Category: Encouragement

God Longs For Reconciliation

On By josephbarlowIn Encouragement, JournalLeave a comment
This is from a journal of mine a few years back.

Behold, I am God. There is none other besides Me.
I hold within Me the power to execute judgment on whosoever deserves it.

Yet, I am a loving and kind God desirous to see all reconciled with Me.
How I long to gather them all as one big happy family.

Yet they will not come.
Should I then exercise authority over them?
Or lay Myself down that they might come?

I can afford to lay Myself down, and so can you.
I own all things, My safety and victory is assured and so is yours.

You are safe Son, you are protected.
And you need not fend for yourself.

Blessings and favor,
Joe

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God Has More For Us

On By josephbarlowIn Encouragement, JournalLeave a comment

The Lord spoke this to me a few years ago.

Son, let Me speak into your heart.
I am pleased with the love you display as you work to build My kingdom.
It is a joy to Me to see your efforts and hard work.

But, there is a higher level.
There is a place I have for you where you just say the word and it’s completed.

Let Me show you how to get there.
Let Me lead you there, for that is where I’ve called you.

Begin to speak to bring about what I want.
Say what is to be and it will come about quickly, accurately, and excellently.

For when you speak, you loose the angelic power to accomplish the miraculous.

Blessings,
Joe

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Fresh Word 12/8/2010

On By josephbarlowIn Encouragement, JournalLeave a comment

Hey Friends,

Something the Lord just spoke to me a moment ago.
I hope it blesses you.
Son, I am putting things in order.
Put things in order, Son.

My divine order causes a flow like that of a river
that knows its borders, boundaries and shore line.

It has an energy which is compounded and focused as it obeys it’s boundaries.

Receive my order, Son.
Receive my boundaries – it will propel you forward.
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When Trials Come

On By josephbarlowIn Encouragement, JournalLeave a comment

The Lord spoke this word to me back in September:

Son, when trials come what are you going to do?
Be overwhelmed, saddened, disheartened or defeated?

No! Rise up!

Let my joy be in you – sense My love, strength, power, presence.
I’m all over you.
Be strong, Son, and full of love.
You are victorious.
Blessings on you my friends,
Joe
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Fatherhood:

On By josephbarlowIn Encouragement, Family, TeachingLeave a comment

CONTINUED:

Have you ever met a man who was a really good father? There are some out there.

Jesus said

Mat 7:16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

A quick way to find good parents or a good father: look for good kids. If you find some kids who seem to be raised right, who are a blessing to others; then you are hot on the trail to finding what you’re looking for.

How about in the word of God? The Bible? Are there some good examples of fathers in there?

One wonderful thing about the Bible is that it doesn’t just paint a rosy picture about everything. It tells the truth. It shows the negative along with the positive.

In the area of fatherhood the scales seem to be tilted. There are more negative examples of fathers in the Bible than positive. But that doesn’t leave us wanting. The absolute best example of a father is found in the Bible.

We know that our Heavenly Father, God Almighty is the ultimate example of a father. But throughout most of scripture He is so far removed from being an example that it is hard to get ahold of some real basic fathering principles from Him. So He gives us a picture.

Joh 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Joh 14:7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

Joh 14:8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

Joh 14:9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Joh 14:10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.

Joh 14:11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.

Now most everyone knows what a wonderful example Jesus was to all of us. Now we know who’s example He was following, who He was accurately representing: God the Father.

So, now we know that if we want to be a good father, the best example to follow is Jesus Christ himself. The fatherly characteristics we need are found in Him.

Men, fathers, study the life of Jesus. Look at the way He walks, talks, loves, acts, corrects, holds to the truth, the standard. Watch His life; in it you will find yours. And your children will find a true father. Men, you can do it. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you.

Blessings on you

Joe

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Keep Your Life Pure

On By josephbarlowIn Encouragement, PrayerLeave a comment

Hey Friends,

The Bible is full of encouraging words and commands about keeping your life pure. Do you know it’s not because God doesn’t want you to have any fun? It’s because He loves you. God knows what’s in store for you after your actions.

Galatians 6:8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

So, if we’re not to do the things our flesh wants to do, what are we to do? I challenge you, go kneel down by your bed for 5 minutes and pray. Or, go slowly read a chapter from the Bible. When you do this you are sowing to your Spirit. You will be blessed. Guaranteed.

