Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear.  Isaiah 65: 24

 

This is a declaration from our God, our Lord. He speaks here to the heart of the Prophet Isaiah about a people gone astray but whom He still loves.

He speaks here of a people described in verse  23 as “the off-spring of the blessed of the LORD”.

He speaks here of a people who have turned their backs on him and raised false gods.

And yet, they are the blessed of the LORD"

I am reminded that the love of my God is not conditional. I am reminded that he loves me in spite of, not because of who I am.

I find myself at this time asking for the strength to love in spite of. I ask for the strength to be an example of what love truly is.

Oh, my God, I thank you for the way your Word touched my heart. Please let me represent Your kingdom in a way that is pleasing to You.

Amen.

My God forever be a blessing in your life!

Encouraging One Another

The discussion leader for our women’s group gave us the assignment of sending an encouraging word to a member of the group whom we picked randomly.

Somehow, it seemed difficult to find just the right words of encouragement for a member who was much younger.

I was afraid to send a message that sounded “preachy” or stiff. I really didn’t want to sound like an old fogey.

I wanted the message to be real and from my heart and, most of all, I wanted the message to be real for the young lady to whom I was sending it.

Finally, my message was:

“There will always be people

and forces out there to try

and bring doubt and darkness

 into your life.

Remember, always, that

The Light is there for you

 if only you ask!”

and my supporting scripture was:

       John 1:5 New English

               Translation (NET Bible)

                ⁵ And the light shines on in the

             darkness, but the darkness

             has not mastered it.

I was encouraged by the fact that this young woman was attending a bible study at all and hopeful that she would find the tools needed to be a light in the darkness.



I pray that she will develop a strong relationship with The Holy Spirit, our Light in the Darkness; a relationship that will sustain her through all the trials of life.

I pray that we will be open to learn the lessons that she brings to the group and that we will be sources of support and encouragement and never forces of doubt.

I pray that we will all continue to grow, becoming “workers who need not be ashamed”.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Planting and Watering for Christ

Matthew 28:18-20 ¹⁸And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. ¹⁹Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: ²⁰Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen

I am much more comfortable attempting to reach out behind the safety of my keyboard than in person. It seems that every time I get up the courage to invite someone to church or to bible study I run into the most negative person in the bunch and I quickly withdraw behind the security of my computer.

I am a person who truly believes that I can ask the Holy Spirit for guidance in every aspect of my life; so, when I felt like giving up on trying to reach out in person to be a light for Christ, I felt I needed to seek support from the Helper before I retreated into myself. 

And just like that…

1 Corinthians 3:6-9 kjv  ⁶I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. ⁷So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. ⁸Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. ⁹For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.



Thank You, Holy Spirit for reminding me that bringing the increase was never my job. My job is to reach out. My job is to live a life that shines in the darkness of this world and is a beacon to Christ. My job is to study the Word so that I am prepared to speak about our Savior in ways that do not bring shame to the Body of Christ. Perhaps my job is to water rather than plant. And it has never been my job to bring the increase!

Thank You, Father God, for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thank You for the gift of Your Son. Thank You for this medium to reach out in hopes of being a blessing and inspiration to someone. I ask You, please, allow me the privilege of bringing at least one soul closer to You.

Thank You.

Perhaps you are that someone!





May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Running the Race with Fortitude

Hebrews 12:1-3 (KJV)

12 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

³ For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

I picture a great marathon and all the runners as Christians who are a part of the “great cloud of witnesses”. At the beginning of the race everyone is ready, full of energy, seeing themselves as  potential winners of the race!

The beginning is exciting with all of the spectators cheering on.

But, between the exciting beginning and the glorious finish there is life! The cheering crowd is much thinner in the middle of the course. The Witnesses are still there but they are busy cheering new racers, trying to stay the course themselves and just enduring the race.

We find ourselves confronted with our own personal “weights”; the things in life which distract us and take our eyes off “the author and finisher of our faith”.

Scripture tells us to “ ,,,,  lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us”. This allows us to acknowledge first that there will be weights, issues, and trials which we must overcome, then Scripture  gives us the course to follow “² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith….”

There are refreshing stations along the course. We have the Word of God. We have the examples of the saints. We have the comfort of the Holy Spirit. We have the promise of the finish line if we just hold the course!

Father God, I thank You for encouragement and strength. I thank You for renewal of Your promise to “never leave us or forsake us”. I thank You for the privilege of being Your child and pray for Your continued patience with all of us who are attempting to run this race with fortitude.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Yes, I Believe in God!

It is very trendy these days to poke fun at people who believe in God. Remarks range from mildly disparaging to downright cruel. Someone I love once told me that I was “too intelligent to actually believe in God” as if my faith were a warm and fuzzy blanket I could put on and off when it was convenient or fashionable.

Truthfully, as a statement of faith,  I do believe in an Omnipresent, Omnipotent, Omniscient, God!

John 1:1-5 King James Version (KJV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  ² The same was in the beginning with God.

³ All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.  ⁴ In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

⁵ And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

We have been given a guide book, a book of encouragement, a book of strength and wisdom, a book of comfort. It’s when we try to use the Book to box God, Omnipresent, Omnipotent, Omniscient, God into our very finite, limited comprehension that we get into deep trouble.

The authors of The Attributes of God (AlohaBible Net) describe our futile attempts to bring God to our level as: “people tend to dream up a mythological god who is either...

• An emotionless Power [such as *The Force* in the Star Wars movies]
• OR a mean bully who sits around in heaven, anxiously waiting for you to make a mistake so he can send you to burn in hell
• OR a grandfatherly old fuddy-duddy [sort of like *Santa Claus*] who doesn't give a rip what you do, just so long as you have a good time doing it.”  (http://www.biblestudy101.org/theo/g-d1.html#navigation)

These are such pitifully narrow restrictions to try to hold the wonder of our living, Immortal,  Infinite and Eternal God!

When our need to define God within the constraints of our comprehension is stronger than our love and reverence of God, we can totally miss the absolute joy of His love.

How much energy will we spend arguing about the time frame of “the beginning”?

He was here In the Beginning, whenever the beginning was. How do we even take a breath or open our eyes and doubt that there is a Creator?

If your prayer is to gain a deeper relationship with God you might begin with trust as the foundation on which you will build.

Pray to understand the difference between knowledge and wisdom and pray for wisdom.

May God Forever Be A Blessing in Your Life!!!

Preparing for the Storm

Preparing for the Storm

There is a hurricane brