Category: Gods power

The Temple of God

Annette CoffeyLeave a comment

“Don’t you know that you yourselves are Gods temple and that God’s spirit dwells within your midst? 1 Corinthians 3:16

One very special gift God has given us is the Holy Spirit. He is our closest friend and confidant. Giving us everything we need from strength and wisdom to awesome power. Back in the early 1900’s a handmaid was there for a woman’s every need from dressing to styling hair. But even more they were usually a close confidant. Someone they could confide in and it would go no further. They gave advice like a close family member. The spirit is similar but so much more. When Jesus died on that cross the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom as Jesus breathed his last breath and cried, ‘It is finished.’ Prior to that time only the selected priest could get behind that veil. It was still dangerous because if he was not right with God he might end up dead. This was a very holy place. Remember when God told Moses take off your sandals because this is holy ground, the presence of God is holy and should be respected. You also don’t want to grieve the Holy Spirit because bringing great sorrow to the spirit is not forgivable. Just as the spirit fell on those in the upper room seeking and praying this power came upon them and they preached boldly and the church began. Without the spirit dwelling within them they were unable to keep from making mistakes and putting their foot in their mouths. But because the spirit fell upon them they were then able to do the same things Jesus did while he was walking on earth. Jesus was human like us and could understand what we deal with every day but he overcame it all because of the spirit working in his life. We have that same help, something so precious we should never take it for granted, and we can pray for the sick and see them get healed. God did it for Jesus and we are also his children. So he will do it for us. The more time you spend with the spirit the more of that power he imparts. He prays for you when you don’t know how to pray and he knows Gods heart and can pray Gods will in any situation. We don’t always know what is best for everyone but he does. There is nobody better to have on your side. One day Jesus is coming back and he will take us home and we will be together forever. What a glorious day.

The One Way

Annette CoffeyLeave a comment

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

You really need to read every word to get this into your head. Do you want to live with God for eternity in paradise? Not separation from God and everything good. Then you better do something about it quickly because we may not have tomorrow. Accidents happen every minute and it could be your last minute. There is only one way and that is by believing Jesus died for you and then doing something about it. Without asking for forgiveness you can’t have forgiveness. There is no other name under heaven given as a gift to all mankind but you must accept that gift or you don’t get to use it. You can’t take the gift and stuff it under your bed for later, you have to open it and start using it. You cannot really live this life without it, at least not happily. Jesus gave all he had for you by being tortured horrendously and then hanging on the cross all day and finally dying. Just so you could have life after death. Oh, you still have life in hell but you will wish you could die but eternity is forever and ever. That is an unfathomable amount of time to think about mistakes. It only takes a second or two to ask for forgiveness. You can then start enjoying that gift and it is the gift that never stops giving. The more you know and start trusting the more you will see. I’m 66 and my eyes weren’t opened till I was about 50 and boy is it amazing more every year.

Responding to Life

Annette CoffeyLeave a comment

“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.” James 5:13

There is a response for everything that God is looking for. If you have problems do you dwell on them and complain? Well they won’t get better if you complain, actually that’s telling God you aren’t talking care of me and you could do better. They don’t get better till you ask the one who knows how to change things and enjoys to. There are so many answers to prayer in the Bible, I always complained about things I had no control over. Saying things like, it’s not you God it’s them. Because I didn’t like the food that was prepared for me I would complain to anyone but God because how could he do anything about their menus. Well someone preached on complaining once and I felt convicted so my New Year’s resolution was to bite my tongue if I started to complain. Either pray or just don’t eat it and eat food I bought for backup. But I also thanked God for anything good I did have to eat. God gave mana and quail to the Israelites now I have restaurant quality food and plenty of it, I learned to dwell on the Lord and his goodness. Thankful, grateful people are happy people so I stop and say thank you for everything I can think of. Especially people in my life because people are what makes life worth living. I always wake to a praise song stuck in my head but that’s good because I can never say thank you enough for all God has done. I love to listen to praise music it lifts me up. Miriam sang praise when God parted the Red Sea, We are to rejoice always. God didn’t say that just once but many times because the joy of the Lord gives me strength and boy do I need it. The stories in the Bible aren’t just to fill a book they teach us Gods ways, Many miracles come from saying not today Satan, We don’t have to take it as Gods children, Just ask.because God can!

