choices are for the Living

Choices are for the Living

2 Corinthians 5:11-14 (Message Bible), “That keeps us vigilant, you can be sure.  It’s no light thing to know that we’ll all one day stand in the place of Judgment.  That’s why we work urgently with everyone we meet to get them ready to face God.  God alone knows how well we do this, but I hope you realize how much and how deeply we care. We’re not saying this to make ourselves look good to you.  We just thought it would make you feel good, proud even, that we’re on your side and not just nice to your face as so many people are. If I acted crazy, I did it for God; if I acted overly serious, I did it for you.  Christ’s love has moved me to such extremes.  His love has the first and last word in everything we do.”

Wow! Readers, What an awesome statement of truth; “If I acted crazy I did it for God, if I acted overly serious I did it for you.  Christ’s love has moved me to such extremes.”  I do believe this is what we need in the body of Christ, a move of extreme love, a crazy kind of love that moves us to be as serious about death as we are about life.  We spend much time preparing to live, planning, doing, and going, but what about death?  I  can hear some of you now getting all theological on me,” Michele you know as believers we really don’t ever die.” What I mean about death is the transition from this life to the next. Do we really care about the people who might not be going vertical?  Love must compel us it must move us to extremes.  When was the last time you told someone about Christ that was not already attending church?  When was the last time you acted crazy for your God? I don’t mean straight jacket crazy I mean out of your comfort level crazy. What might be crazy for me might not be crazy for you.  For an example I just finished teaching a bible study, “Outlive your Life,” by Max Lucado, the main focused was on the footprints we’re  leaving behind, and doing all things unto God. The point of our life is to point to His.  One of the examples in the book was; go to your local laundry mat and pay for people’s laundry, and fellowship with those we call strangers but whom the Lord calls His children. The mission is called, “Laundry Love.” “If I acted crazy, I did it for God.”  Church, isn’t it time we get a little crazy for Christ? Isn’t it time we get serious about Heaven?  You might be saying I am serious about heaven.  I have been serving God most of my life.  I mean get serious about other people going to heaven.  I mean letting Christ’s love move you to extremes.   

photo credit storypoint.info

Some of you are waiting on a word from God before you step a foot in the Jordan. Joshua 3:8 "When you reach the edge of the waters, "GO" and stand in the river." According to the NKJV God has told you 1487 times to "GO"!! What are you waiting on? When you start to "GO" the waters will stand in a heap. You don’t think this was crazy?  It was the rainy season, the Jordan was swelled high above the normal river size, but the priest obeyed. As they stuck one foot in the water the water stood up on its head. Wow!  What a great example of what God will do if we will pick up the ark of the covenant, which represented God’s presence and ,”GO”.  Love crazy for God, get serious about Vertical faith, and let Christ’s love move you to the extremes. Choices are for the living.

Michele Davenport

Dipping my toe in the Jordan expecting a miracle.

For prayer or praise reports please email me at my new email fbmin02@gmail.com

To order my book, “Ripened on the Vine,” true stories of my life or to listen to my teaching on, “Vertical Faith,” go to our web page www.fbministries.com

Choices are for the Living

Choices are for the Living    

John 12:24, “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed.  But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”

photo credit - iknow2.net

Readers, as I was dead heading my flowers the other morning and a thought passed through my mind, the thought was in order for new flowers to bloom I had to remove the dead ones.  Most of you know about sowing and reaping, you plant a sunflower seed, and you reap sunflowers.  You plant daisies, you will reap daisies, but have you ever stopped and thought about the dead heading process?  The reason you dead head your flowers is to extend the bloom time. Dead heading is a removal of spent flowers before they have a chance to set seeds and distract the plants energy away from producing flowers.  It’s interesting because the goal of all flowering plants is to produce seeds for the next generation of plants.  Delaying the dead heading of your garden will only prolong the production of flowers and beauty in your garden for the next generation.  When you detach dead flowers you are encouraging new growth.  You are essentially encouraging the plant to send up another supply of healthy flowers.  How many of my Readers would be satisfied with one harvest of flowers when you could have several?  All you need to do is take the time to dead head your garden.  Well, this brings me to my point, some of you have allowed a seed to be planted,  you have allowed the seed to be watered, and you have experienced a small harvest, but God wants you to continue to experience the harvest.  Let me explain, I know some of my Readers have had great victories in your life, you have been healed of diseases.  You have had a great financial breakthrough in your businesses and home.  You have broken through the barriers of depression, loneliness and self absorb attitudes only to find yourself right back in the same place.  Why? I believe it’s because you refused to dead head your harvest, you refused to pull off what is dying so the new could sprout.  You continually speak dying words, dying thoughts, you have allowed your words to occupy your garden for too long.  Where you once spoke life, you now speak death.  Where you once filled your mind with thoughts of your Lord and Savior, you now replaced your thoughts with yourself.  Where you once put your faith in your God you are now trying to obtain confidence through your bank account, job, marriage, your right standing in your community has become more valuable than your right standing with God.  Remember the goal of all flowering plants is to produce seeds for the next generation of plants. What kind of seeds are you producing for the next generation?    Do you constantly need council, approval, and pampering because of your past?  Because you won’t let God deliver you; dead head you.  Readers, many of us need to spend sometime at the throne of our hearts dead heading what is clearly dead so God can allow new growth for the next generation.  What are we leaving behind? Choices are for the Living

