Mother

MOTHER


My responsibility as a mother is to teach my children to

Obey the word of the Lord.

To read His word to my children daily, to show them

His love for them by setting a Godly

Example in all that I do and to show them in my own life the

Richness that comes from serving God.

Nothing on my own

As I struggle with this eating at times.  I know that in this God is my Deliverer.  I must lift up His name during these times and let not the enemy bring upon me the things that places me in bondage.  That I can do nothing on my own but I know that the Lord’s words tell me that I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me and that I am more than a conqueror.  Then when the things around me are closing in on me to call upon the Name of the Lord.  I know that victory is mine in this situation because the Lord is my Healer and my Shield from the enemy.  His words tell me to cast all my cares at the feet of Jesus and leave them there.  I had tried to overcome this eating problem on my own and I was being consumed in thinking that I had it all under control.  For I can control nothing but make matters worse and deceive myself into believing that I am in control of what is going on.   If you are facing this problem let not the enemy make you believe that you are in control.  He is out to destroy you.  Go into spiritual warfare and lay the eating at the feet of Jesus.  He will take care of it in His time and when you truly let go of it.  God has given you this body to do His work let not the enemy destroy it by his tactics but know that you too can have victory in this when you lay at the feet of Jesus and surrender it all to Him.

Seeking to Devour

I know that the enemy is prowling around as a lion seeking whom it may devour in these last days.  But as a child of God he cannot stop me from lifting up the name of Jesus.  The enemy does not want us to praise God and anything that He can do to take our eyes off of God He will do it.  So when you feel attacked, sick in body, depressed or feel like the world is trying to hold you down.  Stand up and praise the Name of Jesus.  We do not have to accept the things the enemy tries to bring upon us.  We are more than conquerors in the name of Lord.  He has given us power from on high to withstand the wiles of the enemy.  Tell the enemy to get thee behind thee in the Name of Jesus.  His words tell us that if it were possible even the elect could be deceived.  Are you a child of God let not the enemy steal your joy and your testimony at times?  Let us stand up and stand firm for the Lord.  Cry out to Him and He will deliver you in these times.  Did He not call us out of darkness into light, let not the darkness overcome us again.  Be not in bondage to the things of this world for they belong to the enemy.  Seek the Lord and His face and His righteousness and put on the whole armor of God that you can stand.

Time with the Lord

How often do you get to spend quiet time with the Lord?  It is good to be alone!  We are too busy with the things of this world.  We need to find that secret place to get away from everything.  Jesus went and found a solitary place to pray and to draw strength from the Father because He knew the great responsibility that lay upon His shoulders.  The people would press Him daily as he taught them.  When Jesus went into the wilderness for forty days, the enemy came to Him because he knew that Jesus was flesh.  After spending time in fasting Jesus body was weak, He was hungry and tired.  Yet, Jesus had received from the Father the strength He needed to go through the testing.  He did not give into the schemes of Satan.  Sometimes, in life we are bombarded with things that we want to run away.  How about finding a retreat in our secret place with the Lord.  The only way we can draw strength from everyday life is to spend time alone with the Lord.  Sometimes, He wants us to come before Him and just sit and be still and hear His voice.  Jesus went to the mountainside to pray.  He arose up early in the morning to get away and to be strengthened for the day ahead.  Can you imagine how the people were coming to Jesus because they heard He was healing people, blinded eyes were being opened, a woman with an issue of blood for twelve years was healed, the dead were being raised and the lady He met at the well He knew everything about her? Each of these people took the time to seek Jesus out and they found the answers to what they were seeking.  They were healed and set free by the Father. We too must take the time to be still and hear from heaven and wait upon The Lord.

I Believe

I believe that we are living in the last days before Christ comes to take His children home.  All around us there are things that are happening that we do not understand.  Try not to figure them out but with fear and trembling work out your salvation for the time is drawing near.  Fall on your knees and cry out to God to touch America and your family members that are lost.  If we truly believe that Christ is returning soon why are we not spreading the Gospel of Christ?  Thank God that someone cared enough about me and told me of Jesus Christ.  I may be the only Christ that others see so I must be careful in all things that I do so that others will see Jesus in me.  Have you ever sit and thought about the many souls that are going to burn for eternity and one of those souls might have been saved had we spoken up or our life represented Christ to them?  When we get to heaven in the Presence of the Lord will He tell us why did you not go out and let His light shine in you that your family would have seen Him and be saved, your co-workers or your neighbor?  I ask the Lord to brighten His light in my life so bright and clean out the things in my life that dim His light.  I want to be used of Jesus to touch many lives from burning in the inferno for eternity.  Come let us go spread the Good News of Jesus Christ and what He wants to do others.

Spiritual Warfare

At times I feel like I am in spiritual warfare.  I feel like there are things that are happening around me that I cannot get my eyes on for I would be consumed in them if it were possible.  During these times, I must pray and sing unto the Lord for His strength.  For yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me thy rod and thy staff comforts me.  I must be quiet and still and know that God is my deliverer.  He has not forsaken me and that He will deliver me from this too.  You see there are many things that we face and are going to face I believe in the near future and unless we totally come to rely upon the Lord we will be consumed.  I count it all joy when I go through diver’s temptations because I am being refined as gold.  I know that in all of these things that others are looking to see how I am going to react.  So the next time you feel things around you are trying to overtake you Lift up the Name of Jesus and offer Him the praise and the worship that He desires and forget about the circumstances you are facing.  Sing, Oh, How I love Jesus because He first loved me.  Sing Victory in Jesus, My Savior forever!  Start quoting scripture, My God will never leave me nor forsake me, but whatever you do Praise the Lord.

Holy Spirit Fill Me

Holy Spirit fill me this day with the knowledge that you have for me to fill me with the love of Christ, to clean out the things in my life that are not pleasing in the eyes of the Father.  If there is any unforgiveness or bitter feelings or any unknown sins please show me that I may repent and get them under the blood and will be washed clean and prepared as the Bride when Jesus comes for me.  Holy Spirit I adore, you, Holy Spirit I need you, Holy Spirit I love you. Holy Spirit fill me to overflowing take control of my life, I give myself to you to change as you need so that the Father will be glorified in me.  Holy Spirit I desire to know what the will of the Father is for my life.  Holy Spirit the words of God tell me that you came to be my Comforter and Helper. I ask you to comfort me and to help me as I walk me as I walk this road waiting on the return of my Father.  My soul longs to touch Jesus and to be in His presence.  As I go in my prayer closet teach me how to pray and what I should pray.  Fill this hunger in me with your presence.  Give me the discernment I must have in these last days to know what is from you and what is not.  That I will stand up and proclaim what the Spirit says unto His children.  Give me a love for others that you may send me unto them that you can touch their lives.  Holy Spirit I adore you, Holy Spirit I love you!  Show the true manifestation of the Spirit in my life as I seek to know you more.  Reveal your presence in my life more and more.  As I hunger and thirst after righteousness teach me to walk on the straight path leading home to my Father.  As I walk this road that I will learn how to walk in the Spirit that I may not fulfill the desires of this flesh.  I hunger to walk in your paths that you will lead me into.

