FEELINGS

There are two facts about feelings that will help you in the days ahead.  First of all feelings can be very deceptive.  My enemy always works in this area of your inner man, and too often he has great success.  When you get up in the morning, you may feel like just crawling under the covers because you feel like you just cannot face the day.  When this happens, I want you to know and meditate on the second fact about feelings that I now share with you.

The second fact about feelings is that I was touched with all the feeling of your every weakness.    When I walked on earth and died on the cross for you, I experienced every feeling mankind has ever felt.  I even experienced what it feels like to be tempted, but always remember that I overcame temptation by speaking the Word of God out loud.

This is how you can overcome every negative feeling that you experience.  When you feel depressed, speak out loud these words, "I put on the garment of praise to lift the spirit of heaviness away from me."  When you feel afraid, say aloud, "What times I am afraid, I will trust in the Lord and not be afraid."  Remember what I have taught you this morning and know that you can give every negative feeling you experience to Me.  I then will be able to immerse you with My peace.

HEBREWS 4:15; ISAIAH 61:3; LUKE 4:1-13

FAMILY

I know that as you read some of the words that I spoke when I walked on Earth, you may get the impression that I was against family relations.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  The two teachings that I gave that might make you think this way were:

If any man come to Me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and child, and brethren and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

Then there was the day when My mother and brothers came to see Me.  I stretched My hands towards My disciples and said, "Behold My mother and My brethren!  For whosoever shall do the will of My Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

When I said these things, I was simply pointing out that in order to be My disciple, you must put Me first.  Truly My Father loves family.  He created the first family and He also lives today in a family relationship with Me, His Son, and My Holy Spirit. 

I love family.  My Father loves family, and I desire for you to put Me first and then to put your family second.  See your family as I see them.  They are precious in My sight, and I love your family gatherings.

LUKE 14:26; MATHEW 12:47-50

SHARING

When I was on earth,  My disciples shared everything in common.  This communal type of living is rare in the age that you live.  In fact, many people today do not even know their next door neighbors.  I said that you should love your neighbor as yourself.  Then the question was asked, "Who is your neighbor?"  I shared the story of the "Good Samaritan."  This story reveals how important it is to share your life and love with others.

You do not need to have everything in common with others in order to share with them.  The good Samaritan had nothing in common with the wounded man he bandaged and took to the inn.  You live in an age now when it is possible for you to share with people who live in countries on the opposite side of the world from you.

People who do not share their lives with others are missing one of life's richest blessings.  People are My treasures, and when you invest in the lives of others, you become rich.  I enjoyed sharing My life with many and now I exhort you to extend the border of your own tent. When you reach out to others and share My love with them, you will never be bored with life.

LUKE 10:29-37

Fantasy

Sometimes I know you would like to escape to a fantasy world where people are loving and kind and where traumatic and tragic things do not happen to them.  I shared with believers, however, that in this world you will have tribulation.  Then I exhorted them to be of good cheer because I have overcome the world. 

You live in this world, but you are not of this world.  When you received Me as your Lord and Savior, you entered My world - the world of My presence.  You entered My Kingdom where you can receive My peace, love, right standing with My Father, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Be intentional to recognize My presence with you throughout today and every day.  I promised to never leave you or forsake you.  The awareness of My presence with you moment by moment will give you both the strength My joy provides and My peace that passes even your understanding.

ROMANS 14:17; PSALM 16:11; PHILIPPIANS 4:7

Procrastination

Procrastination is a fruit of your fleshly life.  When you walk in My Spirit and are led by My Spirit, you will not procrastinate.  Procrastination occurs when you keep putting off doing something that you simply do not want to do. 

I know that there are many tasks that you face both at work and at home that are not pleasant.  Give those tasks to Me and ask My Holy Spirit to help you accomplish them.  Commit your works to Me and My Spirit will establish your thoughts.  He will prioritize your day to accomplish My will.

I unfold My will for you step by step.  Simply train yourself to ask Me to show you and help you to do the next thing.  It is good to have a "To Do List."  However, give that list to Me and My Spirit will then be able to give you both the encouragement and the power to accomplish those tasks that are necessary for the day.  Never feel like a failure if you do not check off everything on your daily "To Do List."  Instead, give thanks to Me for helping you to do what needed to be done to accomplish My will, not your will that day.

PROVERBS 16:3

CURRENT

I know your desire to keep current on the news.  That is why you listen and watch the news programs daily.  It is important that you know what is going on the world today.  However, it is more important that you keep current on the good news.  A good way to do this is to read My friend Paul's letters to the churches.  My friends Peter, James, Matthew, Luke and Mark were eye witnesses who observed My life on earth.  Reading those accounts they recorded will increase your faith and refresh you on My good news.

I have chosen you to declare My good news in these last days. Keep your faith fresh by reading My Word daily.  Remember that faith comes by hearing and hearing by My Word.  Listen carefully to the quiet voice of My Holy Spirit as He leads you into all truth and brings to your remembrance all I ever said.  Encourage others to keep current in their walk of faith.

ROMANS 10:17;  JOHN 14:26

SEEN

When Thomas had to touch Me before he could believe that I was resurrected, I told him that blessed are those who believe and have not seen.  You are one of those blessed people.  You have never seen Me, but you do believe in Me.  Faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen.  My servant Paul exhorted believers to look at the things that are not seen rather than the things that are seen because the things that are not seen are eternal.  The things that you can see with your natural eyes daily are temporal.

My exhortation to you today is to gaze at Me and only glance at your problems.  My Holy Spirit will help you to imagine My face looking at you.  King David said that My face was ever before him.  He could see Me in the Spirit and so can you.  The problems you may face today are temporary.  Ask yourself this question, "What will these problems matter 10,000 years from now?"  When you ask yourself this question and you intentionally gaze at My face in the Spirit, your problems will melt away in the light of My glory.

JOHN 20:29; 2 CORINTHIANS 4:18; PSALM 41:12