BETTER THAN THAT!

For some time I have been feeling a prompting by the Holy Spirit to do some teachings based on the words: "Better than That!  If you take some time to think about your circumstances in any area of your life, what would be your "That" which you would love to see improved, increased or changed for the better? 

I looked up some of the synonyms for better and the first to come up was MORE which represents a greater or additional amount or degree, added, extra, increased, new and some more!  Why is this so interesting and exciting?  Because, the Lord Jesus Christ stated in one of His mission statements in John 10:10 "I am come that they [that would include you] might have life, and that they might have it MORE abundantly!"

In that statement, it is important to realize Jesus used the word "might" twice indicating it is made available but requires your part in receiving it as a gift to be experienced. I believe from what Jesus said, we can see that Jesus always wants the best and better for His people. 

One case in point, I remember my husband and I working with an associate pastor who when he ministered or talked just seemed "stuck" and almost childlike in his actions.  We spent some time taking him through the "life-shaping" process and Jesus brought him to a time as a young man he was made fun of and named a cartoon character from a comic book.  This so shamed him even after becoming a man and a leader, he was still carrying the embarrassment and hurt. Thankfully, he was able to release those memories and experiences and from then on took on the persona of the real man he was called to be!  He received something "Better than That"! We marveled when we saw him afterward at how changed he was in his demeanor and ministry.

You can read about this on Page 134 in my book, Detox: Spiritual Cleansing for a Fulfilling Life!  Detox means to remove.  He had years of emotional pain removed!

Why is this so important in receiving your "Better than That"? Jesus also said, "Take care or (pay attention to) how you listen and what you hear."  Luke 8:18 When you pay attention to what He taught and take care to hear what is from the Lord rather than the traditions passed down through man or things you have accepted as true from others opinions,  this verse says MORE or something BETTER will be given......could you use more wisdom, more revelations of things you need to know, more creative ideas for more and better opportunities in the business realm or your family that would add more enjoyment to your life and those in your sphere of influence? 

The opposite of better is "worse."  That is what Jesus said the thief or Satan has on his mind: to kill, steal and destroy or make things worse.  That is why it is vital to make a quality decision daily to become knowledgeable of what Jesus said He came to offer you so that your life will become better and reflect His thoughts and will for you!

Another Case in point: One time we were selling our house and prayed diligently to get it sold in a specific time period.  Well, some buyers came and made an offer within that time frame.  However, they were very negative and haggled over everything so much so that after a couple of meetings, we discussed not moving forward with the sale to them.   As I went to my refrigerator one day during that time to get something, I heard the words, "Better than That!"

Those words were meaningful to me because years earlier a dear friend of mine preached a sermon on expecting better things from God to happen.  That was all I needed to hear that day.  We cancelled the sale, released our faith in those words I heard and within days got a much "Better than That" offer and may I say the people were wonderful to work with and were so happy to purchase the house "As Is!"

All we moved out was our clothes!  For sure for us, it was a much "Better than That" experience.

It is so easy to base what we expect in life on our past experiences and what has happened to others when the Bible says the very hairs on your head are numbered. He said even sparrows that were sold for two pennies are not forgotten by God." Luke 12:6-7.  Amazing to think how intricately and wonderfully you are thought about by God. So, with that in mind, take time to focus your faith for your "Better than That" on how special you are and how Jesus said He came for you to experience your very own more abundant manifestations.

I encourage you to be mindful of who and what you are listening to especially with all the TV

news reports, internet and conversations in general with people so that you will not be easily sidetracked. Decide to harness your thoughts so that your very own "Better than That" can be realized. You have the power to reject any counter thoughts that would try to cause you to forfeit your blessings and turnarounds. In some way you can relate it to listening to a CD and something comes on you do not want to listen to, you can press the eject button and stop it immediately. 

The Lord wants you to unlock His power in your life by believing, agreeing and speaking his will for your life.  Remember you have the power to accept or reject any thought process running through your mind,.....keep a mind picture of pressing the "eject" button on a CD.

When you begin to do so on a regular basis, I believe and pray you will see many "Better than That" happenings in your life!

