A Healthly Marriage

My prayer for your marriage is that the following things will become REAL as you study God's Word and press in to have a life-long marriage of joy, peace, intimacy and friendship with your spouse.

POINTS TO PONDER FOR A HEALTHY MARRIAGE...

1) A God centered marriage is made up of 3 - God, Man, Woman - Diagram: Draw a triangle and put God at the top!  Write your name on one corner and your spouses name on the other corner.  As you both look up to Christ and put God FIRST in all things... your marriage will be blessed! 

2) God is "for" your marriage! It "is" His will that you and your spouse love each other until "death do you part". He is on your side in difficult times!

3) You must be INTENTIONAL about keeping a marriage that is ALIVE and THRIVING!

4) FORGIVENESS is a commandment... not a suggestion!

5) Always pray: Lord change ME! Get out of a self-centered approach to Christianity and into a Christ-centered life-style that is willing to lay down all agenda's for the sake of your family. As YOU become more like Jesus, your behavior WILL affect the behavior of your spouse. LOVE NEVER FAILS!

6) Always speak (and seek) the TRUTH in LOVE. Take the masks off. Don't avoid issues. Live in truth yourself... and set a godly example for your spouse.

7) Be willing to leave and cleave by breaking generational curses and by pulling down strong holds that will sneak in to destroy a good marriage over the course of a life-time.

8) Men: Love your wife as Christ loves the church AND gave His life for her.
Some ways to lavish your love on your wife:
*LISTENING TO HER
*GIVING HER GIFTS AND/OR EXTRA MONEY FROM TIME TO TIME TO SPEND ON HERSELF FOR BEAUTY TREATMENTS & TAPESTRY OF SILK AND PURPLE (nice clothing)
*TAKING YOUR TIME IN LOVE MAKING - WOMEN ARE LIKE CROCK POTS... SLOW TO WARM UP
*ROMANCE GOES A LONG WAY - TAKE YOUR WIFE ON A DATE AT LEAST ONCE PER WEEK
*BECOME THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD UNDER CHRIST JESUS - DON'T BE A BOY - BE A MAN!!!
*GIVE HER SECURITY IN ALL THINGS - FROM FINANCES... TO PROTECTION... TO THE BEDROOM - SHE NEEDS TO FEEL SAFE WITH YOU
*ALWAYS FLEE THE APPEARANCE OF EVIL - PORNOGRAPHY, ALCOHOL & DRUGS, ETC. WILL KILL YOUR MARRIAGE - INTENTIONALLY AVOID THESE THINGS
*TAKE AN INTEREST IN THE HOME (Honey-Do)
*PRAY OUT LOUD WITH YOUR WIFE
* PUT YOUR WIFE AND CHILDREN ABOVE YOUR BUDDIES AND YOUR SPORTING EVENTS

9) Women: Submit to your OWN husband.
Some ways to lavish your love on your husband:
*GIVING HIM SPACE TO MAKE MISTAKES
*HONORING HIM AS HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD... EVEN IF HE IS NOT SURE OF HIS POSITION, YET
*DON'T WITHHOLD LOVE MAKING FROM YOUR HUSBAND
*DON'T BELITTLE YOUR HUSBAND
*BE HIS HELP MATE - HELP HIM TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN HIS CAREER AND REPUTATION IN THE COMMUNITY
*PRAY DEUT. 28 OVER YOUR HUSBAND
*COOK & CLEAN WITH JOY
*USE PLEASANT WORDS AND PLEASANT TONES WITH YOUR HUSBAND
*BE BEAUTIFUL INSIDE AND OUT - PRACTICE BEING BEAUTIFUL FOR YOUR HUSBAND
*LEARN TO ENJOY SOME ACTIVITIES THAT YOUR HUSBAND ENJOYS
*STOP WISHING YOUR HUSBAND WAS LIKE SOMEONE ELSE - INSTEAD, PRAY THAT GOD HELPS YOU TO DIG OUT THE TREASURE FROM WITHIN YOUR HUSBAND'S SOUL
*LOOK AFTER YOUR HOUSEHOLD WITH PRAYER AND WISDOM
*DON'T ALLOW YOUR CHILDREN TO COME BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND
*DO NOT BE A NAG!  BE A PRAYER WARRIOR, INSTEAD!

10) Remember - WORDS are powerful!!! Make sure you don't destroy your marriage (or your children) with hurtful words or a demeaning tone.

11) Take up your cross and follow Christ.
Every trial is an opportunity for a miracle!  Every burden is an opportunity for YOU to grow in Christ!

12) THE GRASS IS NOT ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HILL!!! IT HAS TO BE MOWED, TOO!
Stop fantasizing about being married to someone else.  Make YOUR marriage work!!!

13) READ YOUR BIBLE - Don't depend solely on the preacher.  Don't get all of your spiritual reading from devotionals that someone else has written.  Read the pure Word of God and let the Holy Spirit speak directly to you. 

14) Cultivate your FAITH.
Faith in God's Word pleases Him. He loves you and He wants to do you good and not evil. Trust Him. (Perfect love cast out all fear.)

15)  Believe it or not, in a broken marriage it only takes ONE to bring about healing.  If one person in the relationship is willing to live out Christ before their mate and endure hardship for a season (could be years), God can soften the other person's heart and draw them to Himself.  I am a living example of ONE PERSON working to have a whole marriage in Christ Jesus. 

Read my book, Healing a Broken Marriage: Love Never Fails, to hear my full story and see how God can save your marriage... if you only believe and trust Him in all things.

16)  First and foremost, make sure that YOU and your SPOUSE are born-again, spirit-filled believer's in Christ Jesus.  If you have ANY doubt about the salvation of your spouse, this is the first place to begin your prayer for them.

17)  The "D" word does not exist. God hates divorce.  Don't think about it.  Don't let it be an option.


18)  Unfortunately, many of you reading this blog post have been married before. Be sure to repent of all wrong doing from your first marriage (stop blaming the other person) and ask God to forgive you for your previous divorce. Purge ALL bitterness.  Remember, God sees the heart so you can't fake forgiveness.  Cry out to Him daily until you have truly forgiven. 
 
Once you have come clean with God, trust him to give you blessings abundantly in the marriage you now have. The gospel is not a message of condemnation, but a message of TRUTH. God wants us to live in truth and to be free from the torment of sin.

Also, be sensitive to any children you may have who were left victims of divorce from your previous marriage. No matter their age, it is often very difficult for them to heal from the effects of a broken home. God would have you to be honest, transparent and sympathetic to their struggles in dealing with their own pain. Plus, some issues won't surface for many years. It could take a life time to bring healing in their life so be patient and don't give up on them. They need you!

THE PURPLE SECTION BELOW:  
From Family Fortress Ministries...
http://www.familyfortress.org/ 

(O) Divorce and Remarriage.


Divorce


We believe that the Bible gives three legitimate reasons for ending a marriage:


1) The first legitimate Biblical allowance for ending marriage is the death of a spouse (1 Corinthians 7:39; Romans 7:2-4).


2) The second legitimate Biblical allowance is fornication (Matthew 19:9) which is inclusive of all other sexual sins covered by the term porneia (fornication): homosexuality, bestiality, prostitution, etc.


3) The third legitimate Biblical allowance is desertion of a believing spouse by an unbelieving spouse (1 Corinthians 7:15). Of course when a believing spouse is deserted by a professing believer, the professing believer (unrepentant) can be disciplined by the church, so that the situation becomes that of a believer divorced by an unbeliever. So in effect any desertion can be, with appropriate church involvement, grounds for divorce. The Christian should not initiate divorcing a non-Christian, but should live graciously with their spouse to quietly represent Christ with an infectious demeanor, kindness, generosity, and service (1 Corinthians 7:15).


Remarriage:


In Scripture, whenever legitimate divorce occurs, freedom to remarry is assumed. When divorce is permitted, so is remarriage. The innocent party of a divorce due to adultery may remarry. Remarriage after one has been betrayed by an adulterous spouse does not constitute adultery. The person marrying a previously married spouse who was the victim of an adulterous person also does not constitute adultery. This is implied but not specifically proscribed in Matthew 19:9.


A believer who remarries after a non-Christian spouse divorces the believing spouse constitutes a legitimate marriage (1 Corinthians 7:15).

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The section below is from me...

PHYSICAL ABUSE:

Physical abuse should not be tolerated. Get out. Protect yourself and your children. It doesn’t necessarily mean divorce. Use wisdom in such cases and ask God for His pathway to healing.

ADULTERY or SPOUSE LEFT YOU
Please keep in mind that God is able to restore a marriage after adultery AND He is able to bring that wayward spouse that left you back home again.  God is willing and able to save ALL from sin and to bring ALL into everlasting life. 

The question's you must ask yourself are: 

Am I willing to wait on the Lord? 

Am I willing to forgive? 

Divorce is NOT God's will.  He only makes a way of escape in certain circumstances in which one person is abandoned or betrayed. 

Pray for reconciliation.  Pray for forgiveness.  Pray for salvation.

In Christ,

Deborah Ross
Mother in Zion Series
Deborah Ross Ministries
http://www.deborahrossministries.org/

Prayer for Ministry

There is nothing like friends who love the Lord with all of their heart and have a deep knowledge of His Word.  I love it when these cherished friends take time out to bless you... just because!  Patricia Shankle is one of those awesome women of God who blesses my socks off.

You may know Patricia, already.  She and her husband, Randy Shankle, travel the country preaching the gospel and promoting their new book, The Protector: The Randy Shankle Story.  The Shankle's have recently been featured on the 700 Club, as well.

Patricia is a new member of the DRM Board.  The beautiful prayer (below) is something that she dropped in my facebook mailbox the other day.  As you read this prayer of encouragement, take it for yourself, too.  Let the words of this ordained minister speak to your soul as YOU take hold of the promises of God for your ministry, job, family, and life. 

Note from Patricia:

"I have been praying specifically for you and your ministry lately. I am believing God to advance and enable you through His Spirit, where there is no doubt to anyone of WHO is in charge. I pray, and I know you want this, that HIS GLORY will radiate through your words, song, etc. and that hearts will be pierced by His Spirit and they will know it is Jesus that they hunger for. That you will be used mightily in this present hour and that thousands will hear the message of hope and grace through your person and ministry. Not by our might or by our power, but by MY SPIRIT says the Lord. He will accomplish what He has set forth to do! He has called, He has chosen, He has anointed, He has appointed. He that has begun a good work in you, will not only watch over HIS WORD, but He will perform it, perfect it, bring it to pass, finish it! In the meantime.......just shout for joy because your redemption is drawing near to seeing these things coming to fruition. His mighty invisible hand is moving in the unseen realms, but the wheels are turning and this day you ARE going forward! The best is yet to be! Blessings and much love." - Patricia Shankle 

THANKS PATRICIA!

Be sure to find The Protector  or Patricia Shankle on Facebook.

PRESSING ON... from 2010 to 2011

IF YOU SAY "WHEN?"... YOU NEVER WILL!

Philippians 3:14 

"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Reflecting on the desires, dreams, and goals of my past and how so many of them have become a reality today, I am reminded of how I, too, once said, "When I ___________, then I will ___________."  

We've all done it.  Perhaps you've said, "When I get my home together, then I'll have a baby."  I wonder how many dreams never become a reality because someone thought, "When I get others to affirm me (and I feel ready), I'll start my own business or ministry?"  Or, maybe you've vowed, "When I get my life in order, then I'll become a Christian."  The flesh always seems to wrestle with the spirit saying, "Once I get all of my bills paid, then I'll tithe."  Then again, many giving hearts have justified their reluctance to help someone in need by thinking, "When I have too much of something, then I'll be free to give the extra away."

The truth of the matter is that if we wait on ideal circumstances to have babies, start a business, go into ministry, become a Christian, tithe, or give to the poor... we'll never do it!  Why?  Because the enemy of our soul will see to it that we never reach that euphoric place of "perfect conditions" in an effort to thwart and even abort God's plan(s) for our lives.

Satan is in complete disobedience to the things of God and He wants God's children to act the same.  He is so jealous of mankind that he will stop at nothing to cripple man's confidence in an effort to cause God's creation to be paralyzed (afraid to act upon the deep desires of their heart).  Satan wants us to be fearful of moving forward with the things of God.  He knows it pleases God for us to live by faith (Hebrews 11:6) and he yearns to shut down all procreation and all Kingdom living.  The devil wants to rule and reign as the god of this world, perverting every beautiful, loving, and true thing that God has planned for all of humanity.

Thankfully, our enemy has been unsuccessful at completely shutting down those dreamers who are not afraid to act on their instincts.  There is always a REMNANT who will boldly swim against the noisy tide of "what ifs" - believing that they can accomplish and overcome in any environment and through any situation.  And, being a faith walking overcomer who is not afraid to act upon their God given dreams is exactly what the Lord has called each of us to do!  Jesus said that nothing is impossible to those who believe (Mark 9:23)!

What is it that God has placed on your heart to do this year? Has God been drawing you to salvation? Is it "your time" to become a born again believer of Jesus Christ; to repent from dead works and surrender to a life of holiness? Or, perhaps God is speaking to you about going to college, starting a business, stepping out in ministry, getting married, having a baby, tithing or being more generous to those in need. Whatever the Lord is saying to your heart, let me encourage you today to take that leap of faith and JUST DO IT!

It pleases God for us to have faith and believe that He will reward us for our efforts (Hebrews 11:6). We are made in His image (Genesis 1:26) and that means we have the same deep desires as those of God that need to be released by faith. He told us to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 9:1). He told us that He has given us the power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18). He told us that nothing is impossible to those who believe (Matthew 17:20). He said we could speak to mountains in our life and they would have to move (Matthew 17:20).

Procrastination is a deadly poison that aims to kill the God given dreams and desires inside of each human being. So if the Lord is speaking to you about moving forward with something this year, that means it's time! Time to live life on the edge... with Christ as your leader, of course.

Friend, the Christian life is far from boring. The Lord has exciting plans for each of us, but we must be willing to get out of the boat of the familiar before He can enable us to walk on water of newness. He never said it would be easy, but He did promise that He would give us the victory in every situation as long as we keep our eyes on Him. So, take a chance! Go for it! Live life out loud! Let 2011 be the year of diving in deep with God! This could be the year of incredible blessings in your life as you say "yes" to Him.

Remember, if you say, "When I ________, I will _________", ... you never will.

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With this message in mind, I'd like to share the dreams, goals, and desires of this ministry and reveal to you where God has taken us from, and where I believe He is taking us to in 2011... and beyond.  I continually stand amazed at His calling, His provision, the open doors of opportunity, our faithful volunteers and partners, and the lives that are forever changed through the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  As you read the statistics below, please pray about how God can use you to impact the lives of others in a powerful way.

DEBORAH ROSS PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL TIMELINE
(Some of the dates listed are to the best of my memory.)

1979 - Opened my secular dance studio at the tender age of 16 in Marshville, NC
1984 - Married Jay and added a second dance & modeling studio location in Monroe, NC
1985 - Opened a Modeling Agency in conjunction with my studios
1990 - Opened a third dance & modeling studio in Wadesboro, NC
1990 - Became a born-again Christian
1992 - Changed the entire format of my dance studio(s) to be totally Christian based. Founded and Directed the Shekinah Glory Traveling Ministry Team.  First child, Preston, was born.  In obedience to the Lord, I sold the Wadesboro studio.  In disobedience to the Lord, I went in business with another and opened a studio in Charlotte, NC.
1994 - Second child, Garrett, was born.
1995 - In obedience to the Lord, I closed the Charlotte studio.
1996 - I sold the Marshville studio in obedience to the Lord.
1997-2005 - Worked as a freelance television spokes model for various campaigns (this was God's surprise blessing)
1999 - God called me to come completely out of my dance career/ministry to pursue His purpose as an full time minister of the gospel. The vision was not clear, but I knew it was to be world-wide and somehow involved television.  To start, I was to come home and see the salvation of my family.
2001-2009 - Part time jobs: Estee Lauder Regional Make-up Artist and Christian Dance Teacher for two different private Christian schools
2000-2002 - Home schooled my children.
2002 - I died - spiritually speaking. Marriage testimony journey begins.  See book Healing a Broken Marriage by Deborah Ross
2005 - DRM clear vision began. I'm resurrected! I said "yes" to the call and began working on developing this ministry, speaking & singing at events, foreign missions to Brazil three summers, writing my book, and teaching classes at my church.
2007 - DRM web-site was launched
2007-2008 - Laid the ground work for the DRM ministry...Launched out into the deep!  Continued to speak and sing at events, produced CD's and DVD's, developed the Marriage Bible Study, held Bible studies in my home, did research.
2009 - Doors began to supernaturally open in a BIG WAY for DRM... Television / Radio / Speaking & Singing Events / Prison Ministry / Fund Raising Efforts Begin / Volunteers Emerge
2010 - Book Published - Healing a Broken Marriage - Released August 3, 2010. In faith, I stopped all part time jobs to go full-time in ministry as the Executive Director of Operations for DRM.
2010 - DRM 501 c 3 was confirmed in August of 2010

BELOW - DRM GOALS ACCOMPLISHED IN 2010

Proverbs 29:18 

"Where there is no vision, the people perish:"

1) Cultivated a core group of STRONG, MOTIVATED, DEDICATED, HARD WORKING, HOLY GHOST FILLED volunteers who are passionate about spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ outside of the church and who COMMIT to putting forth time, talents, and resources toward promoting the vision of DRM and The Remnant. (See vision statement on web-site)
2) Tripled in partnerships and donors from the year before.
3) Acquired the completed 501 c 3 non-profit status for DRM, Inc.
4) Completed the publishing of Healing a Broken Marriage: Love Never Fails and raised over $10,500.00 to stock 2000 books at DRM to be used as love gifts for donations and to sell at speaking events. 
5) Deborah Ross served as a speaker, preacher, singer, volunteer and/or interviewee for churches, women's events, prisons, television, radio, newspaper, and magazines that include: 
Babbie's House * Atlanta Live WATC-57 * Harvest Ministries Church * Bible Studies at Borders Book Store at Stonecrest and at Hebrews Coffee * SC Prison Ministry with Safer Communities Ministry * Garden of Hope Speaker * FBCIT Life Group Guest Speaker * Deep Springs Baptist Church * Reflect-Remember-Rejoice Breast Cancer Awareness Event * Praise Explosion Celebration * Addiction Recovery Ministry * Rebound Ministry * China Grove Baptist Church * Boll Weevil Festival * Niteline WGGS TV 16 * Friends & Neighbors Show WATC-57 * Exalt! 2010 * MOPS Guest Speaker * WMU Guest Speaker * The Dottie Coffman Show / WIMO1300AM * FBCIT Marriage 911 Conference * Conversations of Courage  Syndicated Radio: Cincinnati, Louisville, Lexington, and Indianapolis * Proverbs 31 Ministry Volunteer * Taught praise dance at CDS & MCA * Wrote articles for WeUsedToBeYou Ministry * Wrote article for Kontagious Magazine    
6) Launched a new web-site.
7) Held 5 or more DRM board meetings.
8) Wrote, packaged, and FREELY distributed (worldwide) the SAVE IT! BIBLE STUDY / SAVE YOUR MARRIAGE... SAVE YOUR FAMILY.  Materials were mailed for launch in the USA, Kenya, India, and Pakistan.
9) Gave money to support other ministries including (not limited to): Daystar; Marilyn Hickey Ministries; The Crescent Project; Compassion International.
10) Held 10 fund raising events including: YARD SALES, BRUSTER'S ICE CREAM SALES, DINNER PARTIES, COUPON BOOK SALES, STEIN MART EVENT, GENIE SIGN-UPS, and preparation for CONSIGNMENT ONE DONATIONS TO BE RECEIVED
11) One photo shoot for ministry publicity.
12) Co-labored with Safer Communities Ministry - quarterly
13) Worked to build national and international awareness of DRM, The Remnant and their cause while ministering to all people the message of salvation through Jesus Christ under the platform heading of Strengthening Families & Encouraging Women. (See mission and vision statements on the web-site)

Proverbs 20:18 

"Every purpose is established by counsel:"

BELOW - DRM GOALS FOR 2011

1) To launch a radio ministry show

2) To launch a television ministry show
3) To minister across the USA by invitation
4) To produce more CD's & DVD's

5) To write for Kontagious Magazine & other magazines

6) To hold a Regional and/or National Women's Conference

7) To go on another foreign mission to another country

8) To triple in supporters & donors

9) To give to many more ministries than last year on a regular basis

10) To continue giving media interviews for my new book: television, radio, and newspaper

11) To attend the Women in Christian Media conference

12) To obtain grant funding
13) To teach Marriage Bible studies locally
14) To mail out 50 FREE Marriage Bible Study packages

WHY DO WE DO THIS???

Because we believe:


FAMILIES ARE WORTH SAVING...


HEARTS ARE WORTH HEALING...


SOULS ARE WORTH SETTING FREE...

Friend, I believe in the POWER of the gospel of Jesus Christ and I am about MY FATHER'S BUSINESS as a full time career. The goal is big. The need is great. But, the rewards are even greater! 

Would YOU be one who says, "Yes, I'll help, because I want to be a part of the Lord's work through the DRM ministry"?  So many will say, "I want to help... and I will... once I get some extra time... or, extra money." 

Friend, God is looking for people who will step out in faith and join His work even when it is not convenient. 

The wonderful thing about the Lord is that He gives back much more than we could ever give to Him.

Luke 6:38

"Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."

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TO MAKE A DONATION NOW!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

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Romans 10:13-15

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"

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If you would like a FREE BROCHURE containing more information about this ministry, please write to:

Deborah Ross Ministries, Inc.

P.O. Box 2186

Indian Trail, NC 28079

or email at Deborah@DeborahRossMinistries.com

Finish the Race!

THANKFUL FOR HIS WORD...

Two roads diverged in a wood and I - I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

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My husband is a real estate agent.  So, the other day he invited me to join him in walking off some property that he is listing.  He took me on a very long, two hour, hike of over a hundred and seventy-six acres of forest and fields.  Honestly, had I known, at the beginning of our journey, that we were setting out to walk that far - and through such difficult terrain that included creeks, rocks, logs, steep hills, tall grass, potholes and thick woods - I am not sure if I would have agreed to follow him so eagerly.  His excitement in exploring this property was so intense that I had to keep up the pace - or get left behind!  I focused on his every step, making sure I went "only" where he had, first, proven safe.  I trusted him completely.

As I was walking, I was earnestly praying, "Lord, speak to me; I am longing to hear your voice!"  Even though I heard nothing at all from the Lord that entire two hours, I continued to seek Him at every new adventure.  Much like Elijah, I was listening to see if God's voice was in the wind, in the birds, in the sun, or in the creek.  While His majesty was certainly revealed to me through all of nature, still, I had a strong desire to hear a special word from Him that day; something just for me.  I wanted to hear the voice of my Daddy (Abba Father).  I was longing to enter into the Secret Place of the Most High, to bask in the love of my heavenly Father's words of encouragement and affirmation.

As we trekked over, and up, and around, and through... many times we would come to a dead end that required us to look for an alternate passage.  Other times, thick weeds and tall grass blocked our view and made it difficult for us to push through with sure footing.  Never-the-less, we kept walking.  We didn't talk much; we just pressed onward, enjoying the fresh air and all of nature's beauty as we stayed true to our course.

I guess we could have stopped to rest at some point.  We could have even stopped to talk.  But, something inside of each of us kept moving our feet in rhythmic motion as we determined to roam this property in one constant movement of anticipation.  All the while, I was secretly praying - longing to hear the voice of the Lord.

At the end of our long excursion - and just before we emerged from the woods onto a country road that would lead us back to our point of entry - I was just about to tell my husband, "I can't go any further.  My feet are aching... I am thirsty and hungry!  Let's take a rest!"  That's when I suddenly I realized that our walk was almost complete and so I decided to keep silent, instead.  My resolve to march forward with great anticipation set in as the thought of relaxing - once and for all - catapulted me down that country road and through the open field that led back to our car.  I was dead set on finishing my journey in the comfort of the front seat of my car.

That's when I heard the Lord's voice!  Just as my red car - which seemed like an oasis in the desert - came into view, the Lord spoke to my heart and said, "Well done thou good and faithful servant.  You have finished the race!" 


Wow!  The Lord used our day in the woods as an object lesson concerning His written Word to teach me the importance of staying the course, persevering, and following Him with every step. 

Here is how He unfolded His message to me:  My husband represented the Lord.  As I kept my eyes on my husband's every step, trusting him for safe footing, it was an example of how I am to keep my eyes on the Master - trusting Him in every decision.  Then, as we overcame the many obstacles we encountered throughout our exploration while continuing to move forward, we were creating a visual life-lesson of how we should live by faith, everyday.  We are to press toward the mark, the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14)!  Finally, as we determined to keep our pace in the woods that day, we were creating, yet another, object lesson of what it means to not grow weary in well doing (Galatians 6:9).

The Lord revealed to me how each of our lives are much like that hike in the woods.  Our adversary, the devil, has laid before us many road blocks, many detours, many briers, and many potholes.  In addition, the world we live in has a busy and long drawn-out way of doing things that often times wears us down.  Still, when we keep our eyes on the Lord and stay in constant movement toward the thing that He has called us to do, we are assured that He will bring us to an expected end (Jeremiah 29:11).  That's when we'll hear Him say...

Matthew 25:21

"Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." 

You know, I believe this promise is just as true for the life we now live as it is for the life we will live in all of eternity.  God's Word has persuaded me to believe that pressing on in the midst of difficult circumstances leads to our breakthrough!  We will enter into the joy of the Lord - even on earth - and actually begin to rule those areas of our lives that were once oppressively overwhelming... if we just keep on, keepin' on.

God is so thorough.  To solidify my spiritual lesson that day, the Lord inspired my husband (unknowingly) to take me to see the movie, Secretariat.  What a wonderful seal from the Lord as He used that movie to nail down His message of faith and perseverance that I had learned in the woods earlier that day.  Each of our lives contain various cross roads that require us to choose between the status quo of a "sure thing" or a faith walk that involves potential risks.  God's call is usually that of selling-out to the cause and never looking back.  Oh, the richness of a life that has taken chances, lived to the fullest, trusted God, and stayed the course.  (That's the broad theme of the movie.  I'll keep the rest a secret and let you see it for yourself.  It's really good!)

I pray that YOU will be encouraged today to run the race that is set before YOU.  What is it that the Lord has asked you to do that, perhaps, seems too big or maybe even impossible?  Would you pledge to trust Him like never before?  Would you trust Him to bring to pass that thing in your heart that will require total faith and commitment in His Word to achieve?  Would you give it all to Him and begin to walk in rhythm on the journey of faith that He has designed - specifically - just for you?

He loves you, and He has good gifts for you (Matthew 7:11).  Now go!  Take a chance.  Live on the edge.  Trust Him.  Finish your race!

I am thankful for His Word, because His Word is true...

1 Corinthians 9:24 

"Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain."

In Christ,
Deborah Ross
Strengthening Families & Encouraging Women
http://www.deborahrossministries.org/

Everyone's Guide to Demons & Spiritual Warfare

Have you read any good books lately?  I have! 

Ron Phillips, a Holy Ghost filled Southern Baptist Minister, shares scriptural truths concerning the reality of Satan's demonic influence and how we - as Christians - should be ready, willing and able to do spiritual battle in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ for the sake of those who are oppressed, possessed, or harassed by the enemy.  In his new book, Everyone's Guide to Demons & Spiritual Warfare, Ron begins by revealing his personal journey to understanding the unseen spiritual world.  The Lord awakened this seasoned pastor with fresh oil after a bout from "ministry burn-out" that almost drove him to go AWOL and abandon his call altogether.