As I Walk

As I walk this road here below I am only a stranger that was sent here that my Father’s light would shine in my life.  May I never get caught up in the things of this world and what is around me because my Father tells me to walk on the path of righteousness and not to look to the left or to the right? As I walk on the path of righteousness I will have trials and tests that I must walk through but in all of these I know that my Heavenly Father is there with me for His words tell me that He will never leave me nor forsake me.   I believe the words of my Father and when I sit down to read them I find that they offer me the joy and love that I seek and the peace that surpasses all understanding and all the answers to what I am facing.  As I rise early each day and spend time with my Father He will be with me as I walk this road here below to comfort and guide me.  My Father knows what I will need this day and when I seek Him, He takes my hand and gives me His strength.  I want to soar as the eagles do because they are close to my Father and that is where I long to be.  For my life is made complete in the presence of my Father and with Him I can be more than a conqueror in this world.  His words are Bread of Life and they are water to my thirsty soul and when I am filled daily on His words my body is completely satisfied to feast at His table.  When you find yourself seeking to find fulfillment in this life here below go to my Father and He will satisfy your hungry soul and give you life that only He has to offer.

What Jesus means to me

He is my life and in Him I find life and peace that surpasses all understanding.  He is my Savior, my Redeemer, my Friend, My Wonderful Counselor, My Comforter, My Bridegroom, and my Heavenly Father.  He is everything that I live for and desire to seek Him daily.  He is the reason that I live and He is my Father that loves me like no other and who cares for me when everything around me is going crazy.  He is the one that I praise every day and call upon daily for the strength to make it through each day. He encamps His angels around me daily that I will have protection from my Father.  He is my salvation and He paid the sin sacrifice for me that I have eternal life in Him.  He is my shelter in times of trouble, he is my peace when I need to rest, he is my courage from whom I draw strength.  He is every breath that I breathe in whom I constantly think of.  I owe Him my praise offerings, my love, my commitments and to seek to obey His commands.  He is everything in this world to me, for I know that I am an alien traveling in this land here just so I will go and tell others that Jesus did the same for them as He did for me.  His love is true and His mercy endures forever.  He is my light that keeps me out of darkness.  When I become afraid He is the one that takes the fear and gives me love.  He returns my love for Him a hundred fold.  I can never out love my Jesus for He created me and He created love.

What would your response be?

If God asked you why should He let you into heaven, how would you respond?  I would respond with the following words.  Lord, I love you!  Lord, you are the Lord and Savior of my life because you gave your life and shed your precious blood on Calvary for me.  Your word stated, “If I confessed my sins and believed in my heart that you are Lord that I would be saved and would spend eternity with you.”  I am here today because you have called me home to spend eternity with you. If I were not your child, you would have never called me into your presence.  Your word does not state that before you come into your presence you go through hell.  I have been changed into the image of you when I left that body of flesh.  I am yours!  You loved me enough to give your life on Calvary for me and now I am receiving my reward of accepting you as Lord of my life.  I can now be in your Presence for eternity. I am truly blessed!

Birthday

Today is an exciting and wonderful day for me.  Today is my birthday in the Lord (9 years).  I know that the angel's in heaven are throwing me a Big Party for I have withstood the testing and trying of my faith for 9 years and have remained faithful to the Lord.  Oh what a blessed day this day is for me, for 9 years ago I was lost and undone without Christ and today I celebrate His wonderful love that He has lavished on me.  I thank Him for all that He has done for me and all that He has ahead for me.  May I draw closer to Him in the next year and be a vessel that is totally sold out to my Lord.

Peace

I have found the peace that surpasses all understanding. It is in the Presence of my Savior.  When all things around me are rushing and life seems like it is going to overwhelm me.  I just stop, pray and meditate on my Savior and there I find peace.  When my children want to do their own thing and go their own way, I stop, pray and meditate on my Savior and there I find peace.  When I feel fearful and lonely and illness is surrounding me, I stop, pray and meditate on my Savior and there I find peace.  If you want to experience true peace in whatever you are facing just stop, pray and meditate on the Savior and He will give you comfort in the peace that surpasses all understanding.

Safety

In the days ahead we must know where our safety dwells.  Our shelter is in the Most High God on whom we can depend.  The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by Him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long and he shall dwell between His shoulders. (Duet 33:12)  I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep; for thou, Lord, only makes me dwell in safety.  (Psalm 4:8)  We know that there is something that is fixing to happen but yet we don’t know what, when or where it will happen.  But we must know that when it comes that our safety will only be found in trusting and depending upon the Lord.  He that dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  (Psalm 91)

Confident

In the dictionary this word means marked by confidence in oneself, self-assured, marked by assurance, as of success.  What are you trusting in that makes you so confident?  2 Kings 18:19 states what confidence is this where you trust?  This same question is being asked of many today.  Many people placed their confidence in the banks, their jobs and the government.  A lot of people have lost their life savings, jobs and the things that they thought would provide for them.  What, whom or where are we placing our confidence?  We can’t trust the government, the banks or others to take care of us.  We must stand firm on the Word of God and know that God is faithful and will bring us through.  We may have to endure some things that none of us have experienced before.  God’s word states that endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation in Romans 5:4.  In the midst of everything we know that even though a mighty army surrounds us, our heart will not be afraid.  Even if we are attacked, we will remain confident. (Psalm 27:3) We know that something is coming but we are not sure what or when.  We can prepare as the Lord instructs us but there is only one thing that will sustain us.  Our confidence in knowing that we serve a God that protects us and will provide our needs.  The Word of God states you have never sent the righteous forsaken nor His seed begging for bread.  (Psalm 37:5)  As for us, we look to the Lord for help. We wait confidently for God to save us and our God will certainly hear us.  (Micah 7:7)  Our hearts are confident in the Lord, O God; our heart is confident.  No wonder we can sing your praises?  (Psalm 57:7)  In the midst of everything we must remember to Praise the Lord.  How would we react if you were set in front of a firing squad?  Would you be confident in knowing that Christ was with you?  There is a movie called China Cry where the lady was placed in front of a firing squad but the Lord intervened and she was not shot.  This lady suffered much abuse at the hands of the government but God delivered her and she was reunited with her family.  If our life was taken are we confident in knowing that being absent from this body is to be present with the Lord.  (2 Corinthians 5:8)

