October 19, 2010

I'm constantly amazed at the power of a spoken word. In the first chapter of the greatest book ever written, the author begins by speaking words. These words weren't just ordinary words, they were words with the ability to CREATE a universe that had not yet been created. They were words that turned death to life, chaos to order, fear to faith, and nothing to something! Throughout the most amazing book ever written the great author continues to speak words that open blind eyes, unstop deaf ears, and cause the lame to walk. There is no doubt that His words created life.

My question to you is this: what are you creating with your words? I am continually amazed at the words people and even friends of mine will put as their Facebook status. There are days that I just want to come through the computer and say to them, "Don't you understand what you are creating with your words?!" In each of our mouths and on each of our tongues is the ability to create life or death. Simply put: you will either tear someone down or you will build someone up by what you SAY to them. Now, let's take this one step further...not only do you have the ability to create life or death in the life of another, but you do the VERY SAME THING in your own life! What do you say about yourself to yourself? What are the thoughts that actually go through your head when you look in the mirror? When you attempt a new project and you're not as successful as you had hoped what words come forth from your mouth?

I've been taught a great principle in my life: whatever you CALL a thing is what it will become. Do you call yourself successful, beautiful, handsome, prosperous, smart, or loving? Do you call yourself a good wife or husband, a good mom or dad, a good employee or employer? Whatever you call a thing is ultimately what it will become. You have the awesome ability to CREATE with YOUR words a universe if you will. This universe is your LIFE. How do you want you life to be? What do you want your relationships to look like? What do you want out of this life?

If the God of this universe had never opened up His mouth and SPOKE, we wouldn't be on this planet today! But, because He opened up his mouth and spoke a universe that had not yet been created was created! What could you create with your words? What type of universe doesn't exist yet simply because you haven't SPOKEN? Your words create life or death...so please choose them wisely.

God spoke: "Light!"
And light appeared.
God saw that light was good
and separated light from dark.
God named the light Day,
he named the dark Night.
It was evening, it was morning—
Day One.

God spoke: "Sky! In the middle of the waters;
separate water from water!"
God made sky.
He separated the water under sky
from the water above sky.
And there it was:
he named sky the Heavens;
It was evening, it was morning—
Day Two.

God spoke: "Separate!
Water-beneath-Heaven, gather into one place;
Land, appear!"
And there it was.
God named the land Earth.
He named the pooled water Ocean.
God saw that it was good.

God spoke: "Earth, green up! Grow all varieties
of seed-bearing plants,
Every sort of fruit-bearing tree."
And there it was.
Earth produced green seed-bearing plants,
all varieties,
And fruit-bearing trees of all sorts.
God saw that it was good.
It was evening, it was morning—
Day Three.

God spoke: "Lights! Come out!
Shine in Heaven's sky!
Separate Day from Night.
Mark seasons and days and years,
Lights in Heaven's sky to give light to Earth."
And there it was.
God made two big lights, the large
to take charge of Day,
The smaller to be in charge of Night;
and he made the stars.
God placed them in the heavenly sky to light up Earth
And oversee Day and Night,
to separate light and dark.
God saw that it was good.
It was evening, it was morning—
Day Four.

God spoke: "Swarm, Ocean, with fish and all sea life
Birds, fly through the sky over Earth!"
God created the huge whales,
all the swarm of life in the waters,
And every kind and species of flying birds.
God saw that it was good.
God blessed them: "Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Ocean!
Birds, reproduce on Earth!"
It was evening, it was morning—
Day Five.

God spoke: "Earth, generate life! Every sort and kind:
cattle and reptiles and wild animals—all kinds."
And there it was:
wild animals of every kind,
Cattle of all kinds, every sort of reptile and bug
God saw that it was good.

God spoke: "Let us make human beings in our image, make them
reflecting our nature
So they can be responsible for the fish in the sea,
the birds in the air, the cattle,
And, yes, Earth itself,
and every animal that moves on the face of Earth."
God created human beings;
he created them godlike
Reflecting God's nature.
He created them male and female.
God blessed them:
"Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge!
Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air,
for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth."

Then God said, "I've given you
every sort of seed-bearing plant on Earth
And every kind of fruit-bearing tree,
given them to you for food.
To all animals and all birds,
everything that moves and breathes,
I give whatever grows out of the ground for food."
And there it was.

God looked over everything he had made;
it was so good, so very good!
It was evening, it was morning—
Day Six.

Genesis 1:1-31 (The Message)

Amberly Bell
www.askingforthenations.org
www.igive.com/aftn

September 9, 2010

There's a saying that I strongly believe in...in fact, if you've heard me speak, teach, or preach you've heard me say this very thing. In order to get something you've never had before, you'll have to be willing to do something you've NEVER done before. I'm sure that any Olympic athlete could tell you that in order to win the gold medals they've won, they had to be willing to do something they've never done before. Whether that be training for 8 hours a day or dramatically changing their diet, they did something different. When I decided to run my first marathon I first of all thought to myself, "Amberly, you're nuts! The only reason you should run 26.2 miles non-stop is because a wild animal is chasing you!" However, when I finally decided I was going to accomplish my 26.2 mile goal...I knew things would have to be different in my life. I had to start eating the right things, getting up at 4:30am to get my long runs in, and going to bed early enough that my body got the proper rest it needed. These were all things I had never done before...especially getting up at 4:30am! But...I knew that if I wanted to run the full 26.2 miles and if I wanted to cross the finish line alive and not dead, I had to do things that I had never done before!

