The Time Is Now To Reach Out

This morning finds me in a state of awe. I am so very thankful for the life God has given me; for the freedom I find in Christ Jesus; for the wonderful love of family and dear friends; for the freedom of movement within my body; for the immeasurable joy of having His peace deep within; for this time in my life and for every experience I have encountered throughout my life that has brought me this far, both good and bad; because it has all shaped me and molded me into who I am today: Child of the Most High God! 
I am more grateful than words can describe for His undying love, His amazing grace, and His divine deliverance! I am eternally grateful that I have come to know HOLY SPIRIT, my dearest friend; my comforter, my instructor, my counselor, my guide, my companion, my peace, and so much more. He is the lover of my soul and He completes me.... and I am forever grateful.
I just cannot imagine anyone's life without the amazing love of God and the fellowship with God our Father who watches over us. It's hard to understand why people have not accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior and those who have not acknowledged Holy Spirit within their life. I just can't imagine why anyone would choose not to seek His presence and the abundance of peace and total deliverance from a life of sin and oppression He brings. Accepting Jesus into your life is a sure thing!  It's a win win situation! There are no negatives with accepting Jesus as Lord because with God on your side( Father God, Lord Jesus, and Holy Spirit; all three in one) there is no way you can ever be defeated unless you choose to not follow His guidance.
God is our strength and our refuge, a very present help in time of trouble(Psalm 46:1). Where can you hide that He is not there(Jeremiah 23:24)? What can you think about, speak, or do that He doesn't know about already(Psalm 139:1-5)? His ways are so far above ours(Isaiah 55:8) and He desires to give us only His Best in every situation; so why would anyone choose not to have Him in their life? Who can they turn to when they need someone to really listen and not be condemning or judgmental of what they have to say? God sent Jesus into the world, not to condemn the world; but that through Him everyone who would believe might be saved(John 3:16,17).
God has heard it all, knows it all, seen it all and still loves each of us above it all. In spite of who and what we are, He still loves us unconditionally. So if you don't know Him and the power of His might; I urge you to take the most important step you will ever take and come before Him with all honesty, just as you are, and ask Him into your heart! and when you ask His forgiveness for your past sins, He is faithful and just to forgive your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness(1 John 1:9). Just as you are, simple as that, believing upon Jesus' works for your atonement from sins because we can never be good enough, clean enough, or righteous enough; but through the works Jesus' completed for us, we can come boldly before the throne of God and leave recreated in Christ Jesus! He will recreate you into His child and you will never be the same again- I guarantee it!  
He's as close as the very mention of His name, and today can be the first day of the rest of your new life in Christ Jesus! With Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you can look forward to tomorrow and every day thereafter! His Saving Grace is throughout all Eternity! The Time Is Now to Reach Out and Touch His nail scarred hands and accept Him into your life! Please don't delay; we are not promised another day, another moment, another second! Life is short- why not enjoy it as a child of God?
Have a wonderfully blessed day, dear friend;  God loves you and so do I~~~

Can You See Beyond- How Clear Is Your Vision

A new day has arisen as the wonders of God's divine love continues to unfold. What will you allow Him to do within your life today? He grants each of us fresh mercies every morning and is ready to shower us with blessings beyond our comprehension if we can look beyond what we see and re-focus our attention off our self and onto Him, His will, and His way in our life. So can you look beyond what you naturally see and see Him moving in your life today? Can you dare to see the awesomeness of God; or do you have tunnel vision? Can you only seeing what's there in front of your eyes; or can you by faith see Him moving on your behalf today?
Our God is a God of More than Enough and He has a plan for each of us far greater than anything we can ever imagine! But we must get our focus adjusted so we can see His blessings as they come our way. God has a plan for each of our lives that include blessings beyond measure; If only we can look beyond what we see with our natural eyes and dare to look through eyes of faith. It's through those eyes of faith that we know God desires to bless and prosper us because His Word declares it in Jeremiah 29:11("For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you hope and a future") It's by faith that I have proved Him time and time again to be Forever Faithful to fulfill His Word as He has promised; and it's by faith, we can begin basking in those blessings today; if only we can dare to believe and focus our faith to receive; knowing that He keeps us all covered in the palms of His hands.
As you begin this work week I pray you will readjust your sights so you can see more clearly the author and finisher of your faith. Look beyond what you see naturally and begin to see God's plans for your life unfolding as your faith begins to arise within you. He loves you unconditionally and even tho' you may have lost your sight along the way; when you reach up to Him, He will always reach down to you. He is quick to pick you up in His loving arms and set you back on the right path, while leading and guiding you each step of the way.
So don't be defeated today. You are child of the Most High God and there is Nothing He won't do to help you be ALL you can be for His kingdom sake. So rise up and shake off those chains of doubt and despair; pull up those boot strings and tighten those laces; God has a work for you to do and He has nothing but good things planned for your life.You just have to keep your eyes focused on Him to begin enjoying the blessings of His Amazing Grace as He guides you along your way. This is the day the Lord has made; Let's rejoice and be glad in it!!!
Have a wonderfully blessed day, dear friends, God loves you and so do I~~~