Plunder

As I was praying and seeking the Lord today, He told me to read His word about the Israelites exiting Egypt.  As I read this He quicken the word plunder.  I thought what does this word mean.  The definition for plunder means to rob of goods or valuables by open force, as in war, hostile raids, brigandage, etc. This word means to forcibly take something that does not belong to you.  Listen, can you hear all the wailing in the streets everyone had a loved one that had died.  The death angel had just passed through in the Passover.  The Egyptians were fearful because their loved ones had just died and they wanted the Israelites to get out of their city. As the Israelites were leaving they plundered the Egyptians jewelry, gold and silver.  The Israelites thought boy we have hit it rich.  This was their payday we are no longer slaves we are taking back what we had worked for. But, little did they know those things they had plundered would be their downfall.  When Moses was up on the mount with God and had been there for a while they began to look for something to worship. They told Aaron that Moses wasn’t coming back.  Aaron had been the spokesman for God and had seen all the plagues that God poured out on the Egyptians.  Yet, Aaron took all the jewelry they plundered in Egypt and placed it in the fire and a golden calf was erected. Their trust was not in the God who had just delivered them but they were seeking an idol to worship. God told Moses on the Mount that they had defiled themselves and had built an idol.  God’s anger was against the people. Moses went down to them and many were killed that day because of their disobedience.  God had just delivered them from slavery they walked on dry ground through the Red Sea, the Presence of God lead them by a cloud by day, and a fire by night.  Their eyes had seen miracles but yet they forgot. Let us not forget where God has brought us from and let us be mindful of the things of this world that we plunder because it too can defile our temple.  Let us remember that we are foreigners and aliens in this world we are only passing through. (Eph. 2:9) We are to be a peculiar people, a people that are set aside from this world and to abstain from all appearances of evil.  (Duet. 14:2, 1 Pet. 2:9 & Thess. 5:22)  Let us be mindful of where the Lord has brought us from and where He is leading us.  We must stand in these last days and not plunder the things of this world that will bring destruction to our lives. 

Share

As I was praying and reading the word of God this morning I felt the Lord was speaking to me and I wrote it down.  I feel that He wants me to share what I felt Him say to me.  My prayer is that this will minister to you as it did me. It is time for my children to begin to go out and compel others to come in.  A time is coming when they will not endure sound doctrine.  Many are hungry and seeking a move of God and will not find it unless they begin to move out into the spiritual realm.  The spirit is where you will find peace and joy.  When you begin to give out you will be blessed spiritually.  That longing you are seeking will be filled with my spirit saith the Lord.  Your vessel is cracked and needs to be mended come unto me and I will mend it.  I am the Potter and you are the clay.  The Potter desires to mold the clay into His image.  Go out and begin to speak my word to those around you for my word will not return void and it will accomplish that which I have set forth.  Come and be that tree that is planted by the waters which receives my living water to overflowing.  Listen to me as I speak and be obedient unto what I say.  Hearken to my words and begin to move out in the spiritual realm and begin to deny those fleshly desires.  Walk in the boldness of the Lord and proclaim my word.  I have come to give life and more abundant life.  My children's desires should be to draw closer to me that I will draw closer to them.  The things of this world are passing away and will not fulfill their longing.  Only I can fill that longing in their soul, I am the Bread of Life.  Come and feast at my table where there is Living Water to satisfy your longing. The verse that comes to me is:  Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."  Luke 6:38 May the Lord surround each of you today with His love and peace.  May His spirit fill you today to overflowing?  (Think about a pitcher that is overflowing how it begins to run out and all over everything.  Let us be that pitcher today that is overflowing with the Spirit of God where His spirit will be overflowing onto those around us as we walk in His spirit.)

Affliction

The word affliction means a condition of pain, suffering or distress.  As we close out the year many of us have experienced some type of affliction this past year. Rather, it was family problems, church issues, physical illness, or times of stress due to the way of life in which we live around.  The Lord’s word states in 1 Peter 4:12-13, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you, but rejoice, inasmuch as we are partakers of Christ’s sufferings.”  When we look at the prophets and disciples of Jesus many of them were beheaded, cast into prison, stoned to death, mocked and persecuted for His names sake.  How much more will be required of us as the Lord tarries.  In 2 Thess. 3:13 we are told to not be weary in well doing. Let us “Stand and say that we are God’s children and receive strength from the Father for what lies ahead. Let us be busy about the Father’s business and touch lives for Christ.  Today, could be the day that the Lord calls us home, how many of us are allowing the afflictions we are facing to stop us from tending to the Father’s affairs?  In God’s word He tells us that “Many are the afflictions of the righteous but that He delivers us out of every one in Psalm 34:17.  The Lord has brought us through every affliction and will continue to be faithful to us.  Let us REJOICE for we are children of the KING.

Friend

A friend is one whom I have a personal relationship with and is based on trust, faith and a concern for another’s feelings.  It is a relationship of caring and intimacy among each other.  A friend is someone who knows you as a person and regards you for who you are.  A relationship among friends comes out of love and understanding each other.  Many of us have had lots of friends during our lifetime.  Each of us have a desire to be close to someone whom we can share our most intimate secrets and one in whom we can laugh and have fun.  There is only one true friend that will love us and stick closer than any brother and that is Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ came in human flesh to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.  We could not redeem ourselves from the curse of the law but He came willing to go to Calvary and shed his blood for each of us.  Jesus did this knowing that we needed a redeemer.  He shed his blood on Calvary for all!  Jesus knows each of us intimately and desires to have relationship with each of His creation.  In God’s word Psalm 139 tells us that before we were in our mother’s womb He knew us.  He is a friend that I can rely upon.  He is faithful! His promises are true! He is our refuge in times of trouble.  He does not condemn us but He came and gave His life for each one of us to be His children.  Today, if you are seeking a friend that will love you and hold you when your heart is broken, when your lonely and feel like you have nobody that loves you, whatever situation you are facing if you will reach out and touch Jesus, He will be there.  At the mention of His name he will come to you and comfort you.  God is love! 

