Murder is Not the Answer

I love you. I hate you. I need you. I despise you. You complete me. You smother me. You marry me. You divorce me. We have children. You take my children from me. I was your future. Now I’m you’re past. I was alive. But you killed me.

What has happened to the precious gift that we call life?  Where is the line drawn? A life destroyed because of what? Disagreement? Anger? Selfishness? Now that person is no longer on earth because of such immoral decisions.

God, how we need you in these latter times. The love of many has truly waxed cold. The harsh realities of the thoughtless sins that grip our country, nations, cities and families are among us. As your children we need to be bold and unwavering. Your word should be so hidden in our hearts that we use our bible as a way to refresh us of what we already know and have learned over the years. Confident of what your word says as we mediate on truth.

We are walking by faith every time we leave out of our doors. We are walking by faith each day we send our children to school with no guarantee they will return. We are walking by faith when we go to pick up a prescription at the pharmacy and encounter a thief stealing pain medications. We are walking by faith as we go about doing what has been normal for us but now we are guarded and some fearful for their lives. This is not how it is suppose to be. We are even walking by faith as we enter the doors of our churches on Sundays with thoughts of praise and worship then we realize another church was burned to the ground and demonic graffiti plastered all over the walls. Murder is not the answer.

Isn’t it bad enough we murder each other with our tongues but now a more deadly & lethal murderer is among us? Open defiant SIN! When will we understand it’s time to take back everything that Satan is taking from us! Our children, our churches, our schools, our streets, and our homes! We have to truly become Ephesians 6: 10 Warriors. We must put on the WHOLE ARMOR of God! This is a spiritual war and we need to gear up.

Murder is not the answer. What happened to trying to talk through an argument or misunderstanding? Murder is not the answer. Prayer is our Key. Pray for the families and victims of violent crimes it is not over it’s just beginning. These days must happen in order for the greatest arrival that the world will ever see to be manifested. Be watchful and prayerful but remember Murder is not the answer.

Gwin Minter

 

YOU’VE BEEN CALLED TO DUTY!

When soldiers are called to go out and fight on behalf of our country most consider this a huge honor. They are leaving family, jobs and friends in order to defend our country. Not to mention the freedom, protection and security of what our United States stands for. The soldiers are risking their lives so that we can come home and sleep in soft beds, turn our air conditioning on if we get too warm, having the comforts of being able to take a hot shower anytime we choose. Or having the freedom of being able to see our loved ones at the end of each hard working day. Soldiers give up their own lives for the sake of defending our country.

You can be imprisoned if you do not go and fight for the well being of our country and your fellow man. So with this in mind God is calling us to duty. We as (Christians) should be ready to answer the call and serve. It is a high honor to be chosen by God in order to fight in His army. We should be proud to defend His honor & His word boldly & without reservation. He is our General in Chief, and he is searching for real soldiers, front line of defense, men & women that’s ready to lock and load at any given time. You see there is a war going on and Ephesians 6: 10-18 tells us it’s not just a physical war but spiritual warfare.

The military branch would never send a soldier out to fight without something to fight with. Neither does God. He plainly tells us in Ephesians 6th chapter that in order to win the battle we must be geared up with the right stuff! Like the Full armor of God, the belt of truth buckled around your waist, breastplate of righteousness in place, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, sword of the spirit and your feet fitted with readiness that comes with the gospel of peace. But prayer is the key component of this military gear, having a strong relationship with the General in Chief. So when the order is given you are prepared and ready to do battle. He is calling us! Looking out over the land seeking, searching for some front line soldiers who are ready to do battle with the enemy because The General in Chief is coming back & He has rewards for those that have served well. YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED TO DUTY!

Gwin Minter

Spiritual Adultery

 

It is always amazing what awesome Christian’s we are when we first get saved. We stand before the church in most cases and give our lives & hearts over to Christ meaning that a commitment has taken place an agreement between God and us. (A marriage of sorts) We are so excited with our newfound Spiritual love, we spend deliberate time with Him on a regular basis, He’s on our minds & constantly in our hearts. We talk to Him early in the morning upon rising because we are so in love with Him. All throughout the day He is on our minds because we are thanking Him for being so good to us. We are so in love with Him that we share the love we have between each other joyfully with others.

