Stop and say… Thank You

Key Scripture

1 Thessalonians 5:18 AMP

In every situation no matter what the circumstances be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

Luke 9:12-17 TPT

12 As the day wore on, the Twelve came to Jesus and told him, “It’s getting late. You should send the crowds away to the surrounding villages and farms to get something to eat and find shelter for the night. There’s nothing to eat here in the middle of nowhere.”

13 Jesus responded, “You have the food to feed them.”

They replied, “All we have are these five small loaves of bread and two dried fish. Do you really expect us to go buy food for all these people? 14 There are nearly five thousand men here, with women and children besides!”

He told his disciples, “Have them all sit down in groups of fifty each.”

15–16 After everyone was seated, Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, and gazing into the heavenly realm he gave thanks for the food. Then, in the presence of his disciples, he broke off pieces of bread and fish, and kept giving more to each disciple to give to the crowd. It was multiplying before their eyes! 17 So everyone ate until they were filled, and afterward the disciples gathered up the leftovers—it came to exactly twelve baskets full!

Key Number 1

Be Grateful for what you have

Ephesians 5:18-20 NLT

18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Key Number 2

Be Grateful for what it can be

Zechariah 4:10 NLT

10 Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin

Key Number 3

Be Grateful for what you can do

Hebrews 13:16 NLT

And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.

Seasons Change

Key Scripture

Ecclesiastes 3:1

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.

Mark 4:35-41 NLT

35 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind. 37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.

38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”

39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

41 The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”

Key Number 1

Be confident in your destination

Philippians 1:6 AMP

I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus

Key Number 2

Be careful what you let in

Proverbs 4:23 NLT

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Key Number 3

Be calm and considerate

Colossians 3:13 NLT

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

Stay Focused

Key Scripture

Isaiah 43:2 TPT

When you pass through the deep, stormy sea, you can count on me to be there with you. When you pass through raging rivers, You will not drown. When you walk through persecution like fiery flames, you will not be burned; the flames will not harm you

Matthew 14:22-33 TPT

22 As soon as the people were fed, Jesus told his disciples to get into their boat and to go to the other side of the lake while he stayed behind to dismiss the people. 23 After the crowds dispersed, Jesus went up into the hills to pray. And as night fell he was there praying alone with God.

24 But the disciples, who were now in the middle of the lake, ran into trouble, for their boat was tossed about by the high winds and heavy seas.

25 At about four o’clock in the morning, Jesus came to them, walking on the waves! 26 When the disciples saw him walking on top of the water, they were terrified and screamed, “A ghost!”

27 Then Jesus said, “Be brave and don’t be afraid. I am here!”

28 Peter shouted out, “Lord, if it’s really you, then have me join you on the water!”

29 “Come and join me,” Jesus replied.

So Peter stepped out onto the water and began to walk toward Jesus. 30 But when he realized how high the waves were, he became frightened and started to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he cried out.

31 Jesus immediately stretched out his hand and lifted him up and said, “What little faith you have! Why would you let doubt win?”

32 And the very moment they both stepped into the boat, the raging wind ceased. 33 Then all the disciples crouched down before him and worshiped Jesus. They said in adoration, “You are truly the Son of God!”

Key Number 1

Mimic His movement

John 14:12 NLT

I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.

Key Number 2

Worry weighs you down

Matthew 11:28 NLT

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

Key Number 3

Grace has a grip

2 Timothy 2:13 TPT

But even if we are faithless, he will still be full of faith, for he never wavers in his faithfulness to us!

Three things I've learned!

#1 the force of forgiveness

“You have an opportunity to forgive in the

same way Christ has forgiven you”

Col 3:13 Tolerate the weaknesses of those in the family of faith, forgiving one another in the same way you have been graciously forgiven by Jesus Christ. If you find fault with someone, release this same gift of forgiveness to them.

The word learned without the word applied accomplishes nothing!

John 14:26 NLT But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

1 cor 2:9-10 NKJV But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.

Vs 12 NKJV Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

Vs 12 greek that the Holy Spirit would turn the attention of our eyes and mind to what’s been freely given and to discover those things

#2 the discovery in letting go

Matt 10:39 TPT All who seek to live apart from me will lose it all. But those who “let go” of their lives for my sake and surrender it all to me will discover true life!

“Do you want a position or my positioning?”

something new can’t be put in your hands,

until you let go of what’s currently in them!

#3 the reward of perseverance

James 1:1-2 Prms “count it the greatest joy family when you find yourselves in the process of preparation, why? Because in that place of perseverance, you're being prepared for your calling, your ministry, your Marriage, for the mundane and the miraculous and thru this process Patience is being produced in you and the result? nothing lacking, nothing missing in the life the father has promised for you, shalom!

James 1:2-4 NLT

When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Lesson #1

As you fight your fear, you find your faith

2 Timothy 1:7 NLT

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

Lesson #2

A waiting season is not a wasted season

Psalm 40:1 TPT

I waited and waited and waited some more,

patiently, knowing God would come through for me.

Then, at last, he bent down and listened to my cry.

James 2:14

What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions?

Lesson #3

His purpose is greater than my plans

Proverbs 19:21

You can make many plans,

    but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.