Sunday, September 30, 2012

Genesis 1

The Creation of the World

1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.² The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make man^[h] in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Another month is coming to an end and a new one is upon us tomorrow. How predictable our Fall season is with the colder weather, falling leaves and earlier sunsets.  How anyone could argue that there was no Creator and this all came to be through evolution is amazing to me.  I loved learning along with the kids in Sunday school how God made the world, the stars, the sun, the sky, land all in six days. How He created man in the person of Adam then came the descendants and so on and so on. It is such a simple and beautiful story, a child can understand it.  I don't know why we have to combat and debate the history of God and His Son. Why is there so much hostility over this subject? Why would someone want to dispute their heritage and history? My prayer for tomorrow as we enter October is that we all come together as one in peace and in truth. That we can approach the subject of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost with respect, love and honor. That His name will forever be engraved on the lips of all His children. And I pray that the world finds the hope they are looking for and see that it has been right in front of them all along. What a wonderful day to rejoice in the Lord. May you find all you need in Him and may He comfort you today and everyday as you walk with Him in light. He loves you.

Saturday, September 29, 2012

The LORD reigns, he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed in majesty and is armed with strength. The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.  Psalm 93:1

Our God reigns.  He is the authority over all and He is worthy to be praised.  What so many do not understand is that they may decide here on earth not follow Him or even believe in Him but when they pass away from this place, they will be face to face with their Creator. The truth is most people want to live their own lives based on their own desires. They are influenced by their companion, their friends, even their families. Others want to live their sinful lifestyle that is filled with lust, greed, habits, etc.... Some know the truth but choose their own flesh while others have never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. Others are called "back sliders", believers who have since given up on their relationship with God and have since gone backward.  I once chose this path and it was the most damaging, depressing choice I ever made for myself and I certainly was not content, fulfilled nor successful on my own. While the Lord grants us free will to do as we wish, His rewards for those that remain obedient and faithful to His Word and His timing are endless. When we walk with God we have the ability to go to Him and request anything. He blesses His children with wisdom, grace, joy, prosperity and most of all His peace. His peace that surpasses all else.  In this world today we need God.  Our children need Him, Washington, DC needs Him, our neighbors around the globe need Him.  Why do we forsake Him? Why do we deny Him? 

"Lord, Make me a good steward for you today.  Help me with my words and actions so that I bear good witness for you.  So many are lost and confused and do not know what is truth or fiction and I ask to be used to help them know You are the way, the TRUTH and the life. I lift up my brothers  and sisters and I ask that they too step out in faith with boldness and delight. No fear, no bondage, no chains. Break the chains of bondage over your children Lord for it is Your desire for us all to be saved by Your grace. May this be a wonderful day in You and I ask that you grant us enormous favor and mercy. And it is in Your name I ask all of these things, Amen". 

Friday, September 28, 2012

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life".

The Lord wants you to know today that He loves you.  It is His desire to live with you and all of His children in Heaven for eternity.  That is why He has His "ambassadors" on earth, who are His Christian children, all of whom are saved and are called upon to share His story with everyone we meet.  The reactions we receive are not always favorable but we must share Him anyway. We will often hear we are being judgmental yet how is that criticism not being judgmental of us? Others say we are offending them by mentioning God yet aren't we being offended by them denouncing our God? The truth is we can overcome any objection thrown at us for the Lord will give you and I the words, so don't ever be afraid.  Sharing the gospel with another should be done with love, respect and honor. To simply tell another person that God loves them may be all they ever hear. We must not fear rejection for sharing Jesus with others.  When done in the proper way, most people will be appreciative and thankful. It does not have to be confrontational.  This is not about stats or always having to be the one to bring someone to the Lord but instead being a part of God's work here on earth.  That should be the heart of all Christians.  So I ask you.....do you share your faith with others? Do you give God the glory when asked a direct question about something that God has done for you?  Do your friends and co-workers know you are a child of God?  I say this as gently as I can that all your answers should be yes.  My husband was speaking with two guys at the park one day and sharing the gospel when one guy declared, "I know this, I am a Christian".. to which his friend responded, "You are? I never knew this. You never said anything about this to me?"  Isn't that hard to comprehend that one friend never shared God with another? The truth is so many people attack Christians anymore for their faith. We see it in our political arena. We see it in the workplace where you cannot even mention God let alone say, "God bless you" to someone. Schools have all but erased God's image out of their classrooms so I understand this man's hesitation. But you know what? The Lord deserves better. He deserves our dedication and loyalty and obedience no matter what the cost. He deserves the attention and respect in spite of our own fear of being outcast. I post daily inspirational things on my Facebook wall everyday including this blog when before I never would but the Lord spoke to my heart and told me this was about Him, and not about me therefore I no longer hold back. He is worthy to be praised and you are worth the cost. So have you given your heart to Jesus yet? All you need to do it confess to Him that you know you are a sinner and that you believe in Him and His sacrifice on the cross. Ask Him in to your heart and ask Him to be your Lord and Savior and guess what? You will be saved from death and brought into the light and it is that personal, that simple and that easy.  

