JESUS JOY

Today I pray for you to have joy....JESUS Joy!  JESUS is the one that brought joy to the world.  In fact....

                                                                        JESUS is Joy.

Without the birth of JESUS we wouldn't know real joy.  Why?  Because real joy is on the inside of us....in our hearts and souls.  I call it JESUS Joy!  When we accepted JESUS as our SAVIOR, HIS Joy was placed inside of us.  It's a joy that those who don't know HIM don't have.  It's a joy that only believers have inside their hearts.  JESUS Joy!  We may go through many things in our lives that are hard but we can still have a joy inside of us that only other believers in JESUS have.  A deep abiding joy....

                                                                         JESUS Joy

I am thankful today that JESUS came to earth and was born to be our SAVIOR.  If at times you feel you have nothing to be thankful for remember this verse....

Luke 2:11

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a SAVIOR, 

          which is CHRIST the LORD.

Prayer Request For Lisa

I wanted to put out a prayer request for Lisa (Never Forsaken).  She blogs at My Hearts Home. The link is http://theheartandhome.blogspot.com/.  Lisa just found out she has breast cancer and will have a double mastectomy on December 26. This is a little of what she wrote to me on 12/15 after her biopsy appointment.

I am almost strangely calm and peaceful...though we know that is the Lord Jesus and His amazing grace and peace.

Throughout the whole thing I kept reciting:

The joy of the Lord is my strength...and In His presence is fullness of joy!

Even the nurse who held my hand kept saying how warm her hand felt...and that she never had warm hands like that.

Today Lisa received some good news. Here is the comment she left on her blog.

A thousand thank you's are not enough to express my heartful of gratitude to my dear friends who are praying, and sharing scripture with me!
Brenda, those scriptures are only confirmation of what the Lord has been telling me since day one of this!

I have to Praise Jesus today....My x-ray and blood work came back...everything is normal including liver function and clear chest...This is big since this cancer usually goes after the liver...and into the chest wall!
I was so worried about that because I saw my chest x-ray and thought I saw spots on it (when I had it done)...and so I called the doctor today and they checked everything for me. This has eased my mind, and I am ready to go forward again!
Jesus still has me safe in His embrace...sometimes He carries me.
Blessings & Love!
I will keep you updated..here in the comments section.
I promise I won't make this blog all about cancer...It is all about Jesus and me!

Please remember Lisa's husband Jeff, daughters and rest of the family as they walk through this together. 

A Morning Prayer

This morning Lord we surrender all to You
Draw us close to You I pray and never....ever....let us go!
You are our all in all
Jesus....Lord Jesus....
Fill us up with You this morning and throughout the day
Keep us coming back to You when we need strength
Help us to call out Your name when things get tough....
Jesus we cry out to You for Your strength....Your peace....Your protection
Send Your healing oil down to cover all of our sicknesses
Remind us to praise You Lord no matter what may come our way today
Help us to keep You in the forefront of our thoughts
Shine Your light through us so that others may see just how good You really are
We love You Lord Jesus and we thank You for all You have done
Especially for saving us and giving us Your promise of life with You
Thank You....Thank You....Thank You....for everything!
I come before You with all of this in Your name Jesus
Amen

Blessed Assurance

Psalm 100

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.

Blessed Assurance ~

On this day of Thanksgiving we have much to be thankful for.  One is the blessed assurance that we have because Jesus is our Savior.  I heard that old hymn this morning and I was truly blessed!  It's not the singers....it's not the story behind the song....it's not the music....and no....it's not really even the words of the song.  It's that when you worship the Lord He moves within you and touches that place that is deep within each of us....our very souls!  It's when we allow ourselves to fall into His presence and worship....fall into His presence and tell Him we love Him....fall into His presence and totally lose ourselves in Him....that's when Jesus takes over....reaches out and takes us in His arms....pours His spirit into us....and heals the broken places within that have left us scared and bruised.  Sometimes we just need to abandon every thought and feeling that we hold inside....let go and let God take control....and be with Him.  Jesus will heal you and give you His blessed assurance. 

Today as you are with your family and friends remember that they may not all know Him as you do.  Or maybe they do but deep within they have hurts and scars that still need His healing touch.  Be aware and be open to those around you.  Say a silent prayer for each one that walks through your door that they may feel His love today....and let Him touch them.

Here are the words of that old song....

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood!

chorus:
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior, all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior, all the day long!

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight,
Angels descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior in happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

Keep watching and waiting today and be ready. Jesus is coming soon!

until we see Jesus....face to face

Prayer

Father God here we are again asking one more time for Your strength....comfort....and peace.
There are many that need healing for many different things.  Some have hurt or tired souls that need to feel your touch....others have broken spirits for You to mend....some have lost family or friends and need to feel your comfort surround them....and still others need a touch of healing in their bodies.  Father God if You could just let all of Your children know tonight how much You love them and that You are holding them right now....and You are in control of whatever circumstance they find themselves in.  Let them all feel the warmth of Your love and and know that You are holding them in Your arms as they drift off to sleep.  Begin the healing that is needed in all that cry out to You tonight. 

And Father, for all of those that we love that aren't living for You right now....speak to their hearts.  Let them know that You are the One they need to turn to.  That You are the One that can make their life worth living.  Let Your Spirit speak into their thoughts as they sleep so they wake up thinking about You.

Thank You for loving us and being with us. Thank You for giving us restful sleep tonight. We love You and ask all of this in Jesus name....Amen

John 14:27  “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

Philippians 4:7  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Today I continue to find myself in a place that is hard for me and yet....

No matter how hard it is I know....God is here....in this place....with me.  I have been reminded this morning that regardless of where I am today....because of the Lord....I can have peace.  Sometimes we find ourselves in places that are just plain hard!  But look at the place Jesus found Himself in....

Tied to a post and beaten.  Dragged through the streets being whipped.  Carrying our very lives....the cross....on His back.  And then....being nailed on that cross....suffering more than we will ever know....until He breathed His last breath.  

Jesus....He can speak peace and calm the raging storms causing everything to be still and quiet.  If He can do that I know He can calm the storms within us when life just doesn't seem to calm down on its own.  Jesus is the Peace Speaker, and yes....I know Him by name! 

I am reminded again this morning that all you need to do is just call out to Him.  Raise your hands in worship and ask Him to fill you with His peace.  Ask Him to come and help you....then surrender your every thought....your entire being....to Him.  He will come and help you.  He will come and fill you with all that you need for the time you find yourself in...He will impart His peace to you.

If you find yourself in need of His peace today....call out to Him.  He is the Peace Speaker and He knows you by name too.

