Rise Up

Today the Word I received from the Lord was “Rise up”. He showed me a picture of a wave. It started small and as He said “Rise up.” His hand pushed the little wave and it grew to a huge wave.

In this time of transition God is calling us to rise up and out of what we were, and into what He sees us as. Many of us have gifts and talents that we are holding captive within us. We might let them out here and there, but we are not letting them flow as God has intended them to flow. During this time His hand is upon us stretching us, pushing us up towards our full potential so we can be that large wave.

We weren’t created to be small people of God. We were created to have impact on our world, whether that be through serving behind the scenes or being in the public eye, each position is important, each position is just as impactful. It is time to walk in our God given autority and for the world to see the sons of God. So let’s get our minds renewed to the autority within us and the great purpose and vision God has for our lives. Let’s allow ourselves to be developed into the mighty men and women He has purposed for us to be. Let us allow ourselves to be pushed and stretched so that we can reach our full potential and walk in the authority God has given us. It’s time to rise up people of God, rise up!

Tracy Houston
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org

Enjoy Where You Are

I know right now many of you are going through a time of transition, a time of being shaken up, you are going through different situations and dealing with different circumstances in your life. There might be things in your life that you are believing God for. It could be a spouse, a baby, a job, a new home, etc. and sometimes in life the things which we don’t have, or the different situations we are dealing with can become our focus.

Yesterday I was watching Joyce Meyer and she said, “Enjoy where you are on the way to where you are going,” and for me it was a life changing statement. I know there have been times in my life where I’m so focused on what I don’t have that I miss what I do. For example Daryle and I were both out of work for over a year and we got to spend every day together, and much of the time I was looking at the fact that we didn’t have a job or income coming in, instead of looking at the blessing of time which God gave us to be together, to get to know each other better. After it was over and we both started working I realized that I could have made more of that time, I could have appreciated it more, and that is exactly what Joyce Meyer is referring to. Sometimes we look so much at what we don’t have or focus on what we really want instead of enjoying what God has already given us.

Jesus said I come to give you life and life more abundantly (John 10:10). Just because there are certain things we believe are missing from our lives we have to know that we have abundance right where we are. I challenge each of you today to begin to thank God for the little things, and appreciate what you do have right now. If you are believing for a spouse appreciate the time you have with just you and God now because believe me when another person is introduced into your life things change, you have to manage your time and life differently. If you are believing for a child appreciate the time that you have alone with your spouse, because when a baby come it’s going to be a whole new ball game and you won’t have the same alone time with your spouse as you did before. If you are believing for a job appreciate the time now that you have to just be, to just go out and enjoy God’s creation without interruption without having to be on a tight schedule. Enjoy God, enjoy yourself. Appreciate the now people of God! There is so much that God has blessed us with that we already have that we haven’t appreciated, and we can never get back our yesterdays. So from this day forward let us begin to enjoy where we are on the way to where we are going.

Tracy Houston
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org

Immature Christians Trying To Overcome Mature Issues

Today the Church is plagued by many issues that people in the world are dealing with. Issues such as depression, financial irresponsibility, divorce, etc… As I was riding home from work on the train the Lord starting speaking to me and He started telling me about how there are many immature Christians that are trying to overcome heavy mature spiritual issues all alone. The reason why the Church is not standing up and out like it is supposed to be is because of these issues and more importantly the results that we are getting as a result of spiritual immaturity.

Is it wrong for a person in Christ to deal and be tempted by things of the world? The answer is absolutely not. The conflict comes in with how we deal with what is being dealt at the time. What will that outcome be? Generations of religion and tradition has taught us that once we are in Christ than we ought to be perfect. The error comes in when the Church tries to live in a perfected manner according to what the world defines as perfection and not what God says is perfect. In the Bible the word perfect means full grown, adult, full of age, and mature, or in one word complete. So Jesus says in Matthew 5:48 to be perfect as our Father in Heaven is perfect or in other words raise to a place of maturity that you were not at yesterday, or last year.

This is a key factor that we are missing, maturity. We love flowing in the gifts of God and the faith in God, but we don’t spend enough time using the wisdom of God to perfect the whole package. Now because we also have a fleshy nature by just being human, that means that we can be tempted by the lusts of the world from time to time, and it also means that we may become susceptible to things that try and test our faith in God. Today we live in a new day and in a new realm of understanding and relationship with God. Today you don’t have to be ashamed if you’re a born again Christian and struggle with temptations from time to time. We have to know how to overcome and resist.

When Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness, every time the devil tempted Him Jesus came back and the first thing that He said was “it is written”. This signifies that you can only overcome temptation with what God says about it. Too many of us like to go head to head with the devil only to find out that we’re not stronger than him just by yourself. We ought not to fight against temptation but rather resist it; the days of warfare are over. Why do we still consume the most of our time fighting the devil when the battle has already been won. In all actuality every minute you spend battling against the devil you spend less time with God.

