REFORMERS CREED by Dutch Sheets

This is taken from Dutch Sheets and entitled "Reformer's Creed". 

"You are a reforming generation.

You are here because God has marked you.

You are here because you want to be a difference maker.

There is something in your DNA that can't accept status quo, business as usual, things as they are.

You will never fit into the box marked "NORMAL".

Deep in your heart you know you are called to change things, to rock the boat.

You love God... but hate religion.

When you taste Him, it only makes you hungry for more; you have God cravings.

You refuse to let the world around you shape or define you.

When you dream.. it's about the impossible.

When you see pain.. you know you are called to heal it.

When you see adversity.. you don't fear it because you measure it against your God.

You are dangerous to evil, to Satan, because your life is not your own (to live is Christ, to die is gain).

You wonder why you are so strange... so different.

When others want to party... you want to pray.

When others laugh... you weep.

When others dance... you mourn.

You will never fit in the typical societal niche, because you are a reformer.

You don't live for fame. You would never lower your goal to be rich and famous.

You are an Abraham, a Joshua, an Esther, a David, a Wilberforce, a Lincoln, a Lou Engle.

Bullets don't scare you... mediocrity scares you.

Indifference scares you.

Losing your life doesn't scare you... wasting it does!

You have already died so you are free."

"You can't be a reformer if you're afraid to be different. If you're afraid to rock the boat, you can't be a reformer. You can't MAKE a difference if you're afraid to BE different!" - Dutch

SCRIPTURES ON ENCOURAGEMENT

COMFORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT BIBLE VERSES:

 Deuteronomy 31:8 It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” 

 Psalm 9:9 The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you. 

 Psalm 23:4  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;  your rod and your staff,  they comfort me. 

 Psalm 55:22  Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. 

 Matthew 11:28-29 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

 

PEACE SCRIPTURE QUOTES FOR ENCOURAGEMENT:

 John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 

 John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” 

 Romans 8:6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

 Philippians 4:6-7 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

 

ENCOURAGEMENT THROUGH GOD'S PROMISES:

The Promise of Eternal Life

 John 6:47 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.

 

God’s Faithful

 Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations

 

God promises To Guide Us

 Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

 

ALL SCRIPTURE IS INSPIRED FROM GOD:

The Bible Is The True Word Of God

 2 Timothy 3:16-17  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

 

God Hears Our Prayers

 1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

CHRISTIAN ENCOURAGEMENT QUOTES:

 God will not be absent when His people are on trial; he will stand in court as their advocate, to plead on their behalf.  –Charles Haddon Spurgeon

 You are valuable because you exist. Not because of what you do or what you have done, but simply because you are. –Max Lucado

 Be assured, if you walk with Him and look to Him, and expect help from Him, He will never fail you. –George Mueller

 The stars may fall, but God’s promises will stand and be fulfilled. –J. I. Packer

Build Up YOUR Faith

Sometimes in this world we can lose sight of the prize, the reason, the purpose, the goal...we get tired.  For those dry days, we need the WORD (Jesus), the SPIRIT and TESTIMONY to build us up in OUR most holy faith!  (We overcome by the BLOOD of the Lamb and the word of OUR testimony.) That's what happens here!

 Post your PRAISE report and miracles here to remind others (and yourself) that God is for us and with us!  My prayer is that you will share here the GOOD things of the Lord to help us all remember how GOOD our GOD is.  The cares of life can suck life from our very soul but hearing others SHOUT UNTO GOD will spark the flame of hope in each of us listening and hopefully cause others to "lift up their eyes"!

 We are not alone...we have the SPIRIT to comfort, teach, guide, strengthen, encourage...until He comes back!

John 14: 15-31 (ESV)

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

 15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper,[f] to be with you forever, 17even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

 18"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him."22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?" 23Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.

 25"These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

Doug Addison - Elijah List

So I received this email today from the Elijah List and it contained a prophesy that just lit up my spirit.  I say this because many of the points he makes in this "word" is exactly what the Lord has been speaking to me although haven't summed it up so nicely and concisely as he has!  Incredible word as I believe we are entering into some incredible days!  These are NOT days to shrink back, people!  God is FOR US!  He needs Christians to rise up not hunker down!  We are on the winning team.  Do you realize this?  So many of us are in fear of the economy, fear of the government, fear of ...., well, you name it!  Who is the prince of fear?  Satan.  Who is the Prince of Peace?  Jesus.  Take a minute and read this...I pray you will have ears to hear and eyes to see what is going on in the heavenly realm.  These are the days the prophets have longed for!  Hosanna, come Lord Jesus!  Here is the prophetic word:

Doug Addison:

June 8-12 is a Strategic Time

Last December God spoke to me that 2011 will be strategic and we will begin moving into more clarity about our destinies as God is shifting our assignments. New life will come in June and by September 2011 things we have longed for will begin to take shape. This was included in my Prophetic Insight for 2011 and as you will read below it is now being fulfilled.