Dead heading my garden one flower at a time expecting new growth 

Faith Builders Ministries

Michele Davenport

For prayer or questions please contact me at my new email address fbmin02@gmail.com

To order my books, “Ripened on the Vine,” a true account of my life, living among the dead. “From My Heart to Yours Devotional,” poetry book with scriptures and the study of some Hebrew and Greek words. Go to our web page  www.fbministries.com

The Three Most Influential Women in My Life and the gifts they left behind

1 Peter 4:10, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms."

The first gift from the most influential women in my life was a quilt which belonged to my mother, whom I lost December 12, 2007 she will be the number one Influential women in my life.  She was my best friend, my cheerleader, and my greatest fan.  My mother was not your typical mother, she endured many loses, disappointments, and heartaches, which eventually led her to a heroin addiction.   My mother suffered at the hands of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco for one third of her life.  The quilt represents restoration, reconciliation and reconstruction which were the patches God used to stitch us back together as mother and daughter.  Through God’s love I was made whole.  Through His forgiveness, I was empowered to forgive, through His example I was able to follow, through His compassion I was able to walk in her footsteps if only for a moment I understood the pain she endured.  The lesson in the quilt for me is our lives are but a patchwork of moments that we endure, enjoy, and experience on various levels.  Those moments in our lives create our quilt the same patches that had caused us pain are the same patches God uses to cover us in His love and mercy. Every quilt has a story to tell. Some quilts are in the early stages of becoming a quilt you can’t in actuality cover with them, although they offer only a few patches to warm your feet, what patches they have, they offer believing one day to extend enough to cover. Other quilts just crossed over the finish line, the last stitch has been sown the last patch has been put in place, and they are ready to extend their life’s experiences to help you.  At first their quilt stays in their closet but as life goes on they find themselves gravitating to the quilt so others can be ministered to through their experiences. One day they look up and realize someone sitting in their house covered in their quilt while sipping on a cup of coffee, the healing begins as they share their life about their God.

photo credit - filminthefridge.com

 Then there are the quilts that are tattered and torn sown with years of wisdom.  Oh sure, when you cover yourself with them they have holes and the breeze seeps in but the warmth of their lives keeps you content with its ability to comfort you.  You are so consumed with their stories of long ago, about how their God brought them through you forget about the holes, you stop feeling the breeze, your mind has gone to a place of peace as your body responds to the warmth of His presence. Every quilt has a story will you tell yours?

The next gift from one of the most influential women in my life is a rolling pin, which was given to me by my grandmother whom I also lost in 1998.  She also taught me many lessons throughout my walk; one of the lessons was how to sit quietly before God, not asking for nothing just listening to His voice.  Another lesson she etched deeply in my mind was; patience is a virtue, which we are not born with.   Patience comes through our trials. 

My grandmother showed me how to roll my cares upon Jesus so when I use the rolling pin I always remember what my grandmother taught me, sit quietly before your God, be patient in your sitting, and roll your cares upon Him. 

The last gift is an apron, which brings me to the third and final influential women in my life to this date, my Aunt Linda.  My Aunt Linda has also in turn taught me many values on my road to wisdom and she is still teaching me.  Several times while growing up I had the opportunity to be a witness, to observe her while she mothered her children, while she served her husband, and her church.  I watched her relentlessly work through the day and night contending to others, being a witness, praying, teaching, loving, and giving without taking inventory of her.  My Aunt is a servant first, she does not require being served she finds her true joy in living the life of a servant that’s where she is most comfortable, and in that very place is where she made the most incredible impact on my journey.  As I watched her I experienced the heart of God. I learned the art of being a mother, a friend, and a true lover of the Word of God.  I learned about people, and the desire to be loved with action, not with action words. 

photo credit - mdstrength.com

 As I wear the apron I pray her mantle falls upon me. I pray I would put others first, learn the beauty of a servant’s heart, and the joy of making a difference in the lives of others each day I live.    

Thank you for allowing me to share my family with you.  I hope in some small way I have represented them in such a manner that even from Heaven they have made a difference in your life.   I pray that you will find three of the most influential people in your life and share with them how they have written on the slate of who you have become.

Choices are for the Living

Listen Readers, I had an awesome opportunity to serve in my community and I wanted to share my amazing experience with you. I went to the Shepherd’s Staff Food Pantry located at 1311 Sanders in Harrisonville and helped distribute over 15,000 pounds of food to over 300 families it was truly a blessing to work a long side of these wonderful people who were accurately living it out for the Glory of God, they are living God’s Word not just discussing it.