Mighty God

We serve a Mighty God who is able to do abundantly above all that we can even ask or comprehend.  Our God spoke into existence the land, water and skies.  He created Adam in His image and created woman from the rib of man.  Our God is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End (Revelation 1:8, 21:6 and 22:13).  When we look in God’s word we see miracles that only He could bring into existence.  In Psalm 89:13 the word states, “Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.”  We see where many people had troubles but yet when they depended upon God, He brought them through by his outstretched hand.  No matter what we face in our lives, we serve a God who is Mighty.  There are no demons in hell that can stay at the mention of His Name.  When we begin to look directly into His face and cry out for the strength to make it, He will be there.  The word of God states that when we call out to God that He will answer us speedily.  He tells us over and over that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).  Let us look to the Author and Finisher of Our Faith (Hebrews 12:2) and keep focused upon Him.  God is our only answer in these times that we live.  Sickness, death, hurts, troubles and disease are all around us, but yet we are more than conquerors through Christ (Romans 8:37).  My prayer is that the Lord encamps His angels around us and leads us into the throne room of the Lord.  For when I am in His presence then can I fully let go of myself and focus on the Mighty God, which I serve. 

Faithful

The word faithful means to adhere to firmly and devoted or to be loyal, having or full of faith, reliable, worthy of trust.  In the times in which we live we see where people are becoming less and less faithful to their family, belief and are losing their faith.  Many are standing and wavering in their faith and have lost their first love.  As we walk with the Lord our love for Him should grow daily.  In Deuteronomy 6:5 the word states, “We must love the Lord thy God with all our hearts, soul and might.”  The Lord says in 1 Corinthians 4:2 – “That we being stewards of the Lord must be found faithful.”  In Matthew 25:21 Jesus stated, “Well done my good and faithful servant thou has been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things, enter thou into the joy of the Lord.  In Revelation 2:10 the word states, “We must be faithful unto death, and we will receive a crown of life.” Let us not waver and be tossed to and fro for the word tells us that this time of man will receive nothing of the Lord for he is a double-minded man and unstable in all his ways.  Let us stand faithful to the One that has called us and will guide us in all our ways when we acknowledge Him and make Him Lord of all things in our lives.

Praise

In God’s word he tells us in Psalm 147:1 to Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.  Psalm 42:5 asks, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.”  In Psalm 100:4 it states, “We are to enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”  In Luke 18:43, there was a beggar who heard that Jesus was coming by and when Jesus was passing the man called out, Jesus Son of David have mercy on me.  When Jesus ordered the man be brought to him, he told Jesus that he wanted to receive his sight.  Jesus told the man, “Receive your sight for your faith has made you whole.”  This man immediately received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God.  Hebrew 13:5 states, “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”  In Revelation 19:5, “A voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.”   God’s word tells us that in whatever state we find ourselves that we should continually be Praising the Lord.  Praise will make our troubles, sickness, loneliness, and anything else that we face seem so small.  Praise is a powerful weapon for spiritual warfare.  When we take our eyes off of us and put them on Jesus our troubles vanish.    As Psalm 150:6 states, “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.” Let us begin to Praise the One who has called us to be His children.  Join me in worship and let us Praise the Lord!

Courage

As we prepare for the Lord’s coming there are many things that are happening around us that can cause us to be fearful.  As the Word of God tells us in Mark 13:8: …there shall be earthquakes in diver’s places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.  It seems that we are continually going through one battle after another.  We can’t seem to get out of one obstacle before we are facing another.  But thank God He tells us to be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. (Deuteronomy 31:6)  Our tests and trials will either draw us closer to the Lord or cause us to pull away.  As for me and my house we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15).  When we think about courage we think of the story of Daniel.  The other counselors and presidents sought King Darius to make a decree that anybody that worshipped another God for thirty days would be thrown into the lion’s den. When Daniel heard that the decree was signed he went home and with his windows open he bowed down on his knees three times a day to pray and give thanks to God.  The counselors and presidents went to King Darius and told them that Daniel was dishonoring the decree.  King Darius had no choice but to throw Daniel into the lion’s den.  It took a lot of courage for Daniel to kneel down and pray knowing that the when he did pray that he would be thrown in the lion’s den.  He knew the lions were in there and that at any moment they could devour him alive.  But, Daniel had courage and faith to trust in God.  When the king arrived the next morning and he cried out to Daniel was your king able to deliver you?  Daniel answered, “My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocence was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.  (Daniel 6:22)  When we wait on the Lord: and are of a good courage, and He shall strengthen our heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. (Psalm 27:14)  Let us pray for courage to be bold for Christ and to stand up as Daniel did and be a witness to those around us.

SURVIVE

Today we are living in the midst of chaos.  People are losing their jobs, businesses and homes.  There have been hurricanes that have destroyed homes, towns and caused many to be homeless.  Many are living in fear because they do not know how they are going to make it.  The gas prices are sky high and the price of food has gone up tremendously.  But, in all of this we will survive because the Lord tells us in His word that, “We can do all things through Christ which strengthens us” (Philippians 4:13).  He is always with us and promises that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).  You have never seen the righteous forsaken or begging for bread (Psalm 37:25).  We are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus (Romans 8:37).  Thank God that we serve a God who is faithful and in control.  As God’s children we are survivors no matter what we are experiencing we can walk in the peace that surpasses all understanding.  Many are living in fear today, but God’s word states that He has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and love and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).  That fear hath torment (1 John 4:18).  Let us look at the example of the Israelites when they came forth out of Egypt.  They walked in the wilderness for 40 years moaning and complaining and yet God sent them manna each day to eat, provided quail and provided the spring where they were to get water.  Their shoes never wore out and their clothes survived for 40 years.  When they tried to keep the manna for the next day it became a stench in their nostrils.  God was allowing them to go through the wilderness to teach them to rely upon Him for all of their needs.  In these times, our survivor instincts must be totally surrendered unto the Lord and depending upon Him for all of our needs.  He is our only source in the time, which we live.  Thank God that He is our Provider, our Protector and our Comforter.  Remember, we are only passing through our home is in heaven, this world has nothing to offer us.  My surviving depends upon my faith and trust in the Lord and knowing He is faithful.