 

 On the way home from work we are singing about Him and getting all emotional sometimes causing tears to run down our face. We talk to Him before we eat our meals and at bedtime we have some of our most intimate conversations. What an awesome relationship we have. Many people cannot even begin to understand the type of love we share with Him. Others are jealous that we are so in tuned with one another. He even knows what we’re thinking. He knows what we’re going to say before it ever spills off our lips! This is a relationship built in Heaven.

 

 Time has passed and the newness of our relationship begins to die down it seems our eyes begin to wander and we find ourselves lusting after things that should not be introduced into our loving bond we have between each other. We try to fight it off and pretend it’s not there but the reality is we are too weak and the desires are too strong. We soon find that we are spending less time with Him, so we communicate less, our thoughts begin to dwindle from Him and increase for the things of the world. We start to seek after gossip, lying (to ourselves and to Him) degrading His name even when we know He has done nothing but love us. Spending late nights with our friends Drugs, Alcohol and Sexual Immorality. By now we start to feel a little guilty but it doesn’t make us stop our deceitfulness it only causes us to turn our backs on the one thing that loves us more than life itself. He misses us but he won’t make us love Him, that is a choice we must make individually. Then it happens, we are completely gone the love we once had for Him now belongs to the world and its demands. We have officially committed Spiritual Adultery! We have broken the bond of commitment to Him in order to fall in love & have a relationship with things of the world. We have left our first love!

 

 Is this you today? Some of us want to straddle the fence and pretend to have this wonderful relationship with Him publicly, while having another lover (the world) secretly on the other days of the week. But remember He knows our every thought and even what is in our hearts, so our pretense and acts of adultery do not fool him. He knows we can’t love what’s in the dark and expect the Light not to expose us!

 

 Have you committed Spiritual Adultery? If so, you can come back to Him and ask for forgiveness & He will forgive you and also let you know in spite of all your mess, He never stopped loving YOU. Come back to your First Love He is waiting on YOU.

Gwin Minter

A Lesson Learned In The Rain

Dark haunting clouds that alert you that a storm is on the way. The wind begins to shift from a soft whisper to a loud and scary howl. The sound causes you to become watchful as you peep with hesitation out the window and you gaze into the sky and notice the jagged lighting bolts that seem to crack the earth right in front of your eyes. Now you hear the dreadful boistering of the demanding thunder that causes animals, kids and some adults to sit quietly as the thunder demands your attention. Then it happens… The Rain begins to fall, at first little pecks on your windows but as the storm approaches carrying with her the wind, thunder, lighting and dark clouds, the Rain no longer is passive. Instead it takes on a new dimension as it hits the windows with force and causes everything in its path to become drenched in wetness.

This has been the scene here in Kentucky for most of the month of April. But one day as a violent storm swept through, my daughter brought to my attention the sound of birds chirping outside our window. I thought surely this cannot be the case but to my surprise the storm did not stop these birds from singing. At that moment I thought about us as Christians as we go through our storms. The wind blows, the thunder roars, the lighting strikes and the rains fall but what are we doing? Are we singing praises to the Master even in the midst of our storms? Or are we complaining, in disbelief that God is going to actually see us through? I think we all have been in some violent storms, I’m in one now. So I learned a lesson from these little birds. It doesn’t matter how bad the storm gets as long as you can sing while you’re going through. Because these little birds kept right on singing and before I knew it the sun had popped through. The bird’s still chirping as they shook rapidly the water from their wings. Then they pecked at the ground and found their meal waiting on them as worms voyaged to the top of the grass.

In the midst of the storm even the birds had sense enough to know that God would supply all their needs. Lesson learned: Praise before you know the outcome. You see the birds didn’t see a storm, they saw a meal and that’s why they could sing in the midst of a violent storm. So even in the midst of our stormy situations just keep on praising and watch God bless you in the middle of your storm!

Gwin Minter

Have You Ever Had A Damascus Road Experience?