 If you live in Cass County and are interested in volunteering for this worthy cause please contact Delbert (816-769-4988) at Shepherd’s Food Pantry they need volunteers every Friday from 2-6pm. “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)  Choices are for the Living…Make a difference, volunteer. Any and all donations are welcomed….   
Casting my net for Jesus

Michele Davenport

If you have questions or comments please contact me at my new email address fbmin02@gmail.com

To read my testimony, “Ripened on the Vine,” go to www.fbministires.com

     

Choices are for the Living

Choices are for the Living

Luke 8:22-25, “One day Jesus said to His disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into the boat and set out.  As they sailed, he fell asleep.  A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.  The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”  He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked His disciples.  In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this?” He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him.”

As I was pondering the scriptures above I noticed some obvious facts. The first fact I noticed was Jesus gave the disciples a word in verse 22, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” The second fact that caught my eye was, they obeyed. “So they got into the boat and set out.”  But it was when they got into the boat their faith was challenged, “As they sailed He (Jesus) fell asleep.  A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.”  Readers, sometimes its right after we make a decision to obey we find our greatest challenge.  After they were in great danger I noticed in verse 24, their faith was perishing, “The disciples went and woke Him saying, “Master, Master we’re going to drown.” Wow!  In the middle of their challenge they panic.  Jesus got up rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm fell asleep and all was calm according to verse 25.  Then Jesus looked at them and asked, “Where is your faith?” Still in verse 25, “In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the wind and the water, and they obey Him.”

photo credit - deafministries.com

 “Who is this?”  Remember they said this after Jesus had cast out a demon, heals Peter’s mother in law, provides a miraculous catch of fish, heals a man of leprosy, heals a paralyzed man, and heals a man’s hand that was shriveled up.  I know that Jesus didn’t pick the twelve until Luke 6 but they were certainly a witness to the astonishing acts of Jesus.  Then Jesus teaches about loving your enemies, criticizing others, fruit, and building your house.  Now I could leave it at this and it would be enough but there is more. After Jesus’ incredible teaching He raised a widow’s son from the dead, eases John’s doubt, teaches about the four soils, describes His true family, which is those who hear God’s Word and puts it to practice.  Lastly, Jesus calms the storm and its right after this when our eyes fall upon those famous words, “Who is this?”

  I remember a time when the doctors came to my husband and I and told us our oldest daughter had a rare blood disorder, that her blood was the blood of a dying child.  The Lord gave us a word through the prophet Isaiah, “And by His wounds we are healed.”  Then we stepped into the boat.  But as life would have it our faith was challenged, the doctors kept performing one test after another, but we refused to panic because our mentality was not “Who is this?”   Our mentality was we know who our God is He is Johavoah Jirah; my provider, Johovah Rapha; the Lord that heals, El Elyon; the most high, Johovah Shalom; the Lord is peace, Johovah Mekoddishkem;  the Lord who sanctifies you and Johovah Shammah; the Lord is there.   Listen Readers, we better know who God is and the power He carries through His name.  Many of you are going through your own trails even as your reading my column, but may I say to you; “Get a word from God, get in the boat, refuse to waiver, don’t panic, and watch your God calm the storm".

 Choices are for the Living

Hanging my red cord out the window so others can be saved

Michele Davenport

If you have a prayer request or questions please go to my new email fbmin02@gmail.com if you want to order my books “Ripened on the Vine”, a true story about my life, or “From My Heart to Yours Devotional” go to www.fbministries.com

Fan the Flame or just live with a spark

Choices are for the Living

2

 Timothy 1:5-9 says, “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.  For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holly calling, not because of your works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began."

Paul is encouraging Timothy who at this point has a congregation of about 60,000 members in the church of Ephesus.  Paul is reminding Timothy where he came from, the lineage of his mother and grandmother. Paul was telling Timothy to fan into flame the gift of God, which was in parted by the laying on of Paul’s hands.  Many of my readers have came from the same kind of back ground as Timothy, you have a Christian lineage that goes clear back to your great, great , great grandparents, but you have turned your back on the faith.  You have lost sight of your purpose in life.  I would say you have forgotten, but I know all too well that you have not.  Oh yes, you remember the faith of your ancestors.  You remember how your grandmother would rise early before anyone else so she could be alone in the presence of her God.  Her God did not look like the God we have carved into our image in modern society, No, her God was a God who was rightly feared, her God stood alone, and there were no other God before Him. Her God is the God of the universe, who with His every word spoke the world into existence.  Her God kept her through the tough times, He had written her name on the palm of His hands as Isaiah 49:16 told her he would, "See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me."       

When did you decide your walls were no longer before God?  When did you stop believing in His existence? You might be thinking to yourself that was harsh, but really if you are not depending on Him then you’re putting your belief in you.   We are taught in society that we need to believe in ourselves, that we can do anything we set our minds to.  We are taught to reach for the stars, go for the American dream, climb the corporate ladder and kick whoever is in front of you off.  

