Isaiah 55:6-7

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2055:6-7&version=NIV

Isaiah 55:6-7 is a beautiful word of the Lord to us all; a word of encouragement to lay everything down and seek Him. I find it so much like the Lord to give a word at different times in a person’s life.  Yesterday,  He pointed this section of scripture out to me to  show how God is always there to hear us; what we need to do is to stop trying to take everything on our shoulders.

Today my pastor was speaking on the time Jesus joined Mary, Martha, and Lazarus in Bethany. Jesus lovingly shared with Martha that she was missing out by not spending time at His feet. She was busying herself with too much, things that interfere with a relationship with the Father. I fully agree, that communication with Jesus is the center of our lives. It doesn’t matter how many times we come to God, He is always there to hear us and to give deliverance and direction, Matthew 7:7-8 and John 11:22.

In Cody Carnes song, Run to the Father, it beautifully expresses how essential the Maker is in our lives. Before we were even here, He was waiting for us.  He is gracious, like a perfect father, to have considered our every need before we asked. We can draw on the encouragement from past experiences with God. We can be assured that His nature is constant. He hasn’t turned His children away yet; so, let us not quit knocking on the door. We will find He has been there to answer all the time.

To finalize everything, I wanted to encourage all of us to stop carrying burdens alone. It is not what we were meant to do. Let us approach His throne with confidence, knowing He has held out His scepter, Hebrews 4:16 and in Esther.

Psalm 42:5-11

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2042%3A5-11&version=NI

The Lord is with us and is our rock, as Psalm 42:5-11 states. We are not going to lose with God on our side! You and I need to remember that the only thing we accomplish by being discouraged is to agree with Satan and the world. Lord, please help us to put our trust in you!

That is the answer, you guys, to be honest with the Lord about feeling that we are weak and uncertain. In Leanna Crawford’s “Honest,” when we are upfront with Jesus, He ends up reminding us that He always lives His promises/word.

He is perfect, not like us as humans. In our insufficiencies, Christ is there to make up for the failures. He is the “I AM.” That is so encouraging that God would care enough to meet us where we fall short!

This week, let us take our doubts and fears to the Almighty. Let us let the Spirit remind us of His faithfulness and holiness/perfection.  I was listening to something today from Joni Earekson Tada, and she encouraged us to dwell on the different promises of God each and everyday. How wise!

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Romans 8:1-2

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%208:1-2&version=NIV

This time together, the Lord is wanting me to share the message of His liberty.  His freedom is not based on our merits. If it were, Christ would have given up on the human race a long time ago. He has left an example of how to live through the Son, and has enabled us to remain in Him through the Spirit (John 15:10, Psalm 128:1).

That reverence of God leads to following His direction and will for life. We find out that He has always desired to carry on an intimate relationship with us, just like in a healthy marriage. There is the Husband who is pursuing the bride, the Church, and the Church is there living in Christ’s calling. Let us, as the Church, not grow weary in trusting that our King is coming for us, Galatians 6:9.

Romans 8:1-2, it gives us hope to follow Him until His return. We will find ourselves not following the old man, but alive to Christ’s calling.  Like Britt Nicole’s “All This Time” sings about, we will look back and see how God has led us every step of the way. His attribute of faithfulness to us will never change.

Let us walk in the freedom of knowing we are not working for our salvation, but are living in His love.  Our love for the Father stems from His demonstrating how precious we are. Let us spend our days evaluating the gifts the Savior has blessed us with. I don’t know about you, but I want to be a servant who has developed the gifts/talents he has given me. We need to open up our eyes to the fact that we all have something to share with this hurting world (Matthew 25:14-30). Let us not hide our lights, Matthew 5:15. God bless each on of you as you follow God this week.  Please either share how God has used this message in your life; or, if you feel led, please donate below.

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Philippians 1:6

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%201%3A6&version=KJV

This weekend, it is the time to celebrate my life and thank God for 57 years! It hasn’t been an easy path, but one of proving the faithfulness of the Creator. Each time I am tempted to question the Author of my life, it has always come back to remembering the promise of Philippians 1:6, and the meaning of my name.