Peace
Peace
Wonderful peace
Coming down from the Father above
Sweep over my spirit forever I pray
In fathomless billows of Love

Let Him cover you in His peace as you go through your day today.

until we see Jesus....face to face

Transfusion Of Love

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

Trust.  Do we truly trust the Lord in/with everything or is it just something we tell others that we are doing?  Does the Lord let us have wilderness experiences to teach us to trust Him more?  That may be one of the reasons or it may be a by product of what our wilderness is.  Either way....learning to trust in the Lord through....and for....all things is good! 

Psalm 9:10
Those who know Your name trust in You,
for You, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for You.

There may be another reason we go through wilderness experiences in our life....to learn to worship and be thankful!


1 Thessalonians 5:18
In everything give thanks,
For this is the will of God.

This week the Lord has brought this verse to my remembrance more than once.  He has also been talking to me about worship.  You can worship anywhere....not just at church during "worship time"!  In fact the best times of worship can be when you are all alone....with just you and the LORD!  He wants us to worship Him....love Him....be with Him! 

I was reading in Exodus this week about the children of Israel.  Think about your life and your wilderness experiences for a minute....then think about theirs.  Can you relate to some of the things they went through?  Sometimes our lives seem to be stuck, going through one hard time after another.  We can call them wilderness experiences. And if we are truthful it can feel like we are out there walking in circles in a desert....round and round a mountain....getting no relief....with no foreseeable way out of our current situation.  A true wilderness experience.  Why does God let you be in these situations?  He can stop them anytime. God is God and He can change everything whenever He wants too.  He doesn't have to let you stay where you are.  He can change your reality with a word....a wave of His hand....just a breath!  So why does He let us go on and on in the wilderness?!  Maybe....

He wants us to learn to worship Him in everything.  Give.HIM.Thanks.Through.It.All!!
Worship and give thanks. He longs for us to do that. It isn't only that He wants this for Himself He also wants us to worship Him for us....it is beneficial for us! The more we worship Him and give Him praise and thanks....the more He ministers to us!  The closer we get to Him.  He becomes more and more a part of us and we become less and less dependent on ourselves and on the world.

John 3:30
He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.

God wants us to trust Him regardless of our current life situation.  And, while we are trusting He wants us to worship Him. He desires the praises of His people and we are His people.

Psalm 100:2
Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before Him singing with joy.
 
When God led the Children of Israel into the desert He was creating a people for Himself.  He wanted them to learn to trust Him and to Worship Him!  That's one of the things He was teaching them....but it seems they weren't very fast learners!  Many times we aren't either.  Just like He knew their future....He knows ours.  God knows when we are about to enter into the wilderness before we do.  He also knows that in learning to worship Him through it that the trip will be much easier for us.  He wants us to learn to love and worship Him with every part of our being.

Deuteronomy 6:5
And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.

We need to learn to fall into Him with our whole being.  Ignoring everyone around us and becoming one with Him....experiencing His complete and full love for us!  We may still be in our wilderness but the journey won't be as bad because we will feel the presence of the Lord....His love....so much greater with us.

For me I like to think that when we worship the Lord He gives us a transfusion of Love....

Ephesians 3:19
[That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!


until we see Jesus....face to face

Give Thanks

November....the month of Thankfulness. 

This has been a rough month for me and at times I haven't always been sure I could keep on going.  But because of the Lord I have.  The one thing that I always try to remember is that just because I'm a believer in Christ....life will still happen to me just as it does to non believers.  That's the bad part.  The good part is....the Lord is walking beside me through all of life's happenings.  Good and bad.  For the biggest part of my life that is not how it was.  When things went wrong I had no One to turn to....and that didn't work too well.  Now I ask the Lord for help all the time.  The best part of that is....He helps me.  As some of you know I'm having some major back issues going on.  Because of this sometimes I can hardly walk.  So when I'm having a hard time I have started saying....Jesus please help me and please help it not to hurt so bad.  You know....it works....He works!  I am still walking and believing that I will continue to do so.  I am so thankful that Jesus has been helping me.  And as long as I keep asking Him I believe He will continue to do that.  He may not heal me but He will be with me through everything. 

Do I want the Lord to heal me?  More than you know!  But there's something else I want.  That Jesus be glorified through all of this.  I want my family and friends that don't know Him to come to know Him.  I want to have a testimony to share that makes people say....WOW!!!  Jesus did that for you??!!!!  Not to make me look good in anyway.  But only so JESUS out shines everything and everyone!  That's what I want to happen because of all of this.

I was talking to someone tonight that doesn't know Jesus as their Savior.  They think that because their basically good that all is well.  I want her to really know that all is well.  To be able to say with confidence....

It.Is.Well.With.My.Soul!!! 

This person knows all I have had go wrong over the last couple of years.  I just keep telling her that GOD is going to take care of it all.  That I am trusting Him to get me through this just as He did all of the other things He brought me through.  I'm also believing....and trusting....that GOD isn't going to let me down! 

For all of this tonight....For all my family and all of my friends that I love so much....

I am so....so....Thankful!!!

1 Thessalonians 5:18
In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.


until we see Jesus....face to face

Prayer for Strength

Father God with a humble heart
we bow our heads to pray
Asking You to help us now
give us strength for one more day
Sometimes the load we carry
seems more than we can bear
But Lord we know that with You
we should never fall to despair
Please wrap Your arms around us
and hold us up tonight
Give us peace filled rest and keep us safe
throughout the stormy night
When we wake to the new day dawning
fill our hearts abundantly
With all Your fresh new mercies
that You give so willingly

He Makes Things Possible

When you're not sure you can keep going....talk to GOD.  Tell Him how you feel and exactly what you're afraid of.  He will answer you.  Sometimes He answers you through others and sometimes through a still small voice within....which I really like.  Yet at other times He uses His word....and with one of my favorite verses....

Joshua 1:9

Be strong and courageous!
Do Not be afraid or discouraged.
For the Lord your God will be with you
wherever you go.

Faith....it makes things possible, not easy.

Where is your faith level at today?  God uses trials to build our faith.  We don't always understand and most times we don't like it.  But....just keep holding on to His hand.  He will walk through your trial with you if you let Him.

until we see Jesus....face to face

Life Lessons

Tonight I just want to share a little bit of something I have become increasingly thankful for lately. I've been having some back problems and there have been many times when I can hardly take a step. One of my legs just tightens up, and has so much pain, that I can't seem to move it.  But....there is something positive that I am learning through all of this....

A couple of days ago I was talking to God about it all.  You know....telling Him how I really didn't think I could take much more of the pain.  Really, I'm not normally wimpy but at times you just simply have had enough....I was there!  Then I remembered something....

Just whisper the name JESUS....JESUS....JESUS....

Jesus will come to you.  He will help you.  He will walk right beside you.  In fact....when you are to tired....to weak....in too much pain to take that next step....Jesus will carry you when you can't get up and go one more step on your own.  So that's what I did....