Galatians 3:3 O foolish Galatians!!! Who has bewitched you? Galatians 3:3 are you so foolish?  Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?   

What happened to make you turn your back on the one person who could help you? Are you so foolish that you think you can do a better job with your life than God?  We work so hard in our society that we miss out on the only thing that will ever really matter for eternity, our relationship with our one true God. Do you want to know what you are taking to Heaven with you? Your relationship with God, that’s it, not your nice car,  beautiful house, diamonds or furs, nor your golf clubs, fishing poles, or  boats, No, all your taking with you is your relationship with your God.  We are missing the point of our lives; our assignment is we are the assignment. Romans1:25 Paul is saying, “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, (in Greek it says the lie), and worshiped and served created things rather than the creator who is forever praised. The lie is the lie spoken in the garden. ‘Did God really say?” We have doctored the word of God to fit what we are comfortable with it saying.  For example; John 6:63 says, “It is the Spirit who gives life the flesh gives no help at all.”  But we give the flesh all the glory and occasionally call on the Spirit. Another example; Matthew 22:36-39 says, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to them, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the great and first commandment.  And second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  Now we love God with only a portion of our heart, our leftovers if you will, only what we think we can afford to let go of, as far as our soul goes we let our soul  wander aimlessly around in search of an improved more easily obtainable truth, and  for our mind’s they are consumed with worry, discontentment, competition, and jealously, our minds are on the things of the world.  Second is like it we shall love our neighbors as ourselves. Do you? Who is your neighbor? Is your thinking so shallow that you have resided that your neighbor is whoever lives next door to you.  When you read this passage of scripture did you run to your dictionary to retrieve the definition of neighbor to make sure you didn’t love someone who did not make the list?  Who does Jesus say your neighbor is? Go to your Bible and read Luke 10:25-37. Your neighbor is the man in the ditch, anyone who is in need. What about Matthew 5:44 it says, “But I say love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” The world teaches revenge the world teaches un-forgiveness.  This is what I mean about doctoring the word to fit our comfort level, we have decided on our own theology and then invited Mr. Theo to slip into our bed of feathers with our electric blanket , to blend in the atmosphere of our choices,  to accommodate the people who are not comfy with the unadulterated truth the written Word of God. Love your neighbor as you love yourself.

 Paul was reminding Timothy where he came from.  Readers, I understand that many of you did not come from such a lineage as Timothy, but if you are a born again believer you have the lineage of Jesus and I am reminding you, you were created for more, but yet you have found yourself being content with less.  You have been easily satisfied with becoming your own doctor to the Word of God you have performed many surgeries to get the Word to say what you want it to say, and to look like you want it to look. Try reading the Word just as it is written nothing added or taken away and see what you believe. Choices are for the Living….Choose to believe…

For prayer or questions please email me at fbministries@comcast.net

To order my book, “Ripened on the Vine, “a true story about my life, or my Devotional, “From My Heart To Yours,” go to www.fbministries.com

Anticipation of Expectation

                                                            

Acts 9:36-41 says, “in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor.  About that same time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room.  Lydda was near Joppa. When the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “please come at once!” 

Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room.  All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

Peter sent them all out of the room. Then, he got down on his knees and prayed.  Turning towards the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.”  She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter sat up.  He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet.  Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive.

After reading the story of Tabitha, aka Dorca, I noticed a couple of interesting facts.  The first incident I noticed was as soon as Dorcas had died the disciples sent two men for Peter.  Why would they send for Peter after Dorcas was pronounced dead?  Because, they remembered what happen in Acts 5 when the people who passed within Peter’s shadow were healed, not by the shadow, but by God’s power illuminating within Peter. A lot of unspoken words were spoken in the request for Peter that day. The faith of the disciples was grand.   The disciples were expecting a miracle, they were expecting a resurrection.  How different would your life be, if you could believed just because it has never happened before, doesn’t mean it can’t happen?  The disciples believed for something uncommon, for something unlikely, and for something out of the ordinary. Even how the body was prepared, Dorcas’s body was an act of faith, after she was pronounced dead.  She was washed, but not anointed with oil. She was placed in an upstairs room in anticipation, of something miraculous happening amongst them.  They believed for a new kind of miracle.  Why do we fix state on the crucifixion, and not on the resurrection?

 My family and I were in Joplin all day on Sunday the attitude was amazing they were not fixated on the damage but on the resurrection, the new possibilities, the promise of life, the promise of new beginnings. My husband met a man who was in his house trying to get to the basement when the Tornado hit. John Allen, about 75 years of age, was rushing down the stairs when the debris landed on him when he tried to keep moving he noticed his foot was trapped. As he sat there bordered by the violent wind everything around him was collapsing.  After what seemed an eternity, saidJohn, it all stopped. He glanced down to see what had trapped his foot, to his surprise after digging around the debris he pulled out a gallon water bottle, it was the plastic water bottle that held John’s foot captive that day.  Wow! Talk about God using the uncommon, out of the ordinary, and the most unlikely thing to save a man’s life. I don’t know if a gallon water jug has ever saved a man’s life before but what I do know is we can never limit God because of our lack of anticipation.   There was silence in Joplin that cannot be explain, but in the silence there was an act of hope in the restoring of the city, the promise of new beginnings, brighter days ahead, and  an anticipation for God’s provision.

The second incident I noticed in the Tabitha story was, all  of the widows who were standing around crying and giving Peter a fashion show of all the robes and clothing that Dorcas had made. It seemed to me they were morning her sewing ability rather than her life.   The disciples believed for a miracle while the widows were preparing for a funeral.  Watch what happened after Peter arrives. The first thing he does is clear the room of all the Nay Sayers, and of all the doubters. It was as if Peter was saying, “Okay everyone who cannot stand in faith, get out if you can’t catch the vision leave.”  Then Peter got on his knees and prayed, turning towards the dead women, he said, “Dorcas get up.”  She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.  We to as believer need to turn towards that dead situation and speak life changing words into the atmosphere. 

How many times have you shared a dream, a vision, or a desire with someone and like a tornado their words formed the winds that destroyed every positive thought you had with their doubt and unbelief?  Peter demanded for the miracle to come forth, to rise up, and to take notice.  Peter gave the miracle feet.  Some of us need to give our dreams, visions, and desires feet again. You have let the Nay Sayers crucify your dreams while leaving them nailed to a cross with a crown of fear.  Clear the room; get on your knees, and turn your attention towards your miracle.     

Choices are for the living.

Casting my net for Jesus…  Michele Davenport

For prayer or questions please go to fbministries@comcast.net

To order my book, “Ripened on the Vine” a true testimony about my life go to www.fbministries.com

Choices are for the Living....No one knows the day or hour

Matthew 24:36-44, “No one knows about the day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  As it was n the day of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.  For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marring and giving into marriage, up to the day Noah entered into the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away.  This is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.  Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.  Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken one will be left. Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day the Lord will come.  But understand this: If the owner of the house had known of what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.  So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

With all the talk about Jesus return in the news lately it has struck a chord in me. I am writing my column on the morning of Saturday May 21, 2011 the exact day a man whom I will not mention by name has claimed Jesus’ return.  He has not only pronounced the day but the hour as well. Listen Readers, there is a reason were not suppose to know the day or hour of our Lord and Saviors return. I believe the reason is; we too would try to sell everything, give all our money away, in an attempt to pay alms to God. Listen; please hear my heart, if you’re not willing to live a life that matters for Christ now when no one is watching and there is no speculation of Jesus’ return then I must question the authenticity of your action. I am perplexed on how easily it is for people to believe a false prophetic but have such difficulty believing the Word of God. In the scripture above it plainly explains that no man, angel, or even Jesus himself will know the day or hour but many have chosen to believe a simple man than the infallible Word of God.    “But understand this: If the owner of the house had known of what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.  So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

In other words; Jesus is coming back when we don’t have time to sell everything and give it to the church or the poor. Sowing a tangible seed is awesome, but your motive should be considered. What is the driving force behind the thought? Our lives should always leave a paper trail that leads people to heaven not confusion. Readers, we need to be serving Him with pure abandonment of self, we need to love others enough to give our talents, resources, and time not because we have listen to a man with false calculations but because we are sold out, on fire, and crazy in love with our Jesus.  In the scripture above the Word said, if the man knew of the hour the thief was going to break in his house he would keep watch. We also must be ready, because Jesus will come back in a day and hour we do not expect.  The word, “watch” is the Greek word; tereo, which means to guard, the Greek tense means to consistently guard, or to consistently, be on the watch. Believers, we need to be in a continual state of living like Jesus is coming back on this day in this hour if we are going to live a relevant life that matters in the next. Although, I don’t agree with the man who is trying to predict Jesus’ return, I do believe he believes in his truth, it just isn’t God’s truth.  God’s Word says in Genesis 50:20, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Well there it is folks; God can draw men to Him through this atrocity. If only one comes to Christ during this time then something good has been accomplish. If anything, maybe for the ones who sold and gave everything away realized what they should have known all along, maybe hearts were exposed and motives were investigated, maybe they have taken inventory of what they really believe, and what conviction are worth following. There is one thing I know for sure and that is; Jesus’ return will be unknown to any man, angel, or the Son of God and knowing this truth makes me want to live out loud for Jesus because this is for sure He is coming back and when he does no matter what the day or hour I want Him to find me doing what He has called me to do, not because I had time to orgastrated a pre-remanufactured response but because I am trying to live an authentic life for Him. Choices are for the Living

 Grinding with a hand mill until His return… Michele Davenport

For prayer or questions please feel free to e-mail me at fbministries@comcast.net

To order my book, “Ripened on the Vine”, with a free down load Study Guide go to www.fbministries.com

    

choices are for the living.....Jesus agonizes in the garden

Choices are for the Living

Jesus Agonizes in the Garden

Mark 14:32-38, “They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled.  My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death, he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible that the hour might pass from him. Abba, Father, he said, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me.  Yet not what I will, but what you will.”  Then he turned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon, he said to Peter, “are you asleep?  Could you not keep watch for one hour?  Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.  The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

Readers, I noticed something very interesting about this scripture there had to be a day before this night. This night brought about such agony, such distress, and such trouble within the soul of Jesus. Do you think Jesus ever dreaded the “next day?” Have you ever known that something was going to happen the “next day” and dreaded the process of living out that day out? Many times in my life I have known the “next day” was going to bring about such pain in my life, for an example; after my mom died there was a “next day” to endure, same goes for the day after my brother died, and again when my dad died. I have dreaded many “next days” in my life but I know how I chose to handle the next day in my life depends on how I chose to handle the day before. Jesus did something amazing that evening in the garden he tried to teach three of his disciples how to go through the evening before the “next day.” Remember, Jesus told eight of his disciples to wait while he went to pray but Jesus told Peter, James, and John to watch and pray. Jesus told them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” “Stay here and keep watch.” Jesus walked off in the distance but within ear shot of the three disciples and he began to ask his Father to let the hour (the appointed time) pass him by.  Jesus also asked that the cup (God’s wrath) be lifted away from his lips, but yet not my will but your will be done. Then Jesus returned to his disciples to find them asleep, taking a cat nap, if you will while Jesus was agonizing in the garden. What was the question Jesus asked them? “ARE YOU ASLEEP?” If you read on in scriptures the disciples fell asleep three times and the last time Jesus said, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.  Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

photo credit gcaptain.com

Readers, there is a great lesson to gleam from the question Jesus asked them, Are you still sleeping? Many times we are sleeping spiritually when Jesus is trying to teach us a life lesson. Jesus was showing the disciples how to handle the “next day” in their lives but they were too concerned with their napping than learning a lesson of a life time. There will always be a “next day” in your life until your finale day here on earth, the question is; are you sleeping when you should be praying?  Could you not keep watch for an hour?  I think as believers we don’t take praying seriously enough. Jesus said, “Watch and pray so you don’t fall into temptation.” The “next day,” in our lives can cause temptations just ask any reformed drug addict, or compulsive eater, shopper, someone trying to walk in love, or someone addicted to pornography? I can’t begin to tell you how many times I have heard people blame God for things that He didn’t do but only allowed. People are tempted to accuse God for their choices.  My brother died in a car accident under the influence of drugs and alcohol, many questioned God, I would hear them say, “Why did God kill Richard?” but we have choices to make and consequences for our choices God did not kill my brother but he allowed the consequence of his choice. My dad whom I mention earlier,  also died in a car wreck under the influence of alcohol, again God allowed the consequences for his choice.  Many have turned away from God because of misplaced blame…The next time you’re tempted to blame God for what’s happening in your life ask yourself one question, is this happening because of a choice I made? Everything that happens is a choice; it happens because of a choice you made, or a choice someone else has made. CHOICES ARE FOR THE LIVING ONCE YOUR DEAD THE CHOICE IS OVER. What was Jesus lesson that evening in the garden? Watch, pray and stay awake in the spirit so that you don’t fall into temptation, but once again this is your choice to make, your life to live, your purpose to discover because there will be a “next day” until it’s your last.

Choices are for the Living…dipping my toe in the Jordan expecting a miracle.

For prayer or questions please feel free to email me at fbministries@comcast.net

To order my books, “Ripened on the Vine,” a true story about my life, or “From My heart to Yours Devotional,” or if you would like to listen to my teachings on audio go to fbministries.com

Choices are for the Living....Its not about me!!! REALLY?????

Choices are for the Living

Do you ever feel like there is something more you should be doing with your life?  What is holding you back?  The opposite of faith is fear.  Are you afraid to step out and do something radical for God?  I have done many things that have not turned out for God, but I will never stop trying to reach the lost, minister to the sick, comfort the hurting, feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, and clothe the naked. 

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 says, “For the love of God controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised".

My question to you is, “Who controls you?”  With the world we live in today I could easily ask, “What controls you?”  Whatever controls you is what you are living for.

photo credit - pichaus.com

I recently read an article written by Joshua Davis called, “The Perfect Human”, the article was about a man named Karnazes, who is an extraordinary marathon runner.   Karnazes did not train all of his life to become a marathon runner, nor was this a dream of his. He stumbled across this talent by accident literally stumbled out of a bar into a pair of sneakers.  Let me elaborate on what I gleamed from the article.   Karnazes was a drunk.  It was his 30^th birthday and he was at a local bar near his home in San Francisco.  Karnazes was sitting at the bar drinking beer and tequila shots. He was a corporate business man, living the corporate life.  As he was sitting there on the bar stool, a women came onto him. Karnazes decided to head out the back door rather than put himself in a position he would regret later.  Karnazes walked home which was only a couple of blocks from the bar.  As he was sitting on his back porch, he looked over and saw an old pair of sneakers.  He stripped down to his t-shirt and underwear, laced up his shoes and began running.  Karnazes ended up in Dala City, which was about fifteen miles from where he had begun. It was about four in the morning and Karnazes felt ridiculous, but this experience brought a huge smile to his face. So he kept running. When the sun started peeking out, he realized he was near Santa Cruz. He had covered thirty miles.  Karnazes had a rebirth moment in his life; he had metamorphosed into a long distant runner.  He stopped and called his wife. He then passed out in the car on the way home. 