Thursday, September 27, 2012

"Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world". Philippians 2:14,15 

Complaining is a sin. Did you know that?  We all get frustrated and tired and sometimes say things we wish we could take back but it is still a sin.  We must recognize it and repent. One of the most difficult elements of my job was keeping others upbeat; keeping them motivated and positive-you know that secular saying, "look at the glass half full; not half empty"? I was the poster child for it. Being around negativity actually bothered me and weighed me down. I did not like it growing up, I did not like it at the office and I have zero tolerance for it today. My husband and I pray all the time that our mouths breathe life and not death. When we grovel, complain, judge, gossip...we are breathing death. The Lord wants us to exude love. His love. Study His 3 year walk on earth to learn and see how He handled temptation, the flesh, the world's ways, to better understand yourself and your own walk. We are all exposed to the ways of the world whether it is at work or any public place. People are all around us and they are used by the enemy to make us sin.  I want to share some ways to combat this when you feel defeated.  The first thing is to rest. A good night's sleep makes us stronger for the battle.  It makes everything easier to handle. Allow yourself to rest in the Lord's peace and His promise of always being with you so you are eased of any burden of worry. Another remedy is to wake up each morning and thank the Lord for the day and give Him your day. Ask Him to come with you during your entire day whether you are headed to work, school or staying in the home. Make Him a part of your life. Then put on the armor of God. The helmet of salvation to the shoes of peace. Ephesians 6:15 Strap on your shield of faith to protect you from the fiery darts of the evil one. And lastly be love. Think love, show love, speak love, act love. Be God's love. So when the thoughts come of discouragement or anger and you want to just complain and be negative, you will be able to change your mindset to that of our Savior and you will think like Him which in turn will make you act and speak like Him. So today change the way you are if you consider yourself to be  negative person. Stop justifying it by saying you are a realist. Just give it to God and ask Him to show you how to be more like Him. Watch your life and those around you transform. Your presence will be uplifting and your ways will be contagious. Isn't that just awesome? 

There are several examples of the sin of murmuring in the New Testament, like the parable of the laborers in the vineyard (Matt. 20:1-16). They murmured because they had worked all day while others who had worked for a much shorter period received the same wages. They had received their just due but they still murmured.

The scribes and Pharisees murmured against the disciples of Jesus because they ate and drank with publicans and sinners but they were really striking out at Jesus (Luke 5:29-32). They did not care that the publicans and sinners needed Jesus. They were only concerned with their personal agenda.

The Jews murmured about Jesus because He said He was the bread of life (John 6:41). 

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

God has a plan for your life.  When we stay on the narrow path of righteousness during all times, our purpose will be revealed and fulfilled. But it is up to us to receive it because our faith and trust in Christ determines whether we ever reach our destiny God intended. That is what always baffled me about people, how they blame the Lord for their lives. Yet the truth of the matter is our choices control everything..whether we choose obedience or choose our own flesh. Those that take their own paths, rather than pray and call upon Him to show them His will, are the ones that will reap those actions. When we do not seek God's counsel nor ask for His will to be done in our lives, we can very well throw our own self off course. Years ago I was in a sinful relationship that was not healthy for me and I can see now looking back how the Lord tried to rescue me and His "rope of hope" was right there in front of me and I chose not to grab on. What happened after that denial of God was all me, not Him. The events that occurred, the pain, the suffering, the losses....all me. I stepped out of the will of God and was not being obedient to His word and it cost me. Others may have pitied me and yet it was not the Lord hurting me, I caused it all. I took myself right off His path so who ever knows what could have been had I not derailed off the tracks.  However we all know that our God is a forgiving and wonderful Father and all He ever wants is for us to love and trust Him. I remember like it was yesterday when I finally came to my senses and repented of all my sins and surrendered them at the altar.  I was in church and I was crying and praying and my niece had her little arms around my waist hugging me as I trembled and shook. I remember I was burning up too; I was so hot. What was happening was the Holy Spirit was moving through me by cleansing all the sin and removing it from my body. Afterwards, I was calm and still. I was delivered from the relationship because God gave me the strength to end it and the Lord turned my entire life around because of my re dedication to Him and OUR relationship and the rest as they say is history.  So hold on to God's plan. It is worth every tear, every moment of not knowing.  For  He tells us so beautifully in Jeremiah 29:11...