I literally said....JESUS every time I took a step.  You know what....with each step there was a little less pain.  The sharpness left and I was able to get dressed and get to work.  I'm not healed but I am learning that He is there with us all the time.  All we need to do is call on Him and He will make things a little easier for us.

You can read in the Bible where Jesus walked on the water....calmed the raging seas....He called out "Peace, be still"....and there was peace!  Whenever we call on Him He hears us.  He listens for us to talk to Him....call to Him....whisper to Him.  Jesus wants to calm our storms....give us that same peace. 

Sometimes it's hard.  We are in the midst of a storm and we don't know how to handle it.  We don't know if anything will ever be normal again.  But you know what....even if nothing is ever what it use to be....it will be okay.  Jesus will still be there with us.  Carrying us when we need Him to....walking beside us if that's what we need....calming the waters if the storm gets too rough.  Whatever we need....as long as we put our faith and trust in Him....Jesus will be there to supply it. 

Read about Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4:35-41.

Thankful today that Jesus hears us when we call.

until we see Jesus....face to face

Bring All Your Needs To The Alter

Frustration....
a feeling of dissatisfaction, often accompanied by anxiety or depression, resulting from unfulfilled needs or unresolved problems.

Have you ever just been frustrated with a situation?  Of course you have, we all have.  So....how do you handle it?  Do you continue to let something bother you to the point of no return?  By that I mean, do you just sit back and complain about the issue....getting more and more anxious....until every time you are exposed to the problem all you want to do is give up on it....and eventually you do?  Or do you do what you know you should....pray about it until you get an answer?  Until you actually know that God is in control of the situation and He will do what needs to be done....with or without you.  Do you lay it all down at His feet....every time you think about it or are in the situation?  Do you pray and ask for His guidance to let you know what you should do....even if you don't like it?  You know....totally turn it all over to Him....leave it there....and rest in the fact that you know He's got it and will take care of the situation.  That can be hard to do and at times we aren't sure we even know how to do that....

That's me today.  It's not that I don't want to turn it all over to Him....I do.  But....learning how to do that is hard.  I really don't like all the frustration and anxiety that goes with some issues of life....things we can't control.  And therein lies the problem.  Things we can't control!  We have to remember that God is ultimately in control of all situations in our lives. We need to learn how to give them up!

I heard an old Dottie Rambo song that works for these types of situations....

Bring All Your Needs To The Alter

Walk boldly to stand in His presence
Lay claim to the promise He made
Your soul can be cleansed
Beneath the flow of His fountain
His blood washes guilt all away

Chorus:
Just bring all your needs to the alter
Bring all your needs to the Lord
He is so willing and able to help you
Bring all your needs to the Lord

He watches the fall of the sparrow
Concerned with the lilies so fair
How much more He cares
For the sheep of His pasture
So bring Him the burdens you bear

Chorus:
Bring all your needs to the alter
Bring all your needs to the Lord
He is so willing and able to help you
Bring all your needs to the Lord
Bring all your needs to the Lord 

Philippians 4:6
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God;


until we see Jesus....face to face

In The Stillness

Psalm 46:10 KJV
Be still and know that I am GOD. I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Peace.  The quiet....calm....stillness we all want to have on the inside.  How do we achieve it?
One way is to just be still in the presence of the Lord.  Be still and meditate....think on....drink in and absorb....His presence.  We need His love to just surround and envelop us.  We need comfort.  Sometimes the only place we can find that comfort is by being in His presence.

Psalm 94:19 NKJV
In the multitude of my anxieties within me,
Your comforts delight my soul.

When we take the time to sit and rest in Him....we are comforted....we are loved....we are given just exactly what we need for the moment.  

In The Stillness

In the stillness
in the quiet of my soul
I long for You Lord
In the stillness
in the quiet of my soul
I ache for You
You are my refuge
You are my strength
my everything
all that I need
In the stillness
in the quiet of my soul

In the stillness
in the quiet of my soul
You come to me Lord
In the stillness
in the quiet of my soul
You comfort me
You give me hope
You give me peace
with Your love
all that I need
In the stillness
in the quiet of my soul

In the stillness
in the quiet of my soul
I worship You Lord
In the stillness
in the quiet of my soul
I come to You
You give me rest
You give me strength
In Your arms
Your all I need
In the stillness
in the quiet of my soul

Today do what you need to do to find peace in His presence.  He's waiting for you to just be still in Him.

until we see Jesus....face to face

Ah, Lord God

Ah, Lord God
Thou has made the Heavens and the earth by Thy great power.
Ah Lord God
Thou has made the Heavens and the earth by Thy outstretched arms.

Nothing is too difficult for Thee
Nothing is too difficult for Thee

Ah, Lord God
Thou has made the Heavens and the earth by Thy outstretched arms.

This is just a little chorus that came to my mind this morning while getting ready for work.  I of course was in the process of talking to the Lord and explaining to Him how tired I was of certain things in my life and things going on around me.  Asking Him to please change things that I can't seem to change myself.  I believed that He was answering by letting me know that "nothing" is too difficult for Him to change....for any of us!  Look at all He has done.  He made the whole universe. WOW!!  No one else could do that.  If God can do the things that we know He has done....He can take care of us and all of our little....insurmountable to us at times....problems that we have.  And then I read my devotional.  This is just one sentence from it....

As you open up to Me, I will put My thoughts in your mind and My song in your heart.

He's talking to me this morning....is He talking to you?

Jeremiah 32:17
 ¹⁷ ‘Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.

until we see Jesus....face to face

Stay Connected

Sometimes we think that The Lord just isn't speaking anymore....or at least not to us.  But did you ever think that the fault was with you?  Maybe you just aren't listening!  I think most of the time that's how it is for me.  I have noticed that when I am opening myself up to Him....He still speaks!  It's not always when I want or when I think He should....but He still speaks.  It all started last night....

I picked up a devotional that I haven't really been reading very faithfully....Jesus Calling.  Now I  want you to know that I don't believe in reading devotionals over the Word but I do believe that God speaks through different things to each one of us.  This just happens to be one of the avenues He uses for me.  So....last night when I read the reading for the day I was reminded to....

Walk by faith and not by sight.  Not to close my eyes to things around me and go blindly but....to listen with a new heart and to the One I need to always listen to....the invisible Shepherd of my soul....Jesus.  To just fully experience Him and what He has for me.  Give myself freely and completely over to His Presence within and around me.  With this I went to bed....

My plan for today was to get up at 4 a.m. and start riding the bike before work like I use to do.  But....as you know....sometimes the Lord changes our plans.  I woke up before 4 and immediately thought that even though physical exercise is something I need to do....spiritual exercise is what I needed this morning.  So while in the shower all the conversations I had yesterday....with ones I care about....started running through my mind again.  But....there were two words that kept jumping to the forefront of all my thoughts....stay connected....