Quick story: At my last job I used to go to work an hour early everyday so I could pray. I had a little office space all to myself uninterrupted and I would use it to pray. So one morning as I was praying I began telling the devil what he wasn’t going to do and how I was more powerful and etc… we’ve all been there before. When I ended I heard a quiet voice say to me “You let him steal My time with you”. As soon as I heard the voice I knew exactly what God was talking about. I let the devil come in and interrupt my praise to God and in a sense I gave it to the devil. The devil is also known as the tempter and the ways that he uses to tempt are very very subtle. That’s why we as Christians have to be strong in God’s word and in relationship to be able to discern various pitfalls when they present themselves.

Now as I was just referencing, it’s not a sin to be tempted, because in that very temptation lies deliverance. Many of us in the Church often fall prey to the temptation because one, we’re not strong in God’s word which keeps us immature and two because we feel ashamed to tell someone who may be able to aid us. Yes we cry out to God for help but in all actuality if you’re not strong in His word, leaving you immature and insensitive to His voice, you probably can’t even discern the voice of God from your own voice. So that leaves one other option, to seek help from someone who is a bit stronger than you are in the ways of God.

We have to overcome the fear of thinking that it’s taboo to go through certain issues and that you have to be perfect in the eyes of man. In the end you’re only deceiving yourself because if you keep trying to fight the temptation by yourself you will soon fall prey to that which wants to destroy you. We see it all the time in the church. Sister so-in-so is back in the world, brother so-in-so just cussed out whoever, etc…

Next month on the 17th will mark Tracy and I 2nd wedding anniversary. The past two years have been very rewarding and also challenging, in a good sense. So much maturity has come to both of us since we were married. Husbands if you are dealing with temptation you should not hold it in. One of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had so far is being able to be honest with my wife when things are tempting me. I have no problem telling my wife about the various things that tempt me, this includes the opposite sex.

First and foremost I made a vow to her and my future children and most importantly to God that I would never defile our marriage. This does not mean that sometimes the lust of my flesh wants to do otherwise. I am comfortable telling my wife that I need her to pray for me and that I need to not expose myself to certain things. When I was able to tell her these things that brought on struggle she began to pray and now that thing that use to be such a struggle is not anymore.

Too many husbands go through this same issue but hold it inside to eat away like a cancer and in the end they fall prey to it. Husbands we are to love our wives as Christ loved the Church. With that being said, if I really love her that much I will tell her if something is threatening that love. Husbands, next to Jesus in Heaven your wife should be your biggest intercessor on your behalf and vice versa. Keeping each other strong and covered in prayer is key to a successful marriage.

Wives don’t think that your husband is fault free. If he respects you that much to be able to come to you in a peaceable manner and confide in you in that manner you ought not to cast judgment or even think that it’s your fault. Instead return with wisdom and understanding and rejoice that your marriage has reached a new level of maturity with one another and most importantly in God.

Daryle Houston II
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org

Don't Abort the Promise

Today is Valentine’s day, a day of celebrating love. Today there are many people out there that are single, waiting on a husband or wife, and sometimes today can be a hard day for people. I remember before I met Daryle I would be so torn on Valentine’s Day. I’m a person that love’s love. I love to see couples together; celebrating each other and it brings me joy. I believe love between people is one of the greatest gifts God ever gave us. He intended for one man and one woman to be together and be as One sharing in each other, in fact when God created man and the man was alone He said it wasn’t good (Genesis 2:18), so He created woman.

On the other hand I didn’t have a husband, I didn’t have another person I could celebrate the day with, and I would watch all the other couples and be a little sad. Sometimes I would say to God (as some of you might have), when is it going to be my turn? Out of my own impatience I allowed myself to get into 2 relationships before I met Daryle. Needless to say neither man was “the one” and today I still thank God for His grace because I could have aborted the promise of my husband, but God kept me.

I’m saying all of this to the single people out there to show you that we all have a choice, we can choose to do it ourselves, or we can choose to wait on God and His direction. It is really strong on me today to encourage those of you out there that have been waiting on your spouse’s to continue to be patient; he/she might be closer than you actually think. You have no idea what God is doing behind the scenes to set everything up for your marriage.

When I look back at our lives before we met and compare our timelines and our walk I see that we couldn’t have gotten together before we did. For one, Daryle is 5 years younger than me. He lived in Chicago, Detroit, and New York; I lived in Seattle, Atlanta, and Minneapolis. I got saved in 2005; Daryle rededicated his life to Christ in 2006. I moved to Chicago in Aug 2007, he didn’t move to Chicago until March 2008. I started going to Living Word Christian Center (where we met) September 2007, He started going December 2008; God pointed me out to Daryle beginning of January 2009. Daryle approached me Jan 28, 2009. We married March 17, 2009.

