This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.

 Psalm 118:24

NKJV

Overcast with periods of rain and light snow…high chill factor.  The forecast is gloomy.  The weather presents an aura of darkness contributing to a “lazy day feeling.”   A vulnerability comes forward when we’re in a situation where we have “no control” over something such as the weather.

But isn’t it wonderful to realize that GOD is in control, not us…and with His hand of grace touching our face, and guiding our paths, we can relax without any visible concern or worry?

Surrendering to God is the way we gain security and strength.

Trusting in God is the way we lose  feelings of vulnerability while gaining the significance of confidence that envelops us throughout our day.

To be able to walk in faith is a rewarding existence and one in which aligns to our Father’s Word.  We hear His voice and He knows us…We are His sheep…He is our Shepherd.  Hallelujah!

So although it’s “gloomy” outside…inside the light is always shining.  Although it’s cold outside, inside it’s warm.  And, although it’s threatening to storm over our heads, God is offering His shelter to those who choose to enter and honor Him and His ways.  He is our refuge in times of trouble and in times of peace.

Our God is vibrant, alive and loving.

Our God is everlasting.

Our God is the Alpha and the Omega.

Our God is our Provider.

Our God is our EVERYTHING.

Stormy outside?  No big deal when we have  a GOD who is bigger than anything that we have to face, now and forever.  Amen!

Psalm 118:25-28

1 Samuel 2:2 – There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. 

The solid foundation in which there is no other.

The perfect limitless and Sovereign force in which there no other.

The outstanding omnipotent loving power in which there is no other.

When we’re caught in a storm we want to be under the protection of a solid and unmovable foundation to sustain and keep us safe.

The LORD is our ROCK and He is impregnable and endures and scores victorious through it all…while holding us up with His right hand of righteousness…shielding us from the storm and harboring us under His mighty wings of fortress.

The truth of the matter is there is no other place better to be than in His presence and to be surrounded by His penetrating and unconditional love.

Amazing God and His promises are boundless and palpable when we surrender to Him and give of ourselves with all of our heart and soul.

The fortress of  endless love…our LORD.

The tower of strength…our LORD.

The salvation of our souls…our LORD.

Be inspired and of good cheer, pick up the Bible and hear His voice and feel His love as you commune with Him in private.

Listen, enjoy and celebrate His deep love.

Absorb the reality of our GOD…and our ROCK.

Would you rather be standing on sand exposed to the elements in a storm?  Or would you rather be standing on a ROCK protected and shielded form the storm?

The answer should be obvious to all.   And yet, sadly enough, some refuse His love.

Pick Him and be protected by the ROCK of ages you will be glad you did.

As for me and my house…we will serve the LORD. AMEN~

Joshua 24:15 

The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

PSALM 18:2 KJV

“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalms 46:10 (KJV)

From the moment we take our first breath and make our entrance into the world we begin our journey of life.

With life, comes responsibilities and various accomplishments and events that make up our time-line—which will include various “milestones”  —first baby steps, first word spoken, first day of school…graduation from High School, first job,  passing our driver’s license exam, getting engaged, getting married…so on and so forth. These spectacular and auspicious occasions mark our journey with great anticipation and expectation.

However, there comes a time, when we’ve done a lot of things, and we seem to have come to a complete stop in the middle of the road… and our lives settle into “what do I do next?”

This phase might be a widower, desperately adjusting to the first time without his soul mate.  Or, a single mom, coming to the harsh reality of the empty nest syndrome, thereby wondering how she’ll fill her time while her only child is in college. Or, a newly retired individual, adjusting to life without work.  All of these fall into a category of “what’s next?”  Or perhaps, someone adjusting to health issues that prevent them from operating under the full capacity from what they once were.

All of the above scenarios, and more, is when we must wait on the Lord.

We need to trust in Him to lead us through the next phase. Because, understand that as long as we’re here, we have a purpose, and God has a plan.

Sometimes we don’t know what the plan is right away.  It’s kind of like baking a huge cake.  We put all of the delicious ingredients into the mix and then we have to wait for it to be completely cooked.  It’s a process right?  Although I must confess, I used to love eating raw cake mix!  However, that confession notwithstanding,  we have to wait for it to cook…again a process.

Well our loving LORD,  for our entire life, has been doing an inner working on us. He has supplied us with all of the ingredients of life according to His Word. 

What do we do?  We have to wait and trust in Him, pray to Him, meditate on His word, and ask for His guidance.  He is the creator of our blueprints…our lives are his design.  He is the architect of design for the entire Universe.  Of course which would include us.