Philippians 1:6 reassures us that Christ will complete what He has started in our lives. As we get older, it is always a concern of ours that we will not accomplish everything we have set out in life to complete. We do not have to live life afraid that Christ will not follow through on His word. When we meet God personally, and ultimately in the rapture, we will discover that what good the Lord has started has been accomplished.

In the meantime “Author,” by Brandon Lake and Nick Jonas, sings about not questioning the Writer of our lives. I can truly say that my life shares the fact of God being the ultimate power. Where would I turn, other than to Jesus? Peter says those words in John 6:68. As the names Michael/Michelle state, “Who is like God!?”

Father, I ask that you bring everyone who is reading this blog a peace in their hearts. We are asking that we will not have any questions about your faithfulness. I pray that this year I will grow in you and let you continue to mold me. Let us hold onto Isaiah 64:8, knowing that you are the potter and we are the clay. Thank you, Jesus!  Amen!

P.S. Please feel free to scroll down and leave any messages about how God has spoken to you, and if led, please take note of the new donation buttons I have attached to the blog. 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%202:20&version=NIV

Galatians 2:20 says it all about the Christian walk.  The bottom line is that our walk involves dying to the old man. We have been resurrected in Christ, and now can experience His life and power.

This subject was addressed in a devotional my husband and I listened to this morning. The host was emphasizing the fact that we should be focusing on God the first thing in the morning.  It is so easy for us as humans to believe that the only way for us to succeed is for us to go full steam ahead, not considering what the Spirit has to reveal. We end up falling down relying on our human pride, Proverbs 16:18.

Solomon, the author of much of Proverbs, was asked by the Lord what he wanted in 2 Chronicles 1:7-14. Solomon proceeded to thank God for allowing him the privilege of ruling the people. His desire was to have knowledge and wisdom in his reign.  Since David’s son wasn’t mentioning wealth or honor, God granted him these things along with the knowledge and wisdom. Later on, since Solomon lost focus of who gave him the recognition and wealth, that was how his life got messed up.

Proverbs 3:6 states that in everything we do we need to acknowledge His presence. When that is done, we will experience the Spirit’s anointing and strength. What the Lord  planned, it is going to come about. Isaiah 55:11 talks about the Word of the Lord always coming true. The plans of Christ will come about. I amen the song of Micah Tyler’s, “Different!” Our desire should be for the Lord to complete the work started on the cross.  How wonderful it is when the world notices we are different, and there is the desire for them to get to know God!  Lord, may we see you in our lives this week!

Isaiah 26:3

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

I sure needed this beautiful Scripture and uplifting song this week!  I don’t know about you, but I was beside myself at how many people around me were going through life’s changing events!  I am going to try to briefly share about those around me who need to have the supernatural direction and healing of the Holy Spirit.

For one thing, my husband and I are trying to get back on our feet from his hospital stay.  This has caused a setback not only in his health, but also in getting paid for about 4 weeks.  It has made us really sit down together and try to fine-tune our budget.

Not only have we as a couple had to seek the Lord and each other as to what to do, but my parents and sister have experienced situations that are driving them to the Lord.  My parents are encountering a situation where my mom has fallen a couple of times within the last three weeks. They are asking God if it is time for them to get a place without stairs.  In my sister’s case, she and her husband are having to move to a hotel because of unreasonable rent increases.  On top of this, her husband is in need of much assistance due to having a history of strokes.

The last person I will bring up is the elder Alan and I have been meeting with on Zoom, Tuesday evenings.  He and his wife are still grieving over the loss of their daughter.  While they are going through this loss, they are wondering if it is the right time to sell their place and relocate.  While we and all of you might be asking ourselves what is going on, it is not the time to believe we are going to fall apart.  It is the time to truly run to God and believe that He holds our breakthrough in His hands!  God bless you this week as you believe in His rescue!

On the subject of strokes, the last month has been one of our pastor and parents’ assistant pastor going through them.  Our prayers are that our pastor will have successful PT and OT treatment here in the future, and that God will reveal to him and his wife what should be done about pastoring. In the case of my parents’ assistant pastor, it is especially difficult because he is fairly young and has younger children.

