministry is a burden at different stages of our ministry we can only handle so much. So God in his knowledge and grace places holding patterns in our path.

The fact that Jesus was the one to lead them to the garden has significance. He did not tell them go to the garden and wait. He did not say go there and wait. He lead them there. He was with them. He assigned their waiting stations. and he gave them the instruction on what to do in their waiting. Sit there, Sit there and watch, then there was him lying on his face and praying while waiting.

We see here that Jesus found them sleeping three times. Twice he went back to see what his disciples were doing .The first time he added instructions. He said watch and pray. Now they were to sit, watch and pray. The second time he came back and said nothing. the third time he came back his wait was now over his betrayer was coming and it was time for the action to begin. However, Jesus was ready to let God get all the glory for his life. He would go to his cross and die so that we could gain salvation.

So now does this pertain to us and our holding pattern. Well, here's the thing: either you are sitting and waiting, sitting and watching or lying on your face praying...in any result you are waiting. there is going to come a time when you must get in the game but understand this God assigned you to your station so you can move until he says it's time. No matter what others are doing you must stay where you were assigned.

There has been times in my life when I questioned why the holding pattern. I can preach, teach and do what they are doing. I am anointed and appointed just like them. however God told to to sit here, while others went over there. Then things would happen and God would allow me to go a bit further but again I would be instructed to sit here and watch, while others went a bit further. I would noticed that there weren't as many sitting here as before but I was still anxious to get in the game.

Now I am at a point in life that I am asked to go a bit further. However, I am stilled asked to lay on my face before God and pray not my will but thine will be done. I understand now that the cross is the next step. A place where my flesh will die completely to Christ and I will arise with newness of life walking in His spirit. God will get the glory for my life. He will get the glory or the ministry I do. Paul said it this way, "I die daily." However, even Paul had to wait. Remember he waited on Ananias to come and remove the scales from his eyes.

Maybe that is just it. At each station, God is removing things from us so we will be more willing to die to self when the time comes. Paul said it best, "I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." (Galatians 2:20 KJV). So why the holding pattern? because it is necessary for where you are going.

You are Bound No More. 

Pastor Linda Hillman 
(c) 2014 Living Above Hurt Ministries 
Pastorlindahillman@hotmail.com

You are invited to Join Us

On September 3rd, I started hosting Bible Studies in the city of San Francisco. It all started at the tender age of 14 when God told me that I would Pastor. He told me that people were waiting for me to begin to speak and he would lead those he assigned to me. For years I ran from the call on my life because I felt unworthy of such a great responsibility in the Church.

However, in my running away I was really running to my call. Here's how that works. Even though I was not ready to Pastor. I learned how to study God word. I learned how to hear his Voice. I learned how to teach others to depend on God. I learned how to pray and fast. I learned that sanctification was a process and though I was not always the best person I could be, God was still in control. I learned how to love God's people.

I began learning from Older and more seasoned ministers how to rightly divide the word of truth and to entreat God's people. I took classes in Ministry and counseling. NO, I was not trying to accept my call to Pastor but God had me on a journey that would lead me to his divine will for my life.

I have gone through so much pain and suffering in my life but I understand now that it has all catapulted me into the woman of God I am now. It has helped to define the ministry that would flow through me. It has helped to make me more sensitive to others that may be experiencing the same hurt and know how to effectively minister to them to help healing and restoration begin.

After years of trying not to do what God called me to do, I am right in the the middle of his will for my life. I am ready to experience what God has for me and watch as he does exactly what he said he would do. On Sept 3rd a pressure that was on my chest lifted as I sat and taught my first Bible Study. Sometimes we don't even know that we are experiencing half of what God intended until we experience the whole of the matter.

New Life Ministries is God ordained and will become what God says it will be. I hope that if you are in the city of San Francisco, CA or know someone in the city, and you or someone you know is looking for a church that you will stop by on September 24th and join us for Bible Study.

New Life Ministries
Bible Study - Wednesdays 6:30 PM

We meet at IT Bookman Community Center 446 Randolph Street, San Francisco, CA.



You are Bound No More.

Pastor Linda Hillman
(c) 2014 Living Above Hurt Ministries
 (415) 754-3365
newlifeministriessf@gmail.com

Keep Praying, It's On Its Way!

Thank God Elijah was “a human being, even as we are” [James 5:17]! He sat under a tree, complained to God and expressed his unbelief—just as we have often done. Yet this was not the case at all when he was truly in touch with God. “Elijah was a human being, even as we are,” yet “he prayed earnestly.” The literal meaning of this in the Greek is magnificent: Instead of saying, “earnestly,” it says, “He prayed in prayer.” In other words, “He kept on praying.” The lesson here is that you must keep praying.

… After Elijah had called down fire from heaven to defeat the prophets of Baal, rain was needed for God’s prophecy to be fulfilled … We are told, “Elijah … bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees” (1 Kings 18:42), shutting out all sights and sounds. He put himself in a position, beneath his robe, to neither see nor hear what was happening.

Elijah then said to his servant, “Go and look toward the sea” (1 Kings 18:43). Upon returning, the servant replied, “There is nothing there” … Can you imagine what we would do under the same circumstances? … But did Elijah give up? No. In fact, six times he told his servant, “Go back.” Each time the servant returned saying, “Nothing!”

Yet “the seventh time the servant reported, ‘A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea’” (1 Kings 18:44) … And the rains came … fast and furiously … Yes, in spite of utterly hopeless reports received from sight, this is a story of faith that continues “praying in prayer.”

Do you know how to pray in that way—how to prevail in prayer? Let your sight bring you reports as discouraging as possible, but pay no attention to them. Our heavenly Father lives, and even the delays of answers to our prayers are part of his goodness.

You are Bound No More.