Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. 

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (KJV)

11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT)

Jesus Christ breathes “LIFE” into us. 

He is the God of lights…and life.  He encourages us.  He doesn’t minister fear or anguish.  When we follow Him and embrace Him and engraft His word in all that we do…we are walking in His ways and therefore able to encourage and uplift one another in His word and love.

Follow God…not man.

We are to encourage each other and bring His light into lives where we can…in Jesus name.

When we encourage and uplift we are proclaiming His glory and being a witness to His Sovereign Power and grace.

As Christians…we are to always have the bread of life in your homes.

We are to put the Gospel Armor on in place.  What is the purpose of that armor?  To stand against the fiery darts of the enemy, who seeks to destroy us.

When you have on the Gospel Armor you will be blessed and protected.

Partaking in encouragement of one another is one of the ways in which we show His glory while wearing the Gospel Armor.

Show your fruits by being in alignment with His will and doctrine.  When we shine His light it becomes an example and those who see it will wonder, “how do I feel that way?  How can I accomplish peace?”  Then the seeds and fruit will grow and those who seek His face will prosper and be blessed.

Today encourage someone along the way.  Give your heart as an example of His heart….a heart filled with love for all of His children.

Ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and strength to do all according to His will while being a vessel of compliance for His purpose.

And, remember that “Faith comes by hearing the Word of the LORD” — so listen, hear and speak His word each and everyday of your life thereby assuring your ticket to Eternity and ripe rewards of the afterlife.

But, for now…here on earth, we still have work to do in His name.

Amen!

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Romans 10:17 (NKJV)
 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God

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 For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, 

do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.
 You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” 

Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 

For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 

Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness,[f] if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 

And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 

For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

11:16-24 Romans

3 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God![a] Therefore the world does not know us,[b] because it did not know Him.

2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

1 John 3:1-3 (NKJV)

Father, Your love and magnificence amaze me.

Each day as the sun wakes and bathes the earth with its warmth comes yet another miracle in which You are whom You are.  You are in each and every moment of life and nature and love.

You hear our prayers.

You answer them according to Your will.

You are generous in applying provisions.

You are ever mindful of our needs and desires.

And, You know us best of all…and love us no matter what.

Our Father is worthy to be praised.

Shout and Praise Him!

Today I give thanks to the LORD for bringing my ninety-one year old cousin through a very serious surgery!

Thank You Lord!

Today I give thanks to the LORD for a diagnostic test that went exceedingly well!

Thank You LORD!

And I just want to give thanks to the LORD…because He is who He is!

There have been times where things didn’t turn out as I thought they would.  But, I gave Him glory and gave Him thanks.

Because…He knows things that we don’t and when things don’t turn out the way we thought or wanted, it’s for a reason.  A reason that we might not understand at that particular time…but one in which was according to His plan.

And, God’s plans are always the best plans…and there is always a “hidden rainbow” that will come out in time.  I know…because I’ve experienced it many times myself, or through friends, family and individuals.  And, from my past patients in the nursing home.  I’ve witnessed His glory over and over and over.

Look around and notice our Father in all that you do.  And then give Him thanks…no matter what…no matter the outcome…give Him thanks.

He gets all the glory, honor and praise.

And He gets the victory…always!  Amen!

 Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. 

1 John 3:24

Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him.

Matthew 6:8 KJV

There are times while sitting quietly in my room just needing to be in the presence of the LORD without uttering a word or thought not realizing that I’m in need of anything other than His Spirit.

However, even in the quiet and still moments of my life, He is ever aware of my needs.  He as the scripture above brings to mind, knows what I am in need of before I am even aware of what it is.  Hence, when we pray…we may not have the answer we are expecting because it isn’t necessarily what we NEED, but it is what we “want.”  Our Father knows us so well…

When we contemplate things of past present and future, there is a fine line of repetition that will invariably scan across the landscape of our hearts…which is… “God’s hands of grace” and “His love” that enable us to be all that we are in His name.

As we honor Him and give Him glory and stay focused on HIM and all things above, we undoubtedly become soldiers of importance in His powerful and royal army.  We are able to sustain and uphold up things of which we encounter during the day, evening and wee hours of the morning, that is to say…each second of our lives.

Magnify His name as we go through out day…giving Him all the glory and honor always! 

Oh how sweet His love!

When we grasp the enormous meaning of the scripture above in Matthew 6:8…it should, and WILL bring a sudden and explicable feeling of JOY!

Serving Him.

Honoring Him.

Enjoying Him.

Going to Him for anything and everything.

Oh…Joy!

When we have finished our lives here on earth and enter into His Eternal Kingdom, what greater joy and reward than Our Father embracing us, welcoming us home, and saying, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant...”  Amen and Amen.   (Matthew 25:21)

He careth for you.  

