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Do This And You Will Experience A Better Life

10/25/2017

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​Ps 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God;…   NIV 
  • Not Always Easy 
Have you ever noticed how some scriptures are very plainly penned down for us? This is not one of those hard sayings of Jesus or one from the book of Ezekiel or Revelation. Yet, as plain and easy to understand it is not always easy to accomplish.
 
This plain passage of scripture is from the Psalms. It says, "Be still…" The Hebrew word here means "to relax, be sedate, or to be calm" and while we are doing this take comfort in "knowing" God is in control.   
 
We have an entire Bible written with story after story of God being in control of human affairs. Then why is it we many times lose sight of God's power? 
  • We Are Lied To 
Yes, brothers and sisters we are lied to by the evil one. We have been told, "God doesn't care or God is not going to help us." Lies! All Lies!
 
 Paul says it this way in 2 Corin 11:3, "But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray…"  NASU
 
The devil tries very hard to deceive us as he did Adam and Eve. Don't let your minds be led astray but let your minds dwell on Psalm 46:10 - "Be still, and know that I am God…" 
  • If We Will Practice This Verse 
I believe with all my heart if we will practice "being still, relaxing, or being calm and trusting in God" our life experience will be superb. We all want to experience happiness and contentment in life and God gives us the formula to have exactly what we desire.
 
The question is "Can we let God be in control?"
 
I have to admit this is not always easy for me. I have a very hard time sitting and waiting.
 
In fact, it is many times almost impossible for me. I like to make things happen, but God's word is telling me I need to chill. I need to be still. I need to relax and get out of God's way. He is in control. He has thousands and thousands of years of prior experience in operating this world without me.
 
If we will trust Him, He will manage the affairs of this world just fine without us. 
  • My Daughter Was Sick 
When Erin was 2 years old she had a 104 degree fever and we were not able to get it to break. A nurse who attended our church came over and took her temperature and told us we need to get her to the hospital now.
You know I was not able to get my daughter's temperature to break. It was out of my hands. I had no control over this situation. So I did what I knew was best for her and me.
 
I prayed. I admitted to God this was something I was not able to control, but I knew He was not helpless like I was. The fever broke and I learned a valuable lesson that day.
 
There are a lot of areas in life where we are going to be helpless, but there is no area of life where God is helpless.
 
Do you want to experience a better life?
 
Be still and know that God is in Control.
 
Think On These:
 
God is more interested in inner grace than outer space.
 
When we let God guide He will provide.

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word
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When You Have Faith You Don't Need This.

10/18/2017

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Mk 16:2-4 - Very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3 They were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?" 4 Looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, although it was extremely large. NASU 
​
  • All The Answers 
When you have faith you don't need all the answers. All you need is a desire to accomplish what it is you want to do.
 
These three women, Mary, Mary, and Salome, did not know how they were going to move the extremely large stone, but they didn't let that stop them from walking to the tomb.
 
I have been in way too many meetings where the people were frozen with fear to do anything because according to them they didn't have all the answers. They couldn't possibly be expected to make a rational decision without first investigating this issue.
 
Mary, Mary and Salome had no idea how they were going to move the extremely large stone but that was not going to stop them from going to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus.
  •  Surprise, Surprise! 
They were amazed when they arrive at the tomb and notice the stone had already been rolled away from the entrance. As you read on you will notice an angel is the one who rolled the stone away from the entrance for them.
 
Let me say it this way, "They had faith and God rewarded their faith by sending an angel to remove the stone." 
  • What About Your Faith? 
Do you need all the answers before you will move?
 
Or are you like these three ladies?  They had a partial plan. They waited until the Sabbath was over and then they bought the spices they would need to anoint Jesus' body. They then travel to the tomb with the spices and were going to anoint His body except there was one problem. He wasn't there. He had resurrected.
 
They met an angel but didn't even know it. I wonder how many times we humans have met angels and didn't recognize them (Hebrews 13:2 - Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.)?
 
So what about your faith?
 
Do you have a desire, a passion and a partial plan and as far as you are concerned that is enough. Have you launched out on your journey? When you meet obstacles do you believe God will help you move them out of your way?
 
If so that my friends is faith.
 
You don't have all the answers but you trust in God. You believe you will succeed and so you launch out from shore.
 
