God Reigns!

This week has really been a week of learning for me. The Lord has really been ministering to me about the different issues that we’ve been facing lately. Yesterday I spoke to you all about healing and physical issues that have arisen. Starting last night and today God began to deal with me concerning finances. For a while now it hasn’t been an easy go for us in this area. It has been ups and downs and God has always come through, but recently it has seemed like things had gotten really bad. So last night we began asking God, is there anything that we can learn from this experience, is there anything we can do, and God began speaking to us about giving. He asked the question, why do you give, why do you tithe, and it made us both really take a look inside of our hearts and ask why? Daryle begin to say I think we’ve been giving out of the wrong place; we’ve been giving out of religion and obligation because we are supposed to, and not out of our love for God. This was a very hard thing for us to say because we love God so much, but we realized we weren’t giving out of that place of love, we were giving out of tradition. So I went to bed last night thinking about that.

Then once again this morning God woke me up with a song on my heart “God You Reign” by Lincoln Brewster…

You paint the night
You count the stars and call them by name
The skies proclaim
God You reign
Your glory shines
You teach the sun when to bring a new day
Creation sings God you reign

God you reign
God you reign
Forever and ever
God You reign

You part the seas
You move the mountains with the words that You say
My song remains
God You reign
You hold my life
You know my heart and You call me by name
I live to say God You reign

Hallelujah, hallelu

And then He told me to read Luke 21:1-4. I turned there and it was the story of the widow’s mite, and He begun to speak to me confirming what Daryle was saying last night. He told me that this woman had given her last out of a love and reverence for God, and not out of an obligation like those who had a ton of money did. It was all a matter of the heart.


God taught me two lessons today. The first was that giving should come from a place of reverence and love, not out of obligation or tradition, and the second was that He reigns over everything, every situation, every circumstance; it is all in His hand.

If you’ve had the same mindset we had about giving and didn’t even realize it, God says it’s time to repent and shift our mindset, and don’t let ourselves come under any guilt or condemnation. And If you’ve been in this same place of financial hardship I just want to encourage that God will see you through. He is our provider! I want to leave you with these scriptures…

Psalm 146:10 (The Message) “GOD's in charge—always. Zion's God is God for good! Hallelujah!”

Exodus 15:18 (NIV) “The LORD will reign forever and ever."

Tracy Houston
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org

It is Written

Lately I’ve been dealing with some health issues, and I’ve had people praying, and I’ve prayed, but I had not yet seen a physical manifestation of the healing I was believing for. So I begin to ask God is there something I can learn from this process. Is there something that I need to do on my end that I might not be doing? His answer to me began as He woke me up this morning with the song healer by Hillsongs in my heart; it goes a little something like this…

You hold my every moment
You calm my raging seas
You walk with me through fire
And heal all my disease

I trust in You
I trust in You

I believe You're my Healer
I believe You are all I need
I believe You're my Portion
I believe You're more than enough for me
Jesus You're all I need

My Healer, You're my Healer

Nothing is impossible for You
Nothing is impossible for You
Nothing is impossible for You
You hold my world in Your hands

After I listened to the song it really put me in remembrance of who God really is, and what He did for me on the cross concerning my healing. Then He had me read Luke 4:1-13 (the temptation of Jesus). In this passage the devil kept trying to tempt Jesus to make Him do something contrary to what He was purposed to do, but each time the devil said something, Jesus said back to Him… “It is written…” and then He would quote a scripture.

God used this example to begin speaking to me about exercising my faith. He showed me how I had begun to put my trust in the things of this world concerning my health, more then in Him. For everything I experience He said…“The truth is written Tracy.” He started speaking to me about fighting the good fight of faith, by renewing my mind to what was written, and not to what I was feeling. He said every time I get a thought contrary to His Word, all I have to do is go to the Word and find where…“It is written.” And that is how I was to combat those thoughts which have been flooding my mind.

So I just want to encourage any of you out there that might be going through something whether it be physical, mental, spiritual, financial, etc, don’t give up, and don’t give into the thoughts that might try to come into your mind, take those thoughts captive every time, and find where the truth concerning your situation is written, and hold onto the promise of God because He will bring you through. God bless!

Tracy Houston
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org

I'm Tired of Being a Christian!

I’m tired of trying to live the life that Jesus did, I’m tired of always putting my best foot forth only to mess up a couple of steps later, I’m tired of turning the other cheek when someone offends me, I’m tired of being persecuted by other so-called Christians when I make a mistake, I’m tired of presenting myself as a perfect person but behind closed doors I’m crying because I’m still dealing with past issues, I’m tired of being a Christian, I think I’m just going to return to the life I use to live, at least I was good at it and I had more fun.

This maybe the thought process of your mother, brother, friend, next door neighbor, you’re Pastor, or even yourself. People all over deal with these issues because of religion and religious traditions. Passed down teachings of religion has taught us that we have to try and live the Christian lifestyle out of our own power and intellect; this could be the furthest from the truth. People often get burned out trying to live a Christian lifestyle because it’s a lifestyle that God never intended on you to try and live on your own and it is impossible for someone to succeed if they try and do so. It’s through the power of Gods Holy Spirit that we are able to become witnesses of Christ. I also believe people get to this point because much of the emphasis on living a Christian lifestyle has been put on “what you do” instead of what has already been done on Calvary and who is it that is living inside of you. The only one who was able to successfully live a life with no sin was Jesus. It is because of Jesus Christ that we have access to the Father because He was a proven sacrifice without spot or blemish; He was offered up on our behalf and took on our sins so that we might be saved. When we were saved we were saved from ourselves, we were saved from guilt and condemnation, and most importantly we were saved from eternal death. Through Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection, and ascension we can now enjoy a life in Him and through Him not according to the works we do but according to the work that was already done in which we believe in, and it’s because He now resides within us that we are able to live free.

Galatians 6:12-16 (Message Bible)
Now, in these last sentences, I want to emphasize in the bold scrawls of my personal handwriting the immense importance of what I have written to you. These people who are attempting to force the ways of circumcision on you have only one motive: They want an easy way to look good before others, lacking the courage to live by a faith that shares Christ's suffering and death. All their talk about the law is gas. They themselves don't keep the law! And they are highly selective in the laws they do observe. They only want you to be circumcised so they can boast of their success in recruiting you to their side. That is contemptible!
For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate. Can't you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do—submit to circumcision, reject circumcision. It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life! All who walk by this standard are the true Israel of God—his chosen people. Peace and mercy on them!
In my walk with Christ I make mistakes, I mess up, I try not to present myself as holier than thou, but I also know where my help comes from, I know that my salvation is a gift that I don’t have to work for, I know that even though I mess up from time to time my Father still sees’ me as perfect in His sight because the blood has covered all of my transgressions. We are not to be moved by what the world says a Christian should be and we shouldn’t try to walk with Christ without the revelation that it’s not about what we do but rather what we believe. Now I’m not saying we are free to live life like we did before we knew Christ and go around doing anything we want; I am just saying first of all that it is Christ that gives us the power to be witnesses (with our lives) unto Him through the gift of the Holy Spirit, and secondly that when we fall down all we gotta do is get back up and dust ourselves off and keep it moving.

Daryle Houston II
Kingdom Vision Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org

Be a Blessing

As followers of Christ how can we make it through life without each other? Being a Christian is one of the most selfless lifestyles you can live, but it’s also the most rewarding at the same time. Although sometimes that is not portrayed throughout the church. The trend inside the church is “What can God do for me”? We often get caught up in ourselves, with the things going on in our lives, with our own dreams and desires, etc… The simple answer to the question “What can God do for me” is everything. God can turn your life up-side down or right-side up in the blink of an eye.

I think the attitude in His church should be “What can I do for you” instead? That’s what Jesus was all about and still is today. When Jesus was born His sole mission was based on what can I do for you, when He was being crucified He wasn’t doing it for Himself but rather for you and I. When He taught the people He wasn’t doing it so He could get more popular and famous, He was doing it so He could teach and encourage us. Even now Jesus is still doing the same thing; He is at the right hand of the Father interceding for you and me.

So, if the people of God are only focused on how God is going to bless them then I think we’ve missed a critical aspect of what it really means to be a follower of Christ, not knowing that your blessing is through your giving.

Romans 1:11-12 (NKJV)
For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established- that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

Paul is saying here in His letter to the people of God in Rome that he can’t wait to see them so that he may give them something that will be of good use to them concerning their faith. He is also saying so that he may be strengthened together with them in their faith.

That poses another question; if the people of God are so busy manifesting their own blessings, what happens to the believers that are struggling and are on the verge of giving up on God? I was listening to a song the other day by a Christian rap artist and the song was about how he was struggling in his faith and how he was feeling disconnected and all the things of his past were trying to lure him back to his old ways. In the above scripture Paul points out that through their encouragement together in the faith they would be strengthened together.

If you are in the body of Christ it’s important that we all work as one, that means of the same mind and accord concerning the things of God and that also means of the same values. Do you value being blessed more or being the blessing?

