From Start to Finish

Yesterday I was listening to a song and the singer was talking about how she looks to God after everything is pretty much in shambles. I started to think about that and it came to me how we tend to use God as our last resort. After you’ve messed up everything in your life because you never sought Gods direction in all of your decision making, then we look to God to rescue us. We come to God beat up, broke down, tired, and weak. Now, God being who He is will indeed rescue us out of our mess because we are His children and He loves us. If we were to only have sought God from the beginning I know that some of the bad situations we’ve encountered would’ve been avoided.

Proverbs 3:6 (KJV)
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

If we just acknowledge God from the start He will lead us and guide us into sweet pastures. Many of us trust God but some of us trust our own opinions and decision making abilities more than Gods. If a person has that kind of attitude they are not allowing God to be the head of their lives.

James 1:8 (KJV)
A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Just look at some bad situations you’ve been in, 9 times out of 10 it’s something that could have been avoided only if you would have sought God first concerning that situation. When we get into ruts and don’t know how to get out, we usually sink deeper and deeper into that rut. Just think about a bad relationship or marriage you have been in. When you first met that person you knew they were the one because you were physically attracted and maybe even emotionally attracted to them. You thought you didn’t have to ask God, so you pursued the relationship, and it turns bad after awhile which leads to your depression, which leads to some kind of abuse whether it may be physical, mental, or substance, as a result you lose good friends, and now your battling an addiction problem.

Now this is the time when we usually come to God and say I’ve had enough can You help me and He surely will. My stand point is to seek God in all my decision making and situations, I tell God I haven’t had enough; I haven’t had enough of your love, of your protection, of your goodness, I want more of you in my life. If we all sought God in the beginning we would see people living lives they’ve only dreamed of.

God isn’t asking much from us, all he wants us to do is love Him and include Him in our lives. He created us to depend on Him and He wants to provide for us but if we don’t look to Him always, He’ll let you try and figure things out for yourself; He’ll watch you in all your mess and He’ll be right there with arms open wide as soon as you’ve had enough. Don’t wait until you get to point to turn to God, start now, start today.

I pray that this has been a blessing on your life.

Daryle Houston II
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org

Trying

Matthew 22:36-40 (KJV)
Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

As I read these scriptures the thought came to me of how many Christians are TRYING to live a holy life. People have instituted religion and tradition into the body of Christ making being a Christian almost impossible. Christianity is about relationship; not about religion, standards, and impossible man-made ideologies that we think are from God.

We shouldn’t have to TRY to be a Christian, once you except Jesus Christ into your life, you just are. Jesus was saying in the above scripture to follow those two commandments, it’s that simple; love God with all your being and love your neighbor like you love yourself, in other words love your neighbor like you love Jesus, because Christ now dwells in you. Over generations those commandments have turned into a list of rules and regulations it takes to be a Christian that no one can follow, and what ends up happening is that you try to follow these man-made ideas about Christianity, you fall off the boat and you end up repenting to man because the rules never came from God.

I don’t have to get into all of the rules that some denominations go by because they’ll go on for pages. It’s time for a washing of the mind within the body of Christ, there has been a lot of junk built up in the minds of Christians that have divided us and gotten our attention off of God. It’s so simple, follow those commandments Jesus quoted and the rest will fall into line.

We don’t have to try and be extra holy by following impossible man-made doctrines to garner Gods favor and love. It’s already given to you, and He doesn’t love anyone more than the other; we are all on the same playing field. In the Bible the Pharisees followed similar behavior and we know how Jesus felt about them. They said they loved the Lord and they followed all the rules and regulations according to the law and ended up killing the one they said they loved, and breaking almost every law they lived by in doing so.

Galatians 2:16 (KJV)
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

God recently told me that the works of my hands is not what pleases Him, but rather the works by my faith is what brings Him joy. If you want to please God, than just stop TRYING to and simply follow what Jesus told us too. We can only follow what He told us to through our faith in him.

I pray that this has been a blessing on your life.

Daryle Houston II
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org

The Creation or The Creator?

Lately my question to God has been… “Lord you have so many Christians that believe different things. I know that most people love you and are hearing from you, so why aren’t we all on the same page?” And God is always faithful to answer our questions, He showed me a scripture in Romans and said one of the reasons we are not on the same page is because some have gotten off of their foundation. Some of us in the body have begun to do like the people in the wilderness did and worship things instead of God (Exodus 32).

Romans 1:25
Instead of believing what they knew was the truth about God, they deliberately chose to believe lies. So they worshiped the things God made but not the Creator himself, who is to be praised forever. Amen.

When I read this scripture it hit home for me and I will admit a year ago I was someone who had fallen into that. My focus shifted from God to things, and it was so subtle people of God, it happened and I didn’t even realize it. I had became focused on I…I…I. I want a house, I want a car, money come to me! I had begun to tell God what He needed to do, instead of realizing that God because of His love for me would already give me the things I wanted. I hadn’t matured; I was like a 5 year old in a store. Dad give me that toy right there! Now! I want it! Now! Now! Now! If you all would walk in a store and see a child talking to their parent like that you would probably say, they need to talk to that kid, he/she is being so disrespectful. And in a way I believe we’ve been like that, disrespecting our Father. Now I’m not saying it’s not ok to have nice things because it is ok, God wants the best for us, and He will give us that. And I’m not trying to knock anyone down, I’m just trying to enlighten, like I said I did this same thing over and over again as I loved God and served God every single day. I just didn’t realize what I was really doing, but now that I know better I can do better. If our heart and motives are right God will give us everything we desire, but what does the scripture state…

Matthew 6:33
Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Seek ye first the Kingdom…We don’t have to try to manipulate God; we can’t buy God, or try to bribe Him with our tithes and offerings to give us what we want. We have to get our heart’s right people of God, we have begun to worship the things that God made (houses, cars, money, people, etc.), and focusing more on those then the Creator Himself who is to be praised forever! When God gave to us the message about wealth, prosperity, and abundance it was so that we would understand that God wants to give us the best, and we don’t have to be poor and lacking to be a child of God. It was not to be made into an idol, something that we begin to worship; it was not to be made our #1 focus in life. We have to turn our eyes back to God.

I believe so many of us have come from lack, that this becomes appealing because we don’t want to go back to that lack, so we’ve come from toiling to try to get money from man system when we were in the world, to toiling trying to get money from God, now that we are in the Kingdom. But we do not have to do that people of God! We do not have to toil for what we need or desire, or fear lack because the Word says that our Father will take care of us, He will provide for us, He will give us abundance and prosperity, in-fact He has already done these things for you, you just have to align your heart with His heart, begin to trust and to love Him instead of trusting in and loving “things” and it will begin to flow.