May you enjoy your journey and may every obstacle you encounter only strengthen your faith.
 
Think On These:
 
Faith is the daring of the soul to go farther than it can see.
 
Faith with works is a Force. Faith without works is a farce.
 
In all relationships of life, faith is worthless unless it leads to action.

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word

 
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You Need To Focus On This When Being Mistreated

10/11/2017

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1 Sam. 1:6-7 - "Her rival, however, would provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb. It happened year after year, as often as she went up to the house of the LORD, she would provoke her; so she wept and would not eat."  NASU 
​
  • Hannah's Provocation 
Hannah was being provoked because she wasn't able to have children. We are not exactly sure how Peninnah was provoking her. It was probably by mocking her inability to bear children which was over something Hannah had absolutely no control. 
  • Focus On This 
If you or someone you know finds yourself in a situation where you are being mistreated focus on this: God has you placed there for a reason.
 
It was the Lord who had closed Hannah's womb. She is in this situation because this is where the Lord wants her. I am not saying God wanted Peninnah to provoke her most likely by mocking her, but the fact remains she is childless because of God.
 
You will notice in the Old Testament when God was at work delaying a pregnancy or being involved in some way the child born was always a special child. Isaac birth comes when Sarah is 90 years old, John the Baptist birth was when his mother and father were both old and here we are seeing the early days before the birth of Samuel who will become a famous Judge over all Israel.
 
God had Hannah there for a reason. The mistreatment she endured led her to make a vow to God if He would give her a son she would dedicate him to the Lord. Samuel was going to be dedicated as a child and would become a part of the Nazarite vow. Would she have made this vow about Samuel had she not been provoked?
 
Samuel was special as can be seen by the life he lived. 
  • Your Situation 
You may find your surroundings are very difficult and you find yourself praying to God to remove you from this situation. I would like to suggest a different course of action.
 
I would like for you to pray, "Lord, I don't like my present situation, but what I really want is to do Your will. Show me how You are going to use me in this situation to bring Glory to Your Name." 
  • Conclusion 
When you find yourself being ridiculed, mocked, provoked or verbally attacked in any way see this as a place God has brought you to because He is going to do a great work with you.
 
Think On These:
 
The Lord calls for us to stand, but not always understand.
 
When God allows a burden to be put upon you, He will put His arms underneath you to help you carry it.

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word

 
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All It Takes Is A Little Motivation

10/4/2017

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 Esther 4:13-14 - Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews. “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?

  • What challenges you?
For some it may be watching an action movie or a true story where the main character had to overcome difficult challenges in life.
 
For others it may be listening to your coach, your boss, or a motivational sermon or speech. For others it might be reading a story from the Bible.

In today's Pump Up I want to challenge you to identify what motivates you? 
​
  • Mordecai's Motivational Message
In the book of Esther there is this plot to kill all the Jews. Mordecai is a Jew as is Queen Esther. He is letting her know that if she doesn’t do something she nor her family will be spared either.

He then says, "And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?"

That was how Mordecai closed his motivational speech to Esther.

He was telling her don't you dare think for one moment that because you are the Queen that you can hang out in the palace and be removed from all of this. 
 
What a great motivational line and many have used it.

Can you see yourself coaching a team or an individual? You look them in the eyes and tell them this is why they were born, this is your tournament, match or game.
 
Now go out there and do what you have been called to do. You are going out there and you are going to win. Why? Because this is what you have been called to do right now in your life.

I want to challenge us today.

There is something you have been called to do and now is the time for you to do it.

No Excuses. Nothing To It But To Do It.

I believe the hardest obstacle to overcome many times is our self. Let me be the one to give you a push out of your comfort zone. Let me say it this way, "Who knows but that you have come to this place in your life and this is exactly where God wants to do something great with you."
 
Now go and accomplish with God exactly what He wants you to accomplish.
 
Oh yes, Esther did step up to the plate and she did save the day. Why? Because she believed like Mordecai God had in deed called her to this position for a reason.

God is calling you. 

Think on These:

Where we go and what we do advertises what we are.

There's no limit to the height a man can attain by remaining on the level.

Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word

 

********PODCASTING OF SERAGO'S PUMP UPS STARTED SEPT. 20TH********
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