Dare To Soar To Heights Unknown

 "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty; I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust." Psalm 91. 
When the storms of life surround us, it's always such a comfort to know that under the shadow of the Almighty, there is safety, there is peace, and there is joy to be found as He takes us from one glory to another; to new Heights Unknown!
Knowing in Whom you believe allows your Faith to make yesterday's trials a stepping stone, today a new beginning, and tomorrow a limitless possibility! The building of our tomorrow begins with what we do and how we handle life-changing circumstances today. Do we dare to step out in faith, believing, or do we remain dormant and allow our current situations to win over us? Jesus came that we have life, and have it more abundantly! He suffered and died so we could live in perfect health; mind, soul and body; and in the liberty whereby He set us Free!  
We all experience times when life throws us some mighty big punches and a lot of curve balls that literally knock us off our feet; but knowing we have a Secure Safety Net ready to catch us if we fall brings peace and security, because that safety net is the arms of Almighty God! Knowing He watches over us to protect and shield us brings out a persevering spirit within that makes us more than conquerors in all our ways.
Many times in life, we must go through times that are very challenging and difficult for us to understand the 'why's and 'how come's; but it's during these times that God takes the bad and turns it around for our good. He takes what we are and begins to refine us; slowly but steadily grinding off the rough edges, buffing out the flaws, working out the dullness until finally we are ready; His Light comes shining through and He's made a diamond out of us! A rare and unique diamond, created by God's own hand, that shines forth in the midst of our darkness; that sparkles in the noon day; whose rays burst forth as the sun(Son) beams down upon it, adding glorious luster to all around.
Knowing Whose you are and in Whom you trust allows the joy of the Lord to arise and shine forth in the midst of life's storms; and knowing we are His Child that He Loves Unconditionally brings a warmth of security that spreads throughout our entire being. Having the Word deeply planted within us, grounded and rooted in faith, allows that awareness to spring forth in the worst of times; bringing calm assurance and peace within as only He supplies!
You are God's Child, Child of the Most High God; That's Who you are! Christ in you, the Hope of Glory! As we hold on to the Hope to which we are called, the trials of today become our launching pad that soars us to new heights tomorrow. You are under the shadow of the Almighty, Who watches over all you do; so keep holding on! Today's stumbling blocks become tomorrow's stepping stones. Dare to be an over comer! Dare to soar to heights unknown through Christ Jesus! All things are possible to those who believe! 
The Best is Yet to Come; So Dare to Soar to Heights Unknown!  Dare to Believe and be Blessed, dear friends. God loves you and so do I~~~

Safety As The Storm Passes By

"In the dark of the midnight have I oft hid my face, While the storm howls above me, and there's no hiding place; 'Mid the crash of the thunder, Precious Lord, hear my cry, Keep me safe till the storm passes by! Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more, Till the clouds roll forever from the sky; Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand; Keep me safe till the storm passes by. Many times Satan whispered, There is no need to try, For there's no end of sorrow, there's no hope by and by; But I know Thou art with me, and tomorrow I'll rise, Where the storms never darken the skies. When the long night has ended and the storms come no more, Let me stand in Thy presence on the bright peaceful shore; In that land where the tempest never comes, Lord, may I Dwell with Thee when the storm passes by. Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more, Till the clouds roll forever from the sky; Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand; Keep me safe till the storm passes by."

Amidst all the storms through the night, this precious old song repeatedly comes to mind and as they continue this morning I'm reminded that He watches over me to protect and supply my needs through every storm, so I relax and I rest in His presence! There is nothing greater than knowing the God who created all heaven and earth and all herein; Who controls the wind and weather; Who sends the sunshine and the rain; Who holds this universe together with His great Love and domain; Who understands each little heartbreak, Who even knows the pain we bear, And Who will never get too busy to give an answer to our prayer. My God can do anything, anything; yes anything; My God can do anything; He made this earth with all its fullness and all that time shall bring, My God can do anything!

It's wonderful to feel the peace that passes all understanding! The calm assurance in knowing God is in control of your life; of the elements around you; and there is no need to worry over the issues of this life; because He's got this! It's all in His Hands! So let's learn to relax amidst the storms! Learn to trust in the God Who is More than Enough! Learn to trust Him for any problem we encounter since He is with us whatever comes our way. He Loves us more than anything this world can ever afford! So when the storms come your way, know that He will keep you safe and secure within His sheltering arms; so just relax in His presence!

I pray you have a wonderfully blessed day today, dear friends, because God's got this! God loves you and so do I~~~

He Loves Us Just The Way We Are!