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Psalm 37:23-24

fhttps://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2037%3A23-24&version=NIV

In the Psalms, David made a point of acknowledging Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Psalm 37:23-24, portrays Christ as steadying us as we cherish His ways. The Father makes sure His daughters and sons don’t fall along life’s difficult paths. Another time that the Lord is brought up as being near is Psalm 23:4. The sheep have the assurance that they will be directed and guarded every step, even in the darkness of death. Death is just a valley we will cross through with the Savior.

Life is not meant to be handled by oneself.  We are to go through it holding the Father’s hand. We should spend our efforts praising Him for who He is, and for getting us through every obstacle in the past.  I noticed that in Jon Reddick’s song, “Holding On,” it shows him building a little stone altar.

That reminded me of what God wanted the Children of Israel to do. Joshua 4:9 tells of the time Joshua set up a pillar of twelve stones at the Jordan. The exact place that the priests had been, as they had carried the Ark of the Covenant to dry land. The instructions of God given to Moses were in the Ark. Respect and worship are due His name! He wants us to recall the times Christ has carried us through.

This week, I wanted to start by praising God for providing for our June rent! Let us spend time respecting what God has shown us to do through His Word and through the people of God. We have plenty of reasons to worship Him, as represented in 2 Chronicles 20:20-21. Jehoshaphat set up worshippers before them as they went into battle. It is setting down our self pride, and is in exhalting His holy name. Amen! I wanted to close by inviting you to share those times Jesus has provided, in the comment section below. God bless us as we hold onto His hand!

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3 John1:2,3

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=3%20John%202&version=KJV

When reading 3 John 1:2-3, John was sharing the Spirit’s desire for us to be well in the whole man. Our cry is for Christ to have our whole person. We understand how we are made new when trusting Christ as Savior; but since we live in a fallen world, many of us have bodies that are deformed or sick. The key to this is to acknowledge God’s goodness, and to turn ourselves over to Him daily in an offering, Romans 12:1.

On the topic of commiting ourselves to Christ, I heard an excellent posting from Joni Earekson Tada. She stated that she came to the place of daily giving herself to the Spirit’s direction and help. She has to be candid and share with Jesus that by herself she cannot live with quadrapeligia. It is all in our attitude, friends! God understands us and will meet us where we are at, Romans 8:32. He died for us, so it is proof His nature is to take care of us constantly.

In Cece Winan’s song, “Goodness of God,” it is so uplifting to sing along in thanksgiving.. Shouldn’t we do what creation is already doing, Psalm 19:1? He placed us here, in His circumstances and timing, in order to be witnesses of His goodness.

We can go forward this week knowing that God has our backs and is just and pure. I have found in my life that sometimes our hardships are allowed to accomplish the plans of the Creator. He is the potter, and we are the clay, Isaiah 64:8. He is the Heavenly Father, without any of the imperfections we may have experienced through authority figures or parents, Matthew 7:11 and Luke 11:13. Let us magnify His name! Amen!

https://www.asp4hisglory.com/

Happy Memorial Day!

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians%203%3A23&version=NIV

Colossians 3:23 is an excellent way to live your life successfully!  When you do your living unto the Lord, it enables you to have purpose. It opens you up, also, for many blessings unimaginable. If we are going through our day-to-day in order to please ourselves or others, we end up many times not living up to expectations. We become discouraged. After all, we are still in a fallen world.

In order to get everything out of the days that we have, Ephesians 5:15-16, it takes faith. I know in my head, it is hard for me to step forward if I don’t feel one hundred percent.  It takes putting aside the present and focusing on what the future outcome will be. The days are not getting better, but are getting more ungodly. We do not want to lose out on the opportunities God has given us today!

As I viewed Laren Daigel’s video, “These Are the Days,” the picture of children playing came into my mind. Children have a way of coming out with their intents without hiding any underlying motives. They are confident that their parents have everything under control. They are not second guessing everything they attempt.

Yes, my prayer is that we ask Jesus about all of our plans; it is not in blindly stepping out. Lord, help us to come before your throne boldly, Hebrews 4:16, knowing you will accept us; help us to not waste time by trying to figure life’s path out on our own.  Thank you that you are the Great Shepherd!  Amen!