I often think about the biblical transformation of Saul the Christian persecutor who had a divine appointment with Jesus while on the Damascus road. The meeting was so profound that Saul the Persecutor turned into Paul the Preacher from one brief encounter.

Imagine walking for days on a mission to persecute and kill Christians both men and women with an entourage of your “Boys” feeding into your already superior mindset. Only miles outside the Damascus city gates, while heart pounding and a sense of grandiose mentality that causes a smile to brush across Saul’s face, imagining himself already tasting the thrill of the innocent blood that he would spill.

But…He had a Jesus encounter that left him prostrate on the ground & his entourage with their mouths open in disbelief and a fear that caused the strongest of a man to become weak. Jesus’ radiance was so brilliant that Saul was blind when he got up from the ground and now he had to be led by the hand by members of his traveling team into the city gates. He was blinded for 3 days & had not eaten or drank anything during this time frame. Alone, in his blindness & deep in thought he had time to re-evaluate his life and what was in his heart. He knew that something in him had changed therefore he would never be the same again! Can you imagine Saul’s entourage talking among themselves trying to figure out what had happened to him? Also they were confirming between themselves the voice from Heaven they heard but never saw anyone. Yet now even more confused because they had to explain why this man Ananias, the disciple, would come to Saul the persecutor of Christians & lay hands on him and after that particles like scales fell from Saul’s eyes. At that moment he was able to see in the natural but more importantly he had a new vision in the spiritual realm. After that encounter Saul knew he had been chosen not to kill but to build up the Kingdom of God! Never to be called Saul again but Paul the Apostle. You cannot have an appointment with Jesus and not walk away changed.

If you have ever been on your Damascus Road & God changed you and saved you from yourself please share your conversion on this site that it may be a blessing to all those that read this blog. In these times when God’s people are struggling while trying to stand firm in the midst of, we need to hear encouragement that God is still able to fix any situation and turn things around for our good and His glory. Your testimony may be the breakthrough that others are waiting on. Let’s share what the Lord has done so that He can get the glory & His people can be blessed. Love you all!

Gwin Minter

Super Bowl Sunday- Packers VS. Steelers (“Stealers”)

Well as you know every year we have teams battling for the coveted title as Super Bowl Champions and the winners are added to the sports history books! They want the trophy, the ring, & the clout of being the winner of the Super Bowl. But if you will allow me to put my own twist on this celebrated day of food, fellowship, that in most cases causes men & some women to yell and scream violently at a television screen. Ironically no one in the stands can hear or see them. Or they act as assistant TV football coaches, yelling obscenities & plays that the head coach’s of either team cannot hear or appreciate. While others are getting so wasted that they could care less who actually won the game, because they had fun drinking the free beer and eating the free food at a friends house. Mercy! We cannot forget the racy, outrageous, comical and enormous priced commercials that we anticipate all throughout the game. But it’s the half-time commercials that most don’t want to miss. Yet to some viewers, that’s what they would rather watch.

As I pondered all this in my mind I thought about all the excitement and hoopla that surrounds this one Sunday. The names of the teams intrigued me this year… the Packers verses the Steelers (Stealers). Since I have a vivid imagination, I imagined the Super Bowl was not a football game but rather a revival-taking place on Sunday. All Christians and non-Christians are invited. For those that needed and wanted an up close and personal experience attended the service and those that didn’t like crowds decided to just tune in and watch the events unfold. Some would gather in homes, clubhouses or even churches would open it’s doors so people could come in and watch on their wide screens in anticipation of what was going to manifest.

What if…all these millions of people would decide at this particular time on Sunday morning that no matter where they were that they would be yelling and screaming His praises? Cameras would capture millions of folks with hands raised & tears of joy dripping down their faces. Since the camera lens don’t lie, you would also watch as the “Packers”, those that brought the joy of the Lord with them as they came in through the doors with praise on their lips and worship on their minds. But you could also catch a glimpse of the “Stealers” those who came with the intent to steal the joy and try to dampen the worship experience. They came looking for mess trying to discredit what was going on. But they couldn’t deny Heaven would be rejoicing as the voices were raised to an octave that cannot be measured. The sound so deafening but the melodies are so sweet & joyous to the ear. Then the heavens open up and the Lord himself decides to come in and just sit down! A fragrant aroma fills the place even those watching on TV in various locations can smell this holy fragrance. A light so bright that it would feel like the sun just decided to rest within the sanctuary.