Jeremiah 29:11

New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ 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.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

The Lord wants all of you, not just some of you.   We think that if we pray, attend church and thank Him at dinner time, that we are "good to go" in His sight and frankly, it simply is not true. If you want to get the most out of any relationship, you have to put in the effort. Funny how women are so quick to do it for a man. Truth is we all must have that same fervor for God.  A relationship with Jesus Christ must be nurtured and tended to. He will draw Himself to you as you draw yourself to Him. He will not work in your life if you are not making Him a part of your everyday life. Church, ministry work and even service is wonderful and pleasing to God but "works" do not enter us into heaven nor do they guarantee us abundant living. I believe we are blessed when we give back to our churches and our brothers and sisters in Christ but if it is all outward and there is nothing inward going on, then we might as well lay down our ball and go home. The Lord know our hearts and is interested in our thought life too. The public gesture of giving, praying, and kneeling is nothing if it is all for show. Jesus prefers you alone in a closet worshipping Him than over a grandiose act of "look at me"!  Make sense? All He wants from us is our love, trust and faith in Him. He wants us to keep Him first in our lives, center in our marriages and homes and love Him more than anyone or anything else. He wants to shower us with His love and bountiful heavenly blessings because He loves us more than anyone ever will or ever could. All we must do is believe to receive in His promises for our lives and allow Him to work in our lives. So thank Him today for all He has done and all He still will do. Lift up your family, friends and enemies to Him and ask that He watch over them and protect them today. And most of all, promise Him your dedication and pledge your love to Him in a mighty way for He deserves it and He is so worth it.

"In everything you do, put God first, and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success." - Proverbs 3:6

Monday, September 24, 2012

Believe to receive.  No matter what your circumstances might say, believe God has a plan for your life.  Look through the eyes of faith and see what He sees.  Ask Him to reveal to you His vision for your life and allow that truth to bring you peace that surpasses all understanding.  Remember how Jesus slept through the storm on the boat and how Peter was able to sleep in jail despite his surroundings?  They had the peace of the Lord powered by the Holy Spirit because they knew God was in control.  I believe when we give our burdens to the Lord and give Him our life and all that goes with it, He will do great and miraculous things.  He will honor your faith as you trust in Him and you will find great peace, strength and joy.  Prayer is the bridge that connects us to God.  To pray without ceasing is to pray through something and not give up. Whatever it is you are facing, or whatever it is you are waiting upon the Lord for.....DON'T GIVE UP! 

    FIGHT AND KEEP THE FAITH! 

   

NOTHING IS HAPPENING THAT GOD IS NOT ALLOWING 

NOR BEHIND, SO LET GO AND TRUST!!

 AND KNOW THAT HE HAS GOT YOU IN HIS HANDS AND HE WILL..... 

GRANT YOU THE GRACE TO BE 

WHERE HIS WILL HAS TAKEN YOU. 

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Jesus is 

all 

you will 

ever need. 

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Micah 6:8 The Lord has told us what is good. What he requires of us 

is this: 

to do what is just, 

to show constant love, and 

to live in 

humble fellowship with our God.

Friday, September 21, 2012

"God wants us to walk by faith, and Satan wants us to walk by fear". - Joyce Meyer


And he definitely wants to  throw his darts at you right before and after a blessing. Expect them and 

you will be better armed and prepared.  When I know the enemy is "trying me", I praise the Lord. I 

play worship music and I chant the Lord's promises out loud. I declare that no weapon formed 

against me or my family will prosper. I ask that the Lord cover us with His blood and we pray to 

keep our armor of God on from the tops of our heads to the soles of our feet. The enemy must flee 

in the name of Jesus Christ. Cast it away and it shall run. Be not afraid but in all things PRAY and 

REJOICE in the Lord. Adversity comes when you are working for the Kingdom and changing lives, 

when you are involved in service and ministry work. Attacks come when you are making a 

difference. Understand they will go away in time. But when there is constant strife or chaos in your 

life, something else may be going on. It may be happening because the Lord is trying to get your 

attention. There may be unresolved sin in your life. So be mindful of your life and surroundings 

and happenings. But when you are repented and obedient in the Lord, then the adversity is the 

enemy. Just be bold and never be afraid for that is what he wants. But instead walk by Faith and 

declare yourself as a soldier for God and continue to fight the good fight. And you will be protected 

and always blessed. Have a wonderful weekend in Christ. 