His timing is sheer perfection.

Although we might get impatient and jump ahead of God at times, this is never a good plan.  Because we can never get ahead of Him, we are to follow Him as He leads us.  He is the shining light that will lead us out of confusion and darkness.  His wisdom will envelop us, and give us keen insight, if we seek it.

When we seek His face all things will be added unto us that we are in need of.   Matthew 6:33 – But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

For those who are find themselves in newly uncharted waters not knowing what to do, hang tight, and have no fear.

At this very moment if you’re unsure of what’s next...relax.  Sit back and Wait for God.   You’ll be glad you did.  Amen~

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.  Proverbs 3:6 KJV

Romans 8:28 KJV – And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.

Ephesians 1:11 – In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

 
Psalms 90:12 – So teach [us] to number our days, that we may apply [our] hearts unto wisdom.

And He said unto her, Your sins are forgiven.

Luke 7:48 KJV

Sometimes, we have a hard time forgiving ourselves.  Therefore, condemning ourselves, even though God has already forgiven us.

We can be our own enemy so to speak…when it comes to forgiving, or letting go of a situation that brings discourse or torment.  This is not a disparity among those of great faith, instead, it’s a common thread of passage and mostly all of us have been in this wagon of anguish.

I was comforting someone last evening who was riddled with guilt.  The person lost a loved one and in retrospect went through a list of what she had done “wrong.”  In turn, the inevitable if only scenarios followed, along with self doubt, and self chastisement.

Anguish is not from God.

Torment is not from God.

God is the author of peace, forgiveness, and unconditional love.  He forgives, so that we can be united with Him for eternity.  He gave the extreme, and ultimate sacrifice, so that we could be forgiven,  and were washed clean by His blood.

It’s natural to look back at circumstances and play another scenario in our mind, it’s human nature…but to allow it to fester, or to interfere with “life” is akin to shunning God for His grace, love and forgiving nature.

He loves us no matter what.  He hates “sin” but loves us. When we repent, and come to Him with a contrite heart…he wipes away transgressions and our slate is once again clean.

(I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Isaiah 43:25 KJV)

This person I counseled was truly being pulled into a net of self doubt. It was obviously the machinations of the “enemy” who  will inflict thoughts of darkness into anyone that’ll listen to his false and heinous lies.

Look to the light of the Holy One for all of your answers.  He loves us as no other living person can.  His love is above all the rest.  His hands of grace are upon us. His Sovereign power a testimony to our faith and a joy to witness and partake.

When we trust Him to guide us in everything we undergo in life we are guaranteed a purification of spirit and growth in our relationship toward Him.  We can then be a guiding example for those who don’t know Him or His power.

Forgive yourself…because He has already forgiven you, and remember you are His and His alone.

Then, look to Him for all things.

Trust in Him for all things.

Never leave Him out of the equation in your life.

Because without Him…there is no life!

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 For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Ephesians 2:8 KJV

***

Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. Luke 7:47 KJV

My eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.  Psalm 25:15  (KJV)

When we put our focus on the LORD everything is much better.  For when we are in a crisis we should focus on the LORD.  And, when we are in a tranquil place, we should focus on the LORD.

If we allow ourselves to get caught within the midst of troubling issues, such as worldly matters, we can be pulled into a net of despair.  It is that net of despair that could drag us into the pits of darkness.

When we keep our focus on the LORD…He will our guiding force and will keep our feet from being ensnared in the net of despair.  He will pluck us from the troubles of the world…and the troubles of our circumstances, whatever they may be.

Focusing takes a sincere effort on our part.  It’s not to be rushed, or taken lightly.  The LORD is our Sovereign Father, and deserves our attention and love, because that’s what He gives us…but so much more than we give Him.

Our faith is our main path, but He directs our paths.

His love is our provision in terms of what we need.

When we meditate and ask God for His input, we will discover a world that is easier to live in because of His promises and His voice…but most especially, because of His love.

When we grow spiritually we’re able to relate to Him more…He is a Holy Spirit…and we should tap into our spirituality and focus on the spirit rather than the flesh.  Flesh can lead to troubling situations, whereas the spirit will never let us down.

Focus on Him and reap the incredible rewards of knowing LIFE. Because the LORD is LIFE.  And, without Him, there is NO LIFE.

Have you meditated on His word and His love today?  And, most important…have you listened for His voice?

John 11:25
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies.

Psalm 123:2
Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the LORD our God, Until He is gracious to us.

Psalm 124:7
Our soul has escaped as a bird out of the snare of the trapper; The snare is broken and we have escaped.