1 Peter 5:7 

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The times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the LORD. 

Acts 3:19

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For we unto God a sweeet savour of Christ  1

1 Corinthians 2:15 

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“How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.” Psalm 84:1-2

Jesus walked off to spend time with His Father in prayer during His ministry on earth, many times during the day…and evening hours.  In fact, He had to replenish Himself with  prayer in order to be able to do His acts of healing and preaching.  He needed to immerse Himself in prayer, and commune with the Father to be able to fulfill that which was required of Him.

O’ Father…I give You my heart.

We should follow Jesus’ example for many things…but especially in prayer to the Father.  We all need to get away from the “world” in order to connect and speak from the heart to our Father.  He alone will provide the solid nourishment we need in order to survive, and will bring us His “breath of life” which is to say…His Word…in order to thrive.

O’ Father…give me my daily bread…

When we, like Jesus, devote our time and hearts to the Father things will happen in a positive way and our lives can be filled with purpose according to the Father’s will, and in His time.

O’ Father …how I long for You…

When we pray and do things for Him, it can become a “sweet devotion” for the Father.  When we offer up prayer, and devote our lives to Him, it can be one of mutual accord.  First, and foremost…to honor the Father and to show our love and obedience to Him…and second, it will please HIM enormously.

O’ Father…show me the way…

Sweet devotion for a “SWEET FATHER” who is devoted to us in love and grace.

Isn’t He worth your devotion and love?

Start by going off quietly somewhere today, and devote your time to Him, and Him alone.

You will have the best peace and feel the deepest love one can possibly ever experience, of this I am certain.

“O’ Thank you Father, for Your love, devotion and grace, for Your miracles throughout the ages, and for always being there for all of children, shine Your light and I pray that my devotion and love for You is pleasing in Your loving eyes, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Psalm 16:11

And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.

Rev 8:4

“Thaw our hearts LORD, Wash us clean as Snow…”

“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.

Isaiah 1:18

As I gaze out into my backyard I’m filled with awesome wonder of God’s precious and breathtaking beauty.  Freshly fallen snow enshrouds my landscape and adorns the pine and fir trees.  The sunlight as it streams from the heavens above creates an illusion of “sparkling diamonds” glowing in the distance.

Even though it is a beautiful thing to behold I long for the Spring thaw and the beginning of life as it were.  And with these thoughts comes the spiritual awakening of senses, much the same as when we have the LORD with us.  Our connection with Him and our spirituality glows and keeps us “warm” no matter what the weather outside.

I already have my warmth and my beauty from within to without.  And, the best part of it is…it’s a year long, 24/hr 7 days a week, morning and night every second of the day warmth!

Ostensibly a heart that doesn’t know God can be like a “winter block of ice” it can be lacking warmth, and can be decisively difficult to break through.  But with GOD all things are possible.

A heart that is cold can turn warm, much like the Spring thaw that most of us experience in a good portion of the United States.  The heart can turn on a dime should the good LORD bring it to happen.  I’ve seen the hardest of hearts make a complete 180 so many times.  I’ve been blessed to witness many throughout the years.

God is our warmth, our sun, our connection to LIFE.

God is our sanctuary from the storm.

God is our constant surge of energy.

God is love.

God is everything.

And…God is everywhere.

He’s in the breathtaking beauty of a sunrise, the serene backdrop of a magnificent sunset.

He’s in the wind.

He’s in the yapping of a beautiful puppy.

He’s in the miraculous birth of a newborn child.

He is LIFE!

I am blessed to know Him and am blessed to know He loves me.  I pray all good things for His children, and I pray to those who don’t know Him yet.

The next time you’re looking at one of His immeasurable creations; whether it’s scenic beauty, or physical, remember He loves all of us.  And, to that we should thank Him and love Him back…

For now, I’ll go and look at my backyard again from inside my warm home.   Most important…I will embrace and give praise to Him for the “warmth of His Spirit” and His love.  Amen!

 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 

(Psalm 51:7 KJV)

Romans 6:4

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Out with the “old” in with the “new” — as the saying goes when the “New Year” comes in.  With the New Year comes resolutions.  For many it begins with a statement of “I have to lose weight” or “This is the year I get healthier” or  “I want to come clean from my addiction”  and so it goes.  A lot of good intentions are spoken as the New Year comes in, and most times, although these personal goals are brought forward with good intentions, it is most unfortunate that most of them will not be met.

When I hear “out with the old” I automatically think of the well-known verse in

2 Corinthians 5:17,

•  “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, our “old man” is gone and “we are new” so to speak, “born again” in Spirit.  All things prior to our coming to the LORD are in the past, we are washed clean by His blood, and resurrected, we are “born again.”

Our former selves are a shadow of things past.  The new road ahead is one in which we walk as children of the light, and children of the only living God.