My question to you is: what are wanting out of life that you currently don't have? And are you willing to do that which you've never done before to get it? Are you wanting to be debt-free in your finances? Then considering not eating out for a month and applying the extra money to the debt. Are you wanting to have more money than you do right now? Then consider starting a business. Find something you're really great at or you have an interest in and start a business. There are tons of FREE ways to market your business with technology. Be sure to use FREE resources such as Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Ping, etc. Are you wanting a stronger marriage? Then be willing to take the time to understand what your spouse needs and how your spouse receives love from you. There are tons of great books out there to help build stronger marriages, read them and apply them! Are you wanting to be more educated in a certain area? Attend classes, workshops, seminars, and choose TODAY to be a life time learner. Are you wanting to loose weight or get into better shape? Then choose healthier foods when grocery shopping. Start by cutting one thing out of your diet that you know you shouldn't be eating. You don't have to cut every bad thing out...start simple. Also, get out and exercise. If you can't afford a gym membership, go for a walk around your neighborhood.

Bottom line is this: In order to get something you've never had before, you'll have to be willing to do something you've NEVER done before. Think on this question today: What do you want out of life and what are you willing to do that you've never done before to get it? The truth of the matter is that God truly wants YOU to have the best kind of life which is His kind of life. He doesn't want you to ever settle for less than His absolute best! I truly believe that your eye hasn't seen, your ear hasn't heard, and it's not even entered into your heart what God has prepared for you!

www.askingforthenations.org
www.igive.com/aftn

July 8, 2010

Would you be willing to lose your identity? Would you be willing to give up everything that you’ve worked so hard to become and all that you’ve worked to achieve? It is your identity, or your perception or concept of who you think you are, that directs and organizes your beliefs, core values, capabilities, actions and behaviors. So, what would you do without IT?

Go deeper with me, I’m not talking about identity theft in the sense of having another person steal your social security number and deplete your bank accounts or max out your credit cards. I’m talking about relinquishing who YOU are. What about your title or role as a mom, dad, brother, sister, CEO, doctor, preacher, or student? What about your status at your respective job? What about the degrees and extra letters behind your name that you spent thousands of dollars for and countless hours of studying to become?

This Sunday, July 11th, 2010 I will be preaching this message at Greater Kingdom Works International in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma at 11am CST. We will be streaming it LIVE at www.askingforthenations.org. Be sure to tune in as I ask YOU:

WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO LOSE YOUR IDENTITY?

www.askingforthenations.org
www.igive.com/aftn

July 1, 2010

Well, we've decided to do it! We're becoming bloggers! You just never know what we may blog about so be sure to check it out and see what's on our minds. We can assure that some of the blogs will be encouraging, memorable, spiritual, practical and/or comical. So, here are Amberly's thoughts for the first day of July!

Ever thought about how the disciples just dropped everything to follow Jesus? As I was spending some time thinking about giving EVERYTHING to go further in your walk with the Lord, I realized that those disciples were NUTS!

How did they know that it would all work out? Did they not worry about making money? Did they not wonder if He was who He really said that He was?

I must admit, I’m impressed with their obedience! What led them to respond to the call of Jesus in the manner they did? They all willingly walked away from their livelihood to follow Him. Did Jesus promise them a better paying job? Were they assured of some honor or glory? No! Not at all! As far as the things of this world, Jesus had absolutely nothing to offer them!

What was it about Jesus that impressed them to the point of leaving everything they knew to follow Him? It was the message that declared that the Kingdom of God was at hand! It was a new message of a new Hope. What they saw in the visible gave them no hope, but this message gave them hope. Ever noticed how most people don’t respond to a message of doom and gloom? In fact, I was having a conversation with my uncle the other day and we discussed how we all have enough to worry about in this life. The cares of this life can truly be overwhelming at times. People want a message of HOPE! The message of the Kingdom would mean a change within them. They were willing to relinquish [give up, run away, abandon, forget, sacrifice] all they had in order to see the Kingdom of God!

What had they given up? Was it their jobs? Yes, but so much more! Consider the words of Jesus to His beloved twelve, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life?” (Matthew 16:24-26). Didn’t these men already make a huge sacrifice in order to follow Jesus? You bet your sweet bippy they did!!! And yet, despite their previous sacrifice there must have been something more required of them!!! What?!!! What then was Jesus saying? It was simply this: in order to fully realize and understand God’s plan and purpose, and in order to fully embrace His Kingdom, one has to be willing to give up more than visible things. One must relinquish [give up, run away, abandon, forget, sacrifice] all rights to self. To take up one’s cross is to put to death the self. To put to death our self will. In order to realize the Kingdom of God as a reality, a daily crucifixion, a daily death to the self life is required.

Simply put, that which costs you nothing will mean nothing to you and that which costs you EVERYTHING, will mean EVERYTHING to you.
-Amberly Bell

http://www.askingforthenations.org/
www.igive.com/aftn