Stay connected....people are in your life for a reason....stay connected....stay connected....you don't do well alone.  Which brings me back to....walk by faith--not by sight.  He is leading the way.  So, I sat down to read todays devotional and my Bible.  The devo was great....

Sit quietly in My Presence, allowing My light to soak into you and drive out any darkness lodged within you.  Rejoice in this day that I have made, trusting that I am abundantly present in it.  Then I read....

Psalm 63:1

O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.

and....

Hosea 6:3

"Oh, that we might know the Lord!
    Let us press on to know him.
He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn
    or the coming of rains in early spring."

Those verses are perfect!  I do thirst for more and more of Him.  I do want to press on to know Him more and more!  I know that when I do press in He does respond!  He is so good that way!!

Press on to know Him more and more for yourselves.  Listen to what He is saying to you. 
And most of all....stay connected to the Lord.  Don't lose ground....even a little....when things get tough.  

until we see Jesus....face to face 

 

I Am Second....Live That Way

The paperback version of I Am Second hits the stores Sunday October 6th.  It has been updated with more stories from people who have decided that the best way to truly live is second....God first.

It is so exciting to read about the lives of those who have made the choice to live second.  In each story that I read I am reminded that it doesn't matter what walk of life we come from we all experience pain.  Some pain we cause ourselves and some pain others have caused for us.  But, whatever circumstances brought us into our pain the only way to truly live is by declaring I Am Second....by deciding to put ourselves second after God and accepting the new life that Jesus offers.

As you read the stories of peoples lives forever changed....because they have chosen to live second....
you will be blessed.  You will shed tears as you realize that a part of the stories could be you talking about your life before you found Jesus as your Savior. 

Michelle Aguilar talks of how she would always put a smile on her face to hide the way she felt.  But behind her smile "was a wounded soul".  How many of us can relate to that?  Then one night she gave up control....she turned it all over to God and said....

"God I'm yours.  I put my trust in you.   I'll do whatever You want me to do.  My last defense is gone.  I need You."

Get the book. 

Read the book.

Find out how Michelle's life changed once she truly decided to live with the I Am Second to God approach to life.

I Am Second....live that way.  Your life will never be the same!

Watch Over One Another

The day of our Lords return is getting closer and closer.  Just like you feel Fall in the air....and can visibly see the changes all around....you can also feel something different all around in the spirit realm.  Besides that....look at everything happening in our world today....things are not as they used to be.  We live in a scary world full of many hateful and hurtful things.  Everywhere you turn there is strife....turmoil.  At times it seems as if everyone has just lost it!!  This morning I awoke with the verse running through my mind about not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together.  I believe in the times we are living this is so much more important than we may realize.  So I looked it up and I like how the Amplified version says it....

Hebrews 10:25 AMP

²⁴ And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities,

²⁵ Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.

Life....in general....can be hard for us.  We all have many responsibilities with much to take care of.  But....as Believers we have a responsibility to keep ourselves strong in the Lord and to help others stay strong in the Lord.  Being "Army Strong" isn't just for ourselves.  We have to help each other along in our journeys.  God didn't equip us to do life alone....

We all need encouragement at some point....for one reason or another....to keep on going.  As the verse says....we need to watch over one another....more now than ever before.  Let us all be sure to go that extra step with each other.  Make the phone call....give the hug....say the words that the Lord puts in your heart.  

Be the heart of Jesus....His hands....His arms....His eyes....His voice....show His love.  

Simply put....be there to take up the slack in each others lives. 

until we see JESUS....face to face

 

ARMY STRONG

Last night I was reminded....again....of how good the devotional Jesus Calling is.  I read it most everyday for three years.  Then this past year I have gotten "sloppy" in my devotional time.  I haven't been reading and studying....first and foremost....my Bible like I should or my devotional books.  There has been a definite reflection of this in  my attitude and every other part of my life....even in this blog I attempt to write.  I think about all of this and start digging in again....doing well for a few days....only to find myself being a slacker....again.  So this morning I determined within myself....with the Lords help....that I will fall backwards into my old habits.  Immediately this thought  came to mind....

There is an old Army slogan which was made into a recruiting commercial in 1986 that says, "Army. Be all you can be."  Then in 2006 they replaced that slogan and commercial with, "Army Strong." Those were made to convey to young people that if you join the Army you can become the best you that you can be.  In fact "Army Strong" was to convey the idea that if you join the Army you will gain physical and emotional strength, as well as strength of character and purpose.  You are just going to become an overall better person.  For some that is true but not everyone that joins turns out better.  The Army has changed some people for the better but some....not so much.  We have seen many stories in the news that reflect that. So what does this have to do with me....and you....

I am reminded of a song that we sang in Sunday School when I was a little kid....

I may never march in the infantry
Ride in the calvary
Shoot the artillery
I may never fly o'er the enemy
But I'm in the Lords Army
Yes sir
I'm in the Lords Army

The funny part is....I sang the song but never was in the Lords Army as a child.  In fact  didn't "join up" until six years ago.  What I have learned since is that....


In the Army there is no room for slackers.  You will be a detriment to yourself and the health and well being of all your fellow soldiers.  It's the same in the Lords Army.  Being a slacker is a detriment to you....your overall spiritual health and well being.  If your spiritual health is lacking....so will everything else about you.  And....you can't show His light to the world around you with much effectiveness.  When you're in the Lords Army you can be "All you can be".  Young or old....with the Lords help....you will gain emotional strength as well as strength of character and purpose for your life.  If you work at it....and let the LORD work within you....you will become an overall better person.  The Lord changes you but you do need to keep working at it.  Let the Lord build your character into what He wants you to be.  Before long you will be....

"Army Strong" in the "LORDS ARMY!" 

I Am Second....Stories About Changed Lives

I have been asked to write some posts about the new I Am Second book.  It is coming out in paperback with new I Am Second stories added.  Really, I wasn't supposed to write anything until the week of the 6th but after reading some of the stories tonight I had to share.

Psalm 66:16-20 NLT

Come and listen, all you who fear God,
   and I will tell you what He did for me.
For I cried out to Him for help,
   praising Him as I spoke.
If I had not confessed the sin in my heart,
   He would not have listened.
But God did listen!
   He paid attention to my prayer.
Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer
   or withdraw His unfailing love from me.

After reading two of the "testimonies" in the book I opened my Bible and just happened to turn to the above passage in Psalm.  I feel that the book really fits with these scriptures.  When they wrote their stories they were basically saying....Come and listen, hear me.  I have a story to tell you. The story of my life before I met Jesus as my Savior.  Listen....I want to tell you what He did for me! 

Brian "Head" Welch cried out to God....and God heard his cry for help and saved him!  An amazing story of the redemption power that we can find in Jesus.  Brian cried out to God and God didn't ignore him.  As Brian puts it...."God saved me from myself." 