Isaiah 54:17

Ephesians 6: 10-18

James 4:7

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Yesterday a miracle, today a devastating loss. That is how life can be. My heart is heavy.  Death of your pet is something we all must accept and it is during our grief that we must trust God and lean on Him and not ourselves. I honestly do not think we can always make sense of everything and it almost can make things worse when we try to piece it together like a puzzle. Therefore during these times of sadness and sorrow, we must grieve for the loss and mourn for them. I lost my mother two months ago and nothing can prepare you for that and so my heart aches for my sister. So today I simply ask the Lord for His tender mercy and compassion for my sister as she says goodbye to her loved one. I am grateful for His divine intervention and as sad as today was, His hand was on the situation and I am thankful. So that is life - ups, downs, births, deaths, joys and sorrows. But the One who is there through it all is our Almighty Father. I worship you Lord and I praise you today. We honor you and we trust you everyday no matter what. Thank you for loving us and allowing us to come to you during our darkest and saddest of times and for allowing us to rest in You. It is with great respect and awe that I come to You today and ask for Your comfort.  

John 14:1-3 
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." (NIV)

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.   Psalm 23:1

The Lord wants you to rest in Him today. Put down your fears of tomorrow and enjoy the gift of Him today.  Forgive the person who hurt you in the past and live in the healing of today.  Each day on earth is a gift from God. Our families, friends, children, homes, careers, talents ..... all blessings are from Him. And without Him none of them would be possible. Instead of running through your hectic day angry at the backed up traffic or the hassles of your school/work projects, be still in Him and know that He is all you will ever need. You can go to Him this morning and ask for strength, patience, anything you need....what we harvest today will be reaped tomorrow so take heart of today, the now, this moment. Tomorrow is in His hands, so just focus on today. Be anxious for nothing, but in all things just pray. Give this day to the Lord and be grateful and thankful. Love thy neighbor as thyself and be humble in your ways. And above all else, keep the Lord front and center and He will direct thy path. Have a blessed Wednesday and make the most out of your wonderful and favored day. Amen? Amen!

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

The bible tells us when we are obedient to the Lord and we do right by His laws, He takes on responsibility for us and I think that is one of the most rewarding, powerful and reassuring promises anyone could ever make to us. I truly can rest in His peace knowing such truth. Why would I worry about this person or that circumstance when I am reminded that if God is for me, who on earth could be against me? What more could I ever fear than the thought of living an eternity damned away from my Father in heaven? Nothing in this life time could ever compare to that devastastion therefore I choose to enjoy each and every day I am here with blessed assurance. I cherish each day and choose life. I choose life with my words and life with my actions. My husband and I try to glorify the Lord in all we say and do and we always are thankful for all our blessings. We know how vital it is to pray for our loved ones and enemies and to hold our tongue for our words can speak death. So in all your days, be bold in your walk and be not afraid. Lift your head high and smile knowing you are annointed and highly favored by God. Spread your joy and blessings with others so that they too can know Jesus as their own. This is truly what our spiritual journey is about and we must not allow the enemy to use his biggest weapons on us-which is distraction and fear. Instead be strong in faith and trust in the Lord with all your heart.

Proverbs 3
3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;

bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

Monday, September 17, 2012

God's delays are not God's denials. - Unknown

When we wait upon the Lord, we must be committed until the end of His work.  God's length of time in things may not be yours or mine but He works everything together for our good so we must trust. I could write a book on the lessons my husband and I have learned with this one truth. We would seek His counsel and pray and seek and pray and wait and pray and wait some more.....and when we watched His ways at work we were amazed. He just recently answered one of our most dire prayers within "minutes" of needing one. And I am in no way embellishing. Words cannot even describe the amazing miracle of it. I also believe the Lord works on us while we wait upon Him and I believe He knows when we have had all we can handle. I reached my point with something and just cried out to the Lord and told Him I could not take it anymore and that I was done. Just done, fried, over it. He wiped my tears and within 24 hours, answered my prayer. He was so loving to me. Understand that He does not make us wait to punish us rather He does it to prepare, provide and protect us. There are so many things that never happen to us because of His hand on our lives. That is the wonderful God we serve. So when you are in the season of waiting, just know He will bring it to its completion when it is His will. In the meantime, enjoy the ride, share your story, start a journal or a blog like me, meditate and study His word. But most of all wait upon Him with grace and wisdom and never give up! Love Him, trust Him and praise Him all of your days-no matter how long it takes. He is worth every second of the journey. 

Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD. Psalm 27:14

Sunday, September 16, 2012

"No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you." Joshua 1:5

That was my bible lesson this morning as I sat and read the Word and did my devotions. Time spent alone with the Lord is so important. I know I have said it so many times before but it is so true. I reflect back on my old self and I get so saddened when I recall my old Sunday routine. I would rush around the house getting ready for work, commuting fifty minutes one way to make it to work by my morning shift and just working all day without any time to worship, praise or devote. No church, no fellowship, no time for God. I am embarrassed to confess my sin to you but it is the truth and when we confess with our mouths, we are forgiven and set free. And is it any wonder the Lord asked me to lay down my office pen, my financial secured position of over 21 years to follow Him and rely solely and completely on Him? For those that thought I was crazy and irresponsible should now see clearly why I was made to let go of it all and trust in Him only. For I learned quickly that the very thing I held on to the tightest was the very thing the Lord told me to lose. I held on to my job for my paycheck and my "security" instead of relying on the One who signed those checks. The Lord told me later that my blessings never came from my employer, they were just who He used to bless me. All my blessings then and always will come from Him. The bible tells us that no matter what we face in life-and we will all face our challenges....that God will be with us. He will never abandon us nor fail to help us during our difficult days. We must never forget Who it is that is our true life line. So give thanks to Him today for He is worthy to be praised for He is so faithful and loyal to us. I just love my Lord so....

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Thank you

Jesus!

Friday, September 14, 2012

"Search me O God, and know my heart: test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way of everlasting."  Psalm 139:23-24

How are we to recognize our sin unless God points it out to us? When He shows us, we can then repent and be forgiven. I claim this prayer for my life and I ask the Lord to search my heart and my thoughts and to reveal the sin in my life so that I can be on God's "way everlasting". The Lord is always ready to speak to us; it is up to us to listen. He interrupts my thoughts all the time to encourage me and sometimes to scold me. He gets angry with me when I doubt or when I grow frustrated and will show me a glimpse of life without Him in it and it immediately gets me on the straight and arrow. Life without Jesus is not an option so when He reveals to me my careless thoughts or my controlling nature it is to keep me on His way everlasting. The hardest thing as a believer is to stay strong, focused, faithful and hopeful everyday in every way. And if anyone tells you differently, they are not being truthful. I would never have my life any other way for I know my future is secure and I am in God's frame and no one can harm me, but it is hard to let go and surrender of yourself and not try to control things on your own. Especially when the Lord is taking His time in getting things done. We grow impatient and grow tired and we tend to interfere but with God we must not waiver but stand strong and true. So as I grow in Him, I learn more about myself. I no longer ask God to change others but instead I ask Him to change me. I want to grow mature in Spirit and reflect more of Him than of myself. So I seek His counsel and I am not afraid of what He will say to me. And neither should you. Our lives will only improve and grow bountiful. He wants you to seek His face and listen to His voice for He has much to say.....all you have to do is be still. 

Thursday, September 13, 2012

And he called to him the multitude with his disciples, and said to them, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Mark 8:34

When we truly surrender our self to God, we must also deny our self to God. Then we can rest our heart in His. Having done this, the remainder of our life will be nothing but the manifestation of this surrender.* I read this morning that once we truly surrender, we never "suppose" anything. We do not need to fret, worry or care what our circumstances are, for Jesus is amply sufficient. Do you know how hard that truly is to do? I recently learned that full surrender is of our entire self- full body, full mind and full soul. We cannot ask the Lord to take the bag of rocks from us and not let go of the bag. We cannot go back and forth like a see saw taking the bag back, giving the bag, taking the bag, giving the bag.....We are to surrender our life to Him and never wonder again. Never doubt, waiver or cave in to life's pressures and/or our own desires. This world tries all it can to take our focus off of the Lord and onto everything that is wrong. Why do you think there are more pharmacies being built on every street corner than any of business? Because prescription drugs are a trillion dollar business. There is a pill for anxiety, depression, hyper activity, racing minds, insomnia, etc....and yet the one and only true "medicine" is that of Jesus Christ. If we could all truly let go and let God, our surrender would be an unbroken communion with God.* Isn't that worth it all? 

