Philippians 3:7) But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8) More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ…. 12) Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus…. 14) I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus

A couple of prayers I consistently pray is that the Lord would draw me after Himself that I might run with Him (SOS 1:4), and that I would have a similar heart as Paul revealed in the above verses in Philippians. The Lord graciously reminds me that He placed in all believers and in me a heart to know and to burn for Him. The truth is you and I are in union with the burning heart of Christ for fellowship and communion with Him and He with us.Two things I have learned over the years in ministry are that I can’t talk people into walking with the Lord more than one time, and I can’t put passion in their pursuit of God. You see, passion to seek Him must come from within each believer. I reiterate that it must come from within because it already dwells there because you are a new creation. If anyone is born again, the love of God has been poured out in their hearts (Rom 5:5). Therefore, we have the love of God and the love for God living within us. However, Proverbs tell us that the soul of the diligent person will be made fat (13:6). So what I often find myself praying for is diligence to make me persistent in seeking Him.  I have found in my journey that when I am pressing in to know Him, my passion for Him increases. I find myself anticipating our time together. So as you and I continually seek His face, we will start longing for more, and we will start counting things loss in view of the reward that comes from knowing Him. Thus, do not let the enemy heap guilt on you if you feel you haven’t ‘arrived’ at regarding all things loss. Be encouraged by what Paul states in verses twelve and fourteen, and let it inspire you to press on for the ultimate prize.

Matthew 5:14-16 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 11:26,27 Therefore do not fear them (people in the world), for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the darkness speak in the light, and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops. Mark 4:21-24a And He was saying to them, “A lamp is not brought to be put under a basked, is it, or under a bed? Is it not brought to be put on the lamp stand? For nothing is hidden , except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light. If anyone has ears to hear let him hear.” And He was saying to them, “Take care (pay attention) what you listen to…….”

In John chapter eight, Jesus calls Himself the Light of the world, and in chapter twelve Jesus calls his disciples ‘sons of light;’ and in the book of Ephesians believers are called children of light. We are sons and children of light because ‘The Light’ Himself, Jesus, lives in us. We are called to carry this light into a dark world, and to let it shine before men. I’ve been thinking about this truth for some time now. Personally, I’ve been asking to Lord to give me opportunities as I’m out and about in my daily life to let His light shine through me. The verses I quoted above are some of the scriptures He shared with me to give me a better understanding of how this principle works. There are people you and I are in contact with everyday that do not know the Lord, and as scripture plainly declares, they are living in darkness. I believe the Lord is going to start speaking more clearly in our prayer times giving us words for those with whom we come in contact. He is going to reveal to us the secrets of their hearts that only He knows, and the Lord will pierce their darkness with His light-filled healing word. I really believe the Lord is telling us as His body to pay attention to what He is saying in the moment. Because we are in Christ, The Lord has given us ears to hear. He just wants us to ask and to be intentional. As scripture proclaims, the world is waiting on the sons and daughters of God to be the lights they were created to be!

While praying this morning, I had this open vision of an angel handing a bouquet of yellow daisies to me. Not knowing what the gift of flowers meant, I, of course, searched out the meaning. I knew the Lord had a word for me and others in the body of Christ in the revelation. The Lord led me to discover the following concerning daisies: One, daisies represent innocence as in childlikeness. The Lord has been speaking to us a lot at CTK about becoming childlike. The scriptures make it clear that we won’t experience all that the Kingdom of God has to offer unless we become like children. I believe the characteristic that most exemplifies Jesus is childlikeness. Two, daisies speak of new beginnings. New beginnings are two words the Lord has spoken to me and others many times this year. I believe we are in a ‘new’ season of ‘new’ power like we have never before seen. Three, daisies denote purity. Jesus tells us in the Sermon on the Mount that the pure in heart see God (Matthew 5:8). Too, 1 John chapter three and verses one through three speak of growing in a greater revelation of Jesus. And as we ‘see Him as He is’ and as we fix our hope on Him revealing Himself to us, He purifies us. Simply, I believe these verses refer to growing in our union with Christ. Four, daises symbolize harmony. I believe the Lord is doing a work of healing in relationships in the body of Christ. He is healing marriages and relationships that have been strained for years. We will see a great movement of unanimity in the church. Finally, the color yellow speaks of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit will be releasing His gifts in and through us in greater measure as we minister to those around us.