Diana Sykes: Power Of Your Words

Habits For Life:

We are going to talk about what are you passionate about?  There are boundary breaking keys that you can use to live a more fulfilled life.  Do you have crossroads in your life where who you were created to be has been compromised?  The first identity theft was in the Garden of Eden.  Satan crept in and prompted Adam and Eve to make decisions that changed who they were created to be.  God created you for living a life of victory.  He did not intend for you to carry around the pain of wrong decisions or traumatic events that have gotten you into wrong habit patterns which have caused you to lose your passion for life.  How many of you when you see a Nun walking around immediately know what her lifestyle is, who she is passionate about and what she stands for?  Often we get so locked into habits of wrong thinking that we "wear" our circumstances and people know what is going on inside of us without us saying anything!  There is great news though.  In just a few minutes a day, you can sit down and take time to analyze what thought patterns are running through your mind, what pain from your past tried to raise its head in your relationships today.  I have written a book on Detoxing your mind so that you can lighten your load and walk with a leap in your step!  Realize that little events can become big roadblocks in your future if not recognized and released. 

Every day is a new day to step into greatness and establish new habits.  Jesus set his face towards Jerusalem to set the captive free.  Are you captive?  A few minutes a day can start you on your way to the happiest days of your life!

Diana Sykes: Faith Not Fear

Diana Sykes: Faith Not Fear

Diana Sykes Never Give Up

Hidden Treasures

Hidden Treasures:

Did you know you have a treasury "chest" hidden inside of you if you are born again? 

Colossians 2:3 says "All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Him." It is so important to acknowledge with our faith words what God through Christ Jesus has made available to us.  Remember, the Bible tells us that getting wisdom is the principle thing.  Take time to ask the Holy Spirit what you need to know to settle any questions or help you be the best you He created you to be.  The answer lies within.  I remember one day many years ago my husband and I were riding a motorcycle to the seaside for the day.  We had been praying about direction to increase our business and claiming God's promise in Isaiah 60:11 "Your gates will be open continually. They will not be closed day or night, So that men may bring to you the wealth of the nations...."

As we crossed over a bridge in a lovely village, I saw a large facility that was popular throughout the UK and I tapped my husband on the back and said, "We need to get our products in those stores!  In the natural it seemed impossible as we were little kids on the block, but one Word or prompting from the Lord acted on can change your world and subsequently family, friends and colleagues!  The very next day my husband launched a campaign to get us an audience with the head of the Company. We did face some pretty enormous obstacles at times but God honored our faith, perseverance, production of high quality products, and excellent, beyond the norm, service and the rest is history!

I believe God has wisdom and knowledge inside of you just waiting to be tapped into to take you to a new level of success and victorious living.  Proverbs 8:20 "I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full."  This scripture is talking about Wisdom who lives inside of You! 

What an Amazing Gift!

We all realize when someone gives or "gifts" us with "something" whether it is a material present or a kind word, compliment or wisdom about a situation, we each have the choice of accepting the "gift" or rejecting it.  It is much the same with gifts from the Holy Spirit. It says in 1 Corinthians 2:16 We have been given the mind of Christ!  Unless we acknowledge and focus our attention on this truth and fact, it will not be fully activated to bring about change and breakthroughs in our lives. 

I know there have been more times than I like to think about when I

have given people gifts and it seemed that they were neither appreciated or utilized.

If you think about it, what you give whether time, money, opportunities, material gifts, etc. these represent a part of who you are an what your life represents.

In the above Scripture, we have the confident truth that we have been gifted with the mind of Christ! As believers, it is important to engage and access this truth by faith so that we make mindful decisions based on who lives in us and acknowledge what is available in our decision making process every single day.  Just like, as mentioned earlier, when we have used our time, love, care, resources for others it makes us genuinely happy and pleased the recipient is benefiting from the gift.....As you can imagine, it pleases the Holy Spirit for us to benefit from Jesus' gift to us. The actual meaning of Mind in the Hebrew language is to conceive, a thing framed and imagination.  Just think, you have been gifted with the imagination of Christ. Stop and "conceive" that!

Power Confession:  I acknowledge that I have been given the amazing gift of the Mind of Christ.

I accept it. Thank you Lord! 

Do You Feel Wounded or Wanted?

Do you know how much you are wanted?  “In love, He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will…” (Ephesians 1:5 NIV).

Take a moment to put your name in this Scripture: “In love, He predestined (your name) to be adopted as His sons [and daughters] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will!”

It has always been God’s pleasure and will to bless you! If you have been taught or heard something different, let this truth sink in and be part of your soul renewal. Acknowledge the fact 

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?  IT REALLY DOES MATTER!

Psalms 35:27 & 28 “Let them shout for joy and e glad who favor my righteous cause; and let them SAY CONTINUALLY, Let the Lord be magnified who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.  And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness and of Your praise ALL THE DAY LONG.”

