Mood:  celebratory
God has given us a couple of key scriptures for 2010 -

Isaiah 43:18- "Forget about what's happened; don't keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new. It's bursting out! Don't you see it? There it is! I'm making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands..."

and

Romans 8:12 -14 "So don't you see that we don't owe this old do-it-yourself life one red cent. There's nothing in it for us, nothing at all. The best thing to do is give it a decent burial and get on with your new life. God's Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go!" (Both Message Translation)

God is calling us up higher, out of our comfort zones and into the unknown. Total radical crazy trust in God and God alone. It's time to go. It's time to get our focus off of ourselves - our comfort, our lives, our checkbooks - how many cars we might have or how big our home is - our abilities, or inabilities, our resources, or lack of resources!  He is only interested in our AVAILABILITY! 

It's time to quit just warmin' pews, and set a world on fire for God... it's time to be out and pullin' souls from the pit of hell! It's time to LOVE, to really LOVE the way we are called to LOVE! We can no longer stand by while this generation is lost. It's time to get radical. It's time to fulfill the great commission!

Matthew 28: 18 -20 Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."

Have ya read the scripture right before that???  Matthew 28:16 -17 "Meanwhile, the eleven disciples were on their way to Galilee, headed for the mountain Jesus had set for their reunion. The moment they saw him they worshiped him. Some, though, held back, not sure about worship, about risking themselves totally."

Have we been holding back?  Have we been unsure about REALLY worshiping Him, serving Him, risking ourselves totally? 

2010 is a powerful year of fulfillment... the fulfillment and manifestation of the Promises of God.  We will receive the manifestation of these promises not as we seek the promises, but as we seek the Lord.  Not as we seek to build our lives, our reputations, our businesses, our ministries, our churches... but as we seek to build His Kingdom.  Let's BUILD!

God bless you and yours in this coming year!

In His Service,
Shala Martin-Smalley
Angelsong Ministries, Inc.

Here we are already!
Mood:  surprised

I can't believe we are already to He Paid Your Fees weekend!  The kids and I are fixing to head out in about 1/2 hour for Claremore... some of yall might have heard I wrecked my truck leaving the Shawnee Expo the night of our Christian Cowboy Gathering Race, so we will be comin' in style in the Iron Pillar Church van!  My Hippie Cowgirl jokes have come to fruition... roflmho!

Yall be prayin' for us, can't wait to see yall this weekend!

 

God bless!

Shala 

 

To whom much is given, much is required...

Ya know today I want to say how much I appreciate the Lord.  He truly Honors His Word in our lives if we'll just be doers of it instead of hearers only...  if there is anything that rings in my mind these days, with the amazing increase of the ministry that has been taking place, it's those words "to whom much is given, much is required". 

So many times we want what we see others have, but are we willing to pay the price for it?  Salvation is a free gift, Jesus totally paid the price for that on the cross for us.  Forgiveness and the Blessings will cost you though... Forgiveness requires our being willing to forgive first...and the blessings are ours for the taking, but they require our obedience first to the Word of God...  how many times do we claim that promise, thank God for that promise manifesting, wait for that promise... but we hold back the hand of God because we refuse to be obedient to Him?  They are conditional.  "If you will hearken to the voice of the Lord Your God, all these blessings will come upon you"... how do you hearken?  You do the Word. 

Not because it feels good, not because it's your first choice because it really rarely is, and sure enough not because everybody else is doing it, but because God's way is the only way... the world's way will never get us favor with God... might earn us favor with man for a season, but that will come and go based on man's emotions, motivations, and agendas.  God has only one agenda.  Love.  True, perfect, unadulterated Love fosters obedience to the one and only one who is ALWAYS faithful to us just because he is worthy of it.  Who else is gonna get up on that cross and die for us?  Only Him. 

So, the requirements may seem a little much sometimes (to your flesh, but that guy's supposed to be dead anyway), but the good news is He has promised that by His strength, our weakness is made perfect.  Can you do it yourself?  Nope.  But, you can do ALL THINGS through Christ who strengthens you!  It requires a choice.  A commitment.  And, complete and total trust in the one that can do it through you. 

It's worth it.  He's worth it.  He thought you were worth the sacrifice He made for you...

 

Welcome to my new experiment!
Mood:  happy

Howdy, guys!  I thought it would be way cool to have a blog of our own here at Angelsong, so I just started one!   We are striving to keep up with the latest in technology these days, so why not!

I'll stop in here from time to time and share with yall what the Lord's been sharing with me... my husband mentioned to me some time ago it would be great if we sent out a devotional daily from us, as well as the ones we pass along from Joyce Meyer and Bible.com... I haven't been able to get that rolling yet, but I can sure commit to a little Word now and again here.  It's a start!