When praying this morning, I had this vision of an owl. However, it was not like a normal owl. The owl had a body of gold with silver wings. Prophetically, I knew an owl could symbolize a good thing or bad thing, but I knew the Lord had a positive meaning in the vision, and I was to search it out. The Lord led me to a blog by a fellow brother-James Preston. He and some other believers associated with Bethel Church had been seeing owls and the Lord gave him insight into the heavenly encounters. In James’ blog he was speaking of owls having wisdom and insight and their ability to see in the darkness, and the fact that they hunt rats. I will quote the incredible prophetic insight the Lord gave him concerning owls, and the word He was speaking to the church through them. James Preston stated the following: “The church is moving into and age whereby they will go into so called “dark places” and see exactly what needs to happen for Heaven to invade those situations. And they will hunt the “rats” of this age, the forces of darkness…The Kingdom of Heaven is coming in like a flood, and the forces of darkness no longer have anywhere to hide. The purpose we’re are moving into is an apostolic focus whereby each and every member of the church will know they are sown like seed into the world, ready to terrorize the servants of darkness and usher in the Kingdom of heaven.” Later in the blog, James stated that he posted on his Facebook page, “Aslan is on the move.” As you at Christ the King well know, that statement caught my attention, and I knew what I was reading and hearing was from the Lord. Also, I believe the gold and silver in the vision of the owl the Lord gave me represents coming out of a season where the Lord has purified and purged a people getting them ready to be used in the present and future season. To clarify, the Lord reminded me of this verse in Daniel 11:36 “Some of those who have insight will fall, in order to refine, purge and make them pure until the end time; it is still to come at the appointed time.” Beloved, I believe we are in the appointed time. Further, the Lord led me to look at the date when Mr Preston’s blog was written. It was posted eight years ago, and the number eight represents new beginnings. I was so encouraged by what the Lord shared with me this morning because it was another confirmation of what He has been speaking to us and what He has been doing through us at Christ the King, as well as, the body of Christ in other places.

In Christ with You,

Craig

Colossians 1:16b,17 “…..all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together (all personal pronouns He/Him is speaking of Jesus).”

Colossians chapter one verse seventeen is one of my life verses. I love what the later part of verse 16 has to say concerning us. We were created through Him, and we were created for Him. We were made to bring the Lord pleasure, and He delights in us. However, the Lord used the truth in verse seventeen early in my walk with Him to set me free emotionally, and He continually uses it to minister to me when I struggle with my emotions. What an awesome reality it proclaims- in Christ, we are held together physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Many times when I felt like I was falling apart inwardly, He reminded me that He held me together. I would respond by thanking Him for that wonderful truth, and before I knew it, I would experience His peace.

John 15:9 “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you, abide in My love.”  John 17:23 “I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved me.” John 17:26 “and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

I heard a statement a couple of years ago, and it was one of those that gets your attention. The best I can remember, the statement was that God loves us with the same love that God loves God. At the time, I had to think about that for a moment. Then it came to me. God loving God deals with the Father loving Jesus and Jesus loving the Father, and therefore, the Father loves us with the same love that He loves Jesus; and Jesus loves us with the same love that He has for the Father. So making that personal, Jesus loves you and He loves me with the same love He has for the Father, and the Father loves you and the Father loves me with the same love He has for Jesus. That awesome love never ends, and it is eternal. The Father is always loving the Son, and the Son is always loving the Father, and we are right in the middle of that being loved by both. The above verses testify to that remarkable truth. They tell us to abide in that love. Abiding simply means to live every moment in that reality.

