Isaiah 41:10

‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

God clearly identifies His role as “protector” in so many places throughout His holy Bible.  He tells us to have no fear, and be of good courage because “I go before you” and that “My right hand of righteousness will hold you up.”

This is two examples of His promises for His children, that means “us.”

When we place ourselves in His mighty capable and loving hands, therein lies our “sanctuary” and our inner peace.  It’s like lying down in a bed of comfort and joy.  It’s a complete and utter surrender of acceptance in all aspects of our life.

Speaking for myself, the more time I spend with my Father the better I feel, and my desire and intimacy for Him grows exponentially with each session I “chat” with Him.

The bonds and ties to the Father are inexplicably undeniably real when one “hears” His voice, and adheres to His will.

It’s self assuring and almost “jarring” realizing the promises of our Father.  To understand and embrace those promises is a life filled with confidence and a life filled with light.

To understand that He will never let us down is a dream tantamount to our existence initiated by our Creator…our very own Father of lights.

The aspirations of dreams merely exist in our minds, but the fruition of those dreams are gifts from our Father.

He is the One and only who can bring us to see the “way” and show us “the way” all the days of our life.

When we graft onto the Vine we are promised a self satisfying and nourishing life filled with growth and protection all the days of our life.

Now, that’s not to say there won’t be “storms” along the way, but the rainbow always comes out at the end of the darkest storm.

The rainbow, another promise from our Father.

His covenant and His heart, extended to us, over and over again.

How amazing is that?

“Father God thank You for Your love, Your Word, and Your Promises, all of which are given freely to us, Your children, thank You for the light, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Deuteronomy 1:30
‘The LORD your God who goes before you will Himself fight on your behalf, just as He did for you in Egypt before your eyes,

Psalm 136:16

To Him who led His people through the wilderness, For His loving kindness is everlasting;

Deuteronomy 31:8
 
“The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Joshua 1:9

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Rejoice always,

pray without ceasing,

18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

The scripture which tells us to “pray with supplication and thank the LORD no matter what” is certainly a reality in which all those of us with faith adhere to.

The LORD and He is in control, and it is His will that is the best outcome for us, no matter what.

Sometimes, even the slightest “switch” in plans can have an impact in your life, something in which we have “no control” — because we are NOT in control…our FATHER is.

Think about all the times in your life where things seemed to be a mere coincidence and the outcome was changed greatly in your favor.  With faith, there are NO COINCIDENCES.  It’s God’s will that prevails.

There is no such thing as luck.  Again, God’s Will, be done.

Pray no matter what you’re feeling.

Sing praises to Him regardless of the situation, both good and bad.

Praise Him in the morning…in the evening…in the afternoon…in the wee hours of the morning.

Sing His praises, for He is worthy of all praise and adulation.

Today…give thanks for all things…and pray from your heart, which is the basis for all things pure and simplistic, yet be steadfast in your dedication to the LORD.

He is with us always.

He will never leave us nor forsake us.

He will go before us.

He will uphold us with His right hand of righteousness.

His promises are GOLDEN and guaranteed…

Isn’t that alone enough for Praise all day long without ceasing?

Praise God and His works!

“Father God, I praise Your name, now and always…all glory and honor are Yours, You get all the victory now and always, no matter what, I thank You in Jesus Christ name, Amen.”

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 
Philippians 4:6

Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

                                                   Psalm 55:17

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But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

1 Peter 2:9

“Many are called, but few are chosen…”  Our Father would probably more than likely want that to be, many are called and many are chosen, but that is not the case.

So many fall into the clutches of the world, and hence, thereby, corrupted by the pollution of sin, that dominates, and permeates, every crevice of this God-made Universe.

However, there’re the remnant few that at are adhering to His calling.

These are the those who are propelled by His word, and bring it forth to all those who are in the dark, and plant seeds of love, of Jesus’ ministry. But, it is up to God to water the seeds.  And, some will produce fruit, and some will not.