So, to those who are forming new goals in terms of “health and prosperity” in the New Year, that’s a good thing to aspire to, and I certainly hope you attain that which you have need of.  But, I will add one very important and crucial component to the entire equation, and one that will certainly bring about immense joy, peace and a sense of accomplishment in all that we do.  Jesus.

• The joy of knowing Him will complete your life in ways that are hard to define.  The only way to feel it is to experience HIM first-hand.

• The peace that will envelop your very essence is one in which you’ll never know until you experience Him first-hand.

This New Year if you haven’t already accepted Jesus Christ into your heart, I pray that you will know Him and begin to experience LIFE as it was meant to be lived.  For LIFE is for the living.

He loves us so much…He died for us.  And, the Father sacrificed His only begotten Son so that we would share in eternity, and through His death and resurrection, we are forgiven our sins, and washed clean.  (John 3:16)

Can you think of any other way to bring in the NEW YEAR than by loving and accepting Him?

“Father, thank You for this New Year and for Your gift of Life, I pray for those who do not know You, that they would seek Your face and Kingdom, I pray for those who are in the dark, and I pray for those who are hurting all over the world, Father, my Lord and Savior, thank You, thank You, and thank You…for all that You are, and all that You have done since the beginning of time, and continue to do to this very moment in time, I love You, may others come to the light who haven’t yet, and may those of us who have found You, continue to glorify You and exalt You now and always, in Jesus precious name, Amen.”

 Colossians 3:1 KJV

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

“For you are all children of light, children of the day.

We are not of the night or of the darkness”

(1 Thessalonians 5:5).

As a child of God we’re called to  allow God’s light  to shine through as we minister to others.  Feeding the poor, helping the sick, caring for those in good times and bad, and all things we encounter during the course of the day are part of His plan.

As we  follow Jesus’ example in ministry to resist evil and pray for people letting the light of God glimmer and sparkle through us extending to those who sit in darkness, we experience a growth in faith and our intimacy with the LORD.

.  He defeated death and overcame the world.  He is the Lamb of God. The LIGHT of the world!  And in Him there  is no darkness at all!

Even in the darkest of times, He is never overcome.

He lights our path, and shows us the way.

He is our hope.

“Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).  The Master and Lord of lights has given you His Word and promise that when we follow Him we will never be “encased in darkness” — instead we will be filled with light.

One of the most incredible things I’ve ever heard was from a virtual stranger.  It was while I was waiting in my doctors office. This person seemed to be in a “sad zone.”  I started by smiling of which there was no response.  Then I offered light conversation about the weather and “waiting” time in the office.  It opened a path to speak with this person.  And after we spoke the individual said, “you seem to have something going on that I wish I had in my life. There’s just something about you.  What is your secret?”  I answered, “God.”  I’ve no doubt that my comments and actions that day were based on “the LORD above” who used me as a vessel in order to shine His light  and to help one of “His children” come out from the darkness into the light.

• When we “hear” Him and “follow Him” we’re able to fully engage in the supernatural and harness our spirituality which generates from His Spirit… resulting in the light from within to without.

Shining a light is crucial to the tenets of our faith.   When we shine the light we are continuing in His Word and honoring Jesus’ ministry and doctrine…that is to say “The Word.”

• Conspire to fulfill His Word today.
• Smile, offer help, provide services to those in need where we can.

By doing so we are able to conform in unity to His doctrine and be in obedience to His laws, ultimately being a vessel in His will thereby bringing about the purpose of His plan for our lives.

Shine. Shine. Shine.

Love. Love. Love.

Is your light shining today?  If so….shine on.

“Father, thank You for Your light, love and purpose for our life, We pray for those in darkness that they might pursue You with a fervency and seek Your Kingdom as they walk the earth, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

“And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground” (Isaiah 42:16).

Sharing the word of the LORD and offering ourselves in love is the fulfillment of Christ’s law.  Allowing others to “unload” their burdens and troubles demonstrates our faith and willingness to fulfill His Word, and Law, which is one and the same.

Sometimes someone needs an “ear” or a “hand” or a “smile” — whichever or whatever it might be— so be it, and so it is done in Christ’ precious name.

Ostensibly, we cast our burdens to the LORD…when it is too much for us to bear.  We are all one family in the church and it takes a “village” of the faithful to accomplish that which the LORD can do on His own.  We need to generate and initiate our spirit in accordance with His word, and walk in alignment of which He wills us to walk.

Ultimately we are to be able to function in the capacity in which God wants us to.  We need to ascribe to the theory of “we are one body” in Christ, and each part cannot do without the other part.  A hand needs the arm, and the ear needs the head, and the leg needs the foot, and so on and so forth…all ONE in Christ.

