It’s apparent the Lord is with me all day long.  Sometimes, it’s stronger than other times, but the truth is, He is always there. When I get that overwhelming urge in myheart to do what’s right, or feel compelled to go the extra nine yards, He’s there. When I feel something is askew in the scales of life, He’s there to bring it back to order. When there are moments of fog and a situation is difficult to “see” He’s there to lift the “fog” and bring a crystal clear view of a prior distortion.

Sometimes God will place someone in your path to help ease a burden.  That could go either way. The person may b e there to ease your burden, or you’re there to ease theirs. Whatever the circumstances are…the Lord will place it in your heart to do according to His will.  And something happens when you conspire to do His will…an inordinate amount of peace embraces your heart and soul. Your inner self is revitalized and filled to capacity and your cup will overflow with blessings. It could be that person sitting next to you in the restaurant that looks lost and in need of a smile. You might feel God place it in your heart to do something for that individual. You’ll know what it is when you’re in the situation. And, it depends on your intimate relationship with God and His word.

God used so many different people throughout the ages to do His will. Rahab, an alleged “harlot” was used to help Joshua as she hid the men/spies  on her rooftop in Jericho.  When the king of Jericho learned the men had been to Rahab’s house, he sent orders for her to turn them over. She lied to the king’s soldiers concerning the whereabouts of the spies, and sent them off in the opposite direction. She was spared her life and that of her family because she hid them and asked for “immunity” for her family. She was spared as was her family.  (Joshua 2:1 -24 KJV)

She felt it in her heart and was lead by the Lord to provide the temporary sanctuary for Joshua’s men, and was rewarded for her loyalty.  She recognized the true God and accepted Him as her own from that point on.  She was loyal and steadfast and good in an emergency, and she had a son called Boaz who had a son named Obed,  who had a son named Jesse, who had a son named David…King David. When God wants to use someone He’ll use it for His purpose and will bring us to where He wants us to be. Just as in the case of Rehab.

God sees our heart, and only He can change our heart if so inclined. One will feel it in their hearts when God wants a certain task or action to be followed through. God sees us differently than “man” does. Man sees the outside, God sees the inside.    He sees our potential in ways that no one can, He sees what we can accomplish and ultimately see that we have no limits when it comes to the things we can do through God.

So when  a situation comes to mind that you have to attend to, and you don’t know why…God is most likely the one that placed it in your heart. He is always at work, for ALL of His children…and consequently and never stops inspiring and doing the things in which to help His children.

Stop…look…listen, and heed His messages.  You’ll realize your potential worth as a Christian…and your heart will be consumed with blessings in ways that only a person who adheres to God’s will will understand.

Do you feel a tug in your heart? 

Or a sense of urgency calling you? 

That’s God and He needs you, will you answer the call?

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119 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.

² Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.

³ They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.

⁴ Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.

⁵ O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!

⁶ Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.

⁷ I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.

⁸ I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.

⁹ Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

¹⁰ With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

¹¹ Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

¹² Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes.

¹³ With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.

¹⁴ I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.

¹⁵ I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.

¹⁶ I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

¹⁷ Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.

¹⁸ Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

¹⁹ I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.

²⁰ My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.

²¹ Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.

²² Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.

²³ Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.

²⁴ Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counselors.

²⁵ My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.

²⁶ I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.

²⁷ Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.

²⁸ My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.

²⁹ Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.

³⁰ I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.

³¹ I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O Lord, put me not to shame.

³² I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart. 

 Psalm 119:1 – 32 (KJV)

Paul’s letter to the Romans indicates the worship of things in creation themselves—not just their images—is wrong in the eyes of God (Romans 1:25).

Paul also warns the Colossians against worshipping other supernatural beings: “Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize” (Colossians 2:18).  The prize of being rewarded in the Eternity, the Kingdom of God.

Jesus expanded the definition of “other gods” to include concepts in addition to images, living things and other supernatural beings. In Matthew 6:24, He warns against the worship of material things. “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money”.

He’s not talking about money in your pocket, but the very personification of wealth, (especially wealth gained through greediness), the love of which, in modern terminology, is “materialism.”

The dangers of worshipping material things are fully outlined in the story of the rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16-26) who turned away totally from Christ because he could not part with his wealth.

The insignificance of “wealth” in all that it implies is better said this way:  “Better to be spiritually wealthy than to be spiritually bankrupt. Amen.”