I have read the first two stories and they are amazing.  The stories shared are from people from all walks of life but they have one thing in common....they are all broken and battered and need a Savior.  The great part is that they all found what....Who....they were looking for.  His name is Jesus....Savior!  These testimonies are proof that God still does miracles today!  

If you know someone who has a heart that is searching one of these testimonies might just be what they need to hear. 

                                                            

John 14:21 NKJV
21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

In order to keep the Lords commandments we have to know what they are.  If we don't read His Word how will we know?  Get into the Word....Get into God.  He loves us and wants to teach us how to live here on earth so that one day soon we will live with Him in Heaven for all eternity.

Another reason to study the Word, and get closer to the Lord, is so we can be a light to all those around us.  The world is a dark place and getting darker everyday.  The world needs a light....the Light....His name is Jesus.  Shine forth His light today in your part of the world!

until we see JESUS....face to face

Are You Ready

Jeremiah 25:4-7 NLT

² Jeremiah the prophet said to all the people in Judah and Jerusalem, ³ “For the past twenty-three years—from the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah, until now—the Lord has been giving me his messages. I have faithfully passed them on to you, but you have not listened.
⁴ “Again and again the Lord has sent you his servants, the prophets, but you have not listened or even paid attention. ⁵ Each time the message was this: ‘Turn from the evil road you are traveling and from the evil things you are doing. Only then will I let you live in this land that the Lord gave to you and your ancestors forever. ⁶ Do not provoke my anger by worshiping idols you made with your own hands. Then I will not harm you.’
⁷ “But you would not listen to me,” says the Lord. “You made me furious by worshiping idols you made with your own hands, bringing on yourselves all the disasters you now suffer.

When I read this passage I was reminded of how many times we have heard a message given to us like this one and yet we still go our own way doing things that we know are not pleasing to GOD.  We follow along with what everyone else is doing....the way of the world....because it's more fun or it's easy.  We worship idols of our own making....material possessions, celebrities, power....just like the people in Jeremiahs day.  Getting mixed up in religion that doesn't follow the true word of GOD....that doesn't believe in JESUS CHRIST as SAVIOR.  When we follow into those types of religions it is no better than worshiping a god made of gold, stone, wood or metal....those gods can't save you from sin (Hell) and they can't heal you of sickness.  Why do we do this?

Sometimes it's because we don't know any better.  It's what we have been taught....what we think is the right way....because satan has blinded us from the truth.  He makes us think that we are going the right way....following down the right path....so we reject the one true GOD.  Satan wants to have your soul!

Today I want to challenge you.  If you are going through anything that has you scared or worried....sickness....fear of death....and you don't know what tomorrow really holds for you....

Call on GOD.  The GOD that created you.  Talk to HIM.  Ask HIM to show you what is true and right....to show you HIS path for your life....and to help you to walk in that path.  If doctors have told you that you might not see next month....or even tomorrow....make sure you are ready to meet the One True GOD!  Find out for yourself and don't rely on what others have told you.  If you are fearful of death....maybe what you have been being taught isn't quite right....maybe it's just a religion not a personal relationship.  If you are wondering today at all....if you have any doubts....

Call out to JESUS and ask HIM to forgive you of your sins and to come into your heart.  Ask JESUS to be The LORD of your life and to take you to live in heaven with HIM when you pass from this life into eternity.  What can it hurt to just be sure....beyond the shadow of any doubt....that you will go to heaven and live with HIM?  Call on JESUS today.

We will all see HIM face to face one day....

Are you ready?!!



 


  


 

Do You Ever Wonder

Do you ever wonder....doubt....if a choice you made is the right one?  Well, as some choices go, once you make them they can't be undone.  You have to live with that choice and pray that it was a good one.  At times it may seem that maybe it wasn't the right one.  Like....when things come to a standstill or seemingly go backwards.  Then you have a whole new set of issues.  What starts happening in your thought patterns?  Well, because you are human you start thinking about all of the possibilities of everything that you are feeling.  Then what walks through the door of your mind?  Discouragement....fear....and a well known reality of today....stress!  Okay....we all know who loves that environment that you are setting yourself up in....and loves for you to just feed in that place. 

Today, I'm not even going to put his name in this post because he is not the one with the power in our lives. 

We need to keep our thoughts on the Lord.  Put our faith and trust in Him and believe that He has everything under control.

Isaiah 26:3-4 NKJ

You will keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on You,
because he trusts in You.

Trust in the Lord forever,
for in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength. 

Once you put your faith and trust in the Lord....that's where you have to live. 

HE. Is. Our. Strength!

Keep your mind and heart there.  Don't allow the situation to change you.  Become unshakeable in what you know is true and right.  Wait for Him to do what He does best!....

See you through to the other side of your situation to victory through Him!

Psalm 62:1-2 NLT

I wait quietly before God,
for my victory comes from Him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will never be shaken.

September Blessings

September....feeling so blessed today and for no particular reason.  I was out driving and enjoying the wonderful cooler weather thinking how fall will be here soon.  Fall....pumpkin treats....caramel apple treats....the changing colors....falling of the leaves....cooler weather....all things that the Lord provides for us.  Didn't He do a magnificent job when He created everything?!! 

Another thing September brings into my life is Life Group.  I am thankful for the opportunity to be involved in one.  It's good to be a part of something that is Christ centered.  Not to long ago I wasn't so sure about going but it seems that the Lord knows what's best for us all the time.  He changes us if we are willing to be changed.  That's hard sometimes, but worth it when you just relax and let the Lord do what is best for you.  It seems that He is making me much more aware that doing things....life....on my own isn't always the best way.  It's good to be able to share with other Christians.  The only reason I feel this way and can go to a Life Group is....

Because of Jesus.  On my own....if He had not changed my life....I would never be able to even walk through the door.  Without Him I can do nothing.  And you know what....He likes it that way.  Not for us to be afraid to do things, but for us to take Him with us wherever we go.  Jesus gives us strength to do things that ....before life with Him....we thought were impossible!

Philippians 4:13 nkj
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Ephesians 6:10 amp
In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].

Jesus loves us all so much and He wants to do life with us all.  He wants to be with us in every situation we face....good or bad.  Do you allow Him to be a part of every part of your life....or do you hold back some?  If you are holding back....let go a little and see what happens.  You might be surprised!


 

The Cry Of My Heart Today

Psalm 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.

This Psalm is one of my favorites and I surely don't pray it enough.  This morning, while getting ready for work, it came to my mind.  I think it's a good verse to keep close all day.  As we go about our days many things happen and there are times when things enter into our thoughts and our hearts that shouldn't be there.  My goal to day is to pray this verse when things start turning upside down on me.

This is just a little poem/prayer that the Lord gave to me this morning.  It seems like when I talk with Him on a regular basis....as I should....He fills my heart with these types of things.