As Ron emerges from his "life-changing encounter with the Lord" this Spirit-filled, fire baptized preacher of the gospel comes face to face - not only with a deeper worship experience - but also, a full blown attack from the enemy that was sent to scare him back into mediocrity.  In his two year journey of spiritual combat, the Lord taught Ron about the very present reality of the demonic and how Christians are to win the victory. 

This book is 278 pages of teaching that will help believers to walk in freedom.  Ron unfolds scripture to expose Satan's strategies.  God says that we are "more than conquerors", but if we don't know how to apply His word to our situation, many times we - as Christians - live in slavery to the devils wiles.  Then, there are those who willfully open themselves up to demonic spirits through sinful, godless lifestyles.  Jesus came to heal the sick, restore sight to the blind, and set the captives FREE.  The church needs to wake-up to the sobering fact that the devil still exists and that he is adamant on taking as many people (who are made in God's image) down, as possible.  If he can't stop them from becoming a born-again Christian, his next tactic is to thwart God's plan for their life by keeping them in bondage. 

Ron does an excellent job of teaching the church how to prepare for battle.  His book is easy to read, informative, powerful, uplifting, and scriptural.  Nothing spooky - just sound, biblical understanding of the power of the gospel when it is "applied" as a medicine.      

Sadly, when the church chooses to either remain "ignorant of" or "afraid of" this important aspect of the ministry of Christ called deliverance, many will suffer a life-time of crippling mind and body offenses that Jesus has already given them the victory over.

A great book!   

Presumption Leads to Death

RIGHTEOUS OR RELIGIOUS...

Psalm 19:13 KJV

"Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression."

FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING, READ THE ENTIRE EZEKIEL 33 BEFORE READING THIS POST

Do you go to church because you like to see who will be there?  Or, maybe you go because it makes you "feel good" to hear a sermon.  Perhaps, you are one of those that really enjoys the music.  You could even be going just because it is "the thing to do" on Sunday mornings.

I sure hope the above suggestions don't, in any way, describe your attitude about church.  Going to the house of the Lord should be much more than a casual past time.  Why?  Because God is Holy and we should worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.  If we call ourselves Christian, we should have a deep longing to know more about the Word of God.  We should love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, and strength.  Born-again believers should want to "do" the will of God.  They should desire to be Holy, because He is Holy (1 Peter 1:16).

Take a look at Ezekiel 33:30-33...

Ezekiel 33:31 KJV

"And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness."

God says that there are MANY who will sit and listen to His Word with glad hearts.  They will even go back and talk about the message with favor saying, "That sure was a good message we heard this morning."  To many, sermons are simply music to the ears, giving lovely sounds and uplifting notes - but not causing CHANGE in the heart of the hearer.  Unfortunately, many people hear the Word of God, but then they have no idea of how to "apply" the Word of God.  Still again, many would not even consider "doing" what they heard...it just seems too hard.

The Word of God is sure.  Whatever is declared by the apostle, the prophet, the evangelist, the preacher, or the teacher is sure to be the judgement of God if the people of God fail to adhere to the sound doctrine of TRUTH that is sent forth.  God's Word is not preached to put people in bondage (as the devil tries to make them think), but rather, to give them LIFE and to give them LIFE MORE ABUNDANTLY! 

Even so, the Lord has STANDARDS...but, His standards are not to make us feel inadequate.  Oh no!  His standards are for us to live up to, so that we can receive the full blessing that He has for us, as Children of the King. 

Now go back and read Ezekiel 33:11. 

Ezekiel 33:11 KJV

"Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?"

God says that He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked.  He just wants the wicked to TURN FROM HIS WICKEDNESS and LIVE IN THE ABUNDANCE OF HIS GRACE.  The Lord does not want anyone to die.  That means both physical death and spiritual death.  So why do people die?  Dying is the result of sin - not the result of God's will.  The good news is that, even in death, the Lord makes a way of escape as He offers ETERNAL LIFE to those who are sealed unto salvation by the blood of Jesus.  So you see, God wants us to LIVE... now and forever!

As we read on in Ezekiel 33:12-20, we learn that God tells Ezekiel to warn the people that their righteousness will not be remembered in their day of iniquity... they will surely die!  In other words, those that profess Christianity, go to church regularly, sing in the choir, and even tithe, who turn their back on God to live a lifestyle of sin - they shall surely die. 

I know this is not a popular message, but I think it is one that the church needs to hear.  Not only is our Lord the God of Grace, but He is also the God of Righteousness and Judgment.  God hates sin.  On the flip side of this passage, God tells Ezekiel to announce that when the wicked turn from their wickedness - they shall live!

Ezekiel 33:13 KJV

"When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it."

