Month: June 2016

DEAR GOD: Your Peace Supersedes World Chaos~

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John_14_27_Cross_Background

 

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” 

                              John 14:27 (KJV) 

The entire Bible of His inerrant Word is amazing and powerful and life affirming…but if ever there was as particular scripture to hang on to in this chaotic and iniquitous world it would be Jesus words in John 14:27.

“Peace I leave you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth; give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”    Wow!  The very words from the mouth of our Lord of lords and King of kings…our Savior.  He is promising us peace through His Spirit and telling us not to be afraid or troubled.  This particular passage is certainly one to run to and meditate upon during these trials and tribulations the world is throwing our way.

Personally I can say when I sit down to be with the LORD and read His word I feel peace encroaching into every area of my body,  mind and soul.  As I commune and speak with Him I find the worries of the world fall away as I enter deeper into His presence.  The veil of love and protection cover me with assurance which allows the light to shine brightly. There is no darkness in Christ…or His Word.

The rainbow is a sign of His holy promise and covenant which always makes me smile when I see one breaking through after a huge storm.

That sign from heaven is the handwriting of GOD to His children to put us in remembrance of His Word.

His promises…His Word…His voice…His love…does it get any better than this?

How fortunate for those of us that believe and have God supply the bricks to further build our solid foundation of faith and love.

How sad for those who are building on a pile of sand.

How blessed are those whose ears and eyes are open to those promises of our faithful Father.

How sad for those who live in a vapor of uneasiness and uncertainty.

This lifetime is fleeting and gone in a moment.

We’re as vapor in the wind.

Here one day and gone another.

But…eternity is forever.

Enjoy the promises of His Word…get to know Him and bask in the rewards of His love and protection.

To be a member of this incredible family is beyond explanation.

To know His love…is to know peace.

Amen~

 

 

“…And Lo, I am with you always even until the end of the world.  Amen.”

 Matthew 28:20 KJV

DEAR GOD: Our Inspiration~

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praying hands

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you…

(James 4:8 KJV)

 

Praying for the LORD’s guidance and His will in our lives is substantial to the overall purpose and design of our existence.

There have been times and moments in my life where frustration or an uneasiness seemed to “cloud” my direction and the only thing that never fails to bring in the “sunshine” and clarity would be prayer and His wisdom to “lead and guide” me to fulfill the purpose of His will.

Speaking with Him in prayer has never failed in any aspect regardless of what it is I’m praying for.  Everything is in sync when  I make the move He desires and the domino effect takes place…doors open…paths widen…and confusion is replaced with peace and overall tranquility of body mind and spirit.

The LORD is and always will be HERE for us and wants us to seek His face. In fact, He encourages it throughout the Bible to seek Him and to turn toward Him in all we do and He will guide and lead us.

Seeking higher ground and a closer relationship with our Father?  Start with your heart.  Jesus is knocking…open the door and let Him in.

Then begin the most fulfilling and rewarding relationship you’ll ever know in this lifetime and beyond.

Do it through works/actions.

Do it through  love and obedience to Him.

Do it by demonstrating compassion to your neighbors and those in need.

Do it by shining His light to those in the dark.

Spread His seed of love then you’ll reap more than which you sow and your cup will runneth over as your life stays on course according to His will and purpose.

Want to get closer to the LORD?  

Intimacy begins by embracing His word and opening your heart…

 

 

 

 

Isaiah 55:6-9  (KJV)

6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

DEAR GOD: For Thou Are A Shield For Me~

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holyspiritjesusgod

 

 

But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me;

my glory,

and the lifter up of mine head.

 (Psalm 3:3 KJV)

Praise God in His infinite glory and His sovereign magnificence!

To embrace His promises and to walk with the confidence of knowing we are children of the One true Holy living God, and that He is with us always, is a joy that far exceeds the explanation brought forward in words.

 It is a recognition that supersedes and transcends beyond which our human minds can absorb…but it is a feeling that is known when you know it!

In other words…when we’re going through a horrendous shaking, or a trial of some sort, whether it’s personally, or  witnessing a family member or loved one going through the anguish, we can stand tall knowing God is our shield.

No matter what is going on around us, He is our confidant, our lifter of our heads, our constant source of light and energy that provides, and replenishes us as He washes His love over us thereby protecting us continuously.

He will never leave us nor forsake us.

He is with us always even until the end of the world.

He sent us a comforter to guide, lead and touch us.

He is our Father…God of gods, Light of light…and the most powerful.

He is the great I AM I AM!!

He is an overwhelming fire that bathes us with warmth and love.

His word, His love, His presence…Does it get any better than this?

Thank you O’ LORD for being our Shield and lifter of our heads in these times of woe, and in good times as well. All glory and honor and praise to You and You alone, now and always. In Jesus name,  Amen and Amen!

O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.  Psalm 136:26

Isaiah 60:1 – Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

Isaiah 58:8 – Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy reward.

Habakkuk 2:14 – For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

DEAR GOD: Your Mercy & Love~

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god

~O’ SWEET LORD MY GOD~

How sweet is the Your Mercy & Love O’ LORD my GOD?

How glorious is Your name?

How grand is Your wisdom and protection to Your children?

O’ LORD my God…How sweet is Thy name?

You are my fortress in times of woe

You are are my bridge for angry waters below

You Hold me with Your uprighteous hand

You lead and guide me and touch me

How glorious is Your name O’ Lord my God?

Thank You!  I sing Your praises!  Hallelujah!

Your love is all I need now and always.

I LOVE YOU!