While reading in Paul's writings to 'God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi', (Philippians 1) and I was drawn to how he continually strives to inspire them to dress their mind with good things.  He encourages them to meditate on the Best instead of the worst, to think on things that are honest and pure, instead of false and negative reports; things that are worthwhile to be praised and not cursed. He encourages them to put into practice the things they had learned, whether by sight or speech, as the Spirit had enlightened them!  

He sums it up by saying, "Finally brethren; whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you."Philippians 4:8-9. 

So, as you ready your self for the day, take time to fill your heart and mind with God's Word so you can start your day feeling refreshed and equipped to accomplish whatever God has planned for your day. Just as a warm shower refreshes and revives us, allowing time to enter into God's presence and allowing His Spirit to flow through us, refreshes and revives our minds. It not only gives you a good start for your day, it gives you the warm assurance of being loved by your Heavenly Father, Almighty God!

God's love for us is unconditional, and nothing you or I can ever do, or not do, can separate us from His love. We may fail along life's way but no matter, He loves us anyway! Even tho we may never obtain the characteristics of Christianity we feel necessary to obtain, He still loves us just the same! He doesn't love us any more or any less based on what we are, on what we might become, or what we do. He loves us just the way we are, right now! That's right! Just the way we are! The God of all creation, our Heavenly Father, loves us just the way we are! Isn't that amazing? Doesn't it make you feel all warm and humbled by His unconditional love and amazing grace?

God loves each one of us and girding up our minds with positive vibes, instead of negative aspects gives us a peace that goes without measure! God continually blesses us with different gifts and talents, not to store up for ourselves but to share with others; gifts of love and caring, gifts of health and prosperity, gifts of kindness and giving to those in need. He wants to be included in our everyday living in thought and deed. He is our proud Papa, our Daddy God(Abba) and He desires to fellowship with us continually! Even tho we may feel like we don't measure up, nothing we can ever do will separate us from His love. Romans 8:38,39 "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  

I pray as you go about your day that you will be mindful of God's gift to you and all mankind; His beloved son, Jesus!  And I pray you will come to know Him as your Lord and Savior and your dearest friend who loves you beyond measure. 

Have a wonderfully blessed day, dear friends- God loves you and so do I~~~

As Little Seedlings In The Garden of Life, How Is Your Nourishment

" Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men; The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."(Philippians 4:4-7 NKJV). What wonderful hope we have in Christ Jesus; our Lord, our Savior, our Healer, our Deliverer, our Conqueror, Our All in All! What a mighty God we serve! 
Paul encourages us to Rejoice in the Lord in good times and bad so that others may see His good work in our lives and become followers as well. It's in the peace we portray while encountering hardships that others see Christ Jesus in us, so he encourages us to guard our hearts and minds so nothing comes forward that would be offensive or cause us to act out of control. The peace of God allows us to step back from offenses and let Holy Spirit take over for us. It's in His power we are made more than over-comers and we shine forth in the darkness that surrounds us! 
As followers in Christ Jesus, we are encouraged to grow up in him and become no more like little children as we put away childish behaviors and grow into His holy plan! We are like little seeds in the garden of life and as the Word(the seed) is sown, it begins to breakdown and grow down deep; then as God waters the seed and the Sun shines brightly down upon that seed, it will mature and spring forth speedily. God watches over and cares for His garden filled with different flowers of all colors, shapes, and sizes(maturing followers) and then there are the little seedlings(His little children); and oh how they bring joy and admiration as He watches them thrive and grow in the beauty and splendor of His Son Jesus!
However, this maturation doesn't come easily; and certainly not from a lack of nourishment(direct communication with the Lord). These little seedlings require daily nourishment to grow and thrive in strength and beauty. Their roots must be firmly planted and given daily nourishment if expected to grow and mature; and likewise, we must not forget the maturing flowers, because if left un-nourished they will wilt and decay while trying to stay strong! 
Just as these precious flowers grow up in Him, Paul refers to a maturity in Christ Jesus that allows us to become strong enough to withstand the damaging elements of life that surround us; yet leaves us with a sense of peace that make us more than over comers through Christ Jesus!  Allowing God time to nourish and grow us daily, assures we are being watered from His Never Ending Fountain that supplies all the nourishment we need to thrive and draw strength under His care! 
My prayer for you, dear friends, is that you become Seeds of Righteousness as you enjoy Him in all His Glory and that your souls be filled with Joy Unspeakable as you develop a closer relationship with Him each morning! Have a wonderfully blessed day, dear friends. God loves you and so do I~~~

Come Rain, Come Shine, Come Stormy Weather- God Is In Control

This is the day the Lord has made, Let's rejoice and be glad in it! The showers have been off and on throughout the weekend refreshing and replenishing the earth and more showers are on their way. Will there be thunder? Will there be lots of rain- or just showers? Will we use umbrellas or just try to run fast enough to avoid getting wet?Will the showers bring on storms? Decisions, concerns, wonders- life is filled with all that and so much more. But somehow, knowing God is in it all and working within us through it all, makes it all so amazingly wonderful. 