We are heading into a strategic time as God is sending out invitations to go deeper and experience more of Him. This will require that we streamline our lives and be flexible. What we do this year will set the pace for the next several years.


The enemy has been attacking us in the area of "spiritual identity theft." Many have gotten off-track from their specific uniqueness' as individuals, ministries, churches, and businesses. We will need to go beyond the things that we are good at doing and focus on what we do the best. We are being released from our old assignments from God and we need to take steps towards our new assignments.

June 8-12 is a Strategic Time


This year Passover to Pentecost takes place from April 25-June 8. It is an amazing time of Heavenly interaction and activity. The Jewish Feast of Pentecost ends June 8 and the Christian celebration is June 12. God spoke to me about significant "positive" events that will take place during this time. Watch for new things to begin happening June 8-12.

What will happen during the dates June 8-12 is similar to Isaiah 6:8-10:

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" He said, "Go and tell this people: "‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.' Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed."


New Assignments Now Available


This is where Isaiah encountered God and received his new assignment. It was also a time in which some people thought they were hearing God but they were not hearing clearly or understanding Him. God is opening the spiritual ears and eyes of those who are looking to Him for their destiny.

God is asking many people to go on assignments that He would not normally have to ask them to accept. There has been an excessive amount of people who have fallen into complacency and therefore their callings and destinies are available to people who will say yes. New assignments along with the anointing and financial provision needed for those assignments are now available to people who will say yes to God.

ATM Cards from Heaven


I saw "spiritual ATM cards" being issued to people for "Angelic Teller Machines". God is assigning angels that will make finances and favor available from June 8 through September 30 (Pentecost – Rosh Hashanah). This is a specific time that people are going to reap what they have previously sown. In other words, we are in a time right now that we are receiving from God because of things that we have done and given to over the past nine years (2001-2011).

The amount of grace and blessing being received right now will not seem to make sense to some because it is coming as back-payment for previous losses.

Plan Now for the Future Assignments


Don't assume the amount of blessing you are receiving from June to September will continue at the same high velocity. So don't just think you can camp in the flow of blessing, you will still need to be wise and position yourself to get the new promotions coming after September. Begin planning now by watching for new opportunities.

New Grace Over Hollywood


I also heard a prophetic word that God has extended seven years of new grace and mercy over Hollywood and the entertainment industry as new media projects will arise. We will begin to see a rise of positive movies and music but simultaneously the enemy will try to combat this with an increase in demonic and witchcraft themes that will try to stop what God is doing.

Floodgates Opening

I keep having dreams that the floodgates of water have been opened and that the level of the supernatural is rising. I keep seeing reservoirs that are almost full and beginning to spill over. We are seeing news of areas in the U.S. where floodgates are being opened because of the large amount of rain and snow-melt. This is symbolic of the new levels of blessing, strategies and assignments that are being released from Heaven and the paradigm for new types of ministries, businesses and media projects that are beginning to unfold.

It is time to be willing to take risks and move forward with more confidence in the things that God is directing you to do. "Here I am Lord, send me!"


Doug Addison
InLight Connection
Email: respond@dougaddison.com

Doug Addison is a prominent international conference speaker, author and has been a featured guest on television and radio for a number of years. His events are fun and high-energy as he uses media and stand-up comedy as a means of communicating deep insights. He is an experienced prophetic dream interpreter and a professional stand-up comedian.

The Street Evangelist - Todd White

So this past week-end we were led to go outside of the box of our routine and in doing so we happened into a service where this evangelist - Todd White was the guest speaker bringing the Word that day.  Little did we know that the Lord had totally and strategically directed our steps to hear this message.

Over the past year God has been stirring me, prodding me, challenging me to deeper and sometimes difficult things. He has been pushing me to confront my traditions.  To deal with my "routines".  To press into Him for clarity and understanding regarding the issues that I am seeking in my soul.  Well, by the first of the year, my husband too was noticing the "shift" and was "feeling" it too but being a totally different personality than mine, he received and dealt with this information in his way.