We can show others His goodness, and we can shine His light through our actions, and choices, all the while standing in the parameters of our faith. This can include going outside the “comfort zone” at times.

The LORD calls us out of the darkness into His wonderful light.

The question: Will you respond to His call?

We have a purpose and calling for our lives.  Before we were even in our mother’s womb, it was pre-ordained as to our purpose in this lifetime.

We’re basically passing through here as “temporary Residents: to fulfill our purpose, according to His will, before taking up residence in our “permanent Home” which of course is Paradise, where we shall dwell with our Father for all eternity.

God speaks over and over again through His people, and has done so throughout the ages.  Many of His people do not recognize it, mainly because we are distracted by the “sounds of the world.”  It can run interference in “hearing” our Father’s voice, which of course is primarily through His word.

God wired us to communicate with Him, and wired us to listen to Him.

Again, the question: “Are you listening?”

The main way of listening to the LORD is through His word,  Faith is the willingness to follow His commandments, irrespective of the circumstances, which is called a leap of faith.

And how does faith become deeper,   by hearing the word of the LORD.

With faith, as Jesus said in discussing the parable of the”mustard seed” it can grow into the biggest of trees, and if we see a mountain and say “move” the mountain will move.

This parable is of course witness to our faith…because if we really believe in our hearts, it will happen.

Accepting the “calling” on our lives takes diligence, and applying it to circumstances takes dedication, trust and a heart filled with love for the LORD.

We were created for His pleasure and purpose.

It’s up to us to bring it to fruition.

Listen, He’s calling…

Amen.

The Chosen Stone and His Chosen People

4  Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,

5  you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

6  Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,
“Behold, I lay in Zion
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”

7  Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,
“The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone,”

8  and
“A stone of stumbling
And a rock of offense.”
They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

9  But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

10  who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
Living Before the World

11  Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. 

John 8:12…

For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

Proverbs 6:23

I can hardly drive in the dark any longer due to sensitivity of the “lights” from oncoming vehicles, or those following closely behind my car.  I guess the medical term is “night blindness.

Ostensibly, the “LIGHT” of the LORD is something entirely different.

Those who have seen “the light” are blessed to have their eyes opened.  It is the LORD who has done so.

The same is true with ears. When  our ears are opened to His Word, and truth, it is a blessing that comes from Him.

All gifts are from God, such is “learning the truth” —  He is the One who  prompts and touches us from within to receive Him, He is the One who places the desire in our hearts to pursue Him.

His Light is life.

The LORD of Life, the great I AM I AM, the Savior, the Rock, the One and only King of kings, and LORD of lords, our Sovereign Great and Mighty God.

He’s alive, triumphant in death, the magnificent Author of Salvation…our LIGHT, and our breath of life.  ( 1 Corinthians 15:55 55   Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?)

His light is ever present, when we are engrafted with Him, when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior.

The light is evidence of life. 

He is life. 

There is a security of being part of the large family of His followers.

As brothers and sisters in Christ we have the blessing of knowing we will be with Him for eternity when we pass from this earth.

However, until such time, we have a job here to do for Him.

Each day is another challenge, another way to serve Him.

Each one of us with our own method of doing so, each with our own gifts that He bestowed upon us, each one with a different job to undertake.  Most important, the outcome is ever the same, no matter the task…Serving Him!

Keep shining His light, and in so doing, you’re shining the light He has ignited within you!

Amen…

“Father, thank You for this day, for the blessings You’ve bestowed on Your children from the beginning of time, and continue to do so each and every day, help us to shine Your glorious light from within to without, and grant us Your perfect peace, and may we be a blessing to all we encounter this day, and everyday, I love You Father, it is in Jesus’ precious name I pray,  Amen.”

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.   Psalm 119:105

The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.   Psalm 119:130

I was thinking about my encounter with bullies who “beat me to a pulp” in grade school, for no reason other than they “could” and it brought a smile to my face.  You might wonder why such a dismal and painful memory would bring a smile to my face, it’s simple…God.

God?  Yes, God.