Life is how we perceive it and how we choose to accept each change, both good and bad, that grows us into who we are and who we will become for His glory sake.The Word of God declares in Jeremiah 29:11, "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." God has our future all laid out and He desires not just a good life, but actually, an abundant life for each one of us. Whatever comes and whatever may go, the assurance that God has us all in the palm of His hands can bring about the greatest peace in the midst of our storms.

So, whether you are blessed with showers, or an abundance of rainfall, or even endure a storm or two today, may you look at each with the assurance that you are not alone. God is right there with you and will guide you through it all. May life treat you kindly and if you encounter roadblocks along life's way, may you always remember God is greater than any thing this world has to offer and certainly greater than anything that may come against you. So enjoy all the amazing wonders this day has to offer and SMILE! God loves you and so do I~~~

Weeping May Endure For The Moment; But Oh The Joy That Comes In The Morning

Ever wonder why there are times we seek God for answers and can't seem to hear from Him? Or when you feel God is silent and you wonder if your prayers are even getting thru? Or you pray for God to move and He seems so far away, like He has distanced Himself from you and you can't understand why?  

Could it be that He didn't do the moving away? And if He didn't move, who actually moved away? And is He really being silent? Or could it be that He's heard every word, heard every prayer, and knows exactly what you're thinking even right now?  And Could it be that He's already given His answer, BUT since it didn't figure into your thinking of an answer and because it didn't render the results you were expecting, could it be that you just tuned that answer out and continue to seek the answer you feel is right to meet the need at hand? Could it be? 

We know from His Word that He hears and meets our Needs and we know that His ways are far above our ways, and that His thinking is not at all like ours. In Isaiah 55:8-9, He declares, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, "says the Lord."For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." The human rationale within us often denies hearing God's divine answer and convinces us that we haven't received our answer yet; when it's really not 'His Will' we are seeking after all.

Most of us have been around this old world long enough to have experienced a lot of things needing God's help; so we go to God and tell Him all about the problem and expect Him to move; but do we really want Him to answer in His way? That's the key to this whole scenario; truly allowing God to answer in HIS WAY, in HIS TIME, and in HIS WILL; and that's what He does best! 
Learning to accept His divine answer with our human thinking is difficult to say the least! And having to wait upon the Lord can be painful, can be grievous, can be frustrating; until we come to trust that God's ways are not like our ways, and His will is not like ours, and His timing is certainly not like ours; so we must learn to wait... and wait... and wait upon the Lord. And as we truly wait upon the Lord with all our heart, we learn that God restores our hope and renews our strength, as declared in Isaiah 40:31, "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint."

Throughout life, I continue learning to wait upon the Lord for many things, but as I wait I'm taking to heart the Serenity Prayer as I pray, "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is; not as I would have it. Trusting that He will make all things right if i surrender to His Will So that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next, Amen" 
This prayer we pray at the close of every Celebrate Recovery where lives have been completely Redeemed, Renewed, Refreshed, Restored, Healed, and Set Free through Christ Jesus and to Him we give ALL glory and honor!  So I've learned to accept answers that were not my will, but were in my Father's Perfect Will and I knew His answer was Best for all concerned. Through it all, I've come to totally surrender my will to the Lord and I've learned to trust Him with every area of my life; and with Every Thing and Every One that affects the life He has given me.  
I've  also learned not to give up but to press on; To press on toward the higher calling in Christ Jesus, knowing that my due season in almost in sight; and could be just around the corner if I don't give up hope! I press on with expectancy and trust in my Lord Who loves me so unconditionally that He gave His All so I could have Complete Freedom through Him in All things. I press on knowing that Victory is mine and because He lives; I too shall live with Him forevermore! I press on knowing that I am His and He is mine, forever and ever throughout eternity, Amen!

So Be encouraged! Don't give up! "Weeping may endure for the moment, but Joy comes in the morning(Psalm 30:5). Your answers could be right around the corner if you just don't give up! Stay strong; and stand on His Word! Get the Word inside you, put it up on note cards or post-it notes in front of your eyes; Keep it ever before you! God is Forever Faithful and hears our faintest cries. Our weeping endures only for a moment but oh the joy that comes in the morning, as Our Heavenly Father wraps His loving arms around us and sheds His blessings upon us, recreating, restoring, reviving, and refreshing us anew! 
God cares more than we could ever know or begin to realize! So we must trust Him and not allow our hearts to become discouraged. Now is not the time to slack off; Now is the time to press on in faith, believing and fully relying on Him as our Hope and Deliverer in All things!  It's now that we must trust that even though it seems like nothing is happening, God is preparing our answer with His very BEST, and soon the wait will be over and Victory will be ours. So let's keep pressing forward, knowing that our answer is almost here; In God's way, In His will, and in His time! 
Have a wonderfully blessed day, dear friend. God loves you and so do I~~~