Father God this is the cry of my heart today
Renew me afresh in your Spirit I pray.
Purify my mind to think in Your ways
Clean up my heart restore me today.

Only in Your presence I long to stay
Forever O Lord keep me I pray.
Amen

Have a blessed day with Jesus!

Linking today with Tracy for Winsome Wednesday.
http://www.mydailywalkinhisgrace.com/

We Will See Clearly

Currently I'm reading a series of fiction books about spiritual warfare.  At the end of the first book one of the main characters looses his sight.  Today I started the second book.  It starts at said characters house and talks of how he is coping without his sight.  It got me to thinking about what it would be like to not be able to see.  How hard it would be going from sighted to sightless!  Then another thought came to mind....

How wonderful it is when you go from being blind....sightless....to sighted, after you accept Jesus as your Savior!  Lately I think a lot about how things use to be for me and how they are now.  What a contrast.  A verse immediately came to my mind while thinking about all of this.  It's an even bigger contrast.  Something that all of us as Christians have to look forward too....

1 Corinthians 13:12 amp
For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as in a riddle or enigma], but then [when perfection comes] we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understand fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been fully and clearly known and understood [by God].

Before accepting Christ my life was a blur....everything was dim to dark.  After accepting Christ it was as if I had stepped into a new world....literally!  To an extent that's how it is for everyone as Christians now.  Even though we serve God....life doesn't always make sense.  Our understanding of the things of God is really limited.  We don't usually get to see....or understand....the whole picture of things that happen in our lives.  But one day....when Jesus returns....we will see and understand it all!  We won't be seeing just a blurred reflection, we will be seeing and understanding everything....for the first time....clearly!

Oh what a day that will be!!  What a glorious day!!

Think about it....

We will one day see Jesus....face to face!  All of the questions we have about things of this life won't really matter anymore.  We will understand....and see....fully and clearly! 

Scripture Trails

I love days off when I can get up, open my study Bible, and follow the trail of scriptures from one verse to the next.  Sometimes I can go on for a long time and other times it's only a few verses.  But however far the trail leads....that's where the Lord wants to take me on that day.  Isn't it just so cool how He knows just how far to lead us each time?!

This morning I got out my Jesus Calling devotional....thank you Marge for reminding me how good it is....to get me started.  It's funny how I read today's....which was good....but yesterdays was the one for me today.  I've never really been one to adhere to guidelines very well!  Anyway....I followed the trail....read many great verses....and ended up with this one....

Galatians 5:25

Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives.

Wow!  Isn't God good?!  I read this morning about seizing and holding fast....seeking the Lord my  God with everything in me....how God is faithful....loving Him with every breath I have.....committing myself to Him and His commands wholeheartedly....and finally....following Him in every part of my life!  Hmmmm....think He's trying to tell me something?!

So far today has been great and I am greatly blessed.  Here is a list of some of the scriptures that I referred too.  I read them all in the Amplified because sometimes I need a little more clarification for it to fully come alive to me!

Hebrews 10:23
Deuteronomy 4:29
1 Corinthians 1:9 and 10:13
Deuteronomy 6:5 and 6
Matthew 22:37
Mark 12:29-30
Galatians 5:25

Then the last one was on my journal page;

1 Chronicles 16:25 KJV

For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
He also is to be feared above all gods. 

Be blessed today as you find your own way through the Word of our God.
 

GOD....He Is

GOD....who is He?  

Genesis 17:1
When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, "I am El-Shaddai--God Almighty.  Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life."

GOD took care of Abram and met all of his needs.

GOD....the only one with the power and ability to Meet! Your! Every! Need!  He has unlimited power.  He is all powerful....the supreme power!  He is omnipotent!  GOD....the biggest force on earth and in Heaven.  He is the wind....the fire....and the Spirit that lives in you.  GOD....HE is The Almighty!!

Psalm 139:7
I can never escape from Your Spirit!
   I can never get away from Your presence!

GOD....He is all enveloping.  He is everywhere.  Unseen to the human eye.  Unheard to the human ear.  And yet....He is seen by many and His voice is heard from within.  We can never escape from His presence.  He sees and knows us all....even those who don't know Him.  We are never away from His comforting presence....even when we don't feel Him.  GOD....He is always with us.  GOD....He is omnipresent.  

James 4:8a
Draw near to GOD and He will draw near to you.

Whatever it takes.  Commit yourself to Him.  Commit yourself to His words.  Press into Him.  You will find Him when you reach for Him.

Deuteronomy 6:5
And you shall love the Lord your GOD with all your [mind and] heart and with your entire being and with all your might.

Get Him in your thoughts and your heart....all the way down deep in your soul!  Talk about Him.  Think about Him.  Look for God in everything....everywhere....until you see Him in everything....everywhere.  Be diligent in your life for Him.

Zephaniah 3:17
For the Lord your God is living among you.
He is a mighty Savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
With His love, He will calm all your fears.
He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.

Linking up today with;

http://myfreshlybrewedlife.com/category/the-weekend-brew

JESUS....He Changes Us

As I was strolling through Facebook and came across a status that I can't get out of my mind.

Posted by Coffee and Jesus;

I've found the One my heart loves....His name is Jesus and I've never been the same since.

Wow!!!  What a statement!  That really strikes a chord with me tonight. When I read that statement it sparked something within me....gave me a boost as I remembered all the change that has taken place....and all the change that I still want to take place....within me.  JESUS....there's just something about Him.  It's so true that since I've met Him I too have never been the same....and I am so so thankful!

There's a song that says....


Draw me close to You
Never let me go
I lay it all down again
To here You say that I'm your friend
You are my desire
No one else will do
Nothing else can take your place
To feel the warmth of Your embrace
Help me find a way
to bring me back to You

You're all I want
You're all I ever needed
You're all I want
You're all I want
Help me know You are near
Help me know you are near
Help me know You are near

Beautiful song to start the day with.  Thank You Jesus.

Oh Lord today just draw us close to You.  Fill us up with Your love and strength today Lord.
Help us to run to You when things don't go our way today.  Give us the words to say to others today that need to know that you are all they need.  Just draw us close to You today Lord Jesus.  Closer than we thought possible.  Thank You Lord for all that You have done for us.  We Love You JESUS.
Amen

He Is Holding Us

A few days ago I woke up with a single thought running through my mind....Jesus loves you.  In fact, I wasn't even fully awake when the thought started.  It was that in between state of sleep and being fully aware of what was going on.  Those three words....Jesus loves you....kept replaying over and over in my thoughts.  It was the Lord reassuring me that really....whether I was believing it at that moment or not....everything was okay.  Regardless of my attitude or my faith level....He always loves me.  Not only did He love me but He wasn't going to let me go.  He has me and He has you....holding us in His strong....but gentle hands. 