Courageous

Annette CoffeyLeave a comment

‘Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Do you know who you are? When we are called we are given the authority to do everything we need to do. The highest King in any land has gone before me and given me the authority to represent him. Just like any king who delegate’s authority it’s as if the king himself is going. It’s as if he stamped a document with his ring and sent it with you to do whatever he commands. Legal and binding. If a king sent his son to do something people would jump to do his bidding. Well as a child of Gòd you are his son or daughter, He has commanded us to be strong and courageous because as his child it’s like God is going. He will never leave us or forsake us. He is living within us and all the power,wisdom and strength with authority is with us so we do have everything we need. We have already won because he always wins. We might need to muster the strength in our minds because our minds are battle fields but we’ve already won the war. You may think you can’t but you have overcome by the blood flowing through your veins that says, it is done. My Father says so! He doesn’t lie, As a soldier in the military your commanding officer is who you report to. If he says jump, you say, yes sir how high sir. You don’t think on your own, you just obey. Can you think of anyone who outranks God? We’ve been commanded to go make disciples of all nations and be strong and courageous while doing it because I am with you and I will tell you what to say. Any questions? You’ve been given the authority and the strength to use it so what are you waiting for?

Promises

Annette CoffeyLeave a comment

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. But he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

Aren’t you glad God is patient? How many times have we done something wrong and felt bad about it? We are far from perfect but God has promised to show grace and mercy new each day because he knows we make mistakes every day. How many times did your parents tell you just to say you are sorry and mean it and try not to do it again. They tried to not get upset but sometimes out of frustration they cracked because they aren’t perfect but God is. We may do the same thing tomorrow also. But God knows he will forgive us tomorrow also if we ask. Even if we keep doing the same thing over and over but ask to be forgiven he forgives. It’s keeping his promises. How often do we get upset when someone doesn’t keep their promises? And we should because that’s integrity and God admires integrity but it is rare today. God will never lie he always keeps his promises and is very faithful. He promised us eternal life, even sending his precious son to leave heaven to come to this wicked world to give his life willingly as a sacrifice for everyone who would believe his promise. Now that is one promise we will want kept. To ask forgiveness, knowing God would forgive anything. Even though we don’t feel people always deserve forgiveness it isn’t our decision and he says everyone deserves patience so they can come to the place where they ask forgiveness. He doesn’t want anyone to perish and it is on us if anyone does perish. Personally if we can’t trust a perfect God to ask for forgiveness and as Christian’s if we don’t share his wonderful promise. God warns us that we don’t have forever because we all have to die one day and it could be today or 80 years from now but once you are dead it’s too late to be forgiven. So take God at his word and trust him today. Don’t wait for someday that might not come.

Protection

Annette CoffeyLeave a comment

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Isaiah 43:2

Aren’t you glad that we aren’t the one in charge because we don’t have all the answers. No matter what comes our way God is in control and he loves us more than anyone ever could and he has good plans for us. Trials will come and insurmountable difficulties but he knows what is coming and he already has the answers to protect us and get us through them. There is nothing we have to do but trust him. When you have health problems and unforeseen challenges you know the end of the story. When we have relationships that get off track you can give us wisdom to know which way to turn. When we lose a job or our home you have another one waiting just in time. Sometimes they are even better than the last. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were threatened with the blazing furnace they knew their Gods was bigger, better and stronger than the king and he could save them. They had no fear because the God they served would go before them. And they got to hangout with Jesus that’s day. The only risk we take is maybe dying and going to paradise to be with Jesus forever and that is far better than the best day on earth so it’s a win in my book. When I almost died I was in complete peace knowing that God was going to give me what was best and his plan for me. I always thought I would fear death and it would be painful and scary but it wasn’t. I was afraid for my family but not for me personally. They told me I probably wouldn’t make it and did I want to try? My children were still young adults so I knew they needed a mom. It was a very long, hard road but God got me through. I did so much better than the doctors predicted. Actually they were amazed by my progress each day.

Amazing God

Annette CoffeyLeave a comment

“There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.” 1 Samuel 2:2

God is simply amazing. The more I get to know him the more I am overwhelmed with his awesome power. There is nothing he can’t do or overcome. He is already there where my mind just can’t fathom his ways. I think, “Now what are you going to do?” And you know what? He amazes me once again. His ways are perfect and he knows what is best for everyone involved. Just their specific needs. I went through most of my life just knowing about him but not really knowing him personally and boy I missed out on so much. It was only after I almost died from a massive stroke that I really wanted to know more. Most of my life I believed the God of the bible existed but I didn’t know that much and just lived my life. Not the life he had for me. What a wasted life. I really had to think about what I believed. Really analyzing what that meant. Reading the words of the Bible from cover to cover and pondering each detail and it just blew me away. I knew the stories but the feasibility of the stories was awesome. And I couldn’t get enough. I didn’t want to miss out anymore and wanted no regrets from 2013 on. I drew a line in the sand, so to speak, no going back for me. There is Nothing impossible for God and nothing impossible for me if I just believe it. WOW that is amazing and I will never underestimate God again. I can now see through the eyes of faith but I’ll admit that there were trials getting there, but it was worth it all the way. God is definitely the rock on which I stand. It is a sure and solid foundation and I don’t want to be anywhere else.