This occurred on August 1992.  For the next 14 years, Karnazes challenged almost every known running endurance limit.  He covered 350 miles without sleeping.  He ran the first and only marathon to the North Pole (which he finishing second) at the age of 44. He completed 50 marathons in 50 consecutive days, one in each of the 50 states, (The last one was held in New York City, after that, he ran home to San Francisco).

photo credit faithvillage.com

The moral of this story is that some of us need to just put on our running shoes and run the race for Jesus and not for ourselves.  I don’t know how many times over the last several years I have heard the statement, “It’s not about me”. However, if we would be brutally honest with ourselves it really has been.  What would you do if it wasn’t about you?  Would you give more?  I imagine you would if it didn’t affect your standard of living.  Would you pray for the person in the grocery store?  You would if you could get past being embarrassed.  Would you feed the hungry on the side of the road?  You would if it was convenient, or if you thought they really deserved it. Would you go to the ends of the world to spread the gospel if God told you to?  You might, but you might not.  Why?  Because reality is, it has always been all about you, me, and our level of comfort. I am not willing to live like that any longer.  I have made a decision to walk my walk with Jesus in a walk worth walking, in the most radical, nontraditional way.  Have you? 

 We need to start being controlled by love, not our emotions, our past experiences, on how others treat us, our bank accounts or certainly not how we feel from day to day.  2 Corinthians 5:15 says, “And he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised”.

Karnazes looked at his life and thought, “I just need to do something different”.  Some of the readers today just need to do something different. Put on your running shoes and run for Jesus! Choices are for the living. What shoes are you wearing?

  Walking a life worth repeating…..Michele Davenport   

For prayer, questions, or comments please e-mail me at fbministries@comcast.net

To order my books, “Ripened on the Vine,” my testimony or my book  “From My Heart to Yours Devotional,” go to fbministries.com

"Choices are for the Living" Stacking your stones

Choices are for the Living          

Joshua 4:1-7, “When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, “Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan from right where the priests stood and to carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.” So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan.  Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you.  In the future, when your children ask you, “What do these stones mean?”  Tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord.  When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”

photo credit tommyimages.com

Deuteronomy 6:12, “Be careful not to forget your God who brought you out of Egypt.”  It’s interesting to me what the word, “memorial” means in Hebrew. It means to remember. Stacking your stones is not to mark a place of burial or temple, but a memorial to some sort of battle, a memorial reminds us of a place or time in our lives, it triggers a memory good or bad.  The Israelites were always forgetting about the Lord’s goodness. I know many people who visit their past only to be tormented by the actions and reactions of others but the Lord is saying, “Be careful not to forget your God who brought you out of Egypt.”  Egypt represented bondage and slavery and the Lord was saying remember me, your Lord. What has been your Egypt? Has the Lord brought you through of a drug addiction? Has He brought you through being molested as a child, or being raped? Or maybe God has brought you through of a pornography habit, a cigarette habit, or an ugly divorce. Or perhaps the Lord has brought you through cancer, eating disorder, fear, stroke, or suicidal thoughts.  Be careful Readers, not to forget the Lord who brought you out of your Egypt. When I look back on my own life I have a choice to make, I can remember how God brought me through or I can remember Egypt.  I can remember slavery or I can remember being set free.  I can remember the bondage I endure or I can remember my deliverance. Oh Readers, how our memories remind us of God’s faithfulness; it is a sign post to a lost world. The Apostle Paul says, “I forget about the past so I can press on to the future.”  Each stone represented a person, a tribe if you will and how God brought them through the Jordan to get to the other side. Many of you are still waiting on the wrong side of the Jordan you are pining for Egypt because it’s far better to remain in the pain of your past than to pick up your stone and carry it across, but you must pick up your stone and carry it across and lay it at the feet of Jesus. I believe the stone was a type and shadow of their previous bondage, despair, and suffering, it represented God’s ability to bring them through the trails of the promise of long ago according to Exodus 3:8, “So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey.” Another interesting fact; in Hebrew milk represents spiritual and honey represents the best. So in essence the Lord was saying I have come down to deliver you from your oppression into a land filled with my spiritual best.