Let me tell you, since I realized what I was doing, I repented (to have another mind; to change course after further insight) and turned from that; I have been so blessed. We might not have a million dollars in the bank, but God has made it so that we never run out, we’ve been able to buy everything we need, and the things that we desire to have, and guess what, all that with no man made job. I haven’t worked since March and Daryle got laid off at the end of July, and we’ve had everything provided for us.

Let me pose you a question is it better to have $1000 in the bank, or you call to pay your bills for the month and they’ve already been paid a month in advance? Another example you’re hungry and you have $20 dollars to go out and buy some food, or your friend calls you up and says I want to treat you for dinner tonight. In both these situations both people got what they needed. God will give us everything we need, it’s time to stop worrying about the “things” and begin to trust God instead of ourselves, our bank accounts, our jobs, etc. Let’s begin to worship the Creator more then that which He created.

I pray this has been a blessing!

Tracy Houston
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org

Tithes & Offerings Pt 2

Last week we looked at some of the reasons that people do not tithe and give offerings, and we also learned what tithes and offerings does in your life, for example it brings blessing, keeping provision flowing, and offers protection. We encouraged you to walk in obedience to the Word and give God your best, just as He gives you. Today we are going to look at our motives when we give our tithes and offerings.

As we tithe and give our offerings we have to look at our hearts. Why are we giving, what are our motives? When we tithe are we doing it so that we will get something…

I tithe so God will bless me

I tithe so the windows of heaven will be open over me!

I tithe because it says God will rebuke the devourer for my sake and I don’t want the devil trying to touch my money.

Are we tithing out of fear…

Well if I don’t tithe then I’m robbing God and I don’t know what will happen to me if I do that.

Are we tithing just out of obligation…

I have to tithe because the Word says to.

Of course as we learned last week, we are to obey the Word, but it’s so much more then that, we are to tithe out of a love and reverence for God. We are supposed to follow His example, He loved us so much that He gave to us (John 3:16), His only motive was love. Our motive must be the same. Let’s look at some scripture concerning giving…

Exodus 25:2 (NKJV)
“Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering.

So we are supposed to give willingly with our hearts; that is the type of offering He receives.

2 Corinthians 9:7 (KJV)
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Now let’s look at 2 Corinthians 9:7, broken down, everything in bold is the Greek meaning of the Words…

Every man according as he purposeth (bring forward) in his heart (the centre and seat of spiritual life), [so let him give]; not grudgingly (out of sorrow, pain, grief, annoyance, affliction), or of (out of) necessity (calamity, distress, or needs): for God loveth a cheerful (joyous, prompt to do anything) giver.
When you look at it, it kind of makes you see it differently, we are to give from our hearts, and for no other reason, we should not be giving out of need or our circumstances or situations, we are not to give out of grief, or because we would feel sorry if we didn’t give. God wants us to be joyful as we give, and obviously if you really love then you are going to give to the one you love out of a heart of joy.

So let’s sum it all up, as we learned last week when we obey Gods Word regarding our giving we will experience everything that He says is offered as a result. But, as we learned today our motives aren’t to be to seek those blessings because there already given, we are to give out of love.

I pray this has been a blessing on your lives.

Tracy Houston
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org

Be Still

Psalm 46:10-11 (KJV)
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Many times as believers when God tells us something that will take place in our lives, we unknowingly try and take it into our own hands to bring it to past. God wants His children to be still until He wants the plans for your life carried out. This has happened to us all at one time or another and we meant no harm by it. It’s like when God tells you that you’re going to meet your spouse this year, we say praise God and then we try and go search for that person on our own will; when in fact we should have just said ok Lord I believe you and just kept on our regular routine seeking God first.

I was watching Joyce Meyers one day on TV and she said that God told her that she was going to be on TV. She took that and ran with it, she said her and her team at the time started a little cable talk show, bought air-time, and started recording. She had the show for six months and it pretty much failed, but why did this happen if God said that she was going to be on TV? It happened because she wasn’t still, when God told her about the TV plans. He had already worked everything out down to the smallest details and it wasn’t up to her to bring His will to past because His will was already done when He told it to her.

How many of us bring on unnecessary stress and drama in our lives trying to carry out a vision God gave us prematurely? I am one that is guilty of this, when I feel like things aren’t moving how I think they should be moving I get anxious. When this happens I just have to revert back to the source and remind myself it’s not about me but rather about my Father.

God knows what He told and He knows you’re excited about doing His work but sometimes we just have to be still and wait for further direction. If we all got this down pact than the work of God through His children and the body of Christ would be working like a well oiled machine. When we try and take matters into our own hands we’re directing our faith towards ourselves and our own works instead of keeping it focused on the one who dealt the faith in the beginning.

Philippians 4:6-7 (KJV)
Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

So whatever God has promised you, before you get too excited and go off on a tangent just be still and listen for further direction. If He doesn’t respond to you right away than just be still, He knows what He told you and He will bring it to past because He has a mighty work that He is going to do through you, but only if you will submit and let Him.

I pray that this has been a blessing on your life.

Daryle Houston II
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org

Christ in You Part 2

The other day I was listening to the radio and heard a song by Casting Crowns called “Does anybody hear her?” It goes like this…

She is running
A hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction
She is trying
But the canyon’s ever widening
In the depths of her cold heart
So she sets out on another misadventure just to find
She’s another two years older
And she’s three more steps behind

Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?
Or does anybody even know she’s going down today
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that’s tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?

She is yearning
For shelter and affection
That she never found at home
She is searching
For a hero to ride in
To ride in and save the day
And in walks her prince charming
And he knows just what to say
Momentary lapse of reason
And she gives herself away

Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?
Or does anybody even know she’s going down today
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that’s tucked away in you and me

Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?
If judgment looms under every steeple
If lofty glances from lofty people
Can’t see past her scarlet letter
And we’ve never even met her

That line “searching for the hope that’s tucked away in you and me” really stuck out to me when I heard the song. There are so many lost and lonely people out there searching for something, they don’t know what it is, but we know, it’s the hope that is in us, and that hope within us has a name, His name is Jesus.

Colossians 1:25-27 (CEV)
I (Paul) became a servant of the church because God gave me a special work to do that helps you. My work is to tell fully the teaching of God. This teaching is the secret truth that was hidden since the beginning of time. It was hidden from everyone, but now it is made known to God’s holy people. God decided to let his people know this rich and glorious secret which he has for all people. This secret is Christ himself, who is in you. He is our only hope for glory.

Just as Paul did, since we are God’s holy people it is our job to make known to those who don’t know, the rich and glorious secret which God has for all people, the secret which lies within us...Christ, the anointed one. It is Jesus that restored each one of us, it is Jesus that took us from thieves, to business men, it is Jesus that took us from addicts to teachers, and it is Jesus that took us from prostitutes to lawyers. Jesus…Jesus…Jesus, the one who came and gave His life so we would be saved, righteous, healed, prosperous, etc. As children of God it is our job to share that with others, we can not turn in to the Pharisees we can no longer be like the people in the last verse of the song… “If judgment looms under every steeple, if lofty glances from lofty people, can’t see past her scarlet letter, and we’ve never even met her.” Who are we to judge anyone? It’s time for us to look past people’s outsides and see what God has placed on the inside of them, and help them to get what is locked within them, out of them.