You might be saying, "That's not God's way.  That's not even fair."  That's exactly what the children of Israel said!  They didn't like the strong Word of the Lord that Ezekiel spoke.  In verse 24, they "presumed" that since they were Abraham's seed, they should inherit the blessing... just because.  Isn't that just like the church today?  Being presumptuous about the GRACE of God.

You see, GRACE is not a license to sin.  Rather, GRACE is the POWER TO STOP SINNING!  The Strong's concordance says that GRACE is God exerting his holy influence upon souls, turning them to Christ, keeping them, strengthening them, and increasing them in their Christian faith.  Contrary to the church doctrine of many today, Grace is not a "GET OUT OF JAIL FREE" pass.  We must meet the conditions of Grace through repentance, or we will live a lie and continue to be lost... even though we might "think" we are saved.  The devil loves to play with God's Word in such a way that he twists and manipulates the minds of humanity so that they fall prey to cliche's that Jesus called "doctrines of devils".  If Satan is successful in causing someone to live a lie, believing that they are right with God - when, in fact, they are simply RELIGIOUS - he will succeed in luring yet another beguiled soul into an eternal hell.

Then again, if Satan can't claim a soul for eternal separation from God (hell), he will go for the next best thing and that is shutting them up so that they will be ineffective in the Kingdom of God.  You see, Satan knows that sin causes death - all death.  So, he is forever placing stumbling blocks of temptation before the believer, hoping they will fall into his trap of a lifestyle of iniquity.  If he can just get them to FALL INTO SIN he can have access to a host of curses (even death) in their life and thwart their destiny as a Child of God.

I know this message is not popular and I know that many will say, "No, God is full of Mercy and Grace."  And He is!!!  He is full of mercy and grace, but He is still a Holy God.  New Testament teachings don't take away from the Old Testament character of God.  Christ came to "fulfill the law", not do away with it.  The character of God has not changed. 

Being presumptuous concerning the Grace of God is, in my opinion, like spitting in the face of Jesus (see Hebrews 6:6).  Christ died so that we might live!  The scriptures say that he was bruised for our iniquity (Isaiah 53:5).  He took upon Himself the power of sin and the guilt that sin brings over us so that we can be more than conquerors.  He made a way for His Children to live above the curse of sin.  For us to preach a weak gospel or to offer a sympathetic stronghold to the sinner is a slap in the face to the POWER OF THE GOSPEL. 

Ephesians 2:8 says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith" (KJV). 

We cannot have pure faith unless we are freed from the guilt of sin.  So as long as we have a sin problem... we are going to have a faith problem. 

This is why repentance is so important.  Repentance is a true remorse over sin and a sincere humility toward Holy God.  Repentance is not being sorry that sin has been exposed.  Instead, rrepentance means that we turn from that sin and turn to Christ.  When a sinner comes to Christ, he or she is saying, "Lord, I have sinned against You!  I am wrong.  Please forgive me, cleanse me, and make me righteous in your sight.  I never want to return to that sin (or way of life) again." 

I like to look at it like this:

REPENTANCE ignites FAITH
FAITH ignites GRACE
GRACE ignites HOLINESS
HOLINESS ignites LIFE MORE ABUNDANTLY

Even in Titus 2:11, the Word of God says, "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, TEACHING us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" (KJV). 

So here we see that GRACE...

BRINGS SALVATION
TEACHES US
HELPS US TO DENY UNGODLINESS AND WORLDLY LUSTS
HELPS US TO LIVE SOBERLY, RIGHTEOUSLY, AND GODLY

So when someone who claims to be a Christian says, "I CAN'T LIVE GODLY.  SIN HAS POWER OVER ME"  They are rehearsing a lie sent straight from hell.  If they are truly a Child of God, they have been empowered - by grace - to be righteous.  And living righteous - glory to God - means that we LIVE ABUNDANTLY!  That's where the blessings are!

So my friend, let's don't be presumptuous about the things of God any longer and let's don't teach others to be that way, either.  God is Holy!  He has commanded us to be Holy!  The Lord has no pleasure in the death of the wicked!  He has made a way for us to LIVE life ABUNDANTLY... in this life and in the life to come! 

But... we must live by His STANDARDS.  His standards are just.  They are fair.  They are true.

So REPENT!  Come out from among them!  Be Holy!  Turn from idolatry!  Turn from lusts!. Turn from worldly ideologies!  Turn from spiritual apathy! 

Turn to God.  Read His Word.  Obey His Word.  ...AND LIVE!

1 Peter 1:16 KJV 

"Because it is written , Be ye holy; for I am holy."

Deborah Ross

Deborah Ross Ministries, Inc.

www.DeborahRossMinistries.org

News from Deborah Ross Ministries

News from Deborah Ross Ministries