VICTORY

We serve a God who is on the Throne and He is in control of every situation.  When I woke up this morning, the Lord had placed on my heart the old song, I'm getting ready to leave this world, (I'm a getting ready to leave this world of sorrow) Getting ready for gates of pearl; (I'm a getting ready for the gates of pearl) Keeping (my record bright) Watching, (both day and night) I'm getting ready to leave this world. (I'm a getting ready to leave this sinful world) Trusting in the riches of His saving grace, in each earthly trial I His love can trace. Sure that up in heaven I shall find a place, I'm a getting ready to leave this world.  To prepare a mansion, Jesus said, I'll go, If it were not true I would have told you so, Just a little while to linger here below, I'm a getting ready to leave this world.  I was so excited that today could be the day.  I just began to Praise the Lord and my heart was filled with Joy Unspeakable in knowing that God may be coming for me soon.  In the midst of everything that is happening around us, we are not forsaken nor has the Lord left us.  The Lord knows everything and nothing catches Him by surprise.  But, for God’s children we could be getting ready to go home to be with the Lord.  Hallelujah, we may be seeing our Savior face to face very soon.  Soon and very soon we are going to see the King, soon and very soon we are going to see the King, Hallelujah, Hallelujah we are going to see the King.  Let us begin to worship and praise the Lord for His coming is drawing nigh.  In getting ready to meet the Lord, our hearts should be pricked to repent and begin to intercede for our loved ones that are lost and undone without Christ.   Christ is coming for a Bride that has not lost their first love and without spot or blemish.  In the old days, you heard the saints praying Come, Lord Jesus, Come!  We could be the children of God that He is preparing to rapture out of here.  I am so excited and feel like I am going to explode because I could be in the Presence of the King soon.  The Lord tells us to walk in the Spirit, which brings life and tells us not to walk in the flesh because it brings death.  More now than ever we need to be walking and praying in the Spirit and keeping our Spiritual eyes focused on the eastern sky.  I want to be ready with the oil in my lamp burning and my eyes focused on my Heavenly Father.  Have you repented and made things right with God?  Are you interceding for your loved ones that are lost?  Is your lamp burning?  Will God say to you, “Come in my Good and Faithful Servant?  Do you have a melody in your heart for our soon returning King?  I’ll meet there.

KINDNESS #2

What a wonderful time for God’s children to express kindness as we come into the season of celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. During this time many around us our depressed, missing loved ones who have passed on, lonely, or just have the holiday blues. Some around us are without jobs, home and are financially strapped due to the economy in which we live. But, we have a blessed hope and joy during this time that we can share as we do our shopping. Let us not get too busy to spread the news of why this season is so special to us. Remember, many people around us may not have heard the good news of the Birth of Christ. In this season, a lot of places are not allowed to say “Merry Christmas” but say Happy Holiday. We being a Child of God can go around spreading the good news that Jesus was born of a virgin and that He was born to bring salvation to the lost and dying world. Kindness is contagious and brings cheer to those who are depressed, down and out, and lonely and who have the blues. Just a word of cheer to someone may brighten their day and encourage them to look at the good things in life. The greatest gift we can give is to share Jesus with those around us. Rather, it be baking a cake, purchasing a gift for someone who is lonely, giving to a family who is experiencing difficult times now or making or purchasing book markers to give out about the Birth of Christ to a cashier, sales person or someone in whom we may come in contact with as we shop. Let us ask the Lord to open up doors for us to be givers of kindness and to lift Him up during this season. In God’s word He tells us that, “If He be lifted up, He will draw all men unto Him.” What a wonderful time to spread the love of Christ and to show charity to those around us. Christ came to save the lost, and to bring hope to those who have lost their hope. Lord, mold us and make us in thy image during our celebration of your birth to become a vessel that has open eyes to see those that are hurting, lost and undone without you. When the Wise Men seen the star they went in search for Jesus to worship Him in Matthew 2. When they found Jesus they rejoiced with exceeding great joy because they knew that the King of the Jews was born. When we reach out and touch those that Jesus has placed in our paths during this season and we see them being touched by the Father how exciting it will be.

Mighty

In God’s word we read of mighty men and women that stood through tests and trials.  David was a small young man who believed that God was able to do mighty things.  David looked at Goliath and he didn’t see a giant but He knew that when he came in the Name of The Lord that God would go before him.  When the army seen Goliath fear gripped their hearts and they were afraid to stand up against the enemy.  The men in the army were making fun of David because he was only a shepherd who tended to the sheep.  He had no experience in the army.  When David took those five pebbles in his hand he believed that God was going to defeat the enemy.  When David slew the giant with one pebble, He said, I come in the Name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.  This day the Lord will deliver thee into mine hand and I will smite thee.  David went on to tell Goliath that he would cut his hand off and give it to the fowls of the air and to the wild beasts to eat.  Goliath was probably laughing at David because his armor would protect him and he was a giant facing a young man who knew nothing about war.  He was arrayed with a helmet of brass to protect his head, coat of bronze that weighed 125 lbs., and the end of his spear weighed 15 lbs., with all this armor and his height Goliath felt unstoppable.  Goliath had the entire Israelite army afraid to stand up and fight him.  What could this young boy do to him?  When the enemy comes against us we may feel that what we are facing is as big as Goliath and that we can’t defeat it.  We may be small, medium or large but we serve a God who is Mighty and He goes before us when we seek Him and release the problems to Him.  We must remember that our warfare is not against flesh and blood but against principalities and rulers of this dark world.  When we stand up in the Name of Jesus Christ and begin to proclaim that we are children of the King and that no weapon formed against us shall prosper the enemy runs because he can’t come where the blood has been applied.  David became the King of Israel and was a Man after God’s own heart.  David knew that his strength came from the Lord.  We see in David’s life that he faced many trials and some of these were brought on by his choices.  David fled from Saul when he was seeking to kill him.  David did not allow fear to grip his heart and give up but he continued to trust in the Lord.  Even when David could have done harm to Saul, he refused to touch God’s anointed.  When David sinned he always turned to the Lord in 
humbleness and repentance seeking the face of the Lord for his life.  Oh, that we would have a heart like David.  God’s word tells us that we are to love him with all our heart, soul and mind.  I must know that I am an overcomer in Christ and that I can do all things through Christ; which strengthens me.   No matter what comes our way we must stand upon the Word of God and not allow fear to grip our hearts.  Our God is Mighty and we can do all things through Him!

