1SAMUEL 16:13 " IT CAN HAPPEN OVERNIGHT"

David the shepherd boy goes through his daily routine caring for the sheep and at the same time giving honor and glory to God. God is preparing this man among sheep, animals that cannot speak, know one is aware of what God is doing and I believe David isn't aware of what God is up to. This is the place God has chosen to develope David's anointing and character among dumb sheep. The prophet Samuel is sent to David's house by God to anoint a king, David's father Jesse neglects to invite him to the dinner , but God refuses to release his anointing until David shows up. The bible says " Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethrern: and the spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward "1SAMUEL 16:13. "WHAT A DECREE" to make over a persons life. You know the story David defeats Goliath and his life was changed over night. But it started in the field of obscurity with no one around, no one to pat him on the back, no one to tell him how wonderful he was, the only thing David had to keep him going was his praise. And it took him from the pasture to the palace. But David was ready are you?  Trust in God that he wants to bless you overnight, only God can take you from obscurity to notoriety in a moments time and it's on the wings of praise!!

ST. JOHN 11:1-4, 25 " DEATH FOR THE GLORY"

One of the things in this life that we try so hard to avoid is death, and it doesn't matter what kind of death it is, we don't want any parts of it.  One of the things about death that we don't like is its finality; it is the end of this life.  The world embraces this point of view: that death means life is over.

And it is true if you die without Christ in your life "IT'S OVER".  You will spend eternity separated from God in eternal fire and, "WHO WANTS TO EXPERIENCE THAT?" Our story in St. John tells us about the man Lazarus whom Jesus loves is sick; this situation was grave because Martha and Mary put emphasis on the fact that Jesus loved Lazarus.  Hurry and come and see your sick friend is told by the messenger. The response of Jesus is: it's not unto death, but for the glory of God!! 

Jesus stays where he is for two more days!  Have you ever had that experience?  You are waiting on the Lord and he doesn't come right away??!!  But wait... there is a greater good on the way.  The day Jesus got the message, Lazarus was already dead.  Could you imagine the response the messenger got when he told Mary and Martha what Jesus said: "this sickness is not unto death?”  The fact of the matter is if you die in Christ you will never die, and this is the message he told Martha, "And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.  Believeth thou this?"  (St. John 11:26)

Jesus heads to the grave of Lazarus to perform his greatest miracle – he resurrects Lazarus from the dead.  There are situations in your life that seem dead and there’s no life in them; year after year dealing with the same old dead situation.  But there is GOOD NEWS!  Jesus Christ who resurrects dead things is about to breathe on your situation and give it life. 

The death of some things is associated with his glory; he said “I let it die for the glory.”  I let it get good and dead like Lazarus; Lord by now he stinks!  In other words if I tried to bring it back to life I would just mess it up!  Let God do it. When he rises you up it will be for his GLORY. Maybe it's a business, a relationship, a healing, or a job, God will bring it back to life for his GLORY!!

2 CORINTHIANS 5:17 "STARTING OVER"

Here we are in another year!!   It's so refreshing to put away the past, and look forward to the future.  Every year people make 'New Year's Resolutions' - you know: the things they're going to change because it's a New Year.  Some of these may be on your list;  to stop smoking, to lose weight, a job change or career change, relationship changes and an attitude change.

The New Year helps people to reflect and think about starting over.  That's what God does, he "allows us to start over."  "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; and behold, all things are become new."  (II COR. 5:17)

Becoming a believer in Christ allows you to start over, to have a spiritual refreshing.  Jesus said "Ye must be born again."  (John 3:7). Everyone wants a chance to make things better and accepting Jesus Christ allows you to start over.   Christianity is the only religion that allows you to start over:  it will go into your past and change your present and your future.

This is a great time to ignite your passion for the things of God!  (Jude 1:3) - "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that YE SHOULD EARNESTLY CONTEND FOR THE FAITH WHICH WAS ONCE DELIVERED UNTO THE SAINTS!!!