This is better illustrated in the Psalmist who proudly proclaims in Psalm 84:10:   

“For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.”

Who can argue with the LORD and His love? Who would want to? 

Ostensibly, there are those who don’t aspire to serve Him, or to please Him, or even believe in Him.  Sadly, that is  a fact that is becoming alarmingly more and more apparent. Just turn on the news to confirm this.  Conversely, there are many followers who DO hear His voice and He knows them and Shepherds them gladly.  (Yes, green pastures – Psalm 23)

Being pleasing to the Father, and staying on the righteous path, in which He intends for each of us ,are rewarding here on earth, but will be even more so, in the life to come where we will be welcomed home.

Remember, He loves us…and He is there for us always.

So, turn from those things that are “distracting you” and keeping you from God. These can become “our modern day idols of todays world” if we allow them.

Put down that cell phone, stop texting, stop looking at Facebook long enough to worship, love, and exalt the Father.

O’ Yes…For He is so worthy.

O’ Yes…For He is so beautiful.

O’ Yes…For He is so amazing.

Turn to Him and thank Him endlessly, for He is Holy, and wonderful, and He is our Father.

And my goodness gracious, how He loves us with a love that surpasses all others.

What have you done for Him today? 

Love Him and thank Him right now…Give it up for the One that has done so much for us…and continues to this very day.

Listen, Do you hear Him?

Amen and Amen!

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⁶ Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God.

⁷ For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves.

⁸ If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

⁹ Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.

Romans 14:6-9 (NLT)

We are His and He is ours. We belong to Him. We are His creation. We are the reason He sent His only begotten Son.

He knew us before we were put into our mother’s womb. (Jeremiah 1:5 ) And from the moment we were created we became HIS.  Even those who freely choose “not to follow Him” are His children. All things were created by Him and for His pleasure, (Rev 4:11) and we are called to follow Him and His voice — “my sheep know my voice and they follow me” (John 10:27).

Don’t you see and understand my brothers and sisters?  We are His and always were and always will be.

Now the path we choose to take is entirely up to us, and should we choose to “not follow Him” (which is so hard to fathom for a Christian, but nonetheless it happens with disparaging frequency) then the consequences as we are called into judgment will not be without repercussions that will be life altering.

In simple terms, in John 14:6  ” Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me.”  Which means yes, we do belong to Him, but by choice we decide ultimately if we accept Him or ignore Him…and hence the “life altering” choice becomes heir apparent.

Looking back in my life I see that God was always with me.  He always held me in His arms.  He was the source of comfort through trials and tears, and through hard times and good times.  He was the inspiration behind my writing, He was the One behind my choice of career for the geriatric population in nursing homes, He was the One that opened my eyes and ears at a very early age.  And, He is the ONE who walks in front of me, beside me, and holds me up with His right hand of righteousness.

For every season, every event in my life and in your life…He is there, Amen!

He is gentle and kind and compassionate and loving.  He won’t push, He won’t force…instead He waits gently and calls to you softly.

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Rev: 3:20)

The Lord looks at every believer as His most important, most valuable possession. With that in mind God’s Word brings us great comfort as we consider the theme: We belong to the LORD from the very moment we were created by Him. It is by God’s free grace we belong to the Him:

I. In our earthly life, and;

II. In our eternal life.

Listen, for He is knocking…won’t you please let Him in?

“Lord my King and Creator of the Universe, thank You for Your love, guidance and patience, and thank You for never giving up on us, in Jesus name, Amen.”

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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.

 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

Proverbs 3:5-8 (KJV)

Perhaps you’ve been told that as a Christian you must learn to “trust in the Lord with all your heart.” But in truth, this famous passage from Proverbs 3 contains more than just a general statement about living. Instead, you’ll find the steps you need each day to truly walk with God, and to live in full capacity in which the LORD meant.

We’re living in a world where trust must be earned and seemingly in short supply. However, Solomon, the famous king who wrote Proverbs, expressed from his heart about trusting in the LORD, and he knew that trust is exactly where we must start.

But sometimes some individuals may struggle with trust, and feel that trusting Him completely like that can be difficult, if not possible.