"I give up myself Lord to you, all that I am, all that I have....I give it to you. Take my hands Lord and take my feet, and take all of me. May I rest in You all of my days and allow your love to manifest in me and my heart. May my life transform into what you created me for, may my purpose be fulfilled and may others see you through me. It is in Your precious name, I pray all these things. Amen"

*excerpts are from "My Utmost for His Highest"-OSWALD CHAMBERS

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Never let anyone steal your joy.  When we rest in the Lord we find ourselves in His perfect peace and it is a wonderful blessing He offers to His loved ones.  Having said that the enemy does nothing but try to rob us of this very gift and take away our joy and peace.  And as hard as it is to remain composed at all times and never allow our emotions to control us, we must really try. When we allow his attacks to affect us, we open up the door. We usher it in and give him a foot hold. And this can cause many of us to lose our footing. I am so grateful to my husband for being my strong rock when I am weak for he reminds me of God's peace and he has made a decision never to allow this world and its ways to affect him or his family. The bible tells us the Kingdom of God is not about eating or drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17 And that is what I am living my life by. I refuse to let anyone or anything rob me of my blessings and my peace in the Lord. The people of this world may be able to rob us of our money and our possessions but the one thing it can never do is steal from us our peace, joy, happiness and our salvation in Christ Jesus. Amen? Amen!

John 16:33

New International Version (NIV)

³³ “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Psalm 16:11

New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ You make known to me the path of life;
    you will fill me with joy in your presence,
    with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Obey God and leave all the consequences to God.

         God does not require us to understand His will, just obey it, even if it seems unreasonable.

God assumes full responsibility for our needs when we obey Him.

                    Obedience always brings blessings.

In my twenty years as a believer I marvel at how my faith is an ever changing, growing and learning experience. After all this time, I am now seeing how important it is to obey the Lord in all He asks of us, no matter what the price or cost. People view this act as impossible, irresponsible or archaic in these desperate times and they justify it by saying the bible does not line up with the current events of today. They say these things to convince themselves that it is okay to not do as the Lord says. But my life depends on the very words of what the bible says for I believe it is true and it tells us that obedience brings life and disobedience brings death. What is it the Lord is asking of you that you have yet to obey? Do you know the very thing you hold on to the tightest will be the very thing you lose? Trust me friend, it is not worth the destruction and pain it will cause you later. I pray that you truly read the above promises of God. May they penetrate your heart and mind and may you truly know Him and be compelled to follow and obey Him in all of His ways. May this be the day you change the direction of your life and may it be steered towards the One who loves you the most and knows everything you need. Be not afraid, just trust and believe. 

Monday, September 10, 2012

So many of us spend millions of dollars and time on books, inspirational lectures, bible studies, DVD and CD teachings all seeking God and His blessings when we can receive all He has for us simply by our obedience. I read somewhere we can achieve in minutes what it is taking us years  to figure out....how to receive God's all for our life. The bible says it so simply that when we love God, we desire to obey His commandments. And when we obey, He works. Our obedience unlocks God's power. When we let go of our own issues of control, pride, selfishness, fear and everything else hindering our growth, we will indeed grow and mature in Him. And yet so many miss that one simple truth. Allow the Lord to speak into your life and listen for it then obey. We cannot listen and obey when it suits us and ignore His command when we don't want to do what He tells us to do. It does not work that way. I hear stories all the time of believers unhappy with their lives and yet when we stop to hear their stories long enough, there is usually an act of disobedience somewhere between the beginning and the end. I get very remorseful when I look back at all my missed opportunities from God. All the wasted empty years of disobedience simply because I was stubborn and wanted what I wanted when I wanted it. Well guess what? That attitude took me off God's path for my life for years and it saddens me how many of His blessings I missed. I can see so clearly now where my precious Father was trying to steer me away from my sinful ways and I chose to ignore Him. I chose to defy His laws and acted so disrespectfully in His sight. But the one thing I can say...is I never blamed anyone nor did I ever blame God for my life. I did take accountability and when the veil of sin was removed from my eyes, I was able to repent and quickly get back in line. But it came with a heavy price of God's discipline and His wrath. I was punished for my actions and I had to accept this for my wrong doings. I share my own story to show you that so much pain and anguish can be avoided by simply  obeying God from the start. It is a much smoother road than the one taken by the defiant ones. So trust me when I tell you it is not worth it. None of it was for me so learn from my mistakes and let go and let God and obey His voice and allow Him to reveal His purpose for your life. Your life will be forever restored and renewed. 

Romans 2:6-8 He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.