In the Book of Judges, Chapter 6, there is a powerful story about a man named Gideon.  His life and that of his family, and even broader than that, the children of Israel are about to be changed in a big way.  But first God had to change this man’s very poor self-image so that His will could be performed.  Gideon had to be willing.

Here was a man threshing wheat by the winepress, trying to survive and just get by, while hiding from his enemies.  Gideon’s experiences had taught him that every time he would sow something which produced crops his enemies would come and steal from him.  But, when his people began to cry out to God for answers something amazing and wonderful happened!

In essence, the Lord said that He had brought them up from Egypt and out of the house of bondage.  He told them he had delivered them out of the hands of ALL who oppressed them and, not only that, He gave them their land.  He also told them, I am the Lord, our God. As you read this it is important for you to realize as well that God is interested in you, as an individual, as well!  He specifically told them:  “Do not fear their gods in whose land you dwell, but you have not obeyed my voice.”

What was God saying?  I had a great plan for you….but you forgot and chose another direction.

In Verse 12, it says:  “And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “the Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!”  Gideon, then in shock that someone thought that highly of him said, “Oh my Lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us and where are all the miracle which our Fathers told us about saying did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?”  Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites, have I not sent you?”  So, Gideon said to the Lord, “How can I save Israel?  Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh and I am the least in my Father’s house.”

Can you relate to see of the questions that Gideon asked God?  If so, let’s look at some powerful truths that can cause you to say the same thing God says concerning you!

1.     God said He bought the children of Israel out of bondage in Egypt to ring them into something great!

2.  When they took their eyes off of God and quit talking about all that He had done for them and   

     was planning to do, they began to fear and fell captive to their enemies.  Fear leads to   

     feelings of despair, and frustration that then leads to questioning the faithfulness of God to

     His promises which is the vehicle the enemy still uses to try to defeat you and get you off

     track.

3.  God had to get Gideon to begin seeing himself as God saw him and to realize He had a

     purpose for him.  That is why God addressed him as “a Mighty Man of Valor,” when in

     essence, at that time Gideon was anything but a man of valor.  He was literally hiding himself  

     from his enemies instead of standing up to them with his confidence in the God that had 

     already delivered he and his family out of bondage.  Gideon was living in fear.  He basically

     said to God, “Do you realize who you are talking to?”  Don’t you know, God, there is not 

    anyone who has any respect for our family?  We are the least in the city and I am the least in

    my family!”

    In Verse 24, after God had convinced Gideon that he was a Mighty Man of Valor, it says

    Gideon built and altar and called it: “The Lord is Peace.”  He then became what God declared

    him to be when he accepted and began talking about who God was to him.

4.  The exciting and vital principle here for everyone who puts their faith and trust in God is that

     peace and prosperity are God’s ideas.  The literal meaning in Hebrew for these two words,

     peace and prosperity, both in the Old and New Testaments, is Shalom.  Take this to heart

     today in your life and circumstances—Shalom means the following:

  

     -To be made safe in mind, body or estate

     -To be complete

     -To make restitution and restoration

     -To fare well - or to be prosperous and whole!

     As our leading Scripture so early affirms, if you will favor God’s righteous cause, which has

     so much to do with your conversation and what you talk about on a regular basis, the Lord

     will be magnified and you will be blessed  As you go about the Father’s business growing in

     the knowledge of His intentions that He has established in His Word and a knowledge of the

     finished work of Christ on the cross for you as an individual, prosperity and peace will be the

     you let the Lord be magnified.  Your life represents His will for you.  He is the God of 

     restoration of that which has been lost.

5.  Gideon had to destroy the altars of Baal that his family had set up before God could give him

     victory. 

It is extremely important that you realize that one of the big mindsets today that can and will hinder you fulfilling your dream and God’s will for your life is unbelief.  Doubting the goodness of God is a form of unbelief.  Everyone believes in something or someone  Take time on a regular basis to check out who or what your confidence is in.  Words like: “My family never has had anything” or “Things won’t change now because…..” or “Where I live there are no opportunities” or There is no way I can be promoted this year,” etc., etc., etc!  All of these types of statements are self-inflicting words that will sabotage your purpose in life and can bring defeat despair and open doors for lack to come into your life.

Gideon had a choice to say with the “same fear-filled image” or go with God’s image.

The same choice is yours.  Focus on God’s image of you daily and watch your situations in life change!