Love ya

Joe

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Waking Up To A Sense Of Destiny

On By josephbarlowIn Encouragement, TeachingLeave a comment

Several years ago I heard a preacher say that people who are ‘great’ live with a sense of destiny. When I heard that I jumped on the inside. I got excited. I had that sense on the inside of me. I can still feel it. I have a future assignment that God is pulling me toward.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11

For we are God’s workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10



Because of these verses, I believe that everyone has a destiny. Everyone has an assignment that God is drawing them toward and preparing them for. The key is to wake up to it.

So, here is your wake up call. My Friend, you were not an accident. God created you, no matter your origin, with a plan to use you, to bless you, and to make you a blessing to others. You are the answer to one of earth’s problems. You are the answer to someone’s life problems. So wake up to it. Realize that you are important. Begin to submit yourself to God’s plan for your life. It’s what you were created for. It’s what you are best suited to do. It’s the place where you will thrive and flourish. Let God love through you.

I hope this encourages you.
Blessings
Joe
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Today’s Word

On By josephbarlowIn Encouragement, Journal2 Comments
Here’s a word that the Lord spoke to me yesterday morning.
Enjoy:

Son, don’t get so focused on the answers as the solutions to your problems that you forget to come to me for the answers. I am the answer. Don’t leave me out of the loop. Trusting me for every answer brings my presence into every area of your life.

I want that.

I want to be able to work miracles and show you my glory. But if you only rely on your knowledge base for your answers and not on seeking me then the miracle touch you desire can never come.

Seek Me Son!

Seek My face.

Seek my love.

Seek my wisdom.

You will be satisfied, not only in that your problem will be solved in wonderful ways but you will have me.

If you seek me you will find me.

If you seek me, you can have me.

Come, son.
Come and seek me.
Come to know me.
Come, I want to love you.
You’ll see my hand.

You’ll see my glory.
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Back To Hearing His Voice

On By josephbarlowIn Encouragement, Journal, TeachingLeave a comment

Have you heard?

He’s speaking.
Have you heard?
He’s speaking to you.
Have you heard?
Are you listening?
Did you know that He’s speaking to you?
There was a little boy named Samuel. Going to bed one night after fulfilling his duties in the temple of the Lord. He laid down and heard a voice calling his name. He thought it was the high priest that he worked with, but it wasn’t. It was the Lord calling his name.
When I was a little boy, 8 yrs old, I was getting ready for school and I heard a voice saying “There’s going to be a new boy at school today. I want you to take care of him for me.” When I got to school that day 1/2 way through the morning there was a new boy. I had heard the voice of God. He spoke to me. He introduced His voice to me.
When I was 13 I saw my brother Vince writing in his journal. I asked him what he was doing. He said, I’m talking to the Lord and I write down what He says to me. I said, “Can I do that?” He said, “I usually just start by writing, ‘My Son,…’ then I just listen and the Lord let’s me know what to write. I just write it down.” I ran down to my bedroom and did what he said. To my delight I heard God’s voice again.
I’ve been doing just what my brother told me since I was 13 and faithfully every time I’ve positioned myself to hear His voice, He has spoken.
I love hearing His voice.
Why be willing to live without it?
If it’s available to you why not position yourself to hear His voice?
If you’ve never heard His voice, why not ask Him to introduce His voice to you?
There’s a lot to learn about this, but the most important thing is faith.
Take a step of faith and ask Him to speak to you.
John 10 says that His sheep know His voice, they hear His voice, they follow His voice.
Enjoy your new found fellowship with Him. 🙂
If you want some more inspiration in this area, search for the labels on journaling.
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Vision Is A Gift From God

On By josephbarlowIn Encouragement, Journal, Teaching1 Comment
Hey Friends,
I found this word the Lord spoke to me a few years before I became a pastor, I thought it might help you today:

Vision is a gift from God.

It becomes an authority that you submit to.

At this time submit to the vision of those in authority over you.
At the proper time you will be assigned a vision. You will be the bearer, the steward of that vision. But for now be a steward of the vision I have given to those in authority over you.

Your faithfulness will prove your trustworthiness.
When you are faithful it proves to me safety for my vision that I will impart.

When you hand your baby to someone they must be trustworthy or you will not release care of your baby, even for a moment for them to hold it. So it is with you; I will not release care of my vision to you until I see your maturity; until I see you caring for what I’ve assigned you for now.
I hope that word helped you, it did me.
God bless you Friends,
Joe
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