Genesis 22:17-18 I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”

Luke 11:28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Our circumstances should not dictate our faith but instead allow our faith to dictate our circumstances. Troubles and trials are guaranteed to come in our life so we should prepare and strengthen ourselves for them and allow the Lord to be glorified in all of it. Sometimes the best thing to do in times of trouble is to take each day as its own. Experience God's daily bread and be thankful and grateful for each of His moment's rather than lose today worrying about tomorrow. The bible tells us over and over to be anxious for nothing but in all things, pray and cast our cares on the One who cares for you. And the way we do that is by exemplifying Him with the proper attitude and response. Do you know how many people are watching you to see how you handle certain situations? Sometimes it is to learn from you, sometimes it is to watch you fail. I was on "display" in my office and knew that every word that came out of my mouth had to be a conscience choice. As children of God, we must carry ourselves in a certain manner and there is no time off, no break, no rest. We must bear good fruit and bear a Godly witness in all we do, no matter where we are, no matter how we feel. And when we begin to change our mindset to that fact, we stop allowing our emotions and our circumstances to control us. But instead we live our lives trusting the Lord and not trying to understand why things are happening. We miss so many small miracles when we are constantly looking ahead. I used to worry about tomorrow until one day I decided to change my thought process and just live for today and enjoy all the tender mercies that God allowed me and just bask in His presence. You know the old saying, "stop and smell the roses?" Well that is what I chose and He wants you to as well. Stop crying over the hardships of life for you should expect them. None of us are exempt. The Lord allows these tough times so that we draw closer to Him and we become dependent on Him and that will never change. He will forever be changing you in His image and that comes through the sanctification of fire-which are trials and tribulations. So choose to stay in His promise-keep the Faith. Don't panic when the wave comes. Don't give up and allow it over take you but instead over take it with prayer, praise and faith. And the Lord wants you to meditate on these words..

Proverbs 3:5-6

New International Version (NIV)

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.

Saturday, September 8, 2012

⁷

Psalm 9:7-10

The Lord reigns forever;
he has established his throne for judgment.
⁸ He rules the world in righteousness
and judges the peoples with equity.
⁹ The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
¹⁰ Those who know your name trust in you,
for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Friday, September 7, 2012

People ask all the time, "when should I expect an answer to a prayer and when should I ask?"  The truth is when we go to our Father with our petition, I believe when we know it is the will of God, we should come with expectancy. For example, if you are struggling financially and need to buy groceries for your family,  the Lord will provide. It is not His desire for you and your family not to be able to eat. If you are praying for your electric not to be disconnected, I know my Lord wants us to come to Him thanking him for restoring our electricity and working it out rather than asking if it if His will to please keep the electric on. However....when we want a Mercedes Benz as our vehicle, do you think it is God's will for that or would you consider that a special blessing? In other words, the Lord desires to bless us and grant our heart's desires, but it must line up with His will and His word. And I believe it all comes back to the fact that in all things, He should be glorified. Having said that, there are times when I thank the Lord in advance for answering my prayer. I expect it and claim it. And there are times when I respectfully ask if it is of His will for my life and if He should tarry, then let it be done. I shared before the story when I was "praying a woman out of my office". I prayed from July 4th through October the same prayer day after day and it was, "Lord please remove this woman from our office with grace and mercy, grace for her and mercy for me." It was not until one morning the Lord interrupted my daily request and told me I was not praying right; that I was telling Him and not asking if it was of His will. So I changed my prayer that morning to, "Lord if it is your will to remove this woman please do so, if her heart is black but if she is of innocent intent and I am just paranoid than please allow her to stay with my department til the day you call her home, like Carole" and guess what? She was gone in two weeks. True story. So...I have first hand experience that there are times He wants us to seek His will and not just seek our desires so....be mindful of what you are praying for. Take note of what is being answered and what  isn't. I know some that actually write their prayer requests down and the results of them so that is kind of neat. But the truth is the Lord loves us and promises us a life in abundance and all He wants us to do is simply listen and obey and be still in Him. I take everything to Him in prayer, I am specific and I am thankful. I am repented in spirit and then I am still. As your prayer life changes and evolves, so will your walk and you will grow mature in spirit so take it all to Him and never ever be afraid to ask. He is waiting.......

Philippians 4:4-7

4 pRejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. qThe Lord is at hand; 6 rdo not be anxious about anything, sbut in everything by prayer and supplication twith thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And uthe peace of God, vwhich surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