Finding His Timing Is Always Perfect

Went walking early this morning and sat on my patio for a while, just feeling grateful to be in His presence and feel Him beside me, working within me, all that is needed one moment at a time to Just Be.  All that I am, I owe to Him. Every breath I take, every movement I make, every thought I process is in His hands as I choose to leave them there! It's my choice and I am so proud to make such a wise choice after all the foolish things I have done in my earlier life; to leave my cares in the hands of the Master!
     I know that whatever I face today and in the future, He will handle because He has me in the palm of His hands and I choose to stay there! Oftentimes waiting upon His answer makes me doubt, but then I hear His still small voice reassuring me that He is with me and He's got this; and I know He does! It's wonderful to know God never leaves me and is ever present to lead me in all my ways as my mind is stayed upon Him!
     I find in life that waiting is very difficult for us as humans! We tend to want answers right away and as we pray we expect God to answer quickly when He already knows our need; but because He sees what is out before us, He may withhold the answer due to needing to prepare the end results(whether it be circumstance, timing, or to prepare the other person's heart); and God seeing the whole picture will not answer until every thing is in His time, His way, and His perfect Will!
     In Psalm 27 David was attempting to prevent us from following his path in v.14 as he writes to "Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart: wait, I say, on the Lord." David teaches us to let our hearts be fixed, trusting in God until our mind is stayed on the Lord while submitting our whole heart to the Lord; because it is with clean hands and a pure heart, that we come before the Lord and are able to submit our will totally into His keeping! David learned this lesson and was so submissive that God called David, "A man after God's Own Heart; and this title still accompanies David today!
     So whatever you may be waiting upon to be answered today, learn from David and remember the Word in Isaiah 40:31, "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint."
     Years of learning from trial and error and humbly kneeling in God's grace has brought me assurance that He will never lead me where His grace cannot keep me! Whatever I need, He supplies; wherever I go, He leads; and whatever He tells me to do, He empowers me from within! He never leaves nor forsakes me, because I am His and He is mine; forever and ever throughout eternity!
     I pray you can draw strength from His Word today and that you too, learn to wait upon His timing as you allow His Will to guide you in all you say and do!
Have a wonderfully blessed day, dear friend; God loves you and so do I~~~
   

  

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Reflecting His Love In Our Lives

Today brings a sense of refreshing and a time to reflect on the many ways God has delivered through the week and I can't help but praise Him for His healing touches upon the lives of my family and friends I hold dear to my heart. He continues to bless my life with miracles and provisions in ways that leave me feeling overwhelmed at His Love! What a Healing Jesus we have in Him! What an Unconditional Love He shares with all of us! What a caring God who meets our needs and guards our footsteps while leading and guiding us each moment of each day along life's way!  
Not only has He forgiven our past sins, His Power continually works within us to assure an abundant life as our minds are Him. His Freedom and Deliverance over past hangups, from past hurts, and past habits is a reminder that just as I have freely received this precious gift 'Paid For In Full by Christ Jesus'; now I must share it with others in need. Freely I received so Freely I must share His Love with those I meet along life's way.
We are encouraged in Colossians 3:12-17 NIV "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace, And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Paul teaches us to be mindful of our new life in Christ Jesus because people can be quick to judge and throw wounding words; but he teaches us to quickly forgive; otherwise we might say or do something that would cause our testimony of deliverance to be of none effect. As God has forgiven us, we must forgive others so our prayers and Christian walk are not hindered. 
So today let's seek to be kind one to one another; tenderhearted forgiving one another, even as God for Christ sake has forgiven us(Eph. 4:32).  Let's shine forth the fruit of His Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) as we display His Love in all we do and say! Let's be a reflection of our Lord Jesus as we follow in His footsteps today! 
Enjoy this glorious day God has given us and be blessed, dear friends. God loves you and so do I~~~

He Whom The Son Sets Free Is Free Indeed

Last night I witnessed one of the largest displays of God's Amazing Grace as we gathered in celebration of lives who had recovered from past hurts, hang-ups and bad habits. Men and women who had been so beaten down, so broken, so bent in despair, so lost in hopelessness, so deep in sin until that day; that glorious day Jesus entered their lives and set them Free! His Loving Hand reached down and offered them a new Hope; offered Deliverance; offered a New Way; offered Freedom; and they reached up and took hold of His hand that brought them Freedom!
Jesus told us in John 8:36 that whoever the Son sets Free is Free Indeed and these men and women are truly free indeed! Delivered and Set Free by the Blood of Jesus through God's Amazing Grace, these men and women once bound in the chains of their past, marched across stage one at a time holding their past marked on the front of large signs and then victoriously flipped the sign over to hold high their new found Freedom in Christ Jesus!
No longer bound to their past life of hurts and despair, no longer bound to abuse and brokenness, no longer bound by drugs or alcohol, no longer bound to a life of sin; these men and women boldly profess they are are more than Overcomers, they are Victors in Christ Jesus! And you could feel all of Heaven rejoicing as these brave men and women unashamedly profess Christ Jesus as Lord over it all!
No more shackles, no more chains, no more bondage, But Free In Christ Jesus! What a difference His New Way makes in our lives; a new way to live free from all sin and brokenness in Christ Jesus!  And you can live Free too, if only you will reach up and take His nail-scarred Hand and receive Him into your heart as your Lord and Savior! Think about it!
Have a wonderfully blessed day, dear friends. God loves you and so do I~~~

Are You All Powered Up And Ready For Service?