People of God we have this precious gift inside of us, Christ himself, its time to begin to share that gift with others. The Bible says “freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8), here Jesus was talking to the disciples about what He had placed on the inside of them to do for others, and they were freely to give it. We are to do the same, He has placed Himself on the inside of us so we are to freely give Him to others. The world is crying out people of God…does anybody hear her…Can anybody see?

I pray this has blessed you.

Tracy Houston
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org

Christ in You Part 1

Galatians 2:20 (KJV)
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

II Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

These two scriptures are very significant scriptures because they describe a new beginning in a person’s life. When we decide to get saved it was a very powerful process that is more than we can understand at that particular time. However or whenever you got saved, it wasn’t about just you going up to the alter at a church or speaking the words of salvation over yourself because you were sad and/or feeling guilty about the things you had done. For many of us including myself that was what we thought.

The true meaning behind making such an important step in our lives is acknowledging that Christ died for us, that He is the Son of God, and that He rose again on the third day. Once we acknowledge this we are transformed into new beings or as the Bible states, new creatures. At that moment when we believe, we are inviting Christ to come into our lives and take over. At that moment as it says in the above scriptures we are crucifying our old selves on the cross with Christ in the Spirit realm and we are being raised up as new, pure, clean, untouched beings. This is such a powerful process that takes place.

As we begin this new journey with Christ we are then motivated by the Christ that dwells within us. When I say Christ I’m talking about the power of God. Christ wasn’t Jesus’ last name but rather the power, the anointing that dwelled within him. If you look throughout the New Testament in the Bible it refers to Jesus sometimes as Jesus Christ, and sometimes as Christ Jesus. Jesus was the man, and Christ was the power, the anointing.

Once we get the revelation of what has truly happened when we decided to make Him the head of our lives we can truly begin to operate from the Christ within us. I think a lot of believers have yet to realize what is dwelling on the inside of them. Religion and tradition has played a huge part of downplaying that realization. We are now in a time where the body of Christ is being to awaken from a dormant state, people are starting to realize that they don’t have to put up with the devils antics anymore, that He is already defeated. They are starting to realize that they too can operate just as Jesus did when He was walking the earth. It’s is a glorious time in Christ now, I know the world is saying that this is one of the worst times that has ever happened in American history, but the true believers are saying that this is one of the best times that has ever taken place in the body of Christ. People are looking for answers and can’t find them, the systems in which they entrusted their lives too has failed them. It’s our time people of God, our time to be that beacon that the Bible talks about, its multiplication time.

Let’s begin to let the Christ in us shine like never before, it’s our time people.

I hope this has been a blessing on your lives.

Daryle Houston II
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org

From the Inside Out

There are many individuals today that are searching for happiness in all the wrong people, places, and things. Many people measure the level of their happiness by what is surrounding them. If they’re comfortable in life with the house they want, the cars they want, and the kind of friends surrounding them that make them feel good; then by those standards they’re happy in life.

What about when all of those things become old and dated? For years during the good times in the economy, many people were able to sustain that false sense of happiness. When those things that once made them happy didn’t provide that sensation anymore; many were able to afford new things that replenished that false sense. Now the economy is in shambles, people are out of work and can’t buy the things that once made them happy, and can’t rely on people to make them happy because they too are in the same position; depression comes in which opens the door to the devil to come in and wreak more havoc.

Until we figure out that true happiness comes from within first many will try to seek happiness from other people and other things.

Proverbs 3:13-18 (KJV)
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof is gold. She is more precious than rubies; and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is everyone that retaineth her.

Your happiness shouldn’t be dependent on any outside force because it dwells on the inside where your creator dwells. Not having many material possessions shouldn’t make you depressed and in the dumps. As long as you know that you are a child of God, that you were created in righteousness, and He approves of you and loves you; that alone should be all we need to continue throughout our lives being joyful no matter what the situation is.

There are many young girls that revert to prostitution, sex with numerous partners, etc… just to feel that joy that they are missing from within. They just want to feel approved and loved. There are so many people in the world that are searching and seeking for what already dwells on the inside. They just have to learn how to recognize it and cultivate it. God doesn’t want anyone of His children unhappy in life, all we have to do is let him take over and put all things into his hands. Once people start to realize this, they will start to experience a peace, and joy that they never thought they could experience.

So your happiness and approval cannot be obtained from things that surround you, but it is already given from the creator within you.

I pray that this has been a blessing on your life.

Daryle Houston II
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org

Tithes & Offerings

I think Tithes & Offerings is one of the most misunderstood and non-practiced principals in the body of Christ. When the topic of Tithes & Offerings or money in general comes up in the church we tend to be standoffish. People are not as willing to talk about money, as they are to talk about Gods love. Unknowingly these two go hand in hand. Much persecution has been thrown at the church because some in the world say the church is supposed to be poor and not focused on money. Some leaders in the church have misused there resources that God has given them, and brought shame upon themselves and diminished the character and integrity that is being built.

Many believe that the church is not supposed to have money, but yet they expect us to help the world. How are we supposed to help the lost, the homeless, the hungry, the helpless, and the impoverished if we too are in the same state?

James 2:15-16 (CEV)
If you know someone who doesn’t have any clothes or food, you shouldn’t just say, “I hope all goes well for you. I hope you will be warm and have plenty to eat.” What good is it to say this, unless you do something to help?

I believe that these negative thoughts and emotions concerning money and the church have crept into the body of Christ and have distorted the minds of believers. It’s time for a fresh renewing on this subject. Many people don’t give of their finances according to the Bible out of many different reasons. 1. Fear, people don’t trust God beyond their own abilities or resources, there’s no other way to put it.
2. Selfishness, people don’t want to give to their church because they just don’t want to support their Pastor or church, all they want to do is come and get a word. 3. Deceit, the devil paints you a grim picture into deceiving you from giving to God. He’ll put thoughts in your mind that will tell you to hold back because you don’t have enough money saved, etc… whatever picture he paints, you look at it with your sight and not your faith.

Tithes & Offerings is the way that God keeps your provision coming in.

Malachi 3:10-12 (KJV)
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground…

Those are very powerful scriptures; God is daring you to give of your tithes. He’s saying bring in the tithes so substance will be in His house. Or other words so there will be resources (money) to do Kingdom work here on earth. As you bless His house, he blesses yours by keeping your provision coming in no matter what the economy is doing, and as you produce from His blessing you keep the cycle going by giving the firstfruits of your increases.

