James 2:22, “ You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected.”

     Perfected is another word for completed, but it gives a much deeper meaning.  Something can be completed without being perfected, but in this case, James is telling us that if we truly have faith it will produce works.  Not only will you produce works, but these works will perfect your faith.  In other words, as you take the step of faith and do something for the Lord, you might take the step with just enough faith.  At first you might be doing the best you can but then, as you start to see God working through your faith, it grows and becomes perfected through the work.  The law of Faith is just like the law of gravity in a physical world.  You drop something off of a building it will fall to the ground, no questions.  In the spiritual, if you have faith, it will produce works that will complete, or perfect the faith you are walking in, no questions.  So, do you have any faith today?  “If you show me your faith without your works, I’ll show you my faith by my works.”  Amen!            God Bless,  Rusty

Luke 15:32, “ but we had to be merry and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.”

I feel led today to pray for all the prodigal children out there.  There are so many that have walked away from families and are wandering around, trying to find their way through the darkness.  Father, we pray that You would give them illumination so that they can find the way home.  There are so many that have been pushed away from relationships and families.  Some of the ones with he biggest calls on their lives have been deceived and have walked away.  Lord I agree with my brothers and sisters today that you would bring them all back home safely.  I pray that you would open their eyes and let them see truth.  Bring them back home Lord, into your loving arms.  Would You let them know how much they are missed and loved, like only You can.  They are all missed so very much.  Comfort all their loved ones until they find the way home and let there be peace in their hearts.  More then anything else Lord, we pray protection over them.  Please keep them from harm and steer their feet away from danger.  We pray this and believe it to be done, in the name of Jesus, Amen!                      God Bless, Rusty

3 John 2, “Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, even as your soul prospers.”

God wants us to prosper and be in good health.  Is He talking about finances? Yes, but that’s not all!  He’s talking about wanting us to prosper in all the things He has for us.  He wants us to have more then enough in everything.  More then enough peace and joy.  More then enough love.  More then enough time and energy to spread the gospel.  More then enough victories.  More then enough of HIs Spirit overflowing inside of us.  More then enough of everything!!  And of course, you could not benefit from more then enough if you were sick and diseased.  So He wants us to prosper and have everything there is for us, and to be in good health so the benefits of His kingdom can be passed on to others.  Yes He does want to prosper you financially also.  He wants you to have more then enough so that you can help to finance His kingdom in these final days.  This is His promise so let’s all start claiming it!  God is Good, all the time!  Amen!   God Bless, Rusty

John 1:14, “Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.”

Our Heavenly Father wants to reveal His truth to us.  But when the truth is revealed to us we have a tendency to do one of two things.  We either shrink under the truth, seeing our complete sinfulness and feeling completely unworthy or we become prideful thinking we have arrived.  The problem is that in either case, the truth is not revealed to us just that we should know it.  God wants us to apply the truth to our lives.  This is the only way that the truth can set us free.  Just knowing the truth doesn’t help.  Most of the times truth is not applied because it’s simply to hard.  We don’t know how we could do it.  That’s where God’s grace comes in.  If we’ll just do the best we can to apply the truth, His grace will bring us through.  When we get to the other side we’ll know that we only made it through His grace.  His grace is always sufficient, no matter what!  That’s good news in my life!  How about yours?   God Bless,  Rusty  

Genesis 2:7, “ And God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.”     

     Life is just a vapor in this world, at least our physical life.  But what about the eternal spiritual life that we find in Jesus Christ?  This life is hard to explain.  You can use words to try to label it or describe it, or you can use phrases to try to nail it down, but when it’s all said and done, it’s pretty indescribable.  The only thing that I can tell you about God’s breath inside of us is that if it’s there, you are going to go through changes in your life as you know it.  When He breathes on us we go through things inside that we can’t explain, at least not in this world.  One thing I can tell you for sure, if there is any surety in it, is that when God lives inside of you it’s like your very existence shifts.  It feels like being a plant and always searching for the sun light and stretching your arms towards it.  It’s like a cool glass of water after being outside all day long in the summer heat.  It’s like sitting in a hot tub of water after you’ve worked all day long.  It’s like having an umbrella in the pouring rain.  It’s like finally getting on the honeymoon after six long months of stressful preparation for the wedding.  I don’t know how to describe it, but one thing I know for sure, it’s real!!  God’s life is real and tangible and I’m so glad He lives in me.    How about you?  God Bless,  Rusty 

Ezekiel 34:16, “ I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken, and strengthen the sick.”

        Do you have one that is lost?  Do you have one that you’ve been praying for and just doesn’t want to come home?  God is intent on bringing the lost home and I believe that He’s going to start with your lost one.  God told me to pray for the lost today so let’s join in agreement that your lost one will come home:   Father, I agree with all the precious people that have lost ones.  I agree with them that their prodigals are on the way home.  I believe with them that each one of them has come to the hog pen and is having their eyes opened to the situation around them.  We pray that the Holy Spirit is bringing conviction into the very hearts of the lost and they are realizing how much the Father loves them and are plotting courses to return home, even as we pray this prayer.  Father, we thank you that they are returning home and we give you the honor and the glory for it, in Jesus name, Amen!!             God Bless,  rusty       

Isaiah 55:11,” So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”

Do we realize the power in speaking the word of God?  It is a force changes universes.  With it the world was created out of nothing.  You see, when we speak God’s anointed word, it’s not us speaking it, but God speaking it through us.  In other words, we are just the vessel that’s being used to transfer God’s creative power into this world.  Every situation that we find ourselves in is an opportunity to speak God language.  You see, the world doesn’t understand God language but all God’s creation stands at attention when He speaks.  And not only that, but when His word comes forth, it will accomplish what it was sent to do, it can’t fail.  We as humans can fail but God’s word cannot.  So we need to speak His word and understand that through us, He can change the world we live in.  Speak His word today to every creature.  Speak to every situation and watch God’s power change the very atmosphere around you.  He can’t fail!!  Allow Him to come into your situation today and watch mountains move in front of you.  So, what are you waiting for?  Let’s get started!!                   God Bless,  Rusty