Friday, February 17, 2012

Preparing to Birth your Dreams

Preparing to Birth your Dreams


Are your dreams thriving with the heartbeat of God? Or are you self-sustaining your own dreams?

Perhaps, you may even wonder what will become of your Dreams.

Well, I can tell you that when we receive a God-inspired dream the heart of it begins to form, beat with life, develop and continue to mature through a gradual process until birth.

The rhythm of our dreams in comparison to an embryo’s heartbeat can be detected before the heart is fully formed during the very early stages of development. This is exactly what pumps blood through the circulatory system delivering oxygen and nutrients to the organs that depend upon each other to function as a whole unit.

So, as I reflect upon this statement it helps me to further understand that my dreams receive nourishment and nutrients right from the heart of the Father, God himself, who has the power to keep our dreams vibrant with life, purpose and vision.

Today as we discuss the 3 stages of birth (birthing our dreams), determine where the heartbeat of your dream first originated…as either the heart of the Father, God himself, or by your own self support system?

The 1st stage of birth is Labor: During this process we began to transition from being comfortable to uncomfortable, things may even seem chaotic at this time because of change.

2nd stage of birth is Pushing: The pain of being uncomfortable may intensify. However, the baby (our dream) is beginning to reveal itself, showing it’s identity, purpose, character, etc .

The 3rd stage of birth is Afterbirth: Be confident that God will complete what He has started in you. (Philippians 1:6)

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:5-9
Prayer: Lord, I pray that we are confident in knowing that you will complete the work that you have begun in us.
Resources: For more on this topic you may also want to visit:
http://www.churchofthehighlands.com/
click Media-Message Archive: Series: Topic:

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Can you hear me God?

Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer…Page 27 (Psalm 4:1-8)


Have you ever wanted to ask the question…Can you hear me God?

Well, let’s just say that the effects of distress can be rippling. It can cause a tidal wave carrying great pain, anxiety and sorrow to rush up against the winds of peace.

A peace that has a confident trust in God; this is what we will rely on during the ride of the tidal waves.

The crashing of these waters leads me right into the discussion of labor. Labor can easily cause distress. In the moments leading up to the time that a mother’s water breaks the process can become both exciting and intense.

This analogy of birthing a newborn is also representative to those of us who are carrying our dreams, aspirations, and greatest expectations that we hope to one day see accomplished/birthed. During this process we must continue to apply our F.A.I.T.H.S.

I- We must continue to prayerfully seek the heart of God as we stand on his promises during our times of distress. Yes, he does hear us and that is a great relief. Let’s continue to converse with God and follow the path that he provides for us.

In the meantime, while were waiting to hear from God, let’s hide his word in our hearts so that we want sin against Him…Psalm 119:11, NLT

Small Group Scripture: 2 Peter 1:5-9
Prayer: Lord, I pray that we confidently know that you listen to us when we call to you.
Resources: For more on this topic you may also want to visit:
Watch: http://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/audio/three-dimensions-of-prayer
Listen: http://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/three-dimensions-of-prayer#
http://www.churchofthehighlands.com,/
click Media-Message Archive: Series- Conversations with God, Topic – Three dimensions of Prayer… Page 31

Friday, February 3, 2012

FAITH

FAITH, page 23

The seed of my salvation continued to grow through the matriculation of FAITH.

How would you define FAITH?

According to Hebrews 11:1, Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.

The bible is full of God's promises for our lives, and it also shares many stories about others who have exercised their faith.  I will begin by defining faith as a small seed emerging into a thought, then a hope that grows into a dream that has fully matured into a physical/outward appearance that can now be seen.

For example, many of you may have heard about the illustration of how the chair was created. First, it was simply a thought that was taken into action when a person began to create and develope it into existence.  Whenever you sit in a chair it's clearly a reminder of faith. 

Faith has many shapes and forms, especially when we consider the following list:

-  Believing God takes FAITH...Genesis 15:6
-  Only a small amount of FAITH is needed...Luke 17:6
-  FAITH is needed for salvation...Romans 3:28
-  FAITH comes from hearing the Word of God...Romans 10:17
-  Accept the person who has weak FAITH...Romans 14:1
-  Christianity is the only true FAITH...Ephesians 4:5
-  FAITH is hoping in what is not seen...Hebrews11:1
-  FAITH accompanies obedience to God...Hebrews 11:7-12

However, today I invite us to take a closer look at FAITH that is needed for our salvation...page xv

At each stage of our spiritual development we exercise our FAITH for spiritual growth.

While writing this book God helped me to think of it this way, F.A.I.T.H.S.

1.  Faithfully work out the seed (faith), of your salvation through spiritual growth (a stage in the process of salvation) and development (the act, process, or result of being saved) .
Yes, but How?

2.  Acquire a personal relationship with God, as his adopted (He chose you as his)- sons and daughters.
Yes, but How?

3.  Intercede (seek Jesus) prayerfully during the months (a measure of time), seasons (time during your circumstance/problem) and timing of spiritual births (the emergence or your spiritual growth, gifts, talents, ideas, dreams, solutions, etc.).
Yes, but How?

4.  Travail through a difficult experience or situation and overcome prematurity (don't give up to quickly), complications (don't allow problems to stop your progress of FAITH), barenness (don't stop producing the fruit of the spirit-patience, kindness, etc.), and death (don't stop believing).
Yes, but How?

5.  Honor those in spiritual authority by virtue (conduct that agrees with what is morally right) of God's promise (a reason to have an expectation).
Yes, but How?

6.  Seed (F.A.I.T.H.S.) of salvation has now matured in Christ Jesus.
Yes, but How?

The story of the woman with the issue of blood listed in Matthew 9  provides one of my favorite examples of FAITH and healing. Let's view this chapter together and answer the questions above as it applies to her life story.

For example
1.   She was faithful to believe in Jesus as the son of God (salvation), and his teachings led her to develope spirtually as she believed that his power, promises and ability to heal could all result in her receiving healing for her body.

Scripture:  2 Peter 1:5-9

Prayer:  Lord,  I pray that I pursue you intimately and wholeheartedly, while never looking behind on what I tried to build for myself out of self-centeredness (selfishness), but that I long to love you more than myself, my desires, my dreams and my plans.

Resources:  For more on this topic you may also want to visit: http://www.churchofthehighlands.com,/
click Media-Message Archive:  Series- In the World of Perfect, Topic- Perfect Faith page 23

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Welcome to "Bringing Forth Virtue," where you can experience FAITH and Birth your destiny!

I will post regularly on Saturdays and respond to post at other times throughout the week during this time that is dedicated to our Small Group Study....

Please visit the tabs for any additional information.

I look forward to the opportunity to fellowhip with you!