Now it’s half-time, an exuberant praise bursts forth unlike anything that has ever been experienced before now. People from all walks of life enjoying the presence of the Lord! But its at the end of the game when a tug of war is at play with only seconds to go & the time is running out. The “Stealers” are upset but the “Packers” are so engrossed with worship that the place erupts into an Acts 2:1-4 experience! The Packers WIN! Those that came with something left with MORE! Those that came to steal joy surprisingly found it was a blessing just to be in the midst of it all! So when you are yelling for your team to win ask yourself are you on the right team? What if our churches looked liked the Super Bowl on Sunday morning and we got loud as we cried out to the Lord for healing, breakthroughs, a closer walk with the Master etc? The Lord would show up because He heard His name being called out in praise, which would cause people to run and fall at the altars to be saved, others reclaiming their inheritance while the rest basked in the presence of the Almighty. That’s what we need in our churches on Sunday Morning, a Pentecost experience so powerful that it will change how we view church for generations to come. Will you be a “Packer” or a “Stealer” this Sunday? Heaven is the trophy; the ring is an ever-ending band of promise that we will reign with the Master for eternity. Let’s go to the Super Bowl on Sunday Morning!

You Think I Should Be Having A Breakdown, But I’m Having My Breakthrough!

How many times have you believed that God has given you a promise but just because it didn’t come when you thought it should, doubt set in? You began to get unraveled and started to think that maybe what you heard God say was not what He meant. You started to second guess and fear began to damage your faith walk. Being fearful and faithful do not go hand in hand.

So you begin to call on the Lord for confirmation. Sometimes we ask if what we heard actually came from the Master. But as soon as we start to put our focus more on the Lord and less at listening to satan all hell breaks loose. Stuff starts happening to discourage your expectation of your miracle. But the key to your success is maintaining a strong relationship with the Master through prayer, supplication and studying of His word. The hell hounds are nipping at your heels, the bill collectors are threatening you, garnishment is being hinted to you, medical bills are piling up on you, and your house is about to be taken from you! Folks are looking to see if depression has set in, if you are crying and looking sad all the time. The gossip hounds start to get busy telling what they think is your business and using the umbrella of prayer concerns to put it in the streets. Everything they want to see, as a characteristic of defeat seems not to be happening. They are waiting on your “Breakdown” to occur. Waiting to see you broken and in despair. But something strange begins to transpire because they know that all these terrible things are happening to you. But they are confused because you mot be smiling and acting like you just a million dollars, something is not adding up!

Can I tell you what IS happening? You messed around and started calling on the Great I Am & He began speaking into your situation. He told you to stand still and know that I am God! He whispered and told you that He would never leave you nor forsake you. He leaned in a little closer and said He would supply all your needs and not to worry because He would make your enemies your footstool. That’s when your fear turned into faith and you began to see the promise of God. You began to feel the joy of the Lord rising up in your spirit. You began to praise God not because of the hell you are experiencing in the present realm, the right now but you started praising God for the glimpses of the future and the promise from a God who cannot Lie! You are praising God for what’s on the way. That’s how you turn a potential breakdown into a breakthrough. Shout on what you know is on the way. Shout even though in your physical eye you can’t see a way out. You are backed up between the desert and the red sea while the enemy is coming up on your back side to destroy you that’s when God steps in and reveals your promise and your miracle as He parts your Red Sea so you can walk on dry land. Walk into your miracle it is not over until God says its over! Your Breakthrough of Praise deleted your Breakdown and your miracle is on the way!

　

 

Worship Is Not Musical Jack In the Box

More and more coming to church is like being in a Jack N Box! The praise team has to come out and crank us up before we can jump up to our feet and give God praise for all He has done. What has happened to the days when all we had to do was just think about the goodness of the Lord and ALL He has done for us and praise would erupt throughout our churches like somebody just set off firecrackers!