He was with me as I struggled to breathe, and He was with me as I fought through an emotionally upsetting crisis due to the aftermath from that attack.

And, He was with me, as He guided my path and “birthed” my career as a Director and Counselor in geriatrics in nursing homes which sprouted within me after that day of my attack.

God was with me in fact, all of the days of my life, and continues to be at this time, and will be until I go to Him in eternity.

He was with me and knew me before my parents, my siblings, and my spouse.

He placed me in my mother’s womb and had plans for me, plans to prosper and to help those in need, through the my calling of helping the elderly in nursing homes.

You see, it was feeling helpless, and ripped of my independence as I struggled with fear due to the attack, that made me feel the desire to help those who feel likewise.

And, the elderly in nursing homes are often stripped of their independence, struggle with fear of growing old in an institution and feel helpless and can be prey to being taken advantage of.

I thank God every single day of my life for bringing about a transformation during each mishap or tribulation in my life.  It brings me to another level as He helps me and guides me through each painful excursion.

It is this growth that allows for sharing my heart to those in need of comfort, and hope in an otherwise “gloomy” situation.

God never lets us sit in ashes, He will always seek to lift us up, and offer us beauty in its place.

He will bring us closer to Him in the process, and He will define us further in our pursuit of Him as we seek His face and His kingdom.

So, take a walk through your past, even the darkest of times, and think…you will more than realize God was with you always.

He was holding you up with His right hand of righteousness.  He carried you through the roughest terrain, and He laid His perfect peace on you in the aftermath of the storm.

When we open the windows in our heart, we will be able to let in the love of God and His mercy.

He will pour His Spirit over us when we accept Him for who He is…Our Lord and Savior, and our King of kings.  Our magnificent Father of love.   Our everything.

“Father, I thank You for the growth in which I gained through my adversities, and I thank You for the Light that never failed to shine along my path, or on my face, even in tumultuous and trying times,  You are the reason I am, and You are the reason for everything in my life, I love You, I pray that others who are in the dark, seek the light and Your face, so that they too can know the wonder of Your love, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

“Give us this day our daily bread…”

Luke 11:11

Seeking God and His will in earnest through His daily Word is a reward and joyful acclimation in being one with the LORD.

When we have the heart for our Father, He knows.  We can’t fool Him, He searches our hearts for that which we feel.  Because some “say” things aloud, but inwardly, their heart is not of what their lips are saying.

Seeking Him in earnest, on a daily basis in all that we do is tantamount to the well being of our existence, and more important, in so doing, we are pleasing to our Father.

Giving the whole heart to God in Love:

Deut 6:5–    And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul, and with all thy might…

When we love Him fully and completely with a true heart we are following His commandments and fulfilling His will and purpose in our life.

In Obedience:

Psalm 119:2 –Blessed are they that keep His testimonies, and that seek Him with the whole heart…

When we seek Him earnestly, we are truly engaging our spirit with His Spirit and coming up higher, and therefore we are blessed and rewarded by His grace and promises.

In Trust:

Proverbs 3:5—Trust in the Lord with thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Our Father is a loving God, and a patient God, and a Faithful God.  He wants our love, and He wants us to acknowledge and seek Him, and lean on Him. He is our strength, and our Light to guide our path.  We are not of His intelligence, nor do we begin to understand the platitudes of His love and wisdom concerning His children.

In Prayer:

Je 29:13:  And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart…

Again, He knows our heart.  He can hear and see heart filled with true love and obedience.  Therefore, when we do seek Him in earnest, we will “find Him…”

Finally, In Repentance:

Joel 2:12:  Therefore also now, said the LORD, turn you even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:

Full hearts of love and penance are called for to continue in our walk with Him. As we are not perfect, we will all fall short, and all we can do each time is to repent, and the LORD will forgive.  He loves us, and wants us to share in eternity with Him.

So seek Him in earnest.

Love Him.

Seek Him.

Be obedient

Trust Him.

Pray and speak with Him daily.

And repent.

This in accordance to His purpose in all things we shall fulfill the goal of our lives as Christians and children of Faith, and children of God.