This morning the Lord gave me a vision. In my mind’s eye, I saw a brown suede shoe. At the time, I had no idea what the Lord wanted to say to me. I love when He shows me things I have to search out. In seeking, I discovered that the best suede comes from a lamb. So, I knew then I was on the right track. When I researched the color brown, the first prophetic meaning I came across was that the color conveyed moving out of a season. An of course, the shoe meant walking. The walking can be walking into something, in something, or out of something. Therefore, placing the three together, the Lord was declaring that I was about to walk out of a season. To say the least, I was blown away. Those that know me can attest to the fact that I have been ‘walking in’ a time of trial and testing with physical pain. The word He spoke breathed new hope in my innermost being. I am so glad we serve a living God who speaks to us. His word to us gives us hope in any situation in which we find ourselves, and hope fuels faith. This morning I was reminded of the verse found in Romans chapter ten verse seventeen. It states, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” Also, I share this word because I believe that it’s not just for me. I believe this word if for others as well. There are some in the body of Christ the Lord is walking out of a difficult season. If this word bears witness with your spirit, then it’s you. Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

In Christ with You,

Craig

Craig and I were at the doctors this morning sitting in the waiting room when I noticed a familiar song over the intercom. It was ‘Fear doesn’t stand a chance when I stand in Your love.’  That particular line was playing over and over, and I began to really think about it.  It’s not that we can say, “Oh, I have perfect love from the Father, so fear be gone.” You see, It’s not merely a thought, it’s a place. It’s in His real presence, not just thinking about it and making a deceleration, but it’s getting into His Presence until it consumes your awareness.  One moment in His presence and you’re reminded of who He is, who you are, and all His promises.  When your standing in His presence and remembering all that He is and you’re being filled up with His joy and hope then naturally, all fear subsides. Scripture says for us to strive to enter into that rest. It’s the only place in the Bible that tells us to strive.  We have to wake up and live everyday with that one goal. To apprehend His presence

In Christ,

TC

Luke 4:1,2 “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Holy Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil…..”Hebrews 2:18 “For since He (Jesus) Himself was tempted in that which He suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.” Hebrews 4:15,16 “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.”

I used to think that the devil only tempted Jesus three times as is recored is scripture. However, several years ago the Holy Spirit stared giving me some insight I desperately needed. The truth He conveyed was that Jesus was actually tempted the whole forty days that He was in the wilderness. Hebrews tells us that He was tempted in all things just like we are yet He didn’t give in to them and sin. Meaning, every single sin that I was enticed with He allowed Himself to be allured with as well. As scripture says, He did so in order that He could come to my aid, or rescue. Also during that time, the Holy Spirit gave me a vision of a boxing ring. Jesus spoke to me and said, “Craig, if the enemy can get you in that boxing ring to fight against him, he will wear you down, but if you invite me into that ring, I will defeat him every time.” Of course, the boxing ring was the battle ground of my thoughts and will where I fought against the enemy. I can’t tell you how liberating that revelation was to me. Even to this day, I’ll say, “Come Lord Jesus or hurry My Beloved,” when the tempter is hurling his arrows at me. Truthfully, Jesus defeated the enemy two-thousand years ago. When you and I ‘take thoughts captive’ we are bringing them to the finished work of the cross. Jesus wins because He has already won. He is an awesome High Priest who comes and ministers His finished work in our experience. (Note: When I say tempted I don’t only mean just pride, greed, lust, anger, bigotry, murder, etc., but also our identity and who we are as children of God as well. Jesus was hit with the whole gamut.)

Grace and Peace,

Craig

Over the last few days. I keep seeing the word miracle. I believe the Lord is saying that we are in a time where He is releasing miracles in our lives and in the lives of those for whom we pray. I have seen the manifestation of this word released in my life in a small way, but I want more. I believe this word about miracles is for the body and especially the body of Christ in Selma. Just simple ask the Lord to release this in and through your life. He will give you many opportunities to minister to people as you are out and about in your daily activities. I’ve asked Lord to help me ‘tune in’ to what He wants to do wherever I am. In 1 Corinthians chapter twelve, the biblical word miracles in the original Greek is rooted in the word ‘dunamis’, from which we get the word dynamite. Simply, miracles are the release of God’s power. Also, I like the definition of miracle on my dictionary app. It states, “A miracle is a highly improbable or extraordinary event, development, to accomplishment that brings very welcome consequences.” If we are ready and willing to receive, then He is ready and willing to release the impartation.