It used to be that no one had to tell us to look at the person next to us and give him or her a hug and say glad you are here. We used to come and be so excited just to be in His house of Worship that the hugging and being glad to see each other was just a normal reaction of genuine love. Now we can sit beside a person in our churches and look through them like glass as though they were not there. Scripture says,” In the last days the love of many will wax cold.” I’d say scripture does not lie.

What happened to humility and servanthood being done because it was Christ Like behavior and not used as a cover up so people won’t think you’re the kind of person that seeks gratitude and praise for what you do for others? When can we truly worship without agendas, without running each other down, without being jealous of someone’s blessings, or gossiping about someone else’s misfortune?

One day we won’t need to be cranked to sing, to stand, to wave our hands, to speak to the person beside us or to worship. One day we will walk in the doors of our churches excited about being around God’s people and in expectation of the souls that will come to Christ that day. Sunday will not be the same but we will have a genuine life of worship and praise. Why? Just because we have kept our prayer life on point, our time with the Lord consistent, our time off the phone and hands off the remote in order to hear a word from the Lord! No longer will we need to be primed to worship because the real worship experience will happen before we leave our homes to come to church. Acceleration will occur while in our cars listening to our gospel music. By the time we reach the doors of the church our praise is ready to erupt before the first prayer is prayed or the first song sung. Our Holy Ghost cap has already popped and the fresh anointing of the spirit is already like popcorn in His house. Scripture said, “It’s just like FIRE shut up in my bones.” It cannot be contained, just overflowing… No Need for Jack- in -the –box except to enhance what is already spilling over.
Gwin Minter

You Can Call Me F.A.T. !

We are living in such a prima donna world these days that it causes us to focus on the outside versus the inside. When we see an overweight person we call them fat and sluggish. We see the skinny as sad and anorexic. We view the not so attractive as ugly and the nice looking as sex symbols. When will we as a society be able to look pass others imperfections and see the real person.

Recently my own weight has gone up mostly due to medications that I have been on for almost a year now. There are times I look in the mirror and can’t find the person that used to stare back at me. Some days I am saddened by the reflection that I see and wonder will the old me ever be seen again. I looked in the mirror recently and said aloud, “Wow you’re FAT!” But today God reminded me FAT doesn’t reflect who I am but What I perceive myself to look like on the outside. He advised me to turn the mirror around so that it could reflect the inner image and preceded to tell me what FAT inside meant.

F- I’m Favored By God, A- I’m Anointed by God, T – I’m Talented because of God. Then a smile swept across my face because now I can look in the mirror and say aloud PROUDLY! Gwin you’re F.A.T. (Favored, Anointed & Talented)

The next time you look in the mirror and see something you don’t like just turn that thing around and thank God you are F.A.T.! He truly as a way of turning things around for our good! Have a blessed one.

~Gwin Minter

See It, Believe It, Do It

Married Couples Date Night

Busy days, humid nights, kids are crying & you missing yo’ baby, it doesn’t seem right

You deserve a break so I think its time to schedule an early date night.

You and your spouse at the end of the day find yourselves exhausted & worn out

You neglect the fact you’ve given so much to others now it’s time to take a different route

A soothing warm bath, the candles are lit and foaming bubbles all fill the tub

An arousing fragrance embodies the air and you both are probably in need of back rubs!

Then a relaxing hug and tender kisses make the night complete

You snuggle up in each other’s arms & pretend you’re on a romantic couple’s retreat.

Every now and then married folks should find quality time to spend

After long hours @ work, kids, bills & life you need time with your best friend.

So take advantage of every moment because life will quickly fade away

These precious moments are what’s most important at the end of every day.

Never forget to say I love you as many times throughout the day as you can

A phone message left at work, a text, a Tweet or a simple holding of the hands

Keep the fire burning in your marriage and the flames will never go out

Spend some time in date mode every chance you get because that’s what its all about

You and your baby taking time for each other catching a movie, dining out or enjoying the town.

A quiet drive, a long walk, going dancing or just clowning around

So enjoy your date nights and time spent together while having a lot of fun

Make each date a lasting memory and remember the best is yet to come!

~Gwin Minter