Reunion

Oh what a day that will be when my Jesus, I shall see when I look upon his face the one that saved me by his grace, when he takes me by the hand and leads me through the promised land, what a glorious day that will be.  When I sing this old song I am reminded of a reunion that will be so awesome and one that I am longing for.  Recently, I was reunited with my son, Christian, who I had not seen in 24 years.  When I saw Christian last my request was that he would be raised in a Christian family and learn the ways of the Lord.  When I heard that he had been found and was told his name was Christian my heart leaped for joy because his name will always be a memory of how God answered my prayer.  As I waited for the day to meet him I waited in excitement, expectation, at times I was overjoyed and had feelings of fear.  On the way to meet him, tears were flowing and I was asking the Lord to help me.  I was unsure of how the reunion was going to be but yet the Lord was telling me that he had opened this door and that good things were to come from my meeting.  When Christian and I seen each other we wrapped our arms around each other and just held on.  It was a blessed time.  The Lord has used my reunion with my son to remind me that I am to be in expectation of his coming.  My Christian walk with the Lord is to be one of excitement and expectation knowing that one day soon, I will be meeting my Savior face to face.  Jesus is coming after those that are seeking and ready for His return.  As I met my son with expectancy, and rejoicing how much more should I be looking for the return of Christ?  We have not had our reunion with the Lord yet, but we should be praying Come Lord Jesus, Come!  Oh my brothers and sisters I cannot express the excitement and joy of meeting my son for the first time. How much more excitement and joy it’s going to be when I meet my Savior who came and gave His life for me and has cleansed me with His precious blood and has called me His child.  Hallelujah, I’m going to see him one day, face-to-face and live for eternity with Him.

Memories

As we celebrate Memorial Day, let us not forget to be thankful for all the men and women who have lost their lives to save America. There is a high price that these men and women of the military pay to bring freedom to us in America. We must remember to pray for them and to lift their families up in prayer. The families that are left here while their loved ones fight for our freedom need to be loved and nurtured because they too are paying a price for our freedom. The men and women who came back after the war who had left family, friends, and jobs to go and fight for our freedom probably had gone through some dramatic memories. But, yet they have memories of helping others such as the women and children there and relationships that they had to leave when it was time to come home. Freedom is not given away for free but it has cost some lives and some families had been destroyed when they returned. Memories cause us to reflect on those things from the past. When was the last time that we have looked back over the years since we became a Child of God? Can you remember: the times that He set you free from the evil around you, when your child was sick and He brought healing right on time? When you were afflicted and thought you could not make it, but then you cried out to God and He answered you speedily? The God that we serve is always with us and in the times that we are facing let us begin to remember how the Lord has brought us through every trial, test and every facet of life that we have faced to draw strength for today. Our God tells us that He will supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory. (Philippians 4:1) Memories are good because when I feel like I can’t go another step, I can remember back to how the Lord brought me through. Just like the men and women who fought for our country had to reflect back on their family and loved ones when they felt like they couldn’t take another step to endure the courage to stay and fight. We too must remember what the Lord has done to encourage our faith to keep walking and keep striving to be more like Jesus. The Bible tells us there will always be wars and rumors of wars (Matthew 24:6), but we are not to give up but I am to keep pressing on toward the mark of the high calling of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 3:14)

Irritated

Have you ever been in a situation where people around you irritate you?  At times I have faced situations that can become irritating if I focus on them.  Have you felt like others are watching every move you make and being critical of you?  You think that those around you are your friends but you find out that they are your enemies.  If we are not careful we find ourselves getting an attitude like those around us by watching what they are doing.  We pray asking God to take care of the situations and then the Lord tells us that He can’t do anything unless we release it to Him.  We think I did release it but then when I hear something or am around the situation again it slaps me in the face.  At times I want to lash out and say to those around me mind your own business.  But, then the Lord reminds me the following scriptures, “Give me aid against the enemy for the help of man is worthless, with God we will gain the victory and He will trample down our enemies. (Psalm 108: 12 & 13)  “Cast all your cares upon me, for I care for you. (1 Peter 5:7)  We allow our flesh to focus on the situations instead of the God who is able to shut the mouth of the Lion.  When we focus on the situations we can become sick because we allow the anger and resentment to enter our bodies.  When this happens we know that our anger and resentment is not destroying those around us but ourselves.   When we surrender the situations unto the Lord He gives us peace that surpasses all understanding.  We know that the enemy will try to bring us back into the situation but we must rebuke the enemy and not allow those feelings in me to be revived.  Thank God, He has given me the strength to walk away from those feelings and say Lord it is not my battle but yours.  We do not have to walk in defeat because we are overcomers in Christ.  A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.  (Proverbs 17:22)  We each know that we go through tests to try us but each test shall pass and as we walk through them.  We must ask the Lord to teach us to love those who are persecuting us.  As they persecuted Jesus, He says they will persecute us also.  These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. (1 Peter 1:7)

Blessed

The Word of God tells us that a mother’s children rise up and call her blessed in Proverbs 31:24.  When we look in God’s Word, we see Godly mothers’ who desired to have a child and cried out and prayed to the Lord.  Hannah cried out to God for a son and she told the Lord that if He would give her a man child that she would give him back to Him.  When Samuel was weaned, Hannah kept that promise and took him to the temple to learn the ways of the Lord.  When Samuel died he was a prophet of God.  What an awesome responsibility God has laid upon us as mothers to teach our children the ways of the Lord.  We do not have to wait to read God’s word to them until they are born we can begin reading to them while in the womb.  We begin praying for them before they are conceived and ask God to protect them and to anoint them with the Holy Spirit that they will grow up to become men and women of God.  As women of God, let us always remember to teach our children to pray and to set an example of what a Godly woman is.  In Titus 2:4 the word states that, “We are to train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, and to be kind…”  Our children grow up to be shadows of who we are, let us learn to walk in the image of Christ so they will seek to follow Him.  For our children to grow up to be mighty men and women of God they must first see it practiced at home and in our lives.  The best gift a mother can receive from her child is to know that they are serving the Lord and that they have a heart after God.

Compassion

In Colossians 3:12 – The Word says that we are to clothe ourselves with compassion.  When we look at the life of Jesus, his life was full of compassion for the lost, hurting and demon-possessed.  In Luke 19:10 the Word states, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost”.  As Jesus walked from town to town during His ministry, I am sure that Jesus was tired and worn out from walking and always being pressed by the crowds.  Yet, when there was a need Jesus was there to fulfill their need.  Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and he said, "Don't cry." Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.  As Jesus went from town to town the sick, afflicted, demon-possessed and those who knew that Jesus was coming knew that He would have compassion on them and that He could change their lives.  As the evil prevails around us we sometimes find ourselves becoming distant and becoming callous to those who live in the world.  In the days of Jesus, there was evil yet Jesus went out to those to preach and to bring life unto them.  In John 14: 6 the Word states that, “Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.”  Today, we live in a society where others need to experience the compassion of Christ just as those in the days of Jesus ministry on earth.  There are many that are hurting and lost without Christ.  Each day, we should ask the Lord to direct us to those who are hurting, lonely, lost and need to be touched.  Let us pray for the compassion of Christ to fill our lives so that we will be like the tree planted by the rivers and that the waters will be overflowing in our lives to those around us.  Lord fill each of us with more of your compassion for the lost and dying.

