An Encouraging reminder in difficult times

Al Thomas:

The Lord Says, "I Show Myself Strong in Times of Lack"

After hearing the media, the world and even God's children talk about how bad the economy is, I went to the Lord to get His take on it. I tucked myself away in the prayer closet and closed the door. That's where God is hiding (Matthew 6:6). "Lord," I said, "people are saying: 'It looks bad. The economy is sinking and it's going to get worse.' What do You have to say to the Church about this economy?"

GOD SAYS: "I SHOW MYSELF STRONG IN TIMES OF LACK"

"I am not panicking about the world's economy. I am not the least bit worried about how I will take care of My children. I have not called an emergency meeting in Heaven to discuss the world's inflation crisis or the fuel prices. If I am not frightened neither should My children be. Have you forgotten how I have taken care of you in the past? When you hear the dreaded 'R' word = recession, be reminded of two other 'R' words: Remember and Rejoice.

"First, do you remember how I took care of Israel in the desert (Deuteronomy 2:7)? Do you remember how I took care of Elijah in a time of famine (1 Kings 17:7, 16)? Do you remember how I took care of Elisha with a widow (2 Kings 4:6)? Do you remember how I took care of Samaria in a time of famine (2 Kings 7:8)? Do you remember how My Son fed the multitude who followed Him (Matthew 14:20)? Then remember that I promised to take care of you (Philippians 4:19). Then, start to rejoice by faith as you ponder these things. Purposeful rejoicing increases your faith. The enemy wants you to only think about how bad it is; I want you to dwell on My goodness and faithfulness. Start remembering and rejoicing. Walking with Me isn't always easy. It wasn't meant to be. But it's worth it (Romans 8:18)."

GOD SAYS: "YOU KNOW COMPLAINING WON'T HELP, SO PRAISE ME INSTEAD"

"You're no fool. If you are under pressure financially, don't start to grumble like some people do. Don't complain, because you will be expressing exactly what the enemy wants you to express: Doubt, fear and worry. You know that I am capable of taking care of you, so don't make it difficult for yourself by murmuring (Philippians 2:14). No child of Mine (who walked in humility and obedience) ever fell into permanent financial ruin: 'I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread' (Psalm 37:25).

"Going through a stressful time with money doesn't always mean that you are disobedient. Some wrongly teach that if you are struggling financially you must be out of My will. Tell that to My saints of old: 'Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need' (Philippians 4:11, 12).

"Kick 'Mr. Complainer' out...invite 'Mr. Praiser' in. Complaining causes doubt. Praise clears the air of confusion and fear. Get up, tell doubt to shut up, and start to shout praises to Me!"

GOD SAYS: "THIS TRIAL WILL COME TO AN END. YOU KNOW THIS, SO HOLD ON"

"Yes, this season will end, and when it does, you'll be glad that you stood strong and waited on Me (Psalm 130:5). You are not going to give in to fear, instead you will hold on to My promises (2 Corinthians 1:20). Do everything you can to stay in alignment with My will for your life (Ephesians 6:13). You may have stumbled a bit. You may have had some momentary thoughts of bewilderment...but you will not quit! Don't give the devil the pleasure of letting him win. Like Joshua, you need to choose this day who you will serve (Joshua 24:15).

"Child of Mine, you are not alone! As I hold on to you (Psalm 139:10) you must hold on to Me. I Am faithful (1 Thessalonians 5:24). Remember, the problem with money is that it never solves anything as long as it's solely in the world's system."

GOD SAYS: "BECAUSE YOU KNOW THIS, DON'T LET SATAN CAUSE YOU TO STOP GIVING"

"Fear is the main reason My children back off from giving. They fear that they will not have enough. Never react from fear, because the fruit of fear is torment (1 John 4:18). The fruit of faith is peace and provision.

"I am pleased when My children give even though they are overwhelmed with problems: 'Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints' (2 Corinthians 8:2-4).

"Note that they pleaded to give and they considered giving a privilege, not an obligation. I do not pressure my people to give (Exodus 25:2), because giving is an act of worship (1 Chronicles 29:14). Giving with an attitude of thankfulness and expectation can open Heaven's resources--to those who can responsibly handle my abundance--and I long to bless many with riches to further My Kingdom. In the meantime, let the so-called experts continue to shout 'the sky is falling, the sky is falling,' but remember Who made the sky, and the only way you're going to see it (and your supply) is to look up, not down. For My children, this can be a season of great blessings...if they open their hand, instead of closing it."

Al Thomas
Celebrating His Life Ministries
Email: a.thomas@myactv.net

 

Al and Sherry Thomas travel extensively in America and Southeast Asia. Al and Sherry have a prophetic and healing anointing and have seen many miracles. They founded Celebrating His Life Ministries in 1997, and are gifted teachers of the Word. Prior to that date they served at Mount Hope Prison Ministry for three years. Al has pastored in Wisconsin and California and was associated with evangelist Jim Spillman, a great man of God who was known for miracles happening in his meetings. Al has walked in the healing anointing since 1997. They have seen blind eyes healed, deaf ears opened and many other healings. They minister gently and practically. They currently minister in approximately sixty churches a year.