But if each day we open our hearts and consciously lay aside our own plans and expectations—and surrender to His plans for us–we will slowly unfold the layers of self-doubt and reveal our inner selves which is our heart and soul, and consequently “love” for the LORD.

Surrendering to God begins with our lips and our thoughts. We need more than a commitment to depend on Him; we need to cry out to Him to show that dependence.

When we pray, we must admit that His ways are higher than ours. We  then show that we’re leaving our troubles and burdens and dreams in His very  capable and loving  hands. In fact, the Bible promises that when we reach out to Him in prayer, He hears us:
“Evening, morning, and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. ” (Psalm 55:17)

Sometimes, the only way to live the life God wants us to live is by separating ourselves from the bad influences that keep dragging us down. That works the best when we start pursuing something else in their place:
“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22)

Fleeing from evil desires that pull at us means spending a lot of time crying out to God and leaning on Him. But our Creator promises to honor our commitment to Him when we shun evil.

When we pursue Him, we find life—abundant life. Running from evil and pursuing God doesn’t come naturally to most of us. Instead, it means we have to make a serious change or changes in our life. Sometimes that means a different occupation, or a different way of living in terms of who we build relationships with, or what we engage in for recreational purposes. Or what we view on television or in the movies.  It’s all connected to living a life dedicated to the LORD and what His will and purpose is for each of us, and of course all according to His timing.

When Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit– He told His disciples it would be their Counselor and it would be their spiritual compass or GPS:
“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26)

As we go through our day, this same Holy Spirit guides us, too. That means we don’t have to go it alone or hope we’re getting it right. No, the Holy Spirit leads us into all truth and protects us:
“Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” (2 Timothy 1:14)

The gifts of the Holy Spirit to us believers reminds us that we can truly… Rest in God’s Love and trust Him with all of our heart and soul.  Surrender to Him and begin the best journey in your life that will lead to eternal rewards, Amen!

As we are called to His purpose for all things according to His plan and will for our lives, so too are we one body with Christ.  So too we all have different gifts and different assignments while here on earth, but we are all one body in alignment with His Word, and His will.

Each of us has a purpose while here on earth and when we adhere to the Spirit’s guidance and will we are working as a team each with a goal and area in which He sends us.

With various gifts and talents we explore the tangibles in which we are sent and we plant the seeds in ways of which He wants us to.

Some may have a talent for teaching/preaching, others may be counselors, still others may be writers getting the word out to many through devotionals or poems, or expressions of love and glory to God.

We just need to realize that there is no perfect “church” and no perfect “person” for only One Being is such, and that is our Holy and Sovereign Father.  He is our Church, He is the Perfect One, and He is whom we are called upon to spread the word and love in the way He decides we should.

As a “whole body” of Christ…each part has a role, and when combined it is comprised of a whole body, and that whole body is Christ.

So go out and embrace the gifts given you and tell of His love and glory in the way you can, in the way the LORD wants us to, each one as important and crucial as the next. No one better, all equal on the playing field and growing field of Christ.

Do you know what your talents and gifts are?  Well what are you waiting for, start spreading the Word!  For when we are done here on earth our rewards in the Kingdom of God will be everlasting for all Eternity.

Praise you LORD and Hallelujah!

Amen~

1 John 1:4-5 (KJV)

And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (John 1:4,5, NASB).

The Lord is not at all troubled by the darkness, so why should we? We are His children who are under His Sovereign rule, so again, why should we be troubled?

As children of the Great I AM, we see His light through it all.  No matter what is going on in the world. No matter what is happening before our eyes, we are able to see the light beyond the devastation.

In His own time He carries out His plan for distributing His Light throughout the world, and His time is perfect at all times.  His plan is splendid, above all, and at all times.

Early on He decided on the means that would/will dissolve the darkness. He easily could have shown forth His light and awed all. Instead, however, the Lord chose to have His light shine through  various vessels that would/will reveal His light. The degree that the vessel’s reception of the light be clear and the windows that open to the world clean, God’s own light will shine into the world.

We are vessels and as such have the blessings of being an ambassador to the LORD by carrying out His plan and shining His light to be an example to all we encounter.

Jesus is the way, the light, and the truth…when we ascribe to His doctrine and apply His ways into our ways, we are doing what we are called to do.

Darkness?  I don’t think so.  Only light!

So shine your light because the LIGHT of the world shines His…

Amen.