Archive for August, 2007

Open the Windows of Heaven

We are in the monsoon season here is Arizona. A few days ago we had a big storm come through, here are some pictures of what it was like before and after at our home.

storm 2storm 1

rainbow 2rainbow 1

These rainbows are God’s sign that there we not be a flood any more that destroys all of mankind. But there is another interesting part to this story. When it rained in Noah’s flood, Genesis says that “the windows of heaven opened up” and that’s where the rain came from that filled the earth.

In Malachi 6:10 God says, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”

The windows of heaven are used here to show how God will pour out His blessings. The only other place that phrase is used in the scriptures is during the flood when the windows of heaven poured forth rain that filled the earth. That is a pretty good visual to think about when it comes to God’s ability to pour out His blessings.

So let them pour into your life and accept all the blessings of God in abundance.

God’s Best to you,
Duke Clarke

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Duke on August 7th 2007 in Commentary

Are You Keeping It Real?

Yesterday I heard a young lady speak who was quite good. She was very personable and had some interesting things to say. During her talk she said that in almost every letter she gets people will say, “Thanks for keeping it real”, “Thanks for being real”, “Thanks for making it real”. Then she looked at the audience and said, “Don’t you find that scary?”

Now, that’s good!

People are so used to the things of God NOT BEING REAL. Instead, Godly matters are represented as mystical, supernatural or just out of reach unless you are a super-dedicated, super-motivated, super-righteous, super-religious individual.

God doesn’t live on a throne at the top of heavenly Mt. Olympus passing judgments and controlling lives, God lives on the street, in the living room, in the bedroom, in the quiet desperate moments as well as happy blessed events of people’s lives.

There is a difference between those who are just in love with the “idea of God” or the “idea of Christianity” and those who practice God and practice Christianity. The idea of Christianity can afford to EXCLUDE all that are not of a similar belief. But the practice of Christianity must INCLUDE by love all people regardless of belief-that’s keeping it real.

I’m not interested in meeting God once a week at the local spiritual-filling station conveniently located on every other corner. I want God to be there when I wake up every morning so we can plan the day. I want Him there when I have to write my first email of the day and the last email of the day. I want Him around for every call I have to make; with me on every errand I have to run and advising and forecasting what’s ahead on the course we are taking.

That’s what is real to me. Keep God real in your life and your results and your prosperity will be real.

God’s best to you,
Duke Clarke

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Duke on August 2nd 2007 in Commentary