You can decide today to become a “Mighty Man or Woman of Valor.  This means you are on the way to becoming a person of virtue, a person of strength, of might, of power, riches and substance.  Decide to agree with God!

(This Teaching is from my book, “Power Thoughts for Triumphant Living,” pages 11-14) 

Free indeed! To take hold of your Destiny. Condensed 3x6 hour sessions into 1 hour. John 8: 36 Prayer: Let your truth penetrate all of our being in Jesus name. What Does it mean to be free indeed? FREE FROM WHAT??? TO HELP US understand LETS LOOK AT THE OPPOSITE! The opposite of free is TO BE BOUND, HELD CAPTIVE. We have to know what is holding us captive???? What is it that is holding us captive. We are the sum total of everything we have ever thought, felt, said and done. Our total reality, therefore, includes both our current reality and the accumulation of our personal history. The story of your life is written on your heart. Your memory has stored not only the experiences of your life so far, but also imprinted all the feelings and judgements you have made about your experiences. Whether those feelings and experiences are true or false. Dragging the past along. Romans 12: 1-2 Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Our minds hold us captive to the past. keep us in bondage to the old. stop the new wine from entering in. Hinder the fullness of the word from penetrating our very existence. We are dragging around with us all the past. Pains, hurts, rejections, failures, disappointments. etc. Trying to run the race set before us with all the weight of the past weighing us down. PROCESS: Is to allow JESUS to show you the source and origin of the reaction & show you THE TRUTH. JOHN 8:32 You shall know the truth, & the truth will set you free!! You may find yourself going back into events in your past as I speak? THAT’S GOOD. EXAMPLE: To show you how OUR MINDS, HELD CAPTIVE operates in our lives here are some examples. A lady 40 Years of age. Senior Partner in a major FL legal practice. Office walls full of diplomas & Awards. Obviously highly intelligent. As a child growing up her father would always call her stupid for doing the simplest of tasks wrong. You never do anything right! Now she is 40 years of AGE, SUCCESSFUL, INTELLIGENT & as everything going for her. ONE day her husband comes home and she as prepared a meal, Its a meal he doesn’t like. HE SAYS, Your stupid. Is she 1. The 40 year old successful, intelligent, senior partner or. 2. The young child who never did anything right in her fathers eyes? She is crushed!!! Why??? She knows she’s not stupid, she as all the diplomas and awards to prove it but her experiential knowledge came in first. It was laying there in her mind ready. That little girl had never been healed! Have you often wondered why you sometimes react the way you do and afterwards think, why did I react like that. EXPERIENTIAL KNOWLEDGE. When the computers full. you can delete some stuff. What about your mind??? Throw ball! PROCESS: JESUS SHOW ME WERE THAT??? FIRST BEGAN. & GO WITH IT. ALLOW JESUS THE GREAT PHYSICIAN TO SHOW YOU. JESUS: SHOW ME THE TRUTH? JESUS: IS THAT THE TRUTH?? JESUS: WHAT IS THE TRUTH ABOUT XXX??? Example: 60 year old lady, Depressed, bitter. FELT REJECTED. SAID. I WILL ALWAYS HATE MY MOTHER!!! Her mum had been dead 20 years. I HATE HER & WILL HAT HER TILL I DIE. WHY: She said her mum had abandoned her at her Grandmothers when she was 8 years of age. THIS WAS THE PROCESS: JESUS: SHOW XXXX Why her mum left her at her grandmothers. Show her the truth!!! JESUS: SHOWED HER the Following: Her mum knew she was dying & cared so much she found her the very best home and people to care for her & that her mum loved her very very much. THE LIE THAT HER MUM DID NOT CARE HAD MOULDED HER LIFE FOR 52 YEARS. Satan is the father of lies HAD DONE HIS JOB: The TRUTH SET HER FREE! FREE INDEED!! We saw her skipping along in the car park!! Totally free. All the PAIN, REJECTION, BITTERNESS GONE. FREE—INDEED. Whilst I have been talking many of you will already have been going places, so lets continue: I want to give you enough so that you can go through the process as things crop up in life. EVERY EYE CLOSED & think on either something that as come up in your spirit as I have been speaking or some recent reaction that you do not understand why. READY: EYES CLOSED: LORD JESUS SHOW MY BROTHER AND SISTER WHERE THE SOURCE AND ORIGIN OF THAT EMOTION OR FEELING CAME FROM AND BRING TRUTH. Close: Lord Jesus< help us all the walk into the greatness you have already placed in each one of us in Jesus name.