Isaiah 41-10

Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 49-16a

See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;


Deuteronomy 31:6

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them;  for the Lord your God, He is the one who goes with you.  He will not leave you nor forsake you.

Joshua 1:5b

....as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.  I will not leave you nor forsake you.

I like these scriptures because they tell me that the Lord has us in His care.  He's with us and He's not going to let us go....ever!  We don't need to be afraid of anything. When we feel powerless....when our determination to simply keep putting one foot in front of the other just isn't there anymore....when we feel alone....when we are simply just tired of it all....

HE. Is. Still. Here!!

HE is still holding us up.  And while He is holding us....He has us totally and completely under His wings of love, mercy and protection.  Giving us all....and everything....that we need.  Exactly when we need it.  All we have to do is reach out and accept it all from Him. 

So today know that Jesus is with you always.  Hold on to Him.  Relax....and just simply rest....in the arms and the love of JESUS.

1 Peter 5:7 NRSV

Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He care for you.

Psalm 55:22 AMP

Cast your burden on the Lord (releasing the weight of it) and He will sustain you; He will never allow the (consistently) righteous to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail).






 

Jump In

There are things that you just can't jump into....you just have to think about them for awhile.  For important things, that's me.  I'm a thinker.  The problem is you can think about something so much that you miss an opportunity.  Sometimes you just have to jump in....feet first....and take a chance.  If not, the opportunity for that one thing....you over thought about....may never arise again. 

When it comes to spiritual things...true things of God....you probably shouldn't think too much. That moment in time when you chose not to move....well....it will never come again. Then all you can do is wonder if you missed your opportunity....or will there be another?  Only God knows. 

When I think back on all of the God moments in my life I have never been disappointed.   Many times....when I didn't think about it and just jumped....what I wanted to happen didn't, but other incredible things did.  But for those times when I chose to think and not jump in....nothing at all happened.  That particular time of opportunity will never come again. 

We....I....have to learn to just move in the moment.  Run to the opportunity....GOD....and believe that it will all be good!!  I know from experience that even when I think I can't....with Gods' help I can.  He will let everything be okay.

Proverbs 18:10
The name of the Lord is a strong fortress;
   the godly run to Him and are safe.

Philippians 4:13
For I can do everything through Christ, 
   who gives me strength.

As in most things of life....

You can't go back and reclaim missed opportunities.  All you can do is keep moving forward and pray that God places before you new opportunities for the times you let yourself miss.  Then when He does....that He will give you the courage to just....jump in!

Closer To You Lord

Closer to You Lord
we long to be closer
Let Your unfailing love
draw us all in
There's never a day
You are not with us
Providing and caring
cleansing us within

Closer to You Lord
we long to be closer
Wrapped in Your arms
of love that runs deep
There we find comfort
warmth and protection
All of the love
that we'll ever need

Closer to You Lord
we long to be closer
Fill up our souls
with Your hope complete
Give us back laughter
and joy in the morning
Grace for the moment
and peace oh so sweet

Closer to You Lord
we long to be closer
In Your presence so awesome
tenderness sweeps
You surround us with love
and hide us away
Covered by Your wings
we find strength for our day

Arise! Be Healed!

Can you remember when you first gave your heart to Jesus?  How everything just had a different look to you?  Tonight I was reminded of that....

It was as if I was seeing things through someone else's eyes.  The whole world seemed brighter.  I remember when I looked at the mountains....the trees and flowers....thinking how beautiful they were.  Hearing birds singing and just being captured by the sound!  Never before in my life do I remember thinking things like that.  I also remember how I just couldn't seem to get enough of reading the Bible and looking things up.  And questions....WOW....did I have questions!  It's been six years now and somewhere along the line I stopped looking at things with those new eyes.  I stopped hearing things with that same perception. Eventually I stopped feeling....experiencing....things with the same overwhelming sense of awe that I did. 

Tonight I heard a sermon about death.  The death of me....you....because of circumstances in life.  Because of loss of something in your life.  It could be because you really did experience loss through death....maybe loss because of bad health....loss of job....loss of income....whatever the loss....it has set you back.  One thing after another may be happening and you have been down.  Maybe you even thought about giving up on living your life for the Lord.  Well, here's something you may have forgotten....

Who is the master of keeping you down when nothing seems to be going right in life?  Who gives you thoughts of giving up when problems seem to abound....pile up....and keep you thinking when is life going to get easier?  You guessed it....satan himself.  He has come to do nothing good.  His goal is to steal....kill....and destroy all of us.  The children of the LORD.  That's right.  Satan wants to destroy your hope....your peace....your dreams....your whole life.  In effect....you!   He wants to keep dragging you down until you are ineffective as a Child of GOD.  He doesn't want you to be able to help yourself, let alone help and encourage anyone else.  The flip side of that is....

The Lord has come that we might have a life overflowing with good things! John 10:10 says it this way....

"The thief does not come except to steel, and to kill, and to destroy.  I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

The Lord wants us to experience life His way all the time.  He wants to give us new life.  Satan....the thief....says, "Come on down here with me.  Live even lower....in the pit of defeat....than the valley that you are finding yourself in."  But, Jesus says, "Arise!  Be healed!"  He doesn't want us in that valley living a defeated life!  He wants to take us to the mountain top with Him to live in victory!  Will we live on the mountain top all the time....No.  But we can certainly stay out of the devils pit of defeat!  We have to decide which voice we are going to listen to.  The voice of satan....deception and defeat.  Or the voice of our Savior.  Filled with....

Love....hope....peace....forgiveness....refreshing....grace....abundance....overwhelming times of full and complete happiness!  

It's a daily choice we all have to make for ourselves.  Which will you choose?

Sweet Jesus Peace

Each day this week, before leaving for work, I have turned on some worship music for a few minutes and worshiped the Lord. Then while driving to work I have turned off my radio and talked to the Lord.  After getting to work I turn on more worship music and listen while I work.  It is amazing how different this week has been from the rest of the month.  Actually, for the last few months I have been in a state of unconsciousness as far as God....and the things of Him....go a lot of the time.  I'm not sure why, or even when it started, but this week I just knew I had to do something to change it....get back to doing things I use to do.  So I started with turning the music back on.  Not just any music....no....mostly slow, worshipful  hymns and choruses....

There's something about the old ones that just bring a feeling of peace to me.  The one that really touched me today was....

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus by Helen Lemmel

O soul are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There's light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free.

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus,
look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

When you're tired, or things just keep going wrong, what's the best thing you can do?  Turn to Jesus! Turn your eyes to Jesus....not just your seeing eyes but your soul eyes too....and think only on Him! Before you know it your heart and mind are tuned to Jesus and His peace is flooding you from the inside out.  It seems that I have needed that Sweet JESUS Peace....more than I even knew! 

We all have trials and troubles in our lives and there's nothing, or no one, that we need more than JESUS and His peace.  Jesus will refresh you from the inside out and give you rest from your burdens and cares!  So when things get tough, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus and rest in His peace.  He will take care of us through it all. 