Transformation

Have you received the transformation that comes from knowing Christ?  When we surrender our lives and will unto Christ, He begins a work in us that causes transforming power to change us from who we were to a new creature in Christ.  2 Corinthians 5: 17 tells us, “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 look at our lives has the transforming power of the Lord changed us, or are we still who we were when we came to know Him?  Has our attitudes changed?  Has our love for Him changed?  As we look at our lives, the things we use to cling to should be gone or in the process of leaving.  Our attitudes, desires and thoughts should be changing daily, and our love for the Lord should be growing daily.  The Lord tells us in Psalm 64:8 that He is the Potter and we are the clay.  The Lord takes the vessel in which we live in and breaks it and molds it until we are conformed into His image.  During this transformation process of making our vessel over we go through many changes and are placed in the fire, which makes us stronger in the Lord.  We do not like the breaking and molding process because it hurts.  For a while, we think this is good no more fire, I finally came through that being a much stronger vessel.  Then before we know it, another time of breaking and molding is beginning and we are back in the fire again.  Thank God for the transforming process because during this time I am being cleansed from things in my life that are not pleasing to the Lord. Some of these things the Lord will use in my life to minister to others because I will have the experience and testimony of how the Lord has brought me through.  As a puzzle is fitly put together, so am I when the Lord completes His transforming power in my life.  Once the puzzle is put together, we take it apart and place it in the box so we can put it together again.  Our lives are transformed continually when Christ begins a new work.  We are broken and taken apart to be put back together until we meet him in our heavenly home.   Thank God for His transforming power in my life that continues to change me and mold me into His image and rids me of self.

Brokenness

When I think about brokenness, my mind thinks on things that I have faced that brought tears, heartache and sorrow.  As we celebrate Resurrection Sunday today my mind thinks on the brokenness of Christ and how He chose to suffer for me on Calvary.  Jesus came and knew that His life was going to be offered as a sacrifice for my sins that I could be called a Child of the King.  Tears fill my eyes and my heart becomes broken knowing that Christ loved me enough to give up His life for mine.  Today, we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior that He arose from the dead and went to heaven to prepare a place for us when our life on earth has ended.  As we read the story in the Bible about how Jesus was mocked, spit upon, beaten and nailed to the cross for us, how can our hearts not be broken over the pain and agony that He suffered for us all in the name of LOVE?  What a blessed Savior we serve who loves us and tells us in John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  He asks that we surrender our lives unto Him and follow Him.  To know Christ intimately should bring brokenness and tears to our eyes because of the love that He has lavished on us.  I have the assurance that when my life on earth is ended that I too will enter heaven and be with my Savior for eternity.  When was the last time that I became broken over the things in my life that do not please the Father?  For my loved ones that is lost without Christ?  We are called to plant seeds and the Lord will cause the increase.  (1Corinthians 3:6)  Now, is the time to have a broken spirit to be in prayer and is seeking the Lord for those around me that are lost.  Jesus came not to seek those that were saved but those that are lost.  Brokenness brings repentance, tears and an assurance that I have surrendered all unto Christ. Only Christ can offer salvation, healing, peace and an assurance that He loves everyone and He is there if they would call out to Him.

Faith

Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen.  Walking by faith is like walking on a tight rope, sometimes we fall off but yet we get back up and continue to walk by faith.  The more we learn to walk by faith the more our faith is built up.  Look at Saul’s experience on the road to Damascus in Acts 9: As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."  The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. This experience, which Saul faced completely, changed his life and he turned from his old ways and became a new creature.  He began to walk by faith in what the Lord was telling him to do.  It was not always easy for Paul because he was blind, beaten, thrown in prison, endured sufferings, endured many sleepless nights but yet he kept the faith and held onto the one who had called him.  In Acts 14:22 Paul was strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said.  The word states in Romans 1:17 that the “Righteous will live by FAITH.”  Let us remember and be encouraged by these words that Jesus spoke about faith:  I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father in John 14: 12-13.  Matthew 17:20 states I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Profane

In Ezekiel 20 we read where God’s children profaned the name of the Lord by allowing themselves to get tangled up in the things around them.  God tells the prophet Ezekiel to warn them to cast away the abominations of their eyes and not to defile themselves with the idols of Egypt.  Yet they rebelled against the Lord and did not listen to the prophet.  God thought to destroy the Israelites but did not because He had made himself known by delivering them from the bondages of Egypt.  Yet, in all of this the Lord was saying that His wrath would fall on them so that they would know that I am the Lord.    The word profane means to not hold sacred the holy things of God.  Today, we live in a society that is profane because sin is no longer sin but that which is not sin is called sin.  Has America profaned the name of the Lord?  They have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean, and they have disregarded my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. (Ezekiel 22:26)  We are living in the last days and we must begin to cry out for a walk with the Lord that is separate from the world.  Those around us are watching us to see if we are going to laugh at their jokes, if our language is going to be like theirs and if we are going to participate in the same things as them and if we are going to walk like them.  God is Holy and those that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and Truth. (John 4:24)  The world expects a much higher standard from God’s children and therefore, we must watch how we respond to those around us and how we speak. God tells us in His word that we must be a holy people because He is holy.   How can we have Christ living in us and not be concerned about the way we walk, talk and act?  Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. (Luke 6:22) But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9)  The Lord desires that His glory be in each of our lives so that when we walk those around us will see Him.  We are to be vessels of Honor!  We must raise our voices and lift up the Name of Jesus!

Sympathy

What does the word sympathy mean and when was the last time you showed someone sympathy?  The dictionaries definition is a feeling or expression of pity or sorrow for the distress of another, or showing compassion.  As we walk each day there are those around us who are lost without Christ.  They may me a drug addict, an alcoholic, a child who is hurting, a mother who is being abused, a widow, someone with cancer or another disease and those who are homeless.  How do I show sympathy to them?  Do I offer them a solution or do I keep walking in the way I was going?   In Luke 19:10 God’s word tells us “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."  Jesus went out to those that were in these conditions and offered them life.  (John 4) When the Samaritan woman came to the well to draw water, Jesus asked her to give him a drink.  She said you are a Jew and they do not associate with my people.  Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water. Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”  Those around us need for someone to show them sympathy and to love them.  Some of our families are facing situations where God is showing sympathy to them and is causing their world to crumble (this is God’s love for them causing All things to work together for good to those whom He has called).  This is the love of Jesus telling them that He loves them and He is standing there offering them living water.  Let us pray and ask the Lord to send us to those who are going through trials and tests that He has brought us through.   Unless we have been in their shoes it is hard to show true sympathy.  I too was lost and undone without Christ when someone showed me sympathy and the love of God.  Sometimes all it takes is a listening ear or shoulder to cry on to lighten some ones load.  We have the living water living inside of us and the only answer to help those in need.