Proverbs 3:9-10 (KJV)
Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

There is so much blessing in just obeying these principals; we have to get to a place where we believe it for ourselves. For years this has been preached to us over and over again, somebody can tell you how good this is until their blue in the face. In the end it’s up to you to actually do it and experience it for yourselves.

When we give offerings and tithes our mindset shouldn’t be that we’re just doing some traditional thing and that the money is never coming back. If you have a mature Pastor, they’ll tell you that you’re not giving on their behalf but unto your own behalf. Paul was telling the Philippian church that no other church instituted this principal like they did.

Philippians 4:16-17 (CEV)
Even when I was in Thessalonica, you helped me more than once. I am not trying to get something from you, but I want you to receive the blessings that comes from giving.

We have to get out of the mindset that hinders our giving. God gives us His best everyday; to God we are His best creation, a kind of firstfruits (James 1:18). God loved us so much that He gave, (John 3:16) so for us to give back to God shouldn’t be a problem. When God puts it on your heart to give a certain amount in offering to the church or to someone else, don’t even think about, just do it. He has you already taken care of. If you ignore it, God will still send someone to bless the church or the person you were supposed to bless and the only one missing out on their blessing is you.

Gods gives us His best, will you give Him yours?

I hope that this has been a blessing on your life.

Daryle Houston II
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org

Unto God

Yesterday we were listening to the radio, there was a Christian artist on and he made a statement that made both of us say whoooow! He was praying to God and he said, “God help me to make music that touches people’s hearts,” and God answered back and said, “I want you to make music that touches my heart.”

It makes you ask yourself the question. Is what I’m doing unto God or unto men?

Colossians 3:23 (NKJV)
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,

As we know, we are here for people; to help, to encourage, etc. but once again let’s look at our motives, are we doing for people because it makes us feel good about ourselves? Do we get a little puffed up from our good deeds? Are we trying to get glory for ourselves from man, or are we trying to glorify God with what we do? It can be a very fine line sometimes and it can be easy to get sucked into pride and wanting to be lifted up by others. As we touch more and more people, we always have to remember to check ourselves, and ask God to check us also, to make sure our hearts are in the right place.

Psalm 19:14 (NIV)
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

God wants us all to do mighty works around the world, helping others, giving to those in need. But if your motive is only to get gain from your service than it becomes a false service. If you give a million dollars to a charity and God said give it anonymously, would you be ok with that? I know this seems like such a simple question, but there are some out there that would want to be recognized publicly, presented with a plaque, etc…

God is looking for humble servants, not worried about what their status is on the social calendar. This all goes back to seeking Gods heart purely and honestly and as you begin to seek Him whole heartedly you’ll realize that none of that superficial recognition doesn’t even matter. As long as you know that you are recognized by the most high God, that should be the only recognition that matters.

We pray that this has been a blessing on your life.

Daryle & Tracy Houston
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org

It's Time to Wake up!

Last week our Pastor was telling us about a program he saw on TBN, and he said it moved him so much, and it wasn’t preaching from a great Pastor, or a great testimony of healing, or what you might expect. He told us it was an interview done with Steve Harvey, and it was a wakeup call to the church. So Daryle and I came home, watched it and it brought tears to my eyes. He was hurting and in pain because he felt like he was rejected by the church because of who he is. Because of his comedy and some of the things he talks about. He talked about how yes he might say things that are off the wall, and his is publicized for everyone to see, but who are we to judge him because we say off the wall things within our own houses and there is no one around to hear them. And that is so true, often times we get so caught up in religion and trying to play holy that we put ourselves above others, we reject those whose hearts are crying out for God because they might dress provocatively, or they might use profanity, or they might deal drugs, etc.

Church let me pose you a question…Who are the type of people that Jesus went after…tax collectors, thieves, prostitutes, etc. and who slammed him for doing it?

The answer is…the Pharisees, the religious people, the church going folks.

Matthew 9:10-13 (NLT)
9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.

10 Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. 11 But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?”

12 When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” 13 Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Is that who we have become church? Have we become like the Pharisees, all high and mighty, the same as those who persecuted Jesus. When we persecute someone who is on the street selling themselves, it is as if we are persecuting Jesus Himself, for He said He came to seek and save the lost, He died for all of us while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8).

There are people everywhere that need the love of God. They need to feel accepted and cared for, didn’t you need the same thing before you were saved, or have you forgotten where you came from? The fact that you used to be out there doing some crazy stuff or you used to be a liar and a gossip, or you used to be hooked on drugs and/or alcohol, etc. We know when we are saved that old man died, but we can’t get ourselves so far from the remembrance of it, that we condemn others who are just like we used to be.

I’m not trying to sound harsh people of God; I’m just trying to wake people up. It’s time to start loving all people. It’s time to start being what we were called to be…the light (Matthew 5:14). All the world sees is darkness and they are searching desperately for a light, but if we hide our light because we are too good for certain people, then they will continue to wander in the darkness.

Start in your workplace with that coworker that is just plain mean all the time. Start saying hi to them when you come in, ask them how they are doing. We don’t always have to come at somebody saying Jesus is the way or else. Use wisdom in approaching people, God will give you the words to speak to them. Start out on the road driving, let someone merge in front of you. Give a friendly wave when someone let’s you in. Pay the toll of the car behind you. You never know what your acts of kindness can do for someone. When you are walking down the street it’s ok to speak to people, say hi, and give a smile and a nod. Do something, we are not robots, and we are not meant to blend in to the crowd. Stand out in a good way, so that they may see your good works and glorify the Father (Matthew 5:16). Give someone that you know might be going through something a hug and an encouraging word, just letting them know someone cares. I know we are in the midst of an economic downfall, so what, that does not affect us as believers, give to someone today that may have a need. Volunteer somewhere; get involved in a ministry at your church that reaches out side of the church to help the community.

It’s time to step up people of God. The Father is waiting for us to stand out; for the church to rise up; for the body to come together. We can do it! We can begin to put selfishness and fear aside, and love, and give to others. We can draw them into the Kingdom with love, with the light in us, Just as Jesus did in the above scripture (Matthew 9:10-13) with Matthew, look how quickly he followed Jesus. People that are lost out there will follow because they are all searching for something with meaning, something with purpose, something with hope, something with love. If only some of us will slow down and take the time, if others will step out of our comfort zone, and others will get off of their high horse, then we will see a harvest into the Kingdom that the world has never seen before.

I pray this has been a blessing on your life.

Tracy Houston
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org

Faith

Romans 10:17 (KJV) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Faith is one of the most important topics in the body of Christ, and is essential in our Christian walk. Once born again, God gives everyone a measure of faith, and we must continually walk in our faith because we know that without faith it is impossible to please God. But why were we given that faith in the first place? Faith was first given to us to believe in Jesus, what He did for us on Calvary, and the Word of God, it is by that faith that we were saved (Romans 10:9-10). A lot of people within the body have gotten away from the main purpose of faith and have used it for reasons other than it was intended.

