Inspiring Stories to help you beyond your circumstances A HOUSE DIVIDED WILL NOT STAND
Our society is suffering from a progressive breakdown of interpersonal relationships. People are more connected than ever…and less connected in real relationships. Texting has taken over talking. Relationships have diminished and people actually spend less quality time with family and friends. People are bashing authority, taking matters into their own hands, attempting to kill people because they don’t like them, to all sorts of manipulation and evil. What on earth has happened in this nation? How did the breakdown start? What can we do to bring about change?
It’s imperative to take time to get away to spend with family and friends, or you will get caught in the crossfire of enemy tactics. Satan is afraid of what you can become in Christ…so he seeks to destroy any of us at a young age. Be encouraged….people who have been the lowest often end up the highest. The Scriptures tells us, “He who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:14).
There is always something you don’t know in any situation; so be careful not to assume and judge. Satan will try to get you to accuse, assume, attack, belittle, lie, and slander. He will paint a rosy picture to get you off course and it never ends well. Remember Judas. Sowing and reaping is a principle that works in the good and the bad.
David’s own father and brothers assumed he wasn’t in the lineup for God’s choice…but wow….were they wrong. The very one they thought wasn’t good enough and not even called in for the lineup, was God’s choice. See how far off assumption can get a person, and an entire family falling for their own opinions? (See 1 Samuel 16)
Satan comes to distract, deter, damage, and create doubt and duress in the lives of every believer so that we are derailed by evil tactics. Lack of respect, lack of respect for authority, and moral decay has swept through the nation. It is obvious what is happening. Satan is out to steal, kill, and destroy.
The Bible says that we are hid in Christ (as born-again followers of Christ) and the devil cannot find us. He roars like a lion trying to get us to come out and align with him through negative confession, accusation, slander, and all sorts of evil.
Satan comes to divide your mind against God. He will try to divide your marriage, family, friends, cities, churches, and nations. A house divided will not stand. A nation divided will not stand. When people lose their moral compass, disaster is imminent.
The enemy wants to destroy from within. Keep your heart pure. Purity is prerequisite for power. Courage is prerequisite for impact and legacy
Choose this day WHO you will serve —God or Satan. Determine in your heart to be the change in every situation. Determine to confess the Word of God over any and every circumstance, regardless of how it appears. Stay in alignment with God’s Word which is His will. Build your house upon the ROCK…Jesus Christ…a sure foundation. We will never improve on God’s “ancient path.” (Stand at the crossing, and consider the ancient path, that leads to Me. Walk on this path and you will find rest for your souls….See Jeremiah 6:16).
Jesus said that whoever heard His words and obeyed Him, would be like a wise man who built his house on a rock. (See Matthew 7:24-27)
“The LORD is my rock and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust.” (Psalm 18:2)
God wants us to build securely on the Eternal Rock—the Word of God. Jesus is our ROCK..He is the firm foundation that we can build our lives upon. Don’t you dare budge off of God’s Word! Stand strong, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord. Instead of being divided, be determined to obey God! Believe Him, and trust Him! He is always faithful….
God loves you!
HIS love and mine,
DEBORAH
Dr. (Rev.) Deborah Starczewski
BOOKS FOR ENCOURAGEMENT AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH BY DEBORAH STARCZEWSKI
GOD’S PRICELESS TREASURE (How To Overcome Challenges, Be Transformed, And Know Your Purpose)….move from drama to destiny, pain to purpose, trials to triumph,
A LEAP OF FAITH (25 Days At The Mercy Seat)…the full account of God raising my husband from death, healing him from two strokes and two open-heart surgeries….25 days at Mercy. This book will encourage you to take your own leap of faith!
THE MIDNIGHT HOUR (WIll America Turn Back To God?)….a must read for all.
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON, BARNES & NOBLE, www.starministriesinc.com, and other distributors.
DIRECT MY STEPS LORD
When any of us are stricken with some crushing pain, crisis, hardship, or trial and we don’t know what to do, it is paramount to remember the words of Jeremiah: “I know, O Lord, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.” (Jeremiah 10:23).
The absolute worst thing we can do in times of trouble is to make hasty decisions and to take whatever course of action seems easiest at the time. Remember, God has promised to lead us.
In 1 Samuel 30, David was in extreme duress and had wept till he had no strength left. All those with him did the same. You can read the story. Even those around him wanted to stone him, but David encouraged himself in the Lord, chose to worship, inquired of God and God gave David specific instructions. David obeyed and recovered all. (*Note: … those with him wanted to stone him and out of all of those men, David was the only one mentioned that turned to the Lord). Time doesn’t heal our wounds; it is in turning to the LORD where we find strength and help in times of trouble.
We must remember that our life is not our own, and that God has promised to lead us. I don’t know what you are facing, but God does. Turn to Him and He will give you direction. He will direct your steps. If you sense a small unsettling nudge in your heart, don’t ignore it. It may save your life and future.
You may be seeing injustice all around you and sense God nudging you to step out into a new career to be the change. You may be facing a business decision and need help from God and clarity. You may be deciding which job to take, where to move, or what church to connect with in a new city. One thing I know for sure, God will lead you. He will also connect you will people to help you succeed as a team.