Thank you all,

Daryle Houston II
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org

Believing is Freeing

Just imagine if I were to tell you that you were beautiful even though you feel ugly, just imagine if I were to tell you that you were rich even though you are poor, just imagine if I were to tell you that I loved you even though no one ever has, just imagine if I were to tell you that you were my son or my daughter even though you never met me, just imagine if I were to tell you that you were forgiven even if you think your sins are shameful. Just imagine…

Today as I was driving down the street God was speaking to me and He was telling me that it’s so simple, we are all of those characteristics God just described above. All we have to do is believe, for the one that has never known God you’re in the best position for Him to come into your life, because all He wants you to do is just believe. It doesn’t matter if you don’t understand it all right now all you have to do is believe the promises of God in the Bible that God says about you. Once you just believe you are freed from all kind of guilt and condemnation. Guess what it’s that simple.

For the seasoned Christian God is saying don’t make Him too complicated, I know a lot of times we seek an inspired Word from God full of revelation that we can barely handle. God is saying that it’s ok to look at His promises face value. Once we get the promises of God into our hearts; like we’re righteous, we’re healed, we’re made whole, we’re rich and not poor, He loves us, we are overcomers, once we get that into our hearts God will start to unlock the mysteries that we love so much concerning Him and His Word.

All we gotta do is believe.

Daryle Houston II

Word and Power

Over the past couple of months or so I’ve really been seeking God concerning “church”. People all over the country go to “church” every Sunday and maybe even a midweek service. While in “church” they are fed with the Word of God from the Pastor or the minister speaking, and sadly for many that’s where the buck stops. I’ve been seeking God on this because I know that there has to be more to it, I know that this can’t be it, I know this is not the reason why God called me to be a preacher of His Word; to go and speak a good Word and leave it at that. Deep down in my spirit I know that there is more to being a follower of Christ.

During my time in prayer the other day God spoke to me concerning my inquiry. He told me that the “Kingdom of God is not in word but in power”- I Corinthians 4:20

Its one thing to preach/receive the Word of God but it is meaningless if power is not associated with it. The time for traditional “church” is over, we’re going to either just be receivers of the Word of God or receivers and doers that demonstrate the power of God wherever we go all across the earth.

If you are someone that thinks that God has called them to become a preacher of the gospel; in Ephesians 5:1 it says “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.” As a messenger of the Word of God we are to imitate God in such manners also. Whenever God spoke in the Bible it was always followed by manifested power. God said let there be light, and there was a manifestation of the Word spoken, there was light. God said that Sarah would have a child and sure enough she had a child in her old age. Now the manifested power can be both internal and external, so just don’t always expect to see just one. In Isaiah 55:11 Gods says, “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return unto Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

I Thessalonians 1:5
For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.

As we see in the above scriptures, in Isaiah God is saying whatever He speaks WILL prosper (word, then power). The reason why Gods Word never returns to him without prospering or in other terms the reason why His Word is never powerless because it is a faith filled, it is spoken in most certainty and confidence. As the Sons of God (Son meaning Gods offspring, not male or female) we have this same power within us. In order to manifest this power we need to be trained in the right manners of God so that we are responsible stewards of this power; once that occurs we have to make sure that everything Holy Spirit puts in our hearts to speak must be spoken under assurance that it will be fulfilled. Paul was saying in I Thessalonians 1:5 that they spoke the gospel in both word and power because they had much assurance (most certain confidence) in what they were speaking.

Speaking in word and power requires more from those that are bold enough to take that stand. It requires and increased level of faith and the ability to come out of one’s comfort zone. I just sense that some things changing in the Body of Christ and I know that more and more people are also feeling what I’m feeling. We are first hand witnesses of the Sons of God being manifested all over the earth.

Thanks and have a blessed day.

Daryle Houston II
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
http://www.kingdomvizion.org

My Testimony (4/13/10)

Hello KVM family, as I was reading this morning I came across a scripture in the book of Revelations that really hit home for me. The scripture is:

Revelations 22:17 (NKJV)
And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

This particular scripture is significant to me because about 4 or 5 years ago I was a completely different person than I am now, and I had an experience that is exactly described in the above scripture. I think it’s important to share my testimony with you all, to let you know how Christ has influenced my life.

I was raised in the Church of God in Christ denomination, and I can attribute some good things that I received as a result. I think that is where the foundation of Christ was laid in my life. While in the Church of God in Christ I never really connected into God, going to church for me was just a tradition, and being born again to me only meant that when I died I got to go to heaven. I looked for pleasure everywhere in the world, whether it had been through relationships, money, things, partying, etc… but they could never fill that void that Christ must fill in a person’s life.