Faith is not what you say to God, or telling God what you want and asking Him to bless it, but rather believing what God says to you because you asked His opinion, and blessing Him for it. Remember sometimes what you say to God or are asking God for, might not be in agreement with what He has specifically for you, or in the way He wants to do something for you. I know many will probably disagree with that statement because for years we have used our faith to claim cars, houses, businesses, and more things material rather than spiritual.

Now, we are not saying that God doesn’t want us to have material things because we know He desires us for us to live prosperously, but it’s all about priorities, order, and what our heart is truly seeking after first (Matthew 6:33).

Jesus came so that we might have life and life more abundantly (John 10:10). God didn’t give us abundant life first and then brought us Jesus, He first brought us Jesus so that we might have abundant life through him. At all times our faith is to be directed toward Christ, not toward other things because those things will come. In the Old Testament in the Bible, many had faith but if you get the revelation behind the Old Testament everything points to Calvary thousands of years later.

Now many of you might ask, well if that’s the case than why does it talk about in the word asking of God and that He will give us what we have desired of Him...

1 John 5:14-15 (KJV)
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

There is a key phrase in that scripture “according to his will”, sometimes we like to throw that out, or just say, “if I want it then it must be God’s will also.” But this is what the Word says about that…

James 4:3 (KJV)
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your own lusts.

What kind of children would we be if God gave us absolutely everything we asked for, without first a maturity and increased responsibility level on our parts? We would be no better than some of the spoiled little children we see out at the malls with their parents. It’s time for a focus change, body of Christ, it’s time to take our eyes off of ourselves. Nothing that you do in Jesus’ name is about you. Everything is about Him, when you pray and see things happen because of it, it has nothing to do with you but rather Him who dwells in you. Every time you minister to someone and they give their life to Christ, it’s not about you, it’s about Christ.

People of God, it’s time to put our focus back on Christ. It’s time to really begin to see the Kingdom of God, and that which Jesus was preaching and intended for us.

Ephesians 1:18-19 (KJV)
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.

You’ll find that if Jesus is your main focus God will give you the desires of your heart, and you won’t even have to ask.

We pray that this has been a blessing on your life.

Daryle & Tracy Houston
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org

What is your life?

James 4:14 (KJV)
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow: for what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

The bible describes our lives here on earth as a mere vapour that is here for a quick moment and then vanishes. If you really delve into this it will speak volumes. The earth has been in existence for billions of years, yet we are only on it for 80, 90, or 100 years at most. So in this short period of time, what are we doing with our lives?

In this time are we following Gods will for our lives or are we to worried about 401k’s, stock options, and preparing for “the end” ? We are here on this planet to make a difference, and make a difference for God. Our lives belong to our creator, we were redeemed from sure destruction and death by the blood of Jesus Christ (I Peter 1:18-19). It’s time for Gods people to make Him and His work our only focus, and as you begin to do this everything else that we spend so much time worrying about will be taken care of.

Each and every one of us has a work to do that God has ordained for us to do. The question is; will you do it, or be side tracked by the cares of your personal lives or what is on the news?

I Peter 1:17 (GNB)
You call him Father, when you pray to God, who judges all people by the same standard, according to what each one has done; so then, spend the rest of your lives here on earth in reverence for him.

When the time comes for God to look upon your life and see what you have done for Him, what will He say?


Matthew 16:27 (GNB)
For the Son of Man is about to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will reward each one according to his deeds.

Our time here on earth is so valuable, precious, and very limited, so make sure that you are living up to your God given potential in everything you do. I’m not saying that everyone should stop what they’re doing and start preaching, God has a place in every aspect of life. If you were called to be a lawyer make sure that everyone of your associates and clients sees the Christ in you. If you are a college student, make sure that you stand out in a good way on campus. Whatever you do, do it for Christ.

Colossians 3:23 (GNB)
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people.

I pray that this has been a blessing on your life.

Daryle Houston II
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org

Unfailing Love

The other day a friend asked me this question. “If God knew what we would become, and all of the things that the human race would do before He created us, then why did He create us at all?” I know many have asked that question, I have asked it before myself when I see all of the things that we do, when I look at our history. After she asked the question, God spoke to me one word, He said…LOVE. One little word, yet so profound. Today He gave me this poem to share with you…

Extraordinary
Remarkable
Exquisite
Breathtaking
Are just a few of the words that describe what I see
When I look at you

As a mother beholds her new born baby
With such love
Tenderness
Affection
Joy
It is in the same way that I view you

You are my children
I have purposed each of you
I would not trade any of you
No matter what you’ve done
No matter what you’ve said

A beautiful array
Of different colors
Different features
Different personalities
I love you each individually
You are all perfect in my sight

As you see beauty in sunsets and sunrises
In the flowers and the trees
I see beauty in each of you
In each of my creations

I spoke everything in to existence
The sun
The moon
The stars
But not you
You were different
You were unique
I formed you from the earth
I molded you with my very own hands
That is how special you are to me

My dear children
O’ how I love you
Without restraint
Without conditions
Holding nothing back
Nothing you could ever do
Will make me love you more
Or love you less

Hear my heart today
Open up
Receive my love freely
You are worth it
You deserve it
And I desire to give it to you
Let me fill you up until you overflow

By: Tracy Houston 10/14/09

Psalm 100:5 For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org

Forgiveness

Matthew 18:35 (KJV) So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not everyone his brother their trespasses.

This is a story that Jesus is telling about a man who was forgiven of his debt from the person he owed it to, and then the same man turns around and puts another man in prison because someone couldn’t pay a debt they owed him. The story is about forgiveness but the keyword’s in the above scripture is, “from your hearts”.

Yesterday as I was praying, I asked God to give me everything that I needed to keep growing and maturing in Him. The thing about asking God questions like that is that He will give you exactly what you ask for and it may not feel so loving when you get it. We all know that God is love and He can only give you love, even though sometimes it may sting a little.

So as the night progressed Tracy and I were talking and there was something that I was struggling with that I didn’t know how to fix on my own. As we continued the discussion God began to reveal the source of the issue that has been causing the problem. It was from many years ago, even before I was truly following Christ. This person that the issue was stemming from hurt me internally and emotionally and as a result it was in my heart all of these years and had been hindering me. Sure I told myself I forgave this person in my mind a long time ago but not in my heart.

As God was bringing this back to remembrance I began to weep like never before, then God told me to tell Tracy what was going on in my head and as I began to do that I began to weep even more as she was holding me. (Husbands, it is ok to cry in front of your wives. Crying is healthy; no need to act tough at home.) As we were sitting there, God told me to say out-loud that I forgive this person and I said it. As soon as I cried everything out and spoke the words of forgiveness I immediately felt a release. I felt so light and free.