Accidents

Annette Coffey1 Comment

“You can never predict when hard times might come. Like fish in a net or birds in a snare. People are caught by sudden tragedy.” Ecclesiastics 9:12

One fact is true, that God is in charge of everything. We have no control of our lives no matter how hard we try. We may not like problems but they are no accident. God doesn’t make mistakes no matter what happens. I had a friend who lost her friend and roommate because a nurse made a mistake and she was upset to loose her friend. But I explained to her that she didn’t die earlier than God wanted and she would have died anyway even if the nurse didn’t make a mistake. God has us in the palm of his hand and he knows what he is doing. A car might appear out of nowhere and broadside your car but God knew it was going to happen and he will use it for his will and he will use it for good. No matter how bad it seems. Sometimes we bring bad into our lives through pore choices and sin that brings consequences. God will still use it to bring change in our lives. My stroke was very bad and I almost died, but God knew what he was doing and that I would become a better person because of it. I had become very self destructive and doing what I wanted when it wasn’t good for me. I realized God had been taking good care of me all of my life and I wanted to get to know him better. I began reading all I could about God and wanted to know more. I fell in love with him more every day. I know someone who was in a very bad car accident and God did the same for him and he is a changed man. He will bring whatever he needs to change you right where you are at. Nothing is bad when God is working, just bad circumstances that he will use to make you better. He had a plan for your life before you were even born and he knows best how to cause you to fulfill that plan. I’m now in a wheelchair living in a nursing home. I need 24 hour care but I stay independent and still write books and devotions and an encouraging blog for Christian’s to help them. I thought I was useless as my body slipped away but he is using me more every day. And I couldn’t be happier and more at peace.

Perfect Will of God

Annette CoffeyLeave a comment

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what’s God’s will is — his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

We become like those we are around. Good or bad they influence your lives but if you are a child of God you should become more like Christ every day. God is doing a work in us but we need to do are part. Reading God’s word and meditating on it is so important. Then following it comes next. It takes deliberate practice to become more like Christ. You have to be committed. People all around you are focusing on the negative and it is so easy to lose our focus. Of course we have problems, everybody does. But you have to keep your focus on Christ if you are a Christian and they will see that you are different. I live in a nursing home and people have pain and anxiety which can lead to negative outbursts. It can be difficult to ignore at times. I still need to focus on where my help comes from. You only make things worse when you lose that focus. People that don’t know the Lord can’t help it and even if they do know the Lord they can let the problems win. Complaining about your problems is hard not to do but it’s only keeping your problems where they don’t belong. If you want to complain just think of something you can thank God for currently, there are as many good things happening as bad all the time. Even if it’s just your family and friends spend time around those people and encourage each other. Spend time encouraging yourself by telling yourself all the great things God has done and continues to do in your life. So many miracles happen all the time and God is right in the middle of them. God does so many great things for us that others may never know about because their minds are closed off. Guard your heart and your mind for everything comes out of it. Be the best you that you can be.

The Advocate

Annette CoffeyLeave a comment

‘But in fact it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the advocate won’t come, if I do go away then I will send him to you.’ John 16:7

Back before Jesus was around it took a lot of faith to get by. It took believing God was real without seeing much proof. Without God’s living word to see Gods perfect plan working. Even with seeing Jesus compassion, wisdom, strength, and miracles you had to believe that it was real. The apostles did because they knew Jesus was just a man but he did some great and mighty things that no man could do. He had that same spirit with him helping him to fulfill his purpose. Because he did go back to the Father we have that same spirit helping us just like Jesus. The advocate he promised is working in us and he is always interceding for us. We are not alone but have the same help Jesus had and they say we will do greater and mightier things than he did, and that’s pretty great. All we have to do is believe and all things are possible. The apostles couldn’t believe getting by without him but we have him with us always. They thought he would be around for years to come, even though he told them he had to go for their best. They didn’t think he should go because he had to free his people first. That is how they saw it happening. You have to realize that with all the help we get from the Holy Spirit that some pretty amazing and exciting things can supernaturally happen. The more faith you have the more you get blessed by some exciting things. Seeing may be believing but if you want to see the supernatural you have to first believe and then you see. Our lives can be amazing if we just believe.