Psalm 141:8
For my eyes are toward You, O GOD, the Lord; In You I take refuge; do not leave me defenseless.

2 Chronicles 20:12
“O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”

What gives us the right to call God “Father?”

We are His children. He is our Creator.  His Son redeemed us…We are His and He is ours.

Our Abba Father loves us unconditionally.  He wants us to speak with Him, to trust Him, and to hold on to Him and be secure in realizing He’ll never let us go.  His hands of grace touch us gently…yet His hold is strong and steady.

Being joined with Him and being dependent upon Him is what He wants…go to Him for all decisions, to pray of things, to listen and to comprehend His commands, and the purpose in which He has created us.

The inheritance of being “joint heirs” due to Christ redeeming us is one of greatness!  One in which we should rejoice and indulge in the luxury of being part of a royal family. Kings of kings. Lord of lords.  Hallelujah!

To call God “Abba Father” is to know peace and to rejoice in His presence and love.

To call God “Abba Father” is to settle into a sense of security that with Him all things are possible.

To call God “Abba Father” is to realize that He is our highest order of Sovereignty, our Omnipotent and magnificent One and only King.

Being a part of such greatness and to have Him reigning over us night and day and never ceasing to watch over us in this lifetime, and the one to come is to know peace.

And not peace as the world gives us, because the world can and will cause trouble and anguish.  But as Jesus said, “Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid…” (John 14:27)

So call out to Abba Father—give Him thanks—and recognize and embrace the truth of His love. Amen!

King James Bible  Deuteronomy 32:39
See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.

So valleys, trials, ups, downs…we all go through them.  But, how we get past them is not through our “own power” but because of HIS power.

This past two weeks I was in a really deep valley.  But held on by my fingernails to the Mountain.  I could see the Mountain all the time even through I was in the deepest valley…and it was “cold” at times, yet, I could feel the “warmth” from within.

I had to go to a specialist today and my husband was going to come with me…but circumstances prevailed that prevented him from doing so.  I knew at that moment that the LORD was telling me, “Have courage and be of good cheer, for you’re not alone, you’re never alone…I go before you as I did for David when he faced Goliath…”

God was telling me to trust Him and He will handle everything, as He’s done for me throughout the years, and as he’s done for ALL of His children throughout the ages since the beginning of time!

He alone is my everything.

He made me strong through my weakness.

He carried me through the trial.

He held me up through it all.

Through Him I am victorious.  And, to Him goes the victory!

Hallelujah!  Praise Him! Hallelujah!

Sometimes we need to fall into pits and valleys in order to draw closer to God…and when we surrender and call out to Him, in both good times and bad…we are gaining an introspective piece of wisdom that only comes from trusting in Him and believing in His promises and His Word.

Oh, and by the way…Praise God…everything worked out thanks to His grace, love and faithfulness!

You want to be victorious? Pick up His Word and get to know Him…feel His love and experience life like you’ve never known it before.  Because our GOD REIGNS!  Amen and Amen~

Exodus 15:26
    “If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians.  For I am the LORD who heals you.”

Psalm 30:2
    O LORD my God, I cried out to You, and you healed me.

Psalm 103:2-3
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits; Who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases.

Proverbs 3:7-8
    Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil.  It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.

Fire is symbolic of different scenarios and events in the Bible. Fire, for example, is symbolic of the presence of the LORD. Our God is a consuming fire, and goes both ways…to warm and/or warn…and reward those who choose Him…and then… to ultimately destroy those in the lake of fire spoken of in Revelation 20:14.

Think of some of the passages where fire is mentioned, it is always significant, and always a representation of the LORD.

In Exodus 3:2–Our Father appeared to Moses from a burning bush.

In Hebrews 12:29 He is a consuming fire.

Fire is also shown as a cleaning power in Isaiah 6:6-7. 

It has spiritual significance and power in Psalm 104:4.

The thing to note is that all of these passages and instances serve as a warning– or an omen.

Depending which path we choose we can feel the fire in a good way or bad.

When we walk on a road filled with obedience to His will, and His Word, we shall reap endless rewards that are pleasing to the Father.  Which will consequently bring not only rewards in this lifetime, but he one to come…Eternity.

Our Father is a loving and merciful God who wants to protect and reward us.

He is our shelter and our Rock.  When we build upon the Rock our foundation is sturdy, unmovable,  and a given existence of spiritual growth.

When we recognize Him as the main provider in all things, the trust and intimacy between Father and child proves to be impregnable against the wiles of the enemy.