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Happy Easter!

Hi Gang,

Today's Good Friday!  It was 2000 years ago that Jesus died on the cross that first Good Friday. But isn't that such a strange name for the day Jesus died?  Well, it's because of all the great things Jesus released for us on that day: open access to God, salvation, forgiveness, kingdom authority, the Holy Spirit, etc. 

This Easter, we're going to have a great service and hopefully we'll be podcasting and possibly vodcasting (Video Podcast) our Easter service. 

A few weeks ago, the Lord gave me the Easter message.  And like most Sundays, I can't say everything I want to communicate in that short time on Sunday.  So, I post those thoughts here. 

This Easter I believe the Lord is telling us that we will never understand what's happening in our lives or in His kingdom apart from his words to us. Easter Sunday I will share about when God speaks to us as He spoke to Mary Magdalene.  But God also speaks through His word.  Check out Luke 24:13-35. Those men on the road to Emmaus did not understand what was happening in their lives or the kingdom apart from Jesus explaining it from the Scriptures. 

We all want to know God's will for our lives because we want to follow His plan. We beleive He has our best interest in mind.  So stay close to Jesus, keep listening to Him speak to you, and remember the Scriptures. 

Love & Blessings!

pastor arlen

Kingdom Response

Luke 5:17-26 gives us a good picture of how people react or respond to God doing a new thing.

In Isaiah, God told us that he would do new things and that his thoughts are higher than ours. But somehow when we see something new happening, our first reaction can be to judge it. That's what the Pharisees did in this story. Yes they were trained, and yes they knew the Scriptures. But they were not in touch with the God of the Scriptures.

It's His power that was present with Jesus that enabled Him to heal and even to forgive sin.

At the end of this chapter we see the correct response to God's work and to the miracles of God. "Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God."

Friends, God is continually doing new and more wonderful things. Let's stay in touch with Him. But never lose the sense of awe and amazement at what God does. And He will do more and more because we cannot put God in a box much less keep Him there. And let's give praise to God.

Through praise we can command a blessing from God. And praise is the pathway of breakthrough in our lives.

Blessings!

Pastor Arlen

The Old vs. The New

The gospels mark a major shift in God's work in the world.  The Old Testament looked forward to a day when the Messiah would come.  The turning point of the gospels is that the Messiah has come and he is changing everything. 

Read Luke 5:12-14.

In thte Old Testament, if you were to touch a leper like the one in the story, you would become "unclean". But from here on, when someone touches an unclean person, they become clean.  People have refered to this as the power of holiness. 

The kingdom of God is here and it's changing all the rules.  Are you willing to "touch" someone who is unclean or unacceptable in the name of Christ? That's what Jesus would do.  He would eat with sinners, cheaters, and prostitutes in order to communicate the life and love of God. 

Blessings,

Pastor Arlen

If the Kingdom has come...

Jesus proclaimed that the Kingdom of God has come. So why don't we act like it?

I'm not sure where this is going for me personally or for our church, but there's something about Jesus' ministry that I can't shake.

Read about how he called Peter: Luke 5:1-11.

Jesus, operating under a powerful word of knowledge told Simon to go into the deep water and put their nets down. There they should not have caught anything. That isn't the place to get fish. but they catch more fish than ever before and it spawns a reaction from Simon. "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!"

Jesus doesn't care about his sin. He calls him to follow and immediately he leaves all and follows Jesus.

Are we supposed to be doing this kind of stuff? Wouldn't it be easier to call people to follow operating under the same annointing as Jesus? Does this take more faith to live in the supernatural rather than rely on "worldly principles" of evangelism?

Just a thought,

Pastor Arlen

A Moment to Praise

Hi Gang, here's an awesome worship song. Written by a Catholic worship leader. Enjoy!

=)

Pastor Arlen

What is "Normal Christian Life?"

Here's the question I've been thinking about for the last couple of days... Is Jesus our example of the "Normal Christian Life?" We have bumper stickers that say, "What would Jesus do?" But we don't really believe we're supposed to do what Jesus did. In terms of moral choices, yes. But in terms of miracles and listening to the Father's instructions, no. My old Sunday School teacher used to joke about this too. He would say, "What would Jesus do?... walk on water." And in some way, he was implying that we are not to do as Jesus did. But is that correct Kingdom thinking?

Pray about it and consider it. What really did Jesus do?

In Luke 4:23-44 Jesus tells his listeners...

There are lots of needs around. Some people God specifically calls to meet other people's needs in supernatural ways like Elijah did.

Jesus models casting out demons.

Jesus "rebuked fever" and released service from Simon's mother. (This is a powerful point if you can receive it.)

And in prayer, Jesus receives direction and guidance from God that contradicts what is happening. Miracles are happening here and God tells Jesus to go elsewhere.

This is more to think about in considering the Kingdom.

Blessings!

Pastor Arlen