Sharing each others burdens are called to order in the book Galatians especially.  As Christians and followers there are aspects and tenets of faith that we adhere to.  Sharing burdens is one. Sharing the word is another.  Sharing the love of Christ is the nucleus of that objective.

When we believe, meditate on His Word, practice what we read, open ourselves to His guidance and the direction of the Spirit…and pray for His will and for Him to reveal our purpose in His overall plan…we are truly walking on the right path.  When we ask to be used as His vessel, we are trusting in Him fully thereby enabling Him to USE us.

Trusting in Him and Loving Him is the definitive of practicing our faith and being one body in the church of Christ.

Our Royal Priest, our intercessor, our Lord of lords, King of kings…and our reason for LIFE.

Share one another’s burdens as we turn them over to the One who can handle it for us.  Fulfill His law…and watch all good things happen as He will bless us for our dedication and obedience to His Word.

Pick up the phone, call someone tonight who needs to be uplifted and encouraged tonight, in Jesus Christ’ name, Amen.

Galatians 6:5 Context

2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

4But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

5 For every man shall bear his own burden.

6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption;

but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Isaiah 44:22

“I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.”

The LORD loves us so much that He gave His only Son as a propitiation for our Sins so that we could live with Him forever in Eternity.  He loves us so much, that He blots out all of our transgressions, when we repent, and go to Him with a pure contrite heart, seeking forgiveness.

It’s not to say that we will never sin again, for we are human/flesh, and no one is perfect but ONE.  However, we as those who walk in faith, repent, seek forgiveness, and move on.  We don’t linger in sin, and practice evil deeds. Our Father knows us, and loves us no matter what.  He may hate the “sin” but He loves US.

When we trust Him and move along the narrow path of righteousness, we are assured our place in heaven right alongside the LORD of lords, even as a guest at His dinner.  How amazing is that?

Eternity, forgiveness, Love and living in the presence of God forever!

Amen.

Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and He that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself; 

Isaiah 44:24 KJV

Throughout the Bible we are reminded again and again to “TRUST” in the Lord.  The tenets of faith involves many levels and emotions.  And a huge part of it is Love, which  is in the center of it all, or more to the point…, our Father who is LOVE.

You can feel the Father’s love with each page of the Bible, from beginning to end.  Especially regarding His promises.  However, a big factor in all of this is “TRUST.”   Trust is essentially a big component of faith.

Trusting in the Lord is described as feeling safe, as blessed, and as producing very desirable results. Trust… It’s our hope, our strength, our safety, and our help.

But, don’t misunderstand the meaning of trust.  Trust doesn’t mean to approach things, events, or life in a haphazard fashion, to do so would be foolish.

Just forging forward aimlessly without regard in not trust.  Trust is something positive. It is a real something, not a mere happen-so or maybe-so. It’s a definite attitude of soul and mind, a realization of our own need and of God’s sufficiency. It is the reaching out and anchoring of ourselves in God.

It is placing trust where we ‘hear’ His voice and His will, innately knowing that He wants us to turn down a certain path with the ultimate intentions reflecting prosperity in all we do.

Trust brings a mountain of confidence. It allows us to see the LORD in His true character.

It causes us to realize the “totality” of His Sovereign greatness and the compassion of His love.

It brings us a consciousness of His significance and power and assures us that we’re in fact sheltered under His loving wings.

It makes the “enemies” lose their power; and we have a focus of safety that brings peace and rest.  As Jesus said, “Ye shall find rest unto your souls” for those who trust in the LORD.

Meditation,  and understanding of His voice through His words, along with our actions, which are governed by our faith,  is essentially a part of His promises, and brings about a peace filled life.

 “It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Phil.2: 13).

If we are submitted to him, He will work in you. He will help you. He will guide you.  He will bless you.

If you’re unable to submit to Him thusly, you have not reached the place in which you can trust.

Ostensibly, when we reach a place of surety and absolute joy in knowing that we’re trusting in Him fully, while being aware of “His voice” in all that we do, we enter into His “perfect peace” thereby we can rejoice in all that we encounter.

Do you know the difference between “trusting in God” versus “trusting blindly” in our own eyes?

The Bible and His love will help bring you to “this place” of peace which is only possible through His grace, guidance, and progression of our “inner man” that is to say, the Holy Spirit.

For now, on earth as we live in the flesh, snuggle under His mighty powerful wings, and realize the ecstasy of being His beloved child, because we have a purpose, and plan according to His will.

Then, when the race is over, and we leave our flesh bodies and are called home in the Spirit, to live for all eternity with our Father,  where we will be rewarded for trusting in Him, and loving Him unconditionally while on earth.

The Psalmist tells us what to do when we have fears in life. “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee” (Psalm 56: 3) 

 Trust in God.

It is the safest thing you’ll have ever done;

and He will never fail you.

Amen.