Did you tell Him that you Love Him today?

If not, what are you waiting for?

Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

(Luke 11:1-4)

5And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

7But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

9After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11Give us this day our daily bread.

12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

“Good Morning Lord, I’m ready to be a vessel for You.  

Thank You for this day, and thank You, for all that You are, and do.

I stand ready to put on the full Gospel Armorm, to take on the day with

Your mighty Word, and Sword as my defense.

Amen.

Each morning I count my blessings as we all get up together, knowing full well that each moment is a gift, and a blessing from our Father.  This is a gift irrespective of our circumstances.

And each night…I do the say at the close the day, counting my blessings.  Giving Him all Praise and giving Him the victory no matter what, always.

This rule applies to everyone;  young, old, healthy and sickly.   There are no exceptions,  because each breath here on earth is a gift from the LORD, our merciful and gracious Abba Daddy!

So, after the praise and thanks for the morning as we awaken.  The very next most important thing to do is “put on your wardrobe.”  I’m not speaking of just any wardrobe, I’m talking about the one and only bonafide and impregnable and everlasting powerful weapon of defense…and that my sisters and brothers is the “full Gospel Armour” — the one that will keep you clothed in a net of security.  The one that is a Master’s original design of purity and significance in all that we endeavor as we go through this part of our journey, called “life in the flesh.”

It is what will bring our enemies to their knees, it is what will block the fiery darts designed to thwart and maim us during our daily pursuits in life.  It is the ever faithful promises of our father, His loving WORD…our true defense and the first line of choice in clothing everyday, and the answer to our everything.

The presence of God is so strong in His Word.

His voice, so clear and powerful.

His love all encompassing.

His defense and promises for His children, overwhelmingly entrenching in Spirit and light.

No greater Love than the Father for His children.

Have you put on your “choice of designer clothes today?”

 Make it the Original by our Master Creator and Father,

put on the full Armour, and go out and shine your light,

and take a deep breath while giving Him all the Glory,

Honor and Praise due Him, forever and always, Amen!

Amos 5:8

Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion,

and turneth the shadow of death into the morning,

and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea,

and poureth them out upon the face of the earth:

The LORD is his name:

The song by Perry Como, “Catch a Falling Star” had interesting lyrics.

“Catch a falling star and put in your pocket save it for a rainy day…”

It was a song that suggested when hard times come, pull out that star and brighten your day.  At least that was my interpretation of it.

Well, we have something way better than Perry’s song… we have GOD!

So, each day, no matter what happens, good bad or indifferent, we have the LORD whom we can give thanks,  and know He’s always there no matter what.

There are blessings all around, we just need to be mindful of them.  Even when there is black clouds looming large in the sky, although we can’t see the sun at that moment in time, we realize and know that the sun is there.

Well, the same with God–who of course incidentally created the sun–we sometimes can’t feel Him, or see Him…but we know instinctively that He is there.

God is our Star,  the Rock, the faithful and magnificent great I Am I am!

He is behind us when we need to be uplifted, holding us up.

He is in front of us, leading us and guiding us through the storm.

He is all encompassing in every aspect of our lives.

And, through all of which we live…it is He we should LIVE for.  Because it is He who is LIFE and the Creator thereof of all things big and small.

His word is inspirational.

His heart is enormous filled with love of which we can’t fathom.

His compassion boundless.

He is our Rock, our Strength, our Everything.

He alone is the Star, the only Star in which we should set our course.

Look around, see Him in everything that you do.

Look around, see Him in everything that you say.

Look around, and acknowledge Him with your obedience, and willingness to serve.

And, finally, look around and feel the JOY that is in you because of His love..

“Dear Father, my Lord, and King, thank You for Your love, for being ever-faithful, and loving us no matter what, I ask that You shine Your magnificent light for those who are in the dark this very moment, that they would come to Love You and know You, as the loving and kind Sovereign Father that You are, in Jesus name…Amen.”

King James Bible Psalms 146:2
While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.