O’ Sweet LORD my God…Amen

C D Swanson (C) 2016

“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 41:10

 

DEAR GOD: Your Light & Presence~

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1John

 

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”  John 14:6

 

So many people are having a rough time these days. It seems that no matter who I speak with, family, friends…acquaintances…they’re facing severe trials and tribulations.

And the state of the world affairs is abysmal.  In the USA there is a political uprising that is none as we’ve seen before…a brutal campaign and riots in the street.

However…through this all. His presence is a constant comfort.  His light is a beacon shining into the darkness.

The LORD is our Light, an illumination of peace.

His peace and His love provide to those in need.

His peace, love and promises provide to those who are hurting.

His Word will bring us through the storm as will His sovereign and divine intervention on our behalf.

He is be the living water washing away our thirst.

So to those suffering or going through a terrific time of agony. Whether it’s illness, uncertainty about a diagnosis, issues within a family/marriage, or worrying about friends and loves ones who are in a dark place.  Remember the LIGHT who will chase the Darkness away.

To embrace His love and surrender to His provisions of caring for all of our needs is to live free.

He never promised we’d be free from trials, but He did promise to bring us through every single one of them.  And each time we come through the fiery trials, we will be refined and brought to a higher ground.

Darkness?  Open your heart and let Him in…and then watch the glorious divine Light bring you out of the darkness and into LIFE.

 

 

 

DEAR GOD: GLORY & HONOR TO YOU ALONE~

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alltheglory
And we know that all things
work together
for good to them
that love God,
to them who are then called
according
to his purpose.
Romans 8:28 KJV
In the Bible so many of God’s people proved without a doubt that adversity and trials refined them to a higher level with the LORD. Paul, David and Daniel showed that adversity helped form spiritual giants.
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They recognized and trusted our Sovereign God as the gatekeeper of their lives and accepted their journey willingly, according to God’s plans.
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When we surrender and bow to the LORD as the Master, and accept Him as the mainstay of our lives,  then whatever comes our way is a chance to mature in our relationship and growth with the LORD.
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We’re able to accept His will and realize that whatever happens within our scope of being means that He is working it for good.
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Understanding and living by the Spirit, our comforter and life’s breath, we can readily discern the “false” tongue of men and their “false doctrine” — we are then able to quickly dart the arrows and sidestep the hurdles thrust in our path.  But, we do this through the grace of God who is a steady force and consuming fire of passion for His children.
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Accepting Him as the Creator or all things to all things and for all things is to make Him proud as we continue to do His work.  While we aspire to do things His way and according to His will, we must be careful to give Him all the glory and honor at all times, no matter what.
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As we continue on our path, the narrow path of righteousness, we do so in victory which we can accomplish only through the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Next time there’s a hurdle in your path, look up and give thanks, and then wait to see how your spiritual maturity will rise to a whole new level…
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Father God, thank You for Your hands of grace, Your wisdom, and Your guidance and direction in our lives, Please continue to hold us up with Your righteous right hand, in Jesus name, Amen.
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14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Ephesians 4:14-17 KJV

DEAR GOD: Thanks For Your Hands of Grace~

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gates of God

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 

Psalm 100:4  (KJV)

 

 

Thanksgiving should be in our hearts every single day. The world in which we live was created by our amazing Lord…the creator of such for all things and through which all things were made. We are who we are because of the grace and blessings that made it so…Our Lord, our Father.

The smallest things we should be grateful for, and things that don’t make sense at all to us… be grateful for. Perhaps down the road the clarity of things that don’t make sense will become bright with recognition.

There was a book about a  lady who went undercover to help the Jewish people during the Nazi regime.  She spoke of the atrocities in which the people were subjected to. The inhuman conditions and the meager portions of food given only to keep them alive to endure more of the same horrific circumstances the day after.

This woman was taken to a cell with other women and she read from her Bible, giving them hope and courage. Nightly she’d pull the Bible from her hiding place and read to the women. It became a welcome and peaceful gathering at the end of their gruesome day. There were  fleas in their cell. And, one of the ladies would say, “We need to be thankful for all our circumstances to God..Praise Him for everything, even the fleas.”  The other women said, “We should be thankful to God for fleas?  What good is fleas? That is going too far.”  But, she continued saying, “We must give thanks to the fleas. God created the fleas for a reason.”  So they thanked God for the fleas in unision. Puzzled, they listened to her, then thanked God and praised Him.

The Germans would enter into the cells throughout the night to do further horrific acts to the inhabitants. However, the soldiers never entered the cell where the woman who read her Bible was.

These women remained in that cell until they escaped.

Afterwards it was told to the ladies that the soldiers stayed away from their cell because they didn’t want the fleas to bite them.  Praise God!  So, there is a reason for everything.  He knows all, sees all, and wants the best for  His children.

So, are there  “Fleas” in your life?  If so, give thanks.  Give thanks for all things, great and small, bad and good…for the Lord our Father knows what is coming and what is best for us.  Always, in so doing He will clear all paths of destruction and pave your roads with gold…now and always.

Experience true joy in your life, know God and know peace.

 

Father, we give thanks to You and  Your powerful ways, We give thanks to You and Your amazing hands of grace, We give thanks to You and Your loving and enduring mercy, We give thanks to You and Your unconditional love, We give thanks to You and Your wisdom, insight, compassion, and patience.  We lift your name on high and exalt You forever.  Thank You for loving us, in Jesus name… Amen

 

 

 

Nature and gates courtesy of our Father.  The picture was captured with permission by Scott Birge.