For all of those years I was carrying around that unnecessary burden. If I would have only forgiven totally with my whole heart, it wouldn’t have been an issue. So I urge everyone to do a heart check today to see if there is any unnecessary burdens you are carrying around and if so let’s release them today, once and for all.

When there are things like that in your heart it is hard for us to mature and grow completely in God as He intends. When Jesus was being beaten and crucified, He asked God to forgive them because they didn’t understand what they were doing. If he would have never said that there is no telling what would have happened.

Even if you don’t have any un-forgiveness in your heart, I still urge you to ask God to reveal anything that may be hindering your growth. This is the time for perfection (full grown, mature) in the body of Christ.

I pray that this has been a blessing on your life.

Daryle Houston II
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org

Patience

Romans 8:25 (NIV)
But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

I think one of the areas that God has developed me most in since I became a believer, is my patience. If you were born and raised in America, than you know that western civilization is not very patient when it comes to anything. We want everything fast; fast money, fast food, fast cars, the fast life, fast weight loss, etc... In able to prosper in Gods Kingdom we have to renew our mindsets to all things concerning Christ, and patience is one of those things.

Patience is something that God extends to us freely everyday; but how often do we ever extend it back to Him. How many times have you asked God for something and His response was, it’s coming just be patient. For some of us those are the words we did not want to hear. We want to hear yes, right now. But if you are a true believer you know that whatever it is you’re using your faith to believe for it, and it may not manifest over night like we want it to.

James 1:3 (KJV)
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

Assuming that whatever you have asked God for is according to His will, and you already asked and He answered with a be patient statement; why is that not enough for some of us? Why do we try and rush God into getting what we desire. If you’re a woman and you asked God for a good husband, and
He said he’s on his way, just be patient. That should be the command we follow, but instead of patiently waiting on God we try and take matters into our own hands by filling our own needs.

Many of us have done this, including me. What I realized over the years is this; 1. My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches and glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19), 2. If I do not obey Gods command, than 10 times out of 10 I’m going to mess things up. 3. Just because God said be patient doesn’t mean it’s going to take as long as I think. 4. God knows what’s best for my life.

Back to the example of the woman desiring a good husband; she asked God and God told her to be patient. She wasn’t trying to hear that, so she went out looking for a man and found one. She wanted a husband, he thought he wanted a wife, so they got married and had two kids. 10 years later they are still married, she is miserable because she found out she wasn’t ready to get married and have kids, he’s a compulsive cheater and alcoholic, and because their relationship is unhealthy, the kids are horrible. As a result of this situation the woman lost her confidence in God because she doesn’t understand how he would let her be so miserable.

The woman wasn’t patient to wait on God and as a result of her own works that is the life she is living. The fact of the matter is, God told her to be patient because He needed to develop her in a few more areas of her life so she could be the wife he called her to be. If she would have stayed strong in her faith and waited on God, she would have been introduced to the man of her dreams within three months. Instead, 10 years later and miserable; she’s still searching for joy and happiness.

So next time God tells you to be patient, than be patient. Don’t jump ahead, let Christ in you take over and follow God’s command.

I pray that this has been a blessing on your life.

Daryle Houston II
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org

The Answer

This world is in a state of disarray and chaos, people are losing loved ones, they’re losing jobs, they’re losing homes, it seems like when you turn on the news all you see is tragedy after tragedy. It saddens me to see it all, when it doesn’t have to be that way.

I’m here to tell you today that there is an answer out there, a solution to your every problem, a solution to your every hurt and heartache, a solution to all the chaos around you. If you have gone around in this life with things weighing you down, with depression, with having to turn to outside sources such as drugs, alcohol, gambling, sex, etc… to feel some sense of calm, or to try to escape those things that are ailing you, you don’t have to do it any longer, you can stop right where you are and receive the solution to your every problem.

You can receive the love your daddy never gave you; you can receive the peace that the drugs only temporarily brought to you. I have the answer for you today. The answer that will dry every tear, the answer that will be the arms to comfort you when people leave you, the answer that will bring you a job in the midst of a declining economy, the answer that can purge you of all of the anger that has been burning in your heart. I have that answer if you will only receive it.

The answer that was given in love; that was given with the greatest sacrifice…life. The answer that does not condemn, that does not judge. I have the answer that forgives, the answer that forgets, the answer that shows mercy. I have the answer. And it is not a self help book, or a therapist, or doctor, it is someone though, that will show you unconditional love, someone that will help you up when you fall down, someone that will speak words of encouragement and not curses, someone that in the midst of the bad, will birth out a beautiful miracle. The answer, the solution, are you ready for it? Are you ready to believe that it exists? Are you willing to put yourself out there and believe no matter what anyone else might think? If you are, I have the answer for you…

John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Yes the answer is Jesus, it might sound too simple to some of you, or people that claim to be “Christians” have turned you away from believing, but I’m a living testimony of someone who never grew up in the church, who when I came to the church was hurt and felt rejected by people. I went through depression, and bad relationships, but when I found God, the true and living God for myself, and not through any person or religion, I can tell you that He is all that I have said and so much more!

Some of you might say I’ll get saved after I get my life together, I could never go to God the way I am right now. Well I’m here to tell you that God loves you just the way you are, in all of your mess, in your hurt, in your pain, in your loss, in your mistakes. You are perfect in His sight. Believe me I came to God in all of my mess, and He cleaned me up, thank God that I didn’t have to try to do it myself, because it never would have happened in my own strength.

Isaiah 43:25 – “I, I am the One who erases all your sins, for my sake; I will not remember your sins.”

Psalm 103:12 – “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.”

Some of you might say I don’t need to be saved, I’m a good person. You might be good, I considered myself good, I did not cheat, I didn’t do drugs, I didn’t physically hurt people, but it’s not about that. We need redemption because Adam made a choice to disobey God and man fell because of it, the only way that any of us can be redeemed from that is through another man, Jesus. He is the one that restores our right standing with God.

Romans 5:18-19 – “So as one sin of Adam brought the punishment of death to all people, one good act that Christ did makes all people right with God. And that brings true life for all. One man disobeyed God, and many became sinners. In the same way, one man obeyed God, and many will be made right.”

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

Some of you might ask how do I get saved?

Romans 10:9-10 – “That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”

So if you desire to receive the free gift of salvation or if you are someone that has received salvation before in life, but has been away and you desire to recommit yourself to God, then please pray this prayer OUT-LOUD, and believe it in your heart…

Lord Jesus,
I’m calling on you right now
I believe you died on the cross for my sins
And that you were raised on the 3rd day
Lord Jesus
I ask you to forgive me
I ask you to come into my heart
And live your life in me
And through me
From this day forward
I belong completely to you
In Jesus Name
Amen!