As you can see from the timeline there were things that had to be put into place before we could meet, our age difference, where we lived, our salvation, and our mental mindsets. God was really doing it for us, but we couldn’t see it at that time. I want you to know out there God is doing the same for you. He is working it out. I don’t care if you’ve been praying for your spouse for 1 month or 20 years, IT IS coming together. I encourage you to keep your eyes focused on God and nothing else. Allow Him to do what He does and just continue to thank Him as you continue to walk with Him. DO NOT I repeat DO NOT abort the promise of that spouse. DO NOT I repeat DO NOT give in to your own desires. Sometimes you “think” you hear God about a person, but you are really hearing yourself. I know I “thought” I heard twice, but in my heart I knew different and God had given me clear signs along the way in these relationships before Daryle that I didn’t want to look at because I really wanted to be married.

Remember just because you meet a nice man or woman that goes to church, has a relationship with God and seems to have it together, that does not mean that they are your future spouse. Men you will know your wives, wives you will know your husbands. Wait on the Lord, and again I say wait.

God bless and much love!

Tracy Houston
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org

Transition - A Word From The Lord

This is the time for the opportunity for transition in your life. Within the body right now God is calling people to get real with who they are and where they are in life. He is now presenting us the collective opportunity to allow transition in our lives to get us to our God intended purpose and destiny. Right now each of us has the choice to move forward into this transition or stay where we have been. If you choose to move forward know that you will be faced with yourself. You will be shown what truly lies inside of you. You will be shown from different angles, and different aspects until you get the true picture. This journey will not be an easy one as confronting yourself never is, but it will be one with many rewards. If you choose to continue on this journey you will blossom into the man or woman God has created you to be, you will grow into a deeper relationship with God, and you will once and for all recognize who you are in Christ.

If you choose to not take this journey know that this decision will not take you anywhere. It will be a road of dryness, a road of routine, a road without vision. It will be a road like the children of Israel were on, wandering in a circle filled with regrets seeming like you’re going somewhere but really going nowhere. You will still be provided for just as they were, but you won’t enter into your promised land just as they didn’t.

I implore each of you in the Name of Jesus to choose the road of transition. Even as I’m writing this I’m being reminded of this scripture...

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!” Deuteronomy 30:19

Here God says I give you two choices, it’s up to you to make a choice, but in His unfailing love for us He tells us which choice we should make, the choice that will be good and profitable for us. Today I say make the right choice, and make it by faith not your feelings.

Tracy Houston
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizon.org

Be Prepared To Back Up What You Say

Many people often times take the words that they say to God for granted. This is how you know that what you are saying is just a program language that you have learned from years and years of routine and tradition with the church. Moreover, God is more concerned with the state of your heart and the actions you take to carry out what you say to Him.

Have you ever been in church and you’re like “God I’ll do whatever you want me to do” or you’re like “God I’ll go wherever you want me to go” or more importantly have you ever said “God I give you my life to do with as you please”? Now these are some very big proclamations you are making to God, my question to you today it, are you actually living out what you promised or stated to God?

Exodus 19:8 (NKJV)
The all the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” So Moses brought back the words of the people to the Lord.
The above scripture reference’s when Moses went to the mountain in the wilderness to talk with God. God told Moses that if the people would keep His covenant and obey His voice than they are promised certain things. Now the Bible is full of promises from cover to cover, but those promises are indeed conditional. Meaning in order to activate those promises in your life there is a part that you have to play. When we go to church we hear the preacher preaching good news, telling us that we’re blessed and that we have been set free, we are heirs to the throne. All of this sounds amazing but are we indeed like the children of Israel? When they heard the good news their mouths were saying yes but what were their hearts and actions representing.

So you can expect when you tell God you’re going to do something for Him be prepared for Him to come and expect to cash in on what your mouth said.

Exodus 20:20 (NKJV)
And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.”
The above scripture tells when the children of Israel are by the mountain and they see the awesomeness of God descending on the mountain. Shortly after Moses calms everyone down God begins to dictate the Law to Moses to give to the people. The scripture says that God had come to test them so that they may not sin. When I read the context of everything going on, God is giving the Law so that the people may not sin against each and every statute and command but rather so they may not sin against the promise they made to God, which was following him whole heartedly.

We know that in the New Testament Jesus says that the greatest two commandments are to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and to also love your neighbor as you love yourself. These two commandments were not instituted just in the New Testament but they were around in the days of the children of Israel in the wilderness.

If you look at the context from what the Law of Moses was derived from, first God stated the He is a jealous God and the He will show mercy to those who love Him and keep His commandments (Exodus 20:6) this is the first commandment that Jesus spoke of. Secondly if you look at the breakdown of the majority of The Law of Moses it has to do with the offenses of your fellow man and at the time what the consequences of the offense was. This is the second commandment Jesus spoke of, loving your neighbor as you love yourself. If you truly love you neighbor as yourself than you would be cognizant not to offend them because you wouldn’t want to offend yourself.

God is much bigger than what we make Him out to be, only if you keep the promises you keep to Him wholeheartedly will you begin to experience Him in ways you never though existed. It’s time to come out of ourselves and really truly step into Christ.

Daryle Houston II
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org