Together in Christ, we are strong and victorious…through Him and Him alone.

He is the course of contentment in our life here and now.  His fire warming our souls and giving us the ability to forge forward in His name.

His mercy endures forever.

He wants us to call out to Him.  He is ever patient and loving.

He gives us free-will to choose according to His will and ways…versus the alternative route which will end up being consumed with His mighty fire at Revelation states.

The works of the faithful.

Patience and charity and love…are the clothes of the righteous.

Helping others through many avenues…be it a smile, a phone call, a kind word…or a secret offering to someone in need…are all viewed as perfect in the eyes of our Father.

He sees all.

He knows all.

He rewards according to our deeds in heart mind and soul.

Remember the next time a decision comes up, as was written in the loving Word: Don’t worry about what man thinks.  Instead worry and think about what the One will can not only destroy your flesh but kill your soul.

Jesus died for us, we’re covered by His blood of salvation.

He defeated death for us.

He is victorious.

Be victorious in this lifetime and the one to come…the eternity.

The choice is yours.

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Matthew 25:33-40 KJV

³³ And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

³⁴ Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

³⁵ For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

³⁶ Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

³⁷ Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

³⁸ When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

³⁹ Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

⁴⁰ And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

And Jesus said to him; “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”            LUKE 23:43  (NKJV )

Life. How would you describe it?

Paradise?  What does that mean to you?

Life–something or someone that has breath with complex functions.

Paradise–An eternal place of peace and serenity.

Both are consistent with God wouldn’t you agree?

The way I see it. Where there is life—there is GOD.  And to live is to know GOD.

Death, which Christ defeated has no place in the life of a follower, or one of devout faith.  Death has not life.  Life has not breath.

Life has breath.

Christ…the breath of life.  Remember when He breathed life into the Apostles in the upper room after His resurrection?  It was in Acts chapter 10.  The breath of life…to live is to breath and to breath is to live.

We’re all here according to His purpose and His will to work all things according to His purpose.  When we follow Him, trust in Him and invite Him into our lives, we begin to fulfill His will.  And when it is His will…it’s always the best no matter how it may appear at the time.

Remember that His will reflects a tidal wave of perfection that overrides any mere mortal’s will.  We are His creation and He knows us from the moment we were, even before we were.

This walk in life can be a long one or a short one.  We might have trials and tribulations and we might have joy.  That’s life…ups…downs…and eventually, eternity.

Promises foretold by our Father lovingly weave through the pages of His Word.  When we embrace those promises and honor Him through our actions and thoughts and love, we are clinging to the reality of their existence and therefore, to our eternal life.

Before we move on to the next journey in our lives, we have a job to do here. When we’ve completed it, we will be called home.  When we’re called home to our Father…we’re promised, in Jesus’ words, “Today you will be in Paradise with Me…”

So breath.

Live.

Love.

And…do what you’re called to while here on earth.  And remember…everything you do while here on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Choose your path, and choose it wisely. As God gives us free will.

Narrow path?  Or wide path?

Choose that narrow path and know that when our time is done on earth we’ll be on the golden path of eternal life, reaping what we sowed here on earth, and rejoicing in Paradise for evermore.  Amen~

The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles

⁴⁴ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. ⁴⁵ And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. ⁴⁶ For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.

Then Peter answered, ⁴⁷ “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” ⁴⁸ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.

Acts 10:44-48 

My sheep hear My Voice,

and I know them,

and they follow Me.    

John 10:27

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Sometimes it’s an urgent request.

Sometimes it’s a quiet and simple one.

Sometimes it’s just an overwhelming desire to be near Him as I cry out to Him in prayer or meditation.

No matter how you slice it, dissect it, or inspect it, I love the LORD and all that He is.

I love His Voice….and love to hear Him.

My body ignites with a need to please Him and to do all that I can to listen to His voice…in silence…and in noise.

The noise…is the world.

The silence is His peace.

The world and His peace…total opposites.

They’re in constant conflict, much like the spirit and the flesh.

The flesh is “noisy…and needy…and selfish.”

The spirit is “peaceful…altruistic…and giving.”

The light is light.

The dark is dark.

Contrasts. Again, like the spirit and flesh.

When we pursue life and all it entails…on a quest for doing His purpose, the light shines, the peace reigns and the love is overwhelming.

The next time you hear “noise” and see “darkness”  — listen for His voice.  Then sit back and enjoy His presence and feel His warmth and let your spirit respond to the “Great One” that is within.

Amen.

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Peace I leave you, my peace I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.  John 14:27