Are you ready to make this day the best it can be? Psalms 37:23 tells us, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way." Everything that comes your way today can be a God given opportunity if you remember to acknowledge Him in all your ways as noted in (Proverbs 3:5-7), "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."  
So instead of going blind-sighted throughout your day, why not look for God's hand in the midst of your encounters? You never know when one of those encounters will produce a "mighty work of God."  
Jesus said in Luke 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised." As He ministered to the great multitudes of people and saw their many needs, he told his followers in Mt 28:19-20, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you, and surely I am with you always, even to the end of the world."
As followers of Jesus Christ, we are to be about our Father's business still today; sharing His Word, His Hope, and His Grace to all we meet. His saving grace continues today; His healing virtue still flows to all who believe! Our God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34) and what He did in the past for one person, He will do the same for me and you. But we must believe so we can receive; and before we can believe, we must be able to hear the Word. So there must be workers in the fields sharing the Word for people to hear, to believe, and to receive! 
God is the Source that supplies all knowledge, all wisdom, and all power needed for us to act on His Word. Jesus tells His followers in Acts 1:8, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Think about this wonder-working power Jesus instructed His disciples to wait on. Why? Because Holy Spirit is the power that strengthens us, that empowers us, that works within us; invigorating our senses, sharpening our skills, and empowering us with boldness to proclaim the Gospel unto the uttermost parts of the earth!   
Paul had received Holy Spirit and boldly declared in Philippians 4:13, "I can do ALL things through Christ which strengthens me!" And with our minds stayed on Him having Holy Spirit within, we too can proclaim "Nothing Is Impossible" in Jesus' name!
Have a wonderfully blessed day, dear friend. God loves you and so do I~~~

We Are In Survival Mode.....Got Your Armour On?

We've all heard stories where someone displays an incredible amount of strength during a life threatening episode requiring a quick response to save them self or others from impending doom and afterwards are bewildered at the strength acquired and don't know where that burst of strength came from; but most agree God was in it....and they would be correct. 
God created within each of us what is known as a "fight or flight” response built within the autonomic nervous system of our adrenal glands that allow hormones to be quickly released at the threat of impending danger to increase our heart rate, our blood pressure, increase the amount of oxygen we breathe in, and increase our energy and strength in a rapid defense mode against imminent danger.
In today's world, we all face impending dangers as satan dares to wound, to kill, and to destroy God's children.....But GOD!  God, in all His infinite wisdom, knows of satan's deceptive schemes so He not only created within our human bodies this defense mechanism that automatically goes to work for our survival physically; He also created within our minds the power of His Spirit to equip us against the spiritual attacks satan throws at us. 
The spiritual power comes by being fully clothed with the Whole Armor of God noted in Ephesians 6:10-12 NKJV, "Finally my brethren be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."
Paul goes on to advise us (v.13-18) "Therefore take up the Whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints."
As children of God we have no need to fear the enemy's attack; but we must be ready at any given second to guard and defend our self, our families, and those we care about, from satans' fiery darts and evil schemes.  Everything we need to be victorious has already been created within each of us by Our Creator; enabling us to be more than conquerors with Him guiding our way; and we can be confident that No weapon formed against us shall ever prosper with God on our side. 
So how about it? Let's get armed and ready for service in the battle of our Lord. Let's be prepared and stand guard; clothed in the Whole Armor of God! Let's be ALL we can be for the Army of the Lord, and in Jesus' name winning every battle with the Lord on our side!  We are in survival mode.... Got Your Armor On? 
Have a wonderful victorious day, dear friends, because God loves you and so do I~~~

Can You See Your Self Through His Eyes?

     Ever wonder what this world would be like if we could all see ourselves as God sees us? "His children" God's child, Happy and Free; enjoying all the fullness of life He predestined! 

As children of God, we should feel a warm sense of security; knowing there is nothing our Daddy God(Abba) will not do to assure we have ALL we need to enjoy an abundant life. 

     The Word declares that we were chosen in God before the creation of the world to be His children; to be His sons and daughters by adoption through Christ Jesus; into the very Family of God

(Ephesians 1:4-5). He made us unique for a specific reason; instilling certain traits and qualities deep within that enable us to accomplish His perfect plan for our lives. As we grow and mature in spiritual knowledge and wisdom, the Holy Spirit ignites those traits causing a certain 'fire shut up in our bones' to come alive!  

     God is doing new things within each of us continually; and His glorious power is being revealed more now, than ever before. Now is the time to see ourselves through His eyes! To see ourselves as Children of the Most High God! Victorious over all things the enemy dares to throw our way because we are armed with God's Strength and in the Power of His Might!  