Well, over the past month, we have totally seen God pealing off things from our life as we totally seek Him in the now and for our future.  We have finally placed our home up for sale and are ready to make the next step into what God has for us.  Nine months ago we felt we had found the place that we were to "go" but we had so many things to "do" before we could make that step.  One by one God has been prompting, stripping, confronting, dealing and pursuing us to get in the river of what He is leading us to do next.

All that said, when we heard this message we were SO on page with it that my husband wanted to stay and hear Todd speak again (he was teaching 2 sessions back-to-back). After about 4 hours listening, God just began to confront me.  He was SO up in my grill convicting me of things I knew but had become timid in.  I haven't been full of the fire that I should have been.  There were SEVERAL quotes from Todd that "spoke" to me but this was one of them that SO challenged me, "Unbelieving believer's believe enough to get to heaven but not enough for heaven to get into them.  So what we need to be is believing believers and walk this thing.  Jesus paid a price for us not for us to just go to heaven but for heaven to get into us, so that we could represent heaven on earth."

I pray you are as blessed as I was by listening to this message.  I will warn you, it WILL divide your traditions.  You will be so into this teaching or so out of it.  He is teaching straight from the Word and it is straight forward and compelling.  What are we doing for Christ's sake?  Jesus said, "...and these signs will follow them that believe..." and he goes on to identify the "signs" of believers.  Really?  Are we really believers?  This is the answers I have been seeking!  I have become a product of this thing called Christianity.  I have become the institution and not the vessel.  Lord, have mercy on me!  I KNOW these things that Todd was teaching.  They are my "beliefs" and have been for years, yet I have not been walking in the authority that God has given me!  The kicker for me has been my man-pleasing spirit.  I have been looking for approval by being "included" in the programs that man has set up.  Again, Todd hit the nail right on the head when he states that he is accepted in Christ.  He drove the point.  I know this and you probably do too.  We have been accepted because He was rejected but after listening to Todd share HIS revelation on this, something shifted in me.  I have been accepted and man CANNOT reject me because I have been accepted!  WOW!  Did you get it?  We cannot be rejected if we are accepted.  NOTHING man can do can separate me from the love of God.  I got it!  It became SO alive to me and with that, the FIRE of God has fallen upon me again!

Enjoy the message!  Be prepared to be stretched!

Walking in Righteousness (part 1) - Todd White
Walking in Righteousness (part 2) - Todd White

Connecting with the Right People - Joel Osteen

I know, I know - you probably have already made a judgement about this message because I told you up front who the speaker was.  Well, loose that judgement because people are speaking against him without really knowing the whole picture.  I was able to meet him back in December and the time I was able to observe him I had a totally clear image of who Joel Osteen is.  He is a genuine person who really is as happy and real as you see on television.  He is not forced or phony but REAL!  His wife was totally real too.  It is wrong how people have judged them by what they think or others think.  I truly enjoyed meeting them and they were gracious and a blessing.

With that, I pray you take a minute to listen to this teaching...it will change your life!  Connecting with the Right People is such a powerful message!  I again was personally challenged and set free from this message.  There are things in our life that we can't change and there are things in our life we can.  Sometimes we just get so comfortable we don't realize that we are stuck and we need to change something!  There is a difference between those who are for you and those that are just with you.  Did you hear that?  There may be people in your life that you think are for you but they are just WITH you.  There is a huge difference between these two places of reality.

This is such a timely message because many of us are too comfortable in our current situation because we are afraid to change, or we don't want to hurt someone, offend someone, let someone down..yada yada.  The Lord is clearly pressing in my Spirit that this year is forcing me to listen carefully to the Lord, not man!  In Revelation it is written over and over that we have to have an ear to hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.  I know so many people that have gotten comfortable with someone else giving them their spiritual food.  Growing up in the Catholic church this was a state of being for many that I knew.  We came to "church" out of duty or because we were told we had to.  We were taught what a man thought was true and yes there was scripture sprinkled into the message to make it official.

God is a CREATIVE God.  He is so limitless and I believe many people are not fulfilling their destiny's because they are feeding the machine of what others are doing and forsaking the gifts inside them.  We have to be about what God is telling us to do and I know He is speaking to me.  Incredible message!