If you just prayed this prayer we are rejoicing with you and the angels in heaven. You’ve just made the first step. Now I want to encourage any of you out there that do not have a church home to find one. Don’t just go to any church, visit different ones, and make sure that you are going somewhere where you can learn more about God, through the Word of God, make sure that you are learning something at your services. If you walk out of service and someone asks you how was church and what were they talking about and you can’t tell them, then you might not be in the right place. Or if you are somewhere and you’ve been there for a while but are not growing and maturing under the teachings, then continue to visit and pray and let God lead you to the right place to worship. God bless you all and welcome to the Kingdom!

Tracy Houston
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org

The Responsibility of a Christian

James 1:22-24 (KJV)
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

James 1:22-24 (CEV)
Obey Gods message! Don’t fool yourselves by just listening to it. If you hear the message and don’t obey it, you are like people who stare at themselves in a mirror and forget what they look like as soon as they leave.

As Christians we have a responsibility to God, the world, and ourselves to uphold a certain lifestyle that the Word of God teaches us about how to live. In the above scripture James is saying, don’t just be a person that is a hearer of the Word of God, but be one that lives it and practices the principals in your daily lives.

Being a Christian is about integrity and character building, to be a light in the midst of all the darkness in the world. We often get a bad rap because there are many hearers in the church and not enough doers, and the people in the world can see right through the charade. As the scripture states, the only person that is being deceived is the one that is committing the act. It’s time for the real devout Christians to stand up.

It’s time for Christians to start walking the walk and talking the talk. It’s time for us to start modeling our lives after Jesus. People are supposed to know that you are different from everybody else, wherever you go you are supposed to let your light shine. Instead, many Christians have been living like everybody else in the world, talking like them, acting like them, thinking like them, doing the same things they do etc… It’s no wonder why Christians get a bad rap sometimes, because we have too many hearers and not enough doers. Instead of drawing individuals to Christ, just the opposite has been happening and we’ve pushed people away because people can’t see a variance between themselves and “Christians”.

Philippians 2:14-15 (CEV)
Do everything without grumbling or arguing. Then you will be the pure and innocent children of God. You live among people who are crooked and evil, but you must not do anything that they can say is wrong. Try to shine as lights among the people of this world,

When you first profess yourself to be a Christian, believe it or not people are watching you. They want to see what Christianity is, and is it all that people say it is. At that very instance you are witnessing to somebody and don’t even know it. Through your actions and behaviors you may draw other souls into the Kingdom, but if you continue acting like everybody else in the world, the people watching you will have no desire to want to be saved and believe in Jesus Christ.

Everything in the world pretty much operates off of a need basis; people come to Christ in the beginning because they need something. Whether it may be healing, or wanting to be loved, whatever their need is, they’re looking for improvement. Most people who don’t understand Christianity think that it’s no fun to be a Christian, and if you can’t show any improvement in your life as a Christian then why would anyone else want to become one? This is the point-of- view of a worldly individual; they have seen the hearers of the Word only and that has clouded their judgment.

It’s time for everyone that is professing Christ to start acting like it, yes I know we all make mistakes from time to time but don’t let that extinguish your light; if you make a mistake, ask for forgiveness, learn from it and continue to be that light that you were called to be.

I pray that this has been a blessing on your life.

Daryle Houston II
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org

Rightful Place

Matthew 10:37 (NKJV)
37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.

Last night I was reading this passage, and I put the Bible down for a moment and said “Oooo Lord that is serious.” For a while now as you’ve seen through our writings the Lord has been making a point about being the head of our lives, we’ve talked about idols, and trust, we’ve talked about surrendering, and putting God first. And now He gives me this passage, people of God this is serious. God is admonishing (Reproving; warning; counseling; directing) us right now. He is telling us that it is time to seriously get our priorities in order.

He is showing us in the above passage that if we love people more then Him, if we are giving of ourselves to others more then Him, then we are not worthy of Him. I looked up the word worthy in the Greek and I found two different meanings…

Worthy (Axios): weighing, having weight, having the weight of another thing of like value, worth as much; deserving.

So to me this is saying two things. If we are holding others above Him, then we don’t have as much weight (Importance; influence) with Him. And the other is we are not deserving of Him. You might say, what, we don’t deserve God!! Let me give you an example. If you were in a relationship with someone, and they gave you everything you wanted, they took care of you, provided for you, kept you safe, fed, and clothed, they literally did everything for you, but when they were there you paid them minimal attention, just enough to keep them around. You never asked them how they were doing, how is their job going, what’s on their heart. When you talked to them it was mostly about what you needed and wanted. Now if you treated your boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife like that, would you deserve them? No you wouldn’t. It’s the same way with God, if you treat Him like that you don’t deserve Him. It doesn’t mean you won’t have Him, because of God’s great mercy and grace we know He will never leave us nor forsake us, but just because we know God will never leave us it doesn’t mean we can take Him for granted or mistreat Him, He deserves so much more.

Ok some of you might say, well that’s not me. I love God, He’s number one in my life, etc. So if that doesn’t apply, then let’s move on to verse 38 of Matthew 10…

38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

Ok so we have God as our head, but are we willing to take up our cross and follow Him? Are we willing to trust Him when He tells us to do something? If He asks us to walk a certain path are we willing to walk down it? If He asks us to go into a job with all unbelievers, so that we can be the light, will we do it? Are we able to give up our control to Him, so that He can guide and direct us? You get the point.

Let’s go on…

Matthew 10:39 (NCV)
39 Those who try to hold on to their lives will give up true life. Those who give up their lives for me will hold on to true life.

This verse sums it all up here. God is telling us that if we are willing to let go of the things that tie us to this world, people, places, jobs, etc, and trust in Him, and place Him first then we will live true life, the Kingdom life, we will be free. But if we are not willing to let go, and we try to hold on to those things, and not put God in His proper place, then we will never live true life, the kingdom life, and we will not be free.

So I just want to encourage you all out there today to begin, to begin to look at your life, at the position you have God in your life, at the things that have been of importance to you. Then trust God, let go of the things/people that He has told you to let go of, put Him in His rightful place and reap the rewards because when you have all of this in order, believe me your life will be above and beyond what you could have ever thought or imagined. God bless!

Tracy Houston
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org

Trust

Psalm 40:4 (AMP)Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who makes the Lord his refuge and trust, and turns not to the proud or to followers of false gods.

It’s time to start trusting in the Lord like never before, a trust that takes you way out of your comfort zone. For years we have been saying that we trust God and we absolutely do; but how much is the question? Do we just trust God by what He says in the Bible, is our trust just in the salvation that we received through His son Jesus, or is it an undying trust that God is the head of your life and whatever He says do, you will do it. We have to get to a trust so deep that our natural mind can’t even comprehend it.