     Dear friend, God sees you strong and whole! He sees you blessed and prosperous! He sees you courageous and confident! He sees you fully capable to do all things through Him! He sees you Free from all bondage! He sees you Spiritually Whole! He sees you Complete in Him! So why are you not enjoying this beautiful life He designed just for you? Probably because you don't know who you are in Christ Jesus; that God is your Father and that you are His beloved child.
     When you take time to Search the scriptures and develop that father/child relationship, you will come to realize just whose you are in Christ Jesus. If you can dare to see your self through His eyes; to see His unconditional Love for you, His child; you can enjoy the life God created just for you and feel His Smile upon your face. As His child, He will guide you into all truth as He walks alongside you, working whatever is needed to accomplish all things for your good!

     I pray you will come to know Him and the power thereof; and I pray you have a wonderfully blessed day, because God Loves You and so do I~

How Majestic Is Your Name

O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth! We lift up and magnify Your name in all the earth! You are the Prince of peace, our Mighty God; Sovereign Lord; in all the earth there is none like You, Lord! 
You created the heavens and the earth with all its vast fullness, then set the world in motion. You created all of nature; all that we see around us, you created. 
You are the very air I breathe, the wind beneath my wings, the movement of every joint; the joy of my heart, the lover of my soul. All that I am and all I ever hope to be is in You, Lord! My Redeemer, my Savior, my Lord forevermore!
"Lord, I lift Your name on high; Lord, I love to sing Your praises; I'm so glad You're in my life; I'm so glad You came to save us. You came from Heaven to earth, to show the way; from the earth to the cross, my debt to pay; from the cross to the grave, from the grave to the sky; Lord, I lift your name on high!" 
Psalm 100 encourages us to "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!"
So I will bless the Lord with my whole heart; with all that I am I will bring glory and honor to His holy name: Lord of Lords, King of Kings, Mighty God, Everlasting Father; Prince of Peace! Forever and ever, may You be glorified in all I do!

His Strength Begins When Ours Comes To An End....

 "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength, But sometimes I wonder what He can do for me; No great success to show, No glory of my own; yet in my weakness He is there to let me know: His strength is perfect when our strength is gone; He'll carry us when we can't carry on; Raised in His power the weak becomes strong; His strength is perfect, His strength is perfect. We can only know the power that He holds, When we truly see how deep our weakness goes; His strength it must begin, When ours comes to an end; He hears our humble cry and proves again; His strength is perfect when our strength is gone; He'll carry us when we can't carry on; Raised in His power the weak become strong, His strength is perfect, His strength is perfect." 
I was awakened with these words going over and over in my mind so I pray you will gain strength in knowing that it is through Christ and Him alone, that we gain strength to overcome obstacles and tough times in our life(Philippians 4:13). Circumstances will change and time will go on; but getting through those tough times can often leave one weary and heavy ladened, and very often take a toll on one's faith unless we are anchored, safe and secure in God's Word.
Filling our mind with His Word prevents an open door for negative thinking so we must "keep our minds with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life"(Prov 4:23). Left unguarded our minds become a playground for satan's deceptive and devisive schemes; leaving doubt and gloom, in place of hope and peace through Christ Jesus.  By example, Jesus taught us to rise up early in the morning and spend that much needed alone time with God, where we gain wisdom and power needed to face challenges of the day ahead. As we take one day at a time as Jesus notes in Mt 6:34, leaning upon Him to lead our way, we are strengthened with His might and His power to become more than conquerors through Him who Loves us(Rom 8:37)! 
Circumstances will come and go; but the one sure constant in this life is that God Never Changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever(Hebrews 13:8); and because He is no respecter of persons(Acts 10:34), what He did for someone in the days of old, He will do the same for you and me today. All it takes is our total surrender to Him leading our way, as noted in Prov.3:5-6,"Trust in the Lord with all our heart, and lean not unto our own understanding; but in all our ways, we acknowledge the Lord, He will direct our path." With God leading our way, we are not defeated, but rise Victoriously! Praise The Lord!
Dear friends, As Christians we hold the power within through Him Who loves us; and in our weakness, He is made strong! Jesus is the Way, The Truth, and the Life; and He is truly All we ever need to make it through this world. I pray you will allow Him to guide you through this life so you will have a wonderfully blessed day! God loves you and so do I~~~