Praise the LORD when things are going well, and praise Him when things aren’t going well,  Praise Him continuously throughout the day. Sing to Him, talk with Him, read His word…love Him.

Getting closer to the LORD is a practiced and life long journey, with each step bringing us closer to the LORD, and each step bringing us closer to “life eternal.”

Our purpose and our journey is closely watched, and encouraged by the LORD, His Spirit within guides us throughout the course of our lives, and  He is our comforter and counselor.

When we go to Him in prayer, we are surrendering to Him and showing obedience and love…and when we Praise Him, no matter what, we are openly demonstrating our faith in powerful fashion.

King David showed His love for the LORD is so many ways, His heart was with the LORD, and He danced in Praise.  He wrote the Psalms from His heart in praise.  His wife despised Him because He was dancing for the LORD…nonetheless, He didn’t allow anyone to take Him from the love of the LORD.

Praise in heart filled worship is powerfully inclined indeed, and it makes our Father happy, to see us in such supplication.

Praise Him.

Praise Him

Praise Him.

He is a God worthy to be praised…

Have you sang to Him today?

Have you spoken with Him today?

He’s waiting.

He is the One who loves us for who we are, always, and forever, no matter what.

Stand up, and shout for joy!

Hallelujah, Praise the LORD!

Psalm 150:6 (KJV)

Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.

Every trial brings us through the fires, but God is my fire of love…and He will bring us through it each and every time!

Amen~

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. Blessed is the man who remains steadfast (or perseveres) under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”    James 1:2-4, 12

  Perseverance

The definition of perseverance is a determined continuation in something with a steady and continued action of belief that occurs over a long period of time  despite especially difficult circumstances.

The definition of perseverance certainly pertains to the Biblical definition of the saints, who after being saved,  endured many trials, tests, tribulations, and persecution, from non-believers.

They continue steadfast in their belief because their faith is not their own, but rather, it is in God , and it is not the strength of their faith, that allows endurance,  because their faith is only as strong as the Holy One,  which is to say, Jesus Christ.

 “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast (or perseveres) under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”   

When hard times come knocking on your door, (and it will…this is not uncommon to every brother and sister at one time or another in life–1 Cor 10:13) the question looms, what can I do to stop this whirlwind of uncertainty and tumult from happening in my life?

As so many saints in the Bible have said, and so many preachers have preached, it is those trials, and fires which we endure in life, that builds our  spiritual character, and brings us closer to the LORD.  Just as metal is brought into the fire to purify and make it perfect, so too are our souls being purified with each fire we face.

God will never let us down and He will not allow us to suffer beyond our capacity in which we can handle.  He will always show us a way out, and He’s constantly holding us up.

He is our glory and the lifter of our heads.  He is the One and Only who can inspire, and the One and Only who can paint a landscape with His fingertips, or allow a raging rainstorm to form while protecting the most delicate of flowers in the midst. Through it all, He cares for all things He created, most especially, us…His children.

Trust Him, speak to Him, surrender to His will.  Ask Him to help us understand the reason for our trial, and the strength to endure it, and believe He will bring us through it, each and every time it happens.

For without Him, there is no fire, and without a fire, there is no purification or growth of the spirit.  It’s at this time of trials, we must be steadfast in our faith, and lean on Him totally.  He is a jealous God, and wants us to turn to Him, and lean on Him, casting your troubles and cares to Him.  He tells us so, many times throughout His word.

Slowly, but surely, He’ll bring us out of the fires of  tribulations, but know the fire in our hearts, will continue to burn with love, intensifying even more so after the trail for our Father.

Look up, your redemption draws nigh!

“Thank You Father, for Your continued Faithfulness towards Your children, Thank You for the reaffirmation of Your promises, and thank You for the ability to withstand the heat of each trial, I pray for those in the darkness, that they see the light, and come to know You, as the loving and kind God You are, all praise, glory, power and honor be to You, now and always, in Jesus name, Amen.”

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” 

[Isaiah 41:10]