 In Deuteronomy 1:6-7, “The Lord your God has said to us at Horeb, “You have stayed long enough at this mountain.  Break camp and advance into the hill country of the Amorites…Readers, for many of you God is saying, “You have stayed long enough at this mountain break camp and advance you have stood too long in front of a mountain that I have removed. I have offered you a land flowing with my spiritual best pick up your stone and carry it across because one day your children will ask, “What do these stones mean?” Each battle you’ve had in your life is another opportunity to stack a victory stone as your sign post of faith.  Choices are for the Living……

 Stacking my stones for Jesus…Michele Davenport

For prayer or questions please email me at fbministries@comcast.net

To order my books or listen to my messages on audio on subjects like, Faith First, Armor of God part 1 &2, Vertical faith part 1 &2 go to fbministries.com

Choices are for the Living

Willingness leads you to his will....Are you willing to be lead by God? I'm not just talking bout in the big decisions, I'm talking about in the everyday living life decisions. For example if you invited someone over for dinner have you ever considered asking God what to serve your guest? Try it, you will be amazed at the results. They will go something like this, "Wow!!! this is one of my favorite meals, or I have been craving this for weeks." What about as your moving in and out of your day, do you ever stop and ask God, what do you want me to do right in this moment?  Philipians 2:3-4, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility considers others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."  Are we really willing to be lead to do His will in our everyday lives?

Choices are for the Living

Choices are for the Living, taken form my book, "From My Heart to Yours"

Choices are for the Living

The Cross

I could not forgive until I went to the cross

Where I knelt down at your feet crying and lost

When I opened up my eyes all that I could see

Was one faithful man dying for me

Whipped and beaten beyond recognition

For thousands of people this was their petition

Crucify Him He is not real

They have chosen not to believe.  They have chosen to kill

They mocked Him and said, “If you’re truly the one?”

Call up to your Father to free His Son

Jesus could have changed this with one silent prayer

Save me Father, release me from here

But this was not my purpose or my Fathers plan

I was sent here to be the sacrifice for all of men

Then time was silent the battle had been won

Forgive them my Father for they know not what they’ve done.

Luke 23:44-46

It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining and the curtain of the temple was torn in two.  Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father into your hands I commend my spirit.”

Do you realize that it all started in a garden and it all ended in a garden?  It started with a piece of forbidden fruit hanging on a tree, and ended with Jesus hanging on a tree. I believe Jesus hung on the very tree of life that was in the Garden of Eden.   He represented eternal life and through Him we have eternal life.   The tree of knowledge of good and evil was in the middle of the garden, while Jesus hung on a tree in the middle of two men.  The two men represented the reason why Jesus went to the cross for the saved and unsaved. The bad seed they ate produced a bad seed.  Sowing and reaping can be fatal if the seed you sow is done in sin. 

The word “commend” means “to deposit” to commit for safekeeping.  I love the fact that Jesus dismissed His Spirit this proves that He was in complete control of the situation.  Do you remember Psalms 31:5  when David wrote “In thine hand I commend my Spirit “This Psalms was used as a Jewish child’s bedtime prayer? Jesus deposited His spirit for us and He expects a return.  If you haven’t received Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior please say this prayer of faith, “Jesus I repent for my sins I realize how much I need you in my life.  I know you died on the cross and arose in three days and now you’re sitting at the right hand of your Father. I am confessing this with my mouth and I believe it in my heart.  Jesus you are Lord this is my confession.  Amen (Romans 10:9) Choices are for the Living.

Stacking my stones…Michele Davenport

For prayer or questions email me at fbministries@comcast.net

To order my books or listen to any of my teachings on audio go to fbministries.com

Choices are for the Living

Painted Colors

All through my life I have been painted different colors

Some for me, and some for others

In the far distance I heard you calling my name

Within the season I would be changed

All alone I open my heart

That’s all you needed to make a start

You came right in and made a home

Where you cleansed me, healed me, and called me your own

You stayed with me while I cried my tears

And comforted me through my fears

Fears that I was forever lost,

Fears I would pay the final cost

Death by fire was where I was at,

But I looked different from where you sat

You could see a child, who needed you,

You could see a child broken in two

Through the seasons you chipped away the old paint

And colored me the same color as one of your saints

The color of righteousness, which is white as snow,

Now you’re with me wherever I go

Thank you Lord for chipping away all the old paint,

Then with Your mercy, You marked me one of Your saints.

Romans 5:20 

But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. 
Abounded:  more, it exists in abundance (Vines) 

photo credit - By Pictolicious Nilanjan Bhattacharya

Sin is never in a nonexistent mode.  It is always growing and available, but grace abounds much more.  No matter where you have been if you’re not in hell you still have grace.

I must confess that some of my life colors were not so attractive.   For a long time I had let other people influence me more than God.  I let them color me with their paints.  When they were finished, I was no longer on the canvas of my own life.  I was on the canvas of other people’s thoughts and opinions.  My color had changed.   I let the food of this world almost starve me to death.  As I grew in wisdom and faith, I noticed my canvas started to look different.  The colors were fading away. In my mind I was standing in the art gallery; there was a man holding a paintbrush.  As I watched in silence, I notice the painting He was working on was mine.  He was dipping His brush into a satin white.  He was repainting what the world had painted.  With one stroke of His brush, I was washed new.