Death

We have all lost loved ones and may lose others before we face death ourselves. Death is not the end of life but the beginning of life. Once we close our eyes here on this earth we will be changed in a twinkling on an eye. Our eyes cannot fathom what we will see and the splendor of heaven. When our loved ones leave here they will be in heaven with our Savior. What a blessed homecoming that will be when we see Jesus face to face. God’s word states, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. Psalm 116:15 Jesus came that all might choose life or death (Deut. 30:19). Jesus desires that we all choose life and accept him as Savior of our lives. For a Christian death is not something to be feared but is our receiving the final reward that the Lord has waiting on us. When our loved ones, friends or family is getting close to their death, our desire should be to lead them to the Lord. Death is something that should not destroy us but draw us closer to the Lord. When loved ones are going home to be with the Lord we are devastated because we have lost them. The thought of not seeing them or being with them brings grieve to us because we will not be able to touch them again. As we live each day we need to make sure that there are no words left unsaid, no hard feelings or anything that can cause us to grief over things that were not right between us and our deceased loved ones. As I watch my sister prepare for death, I see her going to those she has hurt making things right. Thank God, she has been given the gift of making things right. Everyone is not given the chance she has been given. I know that it must be hard to know that today may be the last day that I breathe my last breath when you have cancer, diabetes, or other diseases. But, yet none of us are promised the next minute so let us choose life. Yet, we seem to get so caught up in life that we forget that death may come to any of us at any time. Death and life are in the power of the tongue (Prov. 18:21). We must learn to live and make sure that if a loved one is called home that we know they are going to meet Jesus.

Wait

In the dictionary this word means to remain in rest or rest in expectation.  In Psalm 37:7 the Word states, “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him… How ironic the description of this word is and that the Word tells us when waiting upon Him that we are too rest in the Lord.  This brings to mind the scripture in Psalm 91:1 He that dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the Shadow of the Almighty.  I have never been waiting upon something that has not caused me to be nervous, upset or anxious.  This word opens up a lot for me because I must learn to wait on the Lord for those things that I have prayed for to come to pass but during this time, I am to rest in the Lord.  For years we pray, Lord touch our children, families, and friends and do whatever you need to do to get their attention.  When everything starts falling apart in their lives then we are praying Lord don’t make them go through all this.  We try to pray them out of the battle instead of through the battle.  The battle is never easy but when we surrender unto the Lord and wait upon Him circumstances change.  We have been waiting for the Lord to begin His work in their lives and now the seed that was sown is coming to blossom.  Before the seed blossoms it must go through changes just as those we have prayed for will go through things so they can see the Grace of God and surrender unto Him.  The compassion of Christ is reaching out to our loved ones because His desire is that no not one perish.  Sometimes, they can’t see the hand of God calling out to them until they are in a position where there is no other place to turn.  Thank God for His forgiveness and that He never gives up on us.  I wonder how heartbroken God is when a sinner dies without Him.   It is by the mercies of God that our loved ones have not been consumed, because His mercies fail not.  (Lamentations 3:22)  Let us continue to fast and pray for our loved ones and those around us and wait patiently for the Lord.  Pray for me, as I learn to wait patiently for the Lord as I see those around me begin to blossom.  We live in a society that wants it now and waiting is not a word that is used very often.

Freedom

As we celebrate July 4th, it is a reminder of our freedom.  America was given grace by God to worship Him and to Honor Him.  But, as we look all around us our freedom to worship is being stripped from us little by little.  The freedom to pray, worship and honor our God is becoming a legacy that America is losing.  America was founded on Godly principles and God’s word was read before each session of the Senate and House meetings.  Today, if you tried to stand up read God’s word in these meetings you would be forced to sit down and shut up.   The 10 Commandments are being removed from every courthouse in America.  Many men and women have lost their lives to fight for the freedom of America.  As the song Here in America says, “You place our hands on His Bible and swear to tell the truth.  In America we’re one Nation under God.  In God, we still trust in America.”  But, yet when we look around us most American’s do not trust in God anymore unless the going gets tough and then it is only for a season until things start going better.  Jesus came and gave his life and shed his blood for each of us that we could be given freedom to worship Him and to place our trust in Him.  Thank God, that I am an American and that I am a Christian, who can stand up and say, “That I am a Child of the King and that He has given me freedom from this world and the things of this world.”  America has allowed religions to come in and bring their pagan gods and their idols, which has defiled America.  As American’s we do not know what is coming but when we look around us we see the judgment of God beginning to fall on America and around the nations.  God is not pouring out this judgment to destroy but that all men would draw nigh unto Him because He is coming soon.  In God’s great mercy and His grace is his outstretched hand reaching out to those who are in darkness and lost and undone without Him.  God has shed His grace on mankind to save them from hell.  Hell is real and our God desires that no not one perish.  My spirit shall not always strive with man (Genesis 6:3) As Christians, let us speak the Word of God with boldness and stand up and Proclaim that Christ is Lord, let us lift our voices and Praise Him for He is worthy of all our Praises.

Expectation

What is our expectation for today, tomorrow or the future?  What is it that you are expecting to happen in your life?  Are you expecting a marriage, a new baby or grandchild, a new home or a car?  What are our hearts expectations for our lives?  When I begin to think about expectation, my mind thinks of Christ returning soon.  Oh, what a day that will be when I see Him face to face.  My mind cannot fathom those things that the Lord has in store for those of us who are His children.  I am expecting His return and when I think of his returning I become excited and anxious! Sometimes it is hard for me to stay in my seat or to be quiet because He is coming soon!  My heart becomes so happy and joyful that my Lord is coming to take me home to be with Him for eternity.  I have tears that begin to fall because I have been saved by the Precious Blood of the Lamb who came and gave His life for me.  I was once lost and undone without Christ but because Jesus came and gave His life for mine, I am now a Child of the King.  What a blessed time we are going to have when we get home with our Lord and Savior.  My expectation of entering heaven is that I will run to the Lord and bow down before Him and anoint his feet with my tears and cry out Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty who has redeemed my life.  As the woman in the Bible who anointed Jesus with her tears prior to His burial, my tears will probably make it flood in heaven because the tears will pour out.  I know that the Bible says “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”  How can I see the one who has changed my life and made me whole and not cry out in thankfulness and love for all that I have received?  Worship Him with me as we wait in expectation for His returning is nigh!  Saints, He is coming to take us home! Are you ready?