Where Is Your Guiding Light In The Midst of The Storm

     "There's a lighthouse on the hillside that overlooks life's sea; When I'm tossed it sends out a light, 'tis a light that I might see; and the light that shines in darkness now, will safely lead us o'er; if it wasn't for the lighthouse my ship would be no more. Everybody that lives around us says, "tear that lighthouse down, the big ships don't sail this way anymore, there's no use of it standing around" Then my mind goes back to that stormy night, when just in time I saw the light; yes the light from that old lighthouse that stands up there on the hill; and I thank God for the lighthouse, I owe my life to Him; For Jesus is the lighthouse and from the rocks of sin, He has shone a light around me that I could clearly see; If it wasn't for the lighthouse, tell me where would this ship me?"
     And oh, how I thank God for that Lighthouse! That Light that shined far out into that stormy night, over the bashing waves of gloom and despair, penetrating the darkness that had surrounded me; when through the darkness, I saw the Light that guided me safely into those outstretched hands of Jesus Christ.
     "I had journeyed through the long dark night out on the open sea; by faith alone, sight unknown; and yet His eyes were watching me. I've had visions and I've had dreams; I've even held them in my hands; But I never knew they could slip right through, like they were only grains of sand. I have been young but I'm older now; and there has been beauty these eyes have seen; but it was in the night, through the storms of my life, that's where God proved His love for me. The anchor holds tho' the ship is battered; the anchor holds tho' the sails are torn; I have fallen on my knees as I face the raging seas, and the anchor holds in spite of the storm!"
     And today that anchor still holds; and that Light still shines out into the darkness of a sinful, lost, and dying world! It shines so we never have to walk alone in darkness, because Jesus is the Light of the World, and whoever
believes in Him will never have to abide in darkness. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and no man comes to the Father but through Him, Jesus Christ.(paraphrased vs.John 8:12, 12:46, and 14:6). It doesn't matter how tattered or worn our sails may be, His Guiding Light will still lead us safely home. There is no need to continue struggling under the storms of this life, when the Beacon of Light is shining brightly; beckoning us to come home, to the shores of Life Everlasting and Free in Jesus Christ!
     So wherever you are in your ocean of despair, Jesus wants to guide you safely home. He wants you to reach out and take His Hand so He can anchor your soul and you will never be lost again. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, So won't you follow His guiding Light and be anchored in Him forevermore?
Have a wonderfully blessed day! God loves you and so do I~~~

Stop Bending Under The Load

     This morning as I walked around our complex enjoying the smell of the wild honeysuckles filling the air; the birds were chirping and breeze was blowing and I felt so pleased with all the beauty that surrounds my life here; and I could just feel my Father smiling down upon me as the sun(Son) warmed my face. He seeks to make us happy; to give us His very BEST; not just the mediocre things in life. My heart was overwhelmed as I could feel His Love and how He cares about even the smallest things that concern my life. Even tho I know God has our future covered, there are times when my needs weigh heavily upon my heart and it's wonderful to feel His Loving Arms surround me and whisper reassuringly, "Everything's going to be okay, I've got this!"
     Jesus tells us in Mt 11:28-30, "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy ladened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." What an amazing God He is to       carry our burdens so we can enjoy life.  What a Caring Father Who Loves Beyond Measure and I am eternally grateful to know Him and feel His Spirit within; guiding me, encouraging me, providing my needs, and protecting me along my way!  He cares about EVERY thing in our life, big and small, He carries them all; if only we ask Him to. 
    Jesus told us in Matthew 7:7 "Ask and you shall receive, Seek and you shall find, Knock and it shall be opened unto you." I think the key to abundant life is casting all our cares upon Him and allowing Him to guide us!  And I know that as we seek His face and follow His direction; all things that pertain to life eternal will be opened unto us. 
So dear friend, don't fail to cast all your cares upon Him today, because He really does care about you and me. I pray that if you have a need, you will just cast your cares upon Him and follow His lead, because I know He has your answer.  Enjoy a wonderfully blessed day, dear friends. God loves you and so do I~~~

Do You Have Your Clothes On; Are You Really Ready?

Good morning, dear friends! Are you up and about; all ready for the day?  Did you remember to dress your inward man as well as the outward before you left out? Ya know, being dressed inwardly is the most important dressing of the day, overall!

     Colossians 3:12-17 tells us "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another; if any of you has a grievance against someone Forgive, as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

       Clothing our mind with the Word of God sharpens our ability to hear Holy Spirit guiding us, and is the only way to avoid dangerous pitfalls through the day. We don't know what today holds but God certainly does; and it is so important to have our minds alert and our spiritual armor in place so we aren't tripped up by satan's evil schemes and devices. That's why Jesus sent Holy Spirit to dwell within each of us; He didn't come to only lead and to guide us, but He dwells within so He can warn us of roadblocks and pending dangers up ahead, both physically and spiritually; but we must have our ears open and be attentive to His voice if we want Him to direct us along our way. Proverbs 3:5,6 tells us to 'Trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not unto our own understanding; but in all our ways to acknowledge Him and He will direct our path.' I personalized this scripture passage because this is the key to becoming over-comers in Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior! 

   So as we go throughout this day, let's listen attentively to God's voice as He leads and guides us in all our ways; and let's not forget our garment of praise that brings those precious smiles to our Father's face. I pray you have a wonderfully blessed day, dear friends, God loves you and so do I~~~