Hold Me - Jamie Grace (& Toby Mac)

This is such a perky song by Jamie Grace with Toby Mac called, Hold Me and it should put a smile on your face because HE loves you!!!!  Sometimes we just need to stop and let Him hold us.

With all the craziness in this world, this is such a great song to put it all back into perspective.  Take a minute, kick back and relax while you enjoy this tune.  Bet you will be tapping those toes quick enough too.

Here is also another link of the same song but just another cute take on a great song.  LOVE IT!  Hold Me featuring tobyMac (Official Music Video)

Apologizing to Those You've Hurt - Life Church

I have yet to watch a teaching from Life Church TV that I haven't enjoyed.  Craig Groeschel is truly an anointed teacher and has an incredible gift!

I had stumbled across this verse years ago and at the time was required to share it under the conviction of the Holy Spirit in a very "touchy" situation in my life.  There had been an ongoing "issues" that some thought would "just go away" if enough time was applied to the situation and others feel that "talking" wouldn't "fix" the situation and so from the get-go some have refused to sit down and have an open dialog to help bring repentance, resolution, healing and restoration to a very broken situation.

I love how the Word has the answers to our dilemmas in life and all we just have to DO is apply the Word.  Yes, I know, that is the really difficult part though, isn't it...doing what we should.  Lord Jesus, help us be more like You!  Help us die to being "right" and live more like you.  He talks about how in a divorce situation as he ministers to couples the party in front of his desk always talks about the "other" partner as the "evil" one, the "problem," the "reason," and they often refer to themselves as the "victim".  Hmmm - how can this be?  Because it is simply NOT true.  Whenever there is conflict or issues there is always enough blame to go around to EVERYONE involved, trouble is, few are willing to pick up their "piece" of the issue and own it.

Years ago I heard a saying that went something like this.  "You can never slice a piece of bread so thin that is doesn't have two sides."  Notice on a piece of bread....go get one.   Turn it over, from side to side and see that neither side "matches" perfectly.  They look completely different yet together they make up a slice of bread.  We have to try to position ourselves to see life from the "other persons" perspective if we are ever to achieve peace with each other.

Craig shares that he has never heard anyone teach on this verse in the bible and I have to agree - I don't think I have heard a teaching on the topic either.  He brings some really great information to light and I pray you take the time to let the Holy Spirit minister to you and teach you His ways on this matter.  Are you a peacemaker or a peacekeeper?  A peacemaker is what we are CALLED to be according to the Word and that requires courage in confronting.  Ouch - don't know too many people (especially in the church) who will like hearing that.  We seem to be the biggest defenders of NOT confronting in love...that is unless you are in leadership!  Seems the "top" banana never has a problem with this then.

I am praying for the healing of all your relationships...and mine too!  May the God of Peace minister to us as we all choose to die to flesh and let Him be glorified!

Matthew 5: 21- 26 - the Message:

21 "You're familiar with the command to the ancients, 'Do not murder.'22 I'm telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother 'idiot!' and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell 'stupid!' at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill.
23 "This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you,24 abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God.
25 "Or say you're out on the street and an old enemy accosts you. Don't lose a minute. Make the first move; make things right with him. After all, if you leave the first move to him, knowing his track record, you're likely to end up in court, maybe even jail.26 If that happens, you won't get out without a stiff fine.

Your Gifts and Talents - Joe McGee

I have talked about Joe McGee before and found this little clip the other day and just had to share it.  It is just a part of the entire message but there was a lot of truth in the small portion posted here.  I want to encourage you that God has a purpose for your life and he has a lot to say about your gifts and talents and even the very content of your life!  God has a plan - ask Him to reveal it!

A side note is that he is teaching out of a book that he wrote called, Family Finances by Joe McGee.

Healing is in Your Hands - Christy Nockels

Just having a day where I needed to be reminded of the REAL perspective that life is about.  The days we are living in are interesting and stressful to say the least.  Wars, rumors of wars, tornado's, title waves, earthquakes, economy, jobs, politics - WOW, just too much to handle in our frail hands.  I have to turn things over into the "hands" that can handle this kind of pressure.  His healing hands are able!  How high?  How wide?  No matter where I am, healing is in His hands.  How deep? How strong? Only by His grace can I stand.  Lord Jesus - How I need thee!  Keep me mindful of the truth!  I am not in this thing alone!  Enjoy this song by Christy Nockels - Healing Is In Your Hands.