HIS love and mine,
Deborah
BOOKS BY DR. DEBORAH STARCZEWSKI
GOD’S PRICELESS TREASURE (How To Overcome Challenges, Be Transformed and Know Your Purpose)
A LEAP OF FAITH (25 Days At The Mercy Seat)…the miraculous account of God raising my husband from death, healing him from two strokes, and two open-heart surgeries. The story will keep you turning the pages, give you encouragement, and increase your faith to believe God for whatever you are facing.
THE MIDNIGHT HOUR (Will America Turn Back To God?)…a must read for all. A great devotional type read…the perfect gift for family, friends, and co-workers.
Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, www.starministriesinc.com and other distributors.
Contact Deborah at www.starministriesinc.com for speaking and ministry engagements.
HOW WILL YOU BE REMEMBERED?
Godly fear equips us to handle life God’s way—and everything that comes with it. From abundance, resources, to betrayal. Godly fear moves a person to immediate obedience…even when everyone else is doing something that the world calls okay—but God calls sin.
Abraham obeyed God instantly, even when it didn’t make sense to him, when it was extremely painful, and with no promised benefits—but Abraham still went the distance. He obeyed God.
Obeying God is one of the necessary steps in receiving God’s greatest blessings—and the most critical in the Christian life. It always blesses others, and we will never be disappointed in God.
Abraham’s focus was not on abundance—but on the fear of the Lord. Focusing on the wrong thing can also open doors and even success—but may very well silence what God is saying to your heart, and even desensitize you to His voice, warnings, and last instruction.
Immediate obedience is the outward evidence of a heart that loves and fears the Lord. When we fear God, we will obey Him instantly, when it doesn’t make sense to our natural minds, when we don’t see benefits, even if it hurts, and to the finish line.
God asked Abraham to do what most people might say is unthinkable. God instructs Abraham to sacrifice the greatest promise of his life; the one he had waited on for many years. And guess what? God didn’t explain it to him either.
We must learn to see the beauty and benefit of obeying God. Abraham went the distance through three days of travel. Abraham didn’t have the written Word—the Bible—like we have today to give him encouragement.
Abraham obeyed God—climbs the mountain, builds the altar, ties Isaac (his promised son) up, and is about to thrust the knife into his son’s heart. Suddenly, an angel appears and cries out: “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God” (Genesis 22:12).
The angel knew Abraham feared God because he obeyed immediately. Godly fear moves us to obedience and equips us to handle God’s blessings here on earth. “The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22).
Judas, one of Jesus’ disciples, was very different from Abraham. His heart was out of sync with God’s heart. On one particular day, a wealthy woman chose to pour an entire bottle of expensive perfume on Jesus. Judas was outspoken and indignant in his approach to her—and called her behavior “foolish.”
“That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor,” he said (John 12:5 NLT). His worldly thinking, reasoning, and logical comment was persuasive to the other disciples—as they too went along with the crowd to condemn her actions.
It’s never wisdom to go along with the crowd. We must learn to hear the voice of God and obey Him.
Jesus corrected Judas by saying, “Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing a good thing to me?…This woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed” (Mark 14:6, 9 NLT). We can see that Jesus identified her action as good and lasting, while Judas judged her behavior as bad and fleeting. Judas was not thinking correctly and his discernment was way off.
Judas went on to betray the Son of God—Jesus. However, once Jesus was condemned to die, Judas realized he was wrong and hung himself. His worldly, warped thinking and his plan of action did not accomplish what he thought it would.
Abraham and Judas clearly demonstrate the difference between a person who fears God and one who does not. Abraham operated in discernment—while Judas operated in deception.
The outcomes of these two mens lives were drastically different. We each need a pure heart that is quick to obey God. Without a pure heart, the enemy can cloud the mind through the world system, what everyone is doing, and improper heart motives.
When we cry out to God and love the Lord, we want to hear what He has to say. He reveals all hidden truth and shows us things to come. While we may experience betrayal in this life, we will surely know we have been warned by God. Never ignore the warnings and nudges from the Holy Spirit (or checks in your spirit).
Your obedience to God—from small to big things—will reveal where you are presently. Don’t cruise along in life—until one day it is too late. God sends small checks in our spirits to warn us of impending danger. Don’t allow your conscience to be seared through desensitization by the things of the world. “Things nor abundance” are wrong in themselves, it is when they turn into greed and selfishness that it is sin.
This world is not our home—we are passing through. Choose to know God and make Him known. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). The fear of the Lord is respect, awe, and submission to God.
There is nothing more important in life than maintaining godly fear. Pray and ask God to open your eyes to see yourself the way He sees you—and to see others the way God sees them. Every person is highly valuable to God. Everyone is level at the cross of Jesus Christ.
So, how will you be remembered? As one who would sell others out for worldly comfort, convenience, pleasures, and gain—or one who obeys God at all costs and immediately.
Choose to seek Godly wisdom and the fear of the Lord. You will never regret that choice.
Oh…how God loves you!
HIS love and mine,
Deborah
BOOKS BY DEBORAH STARCZEWSKI
GOD’S PRICELESS TREASURE (How To Overcome Challenges, Be Transformed and Know Your Purpose)….. how to move from drama to destiny, pain to purpose, and a mess to a message.
A LEAP OF FAITH (25 Days At The Mercy Seat)…the full account of God’s divine intervention, resurrection power, and miracles on a daily basis….you will be changed forever.
THE MIDNIGHT HOUR (Will America Turn Back To God?)… a must read for every leader.
Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, www.starministriesinc.com and other distributors
SHIFT HAPPENS (Anthology – with other authors – available on Amazon—-click on Dr. Deborah Starczewski