Life, Death, and a Loud Speaker

Pastor Austin at Champions Community Church

He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o'clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them, but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. They were all terrified when they saw him. But Jesus spoke to them at once. "Don't be afraid," he said. "Take courage! I am here! "

Mark 6:48‭-‬50 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/mrk.6.48-50.NLT

• Don't let your circumstance dictate your praise.

Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!

Acts of the Apostles 16:25‭-‬26 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/act.16.25-26.NLT

On the way, he sent this message to King Jehoshaphat of Judah: "The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you join me in battle against him?" And Jehoshaphat replied, "Why, of course! You and I are as one. My troops are your troops, and my horses are your horses." Then Jehoshaphat asked, "What route will we take?" "We will attack from the wilderness of Edom," Joram replied. The king of Edom and his troops joined them, and all three armies traveled along a roundabout route through the wilderness for seven days. But there was no water for the men or their animals. "What should we do?" the king of Israel cried out. "The Lord has brought the three of us here to let the king of Moab defeat us." But King Jehoshaphat of Judah asked, "Is there no prophet of the Lord with us? If there is, we can ask the Lord what to do through him." One of King Joram's officers replied, "Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to be Elijah's personal assistant. " Jehoshaphat said, "Yes, the Lord speaks through him." So the king of Israel, King Jehoshaphat of Judah, and the king of Edom went to consult with Elisha. "Why are you coming to me?" Elisha asked the king of Israel. "Go to the pagan prophets of your father and mother!" But King Joram of Israel said, "No! For it was the Lord who called us three kings here—only to be defeated by the king of Moab!" Elisha replied, "As surely as the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I wouldn't even bother with you except for my respect for King Jehoshaphat of Judah. Now bring me someone who can play the harp." While the harp was being played, the power of the Lord came upon Elisha, and he said, "This is what the Lord says: This dry valley will be filled with pools of water!

2 Kings 3:7‭-‬16 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/2ki.3.7-16.NLT

• Jehoshaphat got linked up with an idiot and ended up becoming a target of the idiot's ememies.

• From the Hebrew name יְהוּדָה (Yehudah), probably derived from יָדָה (yadah) meaning"praise".

The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.

Proverbs 18:21 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.18.21.NLT

• There is nothing too dead to be turned around by life!

• Coral bleaching occurs when coral polyps expel algae that live inside their tissues. Normally, coral polyps live in an endosymbiotic relationship with these algae, which are crucial for the health of the coral and the reef.^[1] The algae provides up to 90 percent of the coral's energy. Bleached corals continue to live but begin to starve after bleaching.^[2]Some corals recover.

• The leading cause of coral bleaching is rising water temperatures.

Young fish can be drawn to degraded coral reefs by loudspeakers playing the sounds of healthy reefs, according to new research. ... "Healthy coral reefs are remarkably noisy places -- the crackle of snapping shrimp and the whoops and grunts of fish combine to form a dazzling biological soundscape."

Israel [favored] Joseph more than any of his other sons because he was the child of his old age. And he made him an elaborately embroidered coat. When his brothers realized that their father loved him more than them, they grew to hate him—they wouldn't even speak to him. When Joseph reached his brothers, they ripped off the fancy coat he was wearing, grabbed him, and threw him into a cistern. The cistern was dry; there wasn't any water in it. Then they sat down to eat their supper. Looking up, they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites on their way from Gilead, their camels loaded with spices, ointments, and perfumes to sell in Egypt. Judah said, "Brothers, what are we going to get out of killing our brother and concealing the evidence? Let's sell him to the Ishmaelites, but let's not kill him—he is, after all, our brother, our own flesh and blood." His brothers agreed.

Genesis 37:3‭-‬4‭, ‬23‭-‬27 MSG

https://bible.com/bible/97/gen.37.3-27.MSG

• The enemy can steal your stuff, but he can't steal the favor of God.

• Judah spoke up for Joseph

From the Hebrew name יְהוּדָה (Yehudah), probably derived from יָדָה (yadah) meaning"praise".

The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord , and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there  were very many in the open valley; and indeed they  were very dry. And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" So I answered, "O Lord God , You know." Again He said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord !

Ezekiel 37:1‭-‬4 NKJV

Your dream is not dead, it's just asleep.

Until we rock again,
🤘 P E A C E, L 💚 V E, & R⚡P S T⚡X 🤘

-Pound Pro Jenny

Stir it Up

Pastor Joel @ Lakewood Church

• An ember is a glowing, hot coal made of greatly heated wood, coal, or other carbon-based material that remain after, or sometimes precede, a fire.

• Embers can glow very hot, sometimes as hot as the fire which created them.

• They radiate a substantial amount of heat long after the fire has been extinguished,embers can be used to relight a fire after it has gone out without the need to rebuild the fire – in a conventional fireplace, a fire can easily be relit up to 12 hours after it goes out, provided that there is enough space for air to circulate between the embers and the introduced fuel.

Under all of the ashes, a flame is still buried underneath.

Then I said, "I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name." But His  word was in my heart like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not.

Jeremiah 20:9 NKJV

Start dreaming again.

And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:13 NKJV

You can't be passive, indifferent, or lethargic. You can't be half-hearted. What you're believing for may be taking longer than expected so you have to stir yourself up.

This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalms 118:24 NKJV

Fan the flame, keep the fire burning.

So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.

I Samuel 17:48 NKJV

Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

Romans 12:11‭-‬13 MSG

Bless the Lord , O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Psalms 103:1 KJV

A stirring up a flame causes things to turn around.

You can't wait until you feel like it, you have to make a decision.

Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

2 Timothy 1:6 KJV

Don't let what hasn't happened dissuade you from what's in your spirit.

There are things that we don't see coming developing on the inside because of the seeds the lord has planted even though we seem barren.

And I will bless [Sarah], and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.

Genesis 17:16 KJV

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

1 Corinthians 2:9 KJV

There will always be people who try to throw water on your fire.

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

James 5:16 KJV

fer·vent

/ˈfərvənt/

adjective

1. having or displaying a passionate intensity.

Until we rock again,
🤘 P E A C E, L 💚 V E, & R⚡P S T⚡X 🤘

-Pound Pro Jenny

Blessed Indeed

You have to pray uncommon prayers to get uncommon blessings. Ask for things you can't receive on your own.

You have not because you ask not....

Some people think that it's selfish to ask for big things but that thinking is a trap.

Ask to be blessed so that you can be a bigger blessing. Ask for overflow.

You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

James 4:3 NKJV

Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don't have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn't yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it. You wouldn't think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you'd be asking for what you have no right to. You're spoiled children, each wanting your own way.

James 4:2‭-‬3 MSG

a·miss

/əˈmis/

adjective

1. not quite right; inappropriate or out of place.

adverb

1. wrongly or inappropriately.

Make sure not to pray depressing prayers.

I am the Lord your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

Psalms 81:10 NKJV

Don't pray sick prayers.

Don't ask God for a watered down version of what you want.

You are not inconveniencing God by asking big prayers.

"Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Luke 12:32 NKJV

Dozens of names are mentioned in a lineage in 1 Chronicles 4 and the author pauses to talk about one of those people

Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, "Because I bore him in pain." And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, "Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!" So God granted him what he requested.

I Chronicles 4:9‭-‬10 NKJV

The name is Hebrew (yabetz = יַעְבֵּץ) for "he makes sorrowful"; Jabez was labelled with "sorrow" at birth, but his prayer against contracting sorrow nullified the label.

Jabez could have accepted what was spoken into his life but he decided he didn't want to be just another name on the list.

Honor God with your life a pray bold prayers. Have a big vision.

Don't discount yourself. 

And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?" Elisha said, "Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me." So he said, "You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when  I  am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so. "

II Kings 2:9‭-‬10 NKJV

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

James 5:17‭-‬18 NKJV

Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. Elijah, for instance, human just like us, prayed hard that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't—not a drop for three and a half years. Then he prayed that it would rain, and it did. The showers came and everything started growing again.

James 5:16‭-‬18 MSG

Put the exclamation point on it!

Until we rock again,
🤘 P E A C E, L 💚 V E, & R⚡P S T⚡X 🤘

-Pound Pro Jenny

My New Favorite Drink at Clean Juice: THE DETOXIFYING ONE

I absolutely love visiting Clean Juice for a healthy drink and/or snack. My new favorite drink is The Detoxifying One. Not only do I love the way it tastes (even though I add berry and extra ginger) but EVERY ingredient promotes natural detoxification! This drink contains Apple, Beet, Celery, Cucumber, and Ginger. I add extra ginger, because I like it spicy, and elderberry, because my last name is Elder, however, elderberry also promotes natural detox. Now, ’ll go through the ingredients and summarize their benefits.

Beets contain a group of phytonutrients called betalains that support detoxification through an important phase 2 detox step in the liver. In this phase, a protective compound becomes bound to the toxin helping your liver to remove chemicals and toxins more effectively. This is important because your body is better able to balance hormones, cholesterol and maintain energy levels.

Apples contain high levels of pectin. Pectin flushes out food additives and metals in our body. I recently had my water tested and found out that we have high levels of metal in our tap water. IN OUR WATER! Aside from this fresh pressed juice, when I learned that news I was thrilled that I keep apples stocked in my refrigerator! Back to these juice ingredients. I’ll move on to celery.

Since celery has diuretic properties, helps to flush toxins from the body while promoting liver and kidney health. In addition, studies consistently show that celery helps reduce fat build-up in the liver. Add those 2 findings to the fact that the nutrients in celery protect the liver, while helping the liver produce EVEN MORE enzymes that specifically flush fat and you may want to just drink a cup of celery juice every day; clean juice sells that too!

Cucumber juice is a highly alkalizing and hydrating drink which means that it reduces acidity in your body! Benefits also include a richness in nutrients such as vitamins A, C, K, magnesium, silicon, and potassium. On it’s own, cucumber juice can cleanse the entire body while alleviating digestive problems such as gastritis, acidity, heartburn, indigestion, and ulcers.

Ginger cleanses by stimulating digestion, circulation, and sweating. Its digestive actions serve to cleanse the build-up of waste and toxins in the colon, liver, and other organs. Finally, let’s talk about elderberry. This is not part of the Detoxifying One recipe but I ask the juiceristas to add it. Elderberries disperse free radicals and eliminates toxins. Free radicals are unstable atoms that can damage cells, causing illness and aging.

So there you have it. You can go to Clean Juice and get a drink that will remove chemicals, toxins, fat, free radicals, and even metal! Not only that this drink will aid in digestion! I hope that you will try it but I’d also share a few precautions.

Your urine and stools may turn red or pinkish due to the presence of beets in this drink. This condition, known as beeturia, is harmless. But it may be startling if you don’t expect it. Also, if you have low blood pressure, drinking beetroot juice regularly may increase the risk of your pressure dropping too low. Finally, if you’re prone to calcium oxalate kidney stones, don’t drink beetroot juice. Beets are high in oxalates, which are naturally occurring substances that form crystals in your urine. They may lead to stones.