After years of seeking the answer s to my life’s displeasure through worldly things, I had come to a burn out point in my life. I had come to a point where I thought I was at the end of my rope, I had business ventures that were failing, I felt like a failure, and my family was going through a turbulent time. I was at a point where I didn’t care about life anymore and I welcomed death upon me. I became reckless, I wanted to die. I used to own a motorcycle and I remember being so careless that I used to run from the police constantly and they would chase me at speeds of over 140 mph, I use to always think to myself that I was going to one day die as a result of my recklessness on my bike. One night as I was riding on the freeway at speeds well over 140mph, I hit a bump in the road and I lost control of my bike, my front tire was wobbling so much that I couldn’t make it stop. In an instant everything had slowed down as if I was in slow motion and I was thinking to myself that I’m getting ready to die. Miraculously in an instant the front tire stopped shaking and the bike was back under control. Immediately after everything calmed down I heard a voice that said to me “come” and I immediately knew who was speaking. Ever since then I have been on the path that God has laid out for me. It has been a path of growth and maturity in the Spirit, it has not been an easy path but it has been a rewarding one.

When I made the decision to follow that path; I did die, I died to myself and now I continue to die daily to self so that God will increase in my life and I will decrease. I never once thought that I would be the one to share Gods Word with others, I never thought that there could be peace in the midst of turmoil; I never thought that I was even worthy enough to do such a thing. But God knew otherwise, just like I was shown the way in the midst of my mess, God is showing everyone the way out, but in the end it is up to each of us to want to be delivered out of our bad lives and situations. God is showing you the way and even if it might seem contrary to your own plans, or the way He is showing you doesn’t look pretty or glamorous to you, in fact in looks down- right scary and challenging, be reassured that if you make the first step God will guide the rest, and what He has laid out for you will be better then any plan you could have ever laid out for yourself.

Daryle Houston II
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org

Why has Christian Living Become an Obligation?

The other day I had an experience that God used to show me something. Friday (4-9-10) morning when I went out to the car, I got in and I tried to start it but when I tried to start it the battery was completely dead. I got out of the car and I noticed a lady parked behind me in her car, so I walked up to her window and asked if I could get a jump; she said ok. The lady was a very nice lady and I could tell that she had a loving heart, as I was jumping my battery she engaged me in conversation she was asking me questions and also sharing with me some of her thoughts on her mind and the whole experience was very pleasant. After I was finished she had revealed to me that she was a Jehovah’s Witness, and she started sharing with me her faith and I started to share with her my faith and beliefs, and even though we have different belief systems, in the end we were able to be a blessing to each other from that experience.

So, I get in the car and I drive to the nearest to a Wal-mart to get a new battery installed. I pull into the parking lot, shut the car off, walk into the store only to find out that their auto service center is no longer in operation. As I come back out and get into the car and try to start it, it will not start; the battery is dead once again. I try asking people for a jump but no one seems to have the time, so as I was walking back around to the side of the building where no one was parked I see a Church of Christ van that is turning around by my car. In my mind I know that this is an angel from heaven sent to this desolate spot in the parking lot to bail me out. I walk up to the van, arms waving, the driver gives me a strange and almost disgusted look as he rolls down his window and I ask if I could get a jump because my battery is dead. He hesitates for a while and finally mumbles yes under his breath. He gets out of the van and gives me a jump and that’s it. We had no friendly conversation, nothing. He didn’t even share his name yet alone his faith in the Christ that was plastered on the side of his van.

Later on in the day as I was telling my wife about the experience God shared with me that the lady who was the Jehovah’s Witness did the favor out of love and the guy in the church van did it out of obligation.

So why as Christians have we been practicing our faith in Christ out of obligation instead of out of love? We have been doing this because we still have the mindsets of servants instead of Sons. When I say the word Sons I’m not referring to male or female but rather the descendants of God. We have been taught that we are servants to God. Indeed we do serve God and each others, but we are to serve out of love. When we renew our minds to the fact that we are Sons of God then the service that we do comes from a different perspective.

Just take for example when you do something for a family member, most of us usually do it because we love that family member. Now let’s take for example when you go to work and complete a project, most of us complete the project because we are obligated too and because we’re doing it so we get our paycheck. As a follower of Christ we ought to live like we are Sons of God and not out of a mindset that we are obligated to live this way. Everything that God gives us; His blessings, grace, mercy etc… He gives it to us freely out of love and not obligation. Once a person lives out of Son-ship instead of servant-ship than a person’s entire attitude will be transformed.

Daryle Houston II
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org