WEDNESDAY'S WORD ON THURSDAY - APLOMB - Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati 05/28/15

Wednesday's Word has obviously arrived on Thursday ; )  Since May 8th I have been sick: first with allergies, then a bad cold. Finally this week the flu: chills, fever, coughing, but most of all debilitating headaches that have made moving difficult. In reflection, this called to mind a friend who has been dealing with debilitating headaches for years, and other friends who have managed to live with and thrive through various diseases, conditions and difficult situations with a level of 'grace and aplomb' that is miraculous. We are believing for the Lord's healing for them all.  In this season our family is being bombarded with situations from every side that require much prayer and God's grace.

Grace is simple elegance or refinement of movement; courteous good will; and an attractively polite manner.  In Christianity, grace is the unmerited favor of God bestowed when Jesus Christ came to save us from our sinful condition; and the Divine enablement to do His will and purpose, even when difficult, in the earth.  Aplomb is self-confidence or assurance, especially when in a demanding situation; it is perpendicularity, or steadiness.  No matter what storm we face, we can have peace in the midst of it. Knowing this world is not our home, and we are always engaged in spiritual warfare, but Christ has already won the victory!

Paul said it this way in 2 Corinthians 4: 7-10 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed but not in despair, persecuted but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be manifest in our body... He described the handling of these harrowing situations as a 'treasure' that displays the power and glory of God, not our own greatness. The death process in us produces life in those who engage us. They see HIS resurrection power in us DAILY as we go through situations - not just at the end of our lives.

He concludes..."For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal (lasting only for a limited time); but the things which are not seen are eternal (lasting or existing forever)." (vs 16-18)  

There is purpose to the pain! I pray today that no matter what we're facing that we would see it as Paul did, and handle it with grace and aplomb to the glory of God!!

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - DECLARATION - Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati 05/20/15

A DECLARATION is a formal or explicit statement or announcement of intention or terms of agreement. To declare is to say something in a solemn and emphatic manner; to pronounce or assert (a person or thing) to be something specified.  From the Latin declarare - 'to thoroughly make clear.' In the US we are most familiar with our "Declaration of Independence." The colonies made the emphatic statement that we were no longer going to live under British rule, but would be self-governing. There are times when inner assertions need to move from the head and heart to the place of declaration. In the past weeks, we discussed that God is after our Disposition, our Decisions, our Dependence and our Discipline.  Did you know that God is also after your declarations?

Jesus said that the mouth speaks what the heart is full of (Luke 6:45)  If it is filled with evil things, that's what we speak. If it is filled with good things, that is what we declare. Is what's been coming out of your mouth what you really want to declare about your life, relationships or situations? Proverbs 4:23 states that we are to guard our hearts, for everything we do flows from them. Keeping our motives, thoughts, emotions and decisions pure is a much needed check for our declarations.

God is the KING of prophetic declarations.  Isaiah 46:10 says that He declares the end from the beginning. Everything He plans comes to pass.  He does whatever He wishes. His counsel and purposes stand.  Paul states in Romans 4:17 that God brings life to the dead and calls into existence things that do not exist. In Hebrews 11:3 he reiterates that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that what we see was not made of visible things but from His ideas expressed through the words, "Let there be..."  The Lord has given us that same faith-filled creative ability.  So watch your words! Declarations have a tendency to come to pass...

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - DISCIPLINE - Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati 05/13/15

DISCIPLINE is the practice of mental or physical training to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience. This results in controlled behavior.  When we exercise self-discipline, we train ourselves to do something in a controlled and habitual way.  Some of us, remembering our childhood, only think of discipline as punishing or rebuking someone formally for an offense.

Discipline is indeed instruction and knowledge gained by the practice of exposing yourself to pain.  The Middle English connotation is 'mortification through scourging.'  Something has to die for us to be disciplined. Proper discipline received from parents, coaches and teachers is meant to bring us into adulthood with the ability to conduct ourselves in a manner that would bring good success. Whether in work, study, prayer, personal habits like exercise or diet, or relationally; God is after our discipline! Paul says in Hebrews 12:4-12, that the Lord disciplines us as a Father corrects or chastises the children he loves. If we were not under God's discipline, we would not belong to Him. He disciplines us so we can share in His holiness and produce His righteousness. Don't make light of God's discipline. Endure it gratefully.

Discipline is choosing between what we want NOW and what we want MOST.  We discussed last Wednesday, that God is after our DECISIONS.  Happily, we don't have to make these decisions without the Lord's power! for the fruit or manifestation of God's Holy Spirit living within us is self-control (Galatians 5:22). We are not hopelessly under the dominance of our impulses, emotions, or even the devil's schemes. To habitually practice God's ways requires being led by and walking in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:16-18) Paul said "I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified." (1 Cor. 9:27) A disciple of Jesus Christ needs DISCIPLINE, God's after that in us! 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - DECISION - Sadell Bradley New Life Covenant Cincinnati 05/06/15

A DECISION is a conclusion or resolution reached after consideration.  It is  the action or process resolving a question. Resolution. Resolving. Those are really comforting words. Peace only comes, once we consider a thing, decide between variables, and act. Sometimes decisions are clear.  The evidence is weighty on one side and we do not struggle with which direction to take.  At other times, this is not the case. In a boxing match like Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, in the absence of a knockout, a decision awards the winning of a fight to the boxer with the most rounds won or points. A debate ensues as to who really won, but the decision has been made. In life we wish for decision-making knockouts! the road that's easy to see or take. Unfortunately we don't always get that surefire answer, so we have to have to add up the points and come to a conclusion (that may be wrong), or a believer may have to make what seems like a crazy decision that doesn't add up to exercise more faith. That's why we hesitate on some decisions.

Moses and Joshua challenged Israel to decide to love God and follow his commands. Moses amplified the difference in a decision to follow the Lord vs. worship of other gods. "See I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction." (Deut. 30:15).  Joshua put forth an ultimatum with several decisions included: "Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Put away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose yourselves this day whom you will serve...but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15)  Did you know God is after our decisions?

Jesus had to make decisions. He used a litmus test to know whether He was on track. With the greatest humility, He decided things with His Father: "I can do nothing on my own. I judge (decide) as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the One who sent me, not my own will." (John 5:30) Why are you deciding on this particular course of action? Is the will, Word and Spirit of God your motive?  Or is doubt, fear, fame, status, etc.? Have you considered the potential consequences of the decision you're about to make? Every day we make 10's to hundreds of decisions that affect destiny.