When I fall, He is there.  When I fail a test, He is there.  When I am afraid, He is there.  When I sin, He is there.   The most faithful, truthful and everlasting relationship you could ever have is with Jesus. Our Lord God is the One and Only Being who will always be there for me no matter what.  I trust His Word and I live by His laws.  He is worthy to be praised for all He has done and will continue to do in my life and in the lives of those I pray for.  When you grow tired of trying to do this life alone, try God.  He will ease your burdens, wipe your tears and give you hope when all hope seems gone.  He will grant you such enormous peace in all circumstances that you will not lose a second of sleep at night.  You will be able to rest in Him knowing He has got it. When we rest, He works and when we work, He rests. Therefore let go and let God. Life is hard because you are trying to do it your way and your way will lead you down the open road of destruction....somewhere at some time. People that choose their own way usually are stubborn and are freedom seekers however with God all that pressure is lifted. Do you know how wonderful it is to have someone in my life that makes all my decisions and than simply shows me what to do to execute them? To have someone that manages my home, my marriage, my finances, my relationships, my health, my work? God is my handy man, my attorney, my doctor, my veterinarian, my counselor, my financier, my accountant, my partner! He grants me wisdom and discernment and guides me through every single aspect of my life and the life of my husband. Can you honestly say you aren't tired of controlling it all for yourself? That there are not days where you feel hopeless and helpless? The Lord gives us all free will to live our lives but He never said it would not come with a price. Adam and Eve chose their own path and look what happened to them! I say this with all the love I have without coming off preachy or condescending, neither of which I am, but you are not living a full life. Not like the one He created you for. His purpose for your life will have value and meaning-all of your days. So simply pray today for your life and your choices and where your life is headed doing it your way and truly seek the Lord's counsel for you and see where it leads you....you might be surprised. I pray with you today. Amen and amen!

Because of the fall, the sinner is dead, (Eph 2:5) blind (2 Cor 4:4), and deaf to the things of God (Isa 29:18); his heart is deceitful and desperately corrupt. (Jer17:9) His will is not free, it is in bondage to his evil nature, therefore, he will not - indeed he cannot - choose good over evil in the spiritual realm.

^{Rom 6:6} knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Matthew 5:13-16:

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? ... You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

What is our responsibility? It tells us: ‘You are the salt of the earth, you are the light of the world’. All who are blessed are called to a responsibility. Christian discipleship, membership in the kingdom of God, is a great responsibility. In the Old Testament, the prophets reminded Israel again and again that it is not a light thing to be God’s chosen people. We are not to spend our time thinking of how to escape from the world. The Kingdom of God is about this world, and about our life and witness in the world. It is about politics, about economics and about culture. It is about our environment, about the destruction of nuclear weapons. It is about peace. How are we to fulfill our responsibility in the society in which we live? Jesus said: You are the salt of the earth; you are the light of the world.  When we are at work are we shining our light so that others can see God or do we compartmentalize Him and only share in private? The office should know you are a Christian. Whether it is a popular stance or whether you are in the minority, it is your calling to make them aware. We are not to extinguish our light of the Lord in certain places (aka the workplace) but hold the torch up high and proud in others (aka church or a prayer meeting). Being a follower of Christ is not always "hip" and "in". Sometimes you will be made to feel very alone. But the truth is we are called to be the salt and the light in all places so when we are out and about in the world, we are to be bold in our faith. Do not shy away for fear of rejection or hostility. You will be blessed for your obedience. The Lord places us in areas for a reason. If you are surrounded among very worldly people that use foul language or gossip or brag of unholy acts in your work place, the Lord wants you to be their salt...to be their light, so that they can see the truth. The Holy Spirit will always guide you with the words to use so never be afraid. And always consider it a privilege to be a soldier for God. Amen? Amen!

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

I have to admit my heart saddens when people that I have ministered too and shared Jesus with choose another path other than His.  I see it all over Facebook and web pages how God is made to be a cartoon or a punch line and it infuriates me and people are "liking" it and "sharing" it. How dare anyone make a mockery of my blessed Father. To suggest dinosaurs and science are responsible for the creation of the world baffles my mind. I reflect on today being the first day back to school and so many children will hear stories of monkeys and evolution. My husband and I discussed this over our morning coffee and rebutted it with some very famous people's quotes so I will leave you with them. And I ask the Holy Spirit to speak to those hearts that are closed to the truth of Christ Jesus and I pray for their future if they continue to live their lives in the dark. 

"The more I study nature the more I stand amazed at the work of the Creator."-LOUIS PASTEUR

"Science can only be created by those who are thoroughly imbued with the aspirations towards truth and understanding. This source of feeling,however,springs from the sphere of religion. To this there also belongs the faith in the possibility that the regulations valid for the world of existence are rational,that is, comprehensible to reason. I cannot conceive of a genuine scientist without that profound faith."-ALBERT EINSTEIN

"All material things seem to have been composed of the hard and solid particles above mentioned, variously associated in the first creation by the counsel of an intelligent Agent. For it became Him who created them to set them in order. And if he did so, its unphilosophical to seek for any other origin of the world, or to pretend that it might arise out of a chaos by the mere laws of nature."-SIR ISAAC NEWTON

"Science proves that there is GOD who created ALL THINGS and faith is the expression of this proof."-MY HUSBAND