There have been man made systems put in place to garner our trust, and without even realizing it we have trusted more in that system than in God. The economy is a system, education is a system, health care is a system, government is a system, etc… But now we have come upon a time where all of those man-made systems are failing, as they were designed to do, and many of Gods children are caught up in those systems. God is saying why are you worrying, why are you panicking, don’t you trust me, don’t you love me?

Now is the time to get out of the clutches of those man-made systems because the future isn’t looking good. Man is trying to come up with the answers to solve the problems that have caused destruction to many around the world. I’m telling you as my personal testimony that it feels so much more comfortable in Gods system, there’s nothing to worry about but much to expect. We have to learn how to use the man-made system to our advantage and not let the man-made system use us, or control and govern our lives.

Psalm 118:8 (KJV)
It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

God doesn’t want to see any of His children suffering. In His system there is an answer to every problem that arises, there is reward around every corner, and most importantly there is no suffering no matter what the rest of the world may be going through.

So let’s make the decision today to put ALL our trust in God, and let’s see Him do marvelous things in these times of uncertainty in the world.

I pray that this has been a blessing on your life.

Daryle Houston II
Kingdom Vizion Ministries

What are you seeking?

Matthew 6:33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Over the last decade or so since the prosperity movement swept through the church we believe that God’s true focus was lost in all the excitement. Don’t get us wrong we think the prosperity movement and the prosperity preachers and teachers are mighty forces used by God to institute kingdom mentality into His children about how God desires us to live, but what we do think has happened is that many believers have taken the message out of context, and taken their focus off of God. Many have begun to seek the material things of this world first, instead of God. Now, because this has happened doesn’t mean God’s people don’t love and adore Him, it just means that we have gotten away from His heart and have turned the focus on our own desires.

We are in a time now where the prosperity message is being evolved into a true kingdom message, where all the aspects of God’s kingdom and how to operate in it are His main focal point for His children. God wants His people to live excellent lives here on earth and enjoy all the luxuries, and He will give these to you freely, but only if you seek what’s on His heart first, and seek His way of doing things that will empower you to create wealth.

Acts 13:22 (KJV)
And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will.

God raised up David to be king after Saul, not because David wanted to be rich, but because David was after the heart of God and God could trust him to fulfill His will and not the will of the flesh.

Once God sees that you’re in it to do His will and not only to have things for yourself, that’s when you will see your promotion. In-able for this to happen we have to align our hearts with His heart and fulfill His will.

So let’s not focus on only gaining material things because all those things have been added unto you if you walk according to God’s statutes.

Deuteronomy 8:18 (KJV)
But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

You don’t have to keep reminding and praying to God about material things, because He already knows what you want before you even know what you want. Instead ask Him what you can do for Him, for His kingdom, and for someone else. You’ll be surprised, when you start doing His will and seeking Him first what He’ll give you of material possessions.

Matthew 6:7-8 (KJV)
But when ye pray use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

Now we want you to ask yourself a serious question, are you only seeking a get rich quick plan from God or are you really seeking Him and the things on His heart? If you find yourself only seeking material things, don’t be condemned; ask God what you can do for Him and what’s on His heart concerning your assignment in His kingdom.

If you have been seeking God with all your heart, than praise the Lord; but now it’s time for you to go to the next level in Him. Just continue to seek Him unceasing and all will be revealed to you.

We pray that this has been a blessing on your life.

Daryle and Tracy Houston
Kingdom Vizion Ministries

What do you choose to see?

It is our responsibility as Christians to live out the lives that God intended for us to live through the application of His word. It is through you and me my friend that others will be drawn to God. We have to let our lights shine as the beacon of hope for the lost. But how can we do that if we are lost ourselves? We all go through trials and tribulations in the world like everyone else, but what makes it different for us is that God already told us that He has overcome all of them so we need not worry about having trials and tribulations defeat us, or dwell in them for long periods of time like the people of the world are.

So why does it seem like Christians are the main ones struggling with problems over and over again, what are we choosing to see?

I Peter 3:10 (KJV)
For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile.

We have to start seeing good days ahead of us instead of doom and gloom in our lives. It’s hard to hear fellow Christians complaining about everything that’s going wrong in their lives, and then they say I’m going through; just pray for me. Many people would not need prayer if they just saw their situation a little differently.

Proverbs 18:21 (KJV)
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

As a result of not seeing good days we speak curses into our own lives through complaining; I’m never going to graduate from school, my marriage is horrible, I don’t think God is listening to me, I just know I’m going to lose my job, I’m broke, I’m sick, etc…. curse after curse after curse. We have to change our vision of what we see for ourselves and as a result it will change our speech patterns.

Instead of seeing your marriage destroyed, start to picture yourself and your spouse happy like never before, and existing together as one. See yourself graduating from school at the top of your class, start to see your body healed of whatever sickness may be inside of it, and picture yourself prosperous and wealthy instead of broke and disgusted. If you want a good life you have to see it first.

You are probably wondering how does it work; easily, start to see yourself coming out of whatever it is your dealing with, and start to speak positive words over that situation, literally. When you begin to seek God about that situation with your new positive thoughts, then your vision will align with His vision. If you go to God with a negative vision He probably won’t move on your behalf because you all are on two different pages. God see’s you prosperous, but if you don’t see yourself that way than how do you expect to become what you don’t see.

Whatever the situation is you’re going through, you can reverse it just by obtaining a new vision and speaking positive words over it. When God is seeing that you are honoring the principals in His Word, you will start to see Him move for you in a way like you never have before. He will start to give you strategies to apply to that situation; He will turn your marriage from destruction to bliss. It works every time; just believe it will work for you.

I remember when I was in college in Detroit, MI. I used to always say to myself “man, I’m never going to finish college”, and I used to think that if I ever did it would be by the skin of my teeth. So while I was living and going to school in Detroit, I never excelled academically in college because I had the wrong vision. It wasn’t until I finally went to live and attend school in New York where I started to institute God’s way of handling situations. My vision about college changed, I would tell myself that I am going to finish the rest of my BA degree program in two years and I am going to graduate at the top of my class. Now, my vision was in line with God’s vision. God saw me honoring His word so in return He honored me, as I would pray, He would give me studying tips and strategies for my classes and He even sprinkled a little of His studying anointing on me.

While in college I adopted study habits that I never had before in my entire life. I would go to the library and spends hours upon hours studying and doing homework, and I enjoyed it dearly even until this day. That was God equipping me with everything I needed to carry out the vision.

As a result, I graduated in exactly the time I said I would and I graduated in the top percentile of my class. I don’t know about you but God and I are hooked for life.

Let’s start seeing what God sees for our lives.

Daryle Houston II
Kingdom Vizion Ministries