Matthew 11:28

Then Jesus said, "Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."

Romans 8:6

So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death.   But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.

Shake Off Those Heavy Bands

I heard this morning that the Lord doesn't inhabit the complaints of His people, no....He inhabits the praises of His people.  So this morning I just want to say Thank You Lord....Praise YOUR Holy Precious Name.

There is nothing in this world that I want more than to be close to the Lord.  I want His presence to be....closer than close to me as I go through my day. I'm sure that we all want that.  So we just need to praise Him.
 
Prepare us today Lord to be a living sanctuary for You.  We thank You Lord for all You have done for us. You have always been so good to us. Saving us....watching over us....healing us, soul....mind....body....more times than we can count.  Thank You....Thank You Lord.  Amen

Today just decide within yourself that no matter what your day holds....

Shake off those heavy bands
Lift up those holy hands
Let all God's children 
Praise The LORD! 

Psalm 150

¹ Praise the Lord!

Praise God in his sanctuary;
    praise him in his mighty heaven!
² Praise him for his mighty works;
    praise his unequaled greatness!
³ Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn;
    praise him with the lyre and harp!
⁴ Praise him with the tambourine and dancing;
    praise him with strings and flutes!
⁵ Praise him with a clash of cymbals;
    praise him with loud clanging cymbals.
⁶ Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord!

Praise the Lord!

I Will Never Forget

August 10th, 2007....a day I will never forget.

Thank You Jesus for loving me and for forgiving me.  It was one of the hardest days of my life and yet....it was the best.  My life hasn't been the same since.  I can never thank Him enough for all He has done for me!

Thank You Lord!

His Deep Love

God has a deep love for us.  We have deep needs....God has deep love.  Is Gods love enough or do we need something more?  His love washes over....cleans up....our many sins.  His love soothes our troubled minds....hearts.....souls.  His love refreshes our tired....weary....sick bodies.  His love does miracle after miracle for us....if we will only breathe it in and fully accept it.  His love....there is nothing else like it.

It is so hard to understand why we....how we....can sometimes turn our backs on the love of our Lord. Day into day....night into night....we brush it off as if it is just meaningless.  As if we don't value His love....His deep love for us.  What else have we ever had that means as much to us as the love of the Lord?  Nothing....no other love can run as deep as His love. 

Why do so many of us have such a hard time just reaching out and taking hold of the love that the Lord has for us?  The love that He offers to us freely....without condition.  His unconditional love.  It seems that once you know that His unconditional deep love is available to you....you would just reach out and grab hold and never let go.  But at times we do let go.  We let go because of different reasons.  Sometimes because we think that He has let go of us.  That's not true.  It's a lie from the pit of hell....the devil.  Before you know it you may find yourself in a pit....sinking deeper and deeper.  But you know what?  The Lord is still right there with His hand reaching out to you.  Reaching out....waiting for you to take hold One. More. Time!

Nothing else is as valuable to us as His love.  His love means everything.  Without it we would all be lost.  Because of Jesus love there was the cross where His blood was shed.  Where everything that happened was because of His deep love for us.

These are just a few of the things that I have been thinking of and pondering on today.  There is nothing that is really as important to us as His love for us.  Will we totally accept it....or will we just hold on to it for awhile....just when we think we really have a need for it?

Something to think about.

  

He Is Always The Same

God is the same no matter what the hour. He never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is our Rock, our Fortress and our Strength. Though the flower fades His love never fades. It doesn't even grow dim. Our love can go in and out depending on our mood, our feelings. But not Gods. His is the same. It's an everlasting love. YES! He loves us with an everlasting love.

I am up really early again this morning. My main thought is always....Why can't I just sleep? Why doesn't the Lord just do something for me and let me get some much needed good rest and more hours of sleep each night? Well....maybe there is more of a reason than just because my body hurts. Maybe....just maybe....He is wanting to talk with me and I am just having trouble with the listening lately.

Everyday I wake up thinking I need to be different. I need to change the way I'm doing things. I need to get back to reading my Bible everyday like before. I need to talk to God more. I....I....I....I'm thinking that I am the problem! God is a good God and He has everything in control. His control. I just need to rest in that. It can be really hard at times for me to do that....to let go of me. To let God be everything I need. Oh....that can be so hard for me at times! Letting go and just Letting GOD!! That's what I want more than you can even imagine!

Lamentations 3:22-23 tells us this;

Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning.
Great is Your faithfulness.

The Hebrew reads instead of we are not consumed; keeps us from destruction.

I absolutely love that verse! Because of HIS mercy, everyday we get to start over!! Because of His mercy. Because of His grace! Every day God is faithful! Every minute of everyday....

GOD . Is . Faithful!!! I am full of fault....I am full of need....I am full of failure....the list just goes on and on. But it doesn't matter to Him. He sees me and He loves me....unconditionally!! He is full of mercy....for me. He is full of compassion....for me. He is full of Love....for me. When it seems that I don't have what it takes to keep going in this life....He is there waiting to give me everything that I need to get up and make it. One . More . Time.


Here is a list of verses to read;
Hebrews 13:8
Psalm chapter 18
Isaiah 40:8
Jeremiah 31:3

I don't know if this is for anyone other that myself this morning and really....it doesn't matter. This is what seems to be on my heart to share today.

Father God I pray today that You keep all of us in Your care. Wrap Your loving arms around us and help us to feel loved. That can be so hard for some of us. Help us to let You be all that we need. Give us peace, strength and courage to keep going no matter what our individual issues are that we face today. Thank You for loving us and saving us. Thank You for being everything we need. Thank You for the joy that I believe You are going to instill in each and everyone of us today! Thank You for sending Jesus to be our Savior. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You. We praise You and thank You for being our Rock and our Fortress in times of our need. Thank You.
In Jesus name...Amen and Amen.

The Mess Of Me

Breathing in

breathing out

Receiving love

not giving out

We go through life

without a care

We live and breathe

but is He there

Our life is fast

a mist so fine

We look about

where is the time

I thought of this

was then I saw

The mess of me

the hurt so raw

O Lord you knew

where my heart was

An empty vault

devoid of Love

Then I saw

You in the midst

Of where I lived

of what I missed

I searched and searched

but couldn't find

One moment when

my life was fine

Was then You came

and brought to me

The things that only

I could see

My whole life shown

before my eyes

I could not breathe

I could not die

It was right then

I knew I must

Make it right

where was my trust

You worked within

to help me find

Just what I needed
for my moment in time

Then You came
You filled the space
You gave to me
such amazing grace

You saved my soul
You filled my heart
With all the Love
You could impart

Life is still
yet just a mist
But O my Lord
I won't be missed

I'll cross that river
see Your face
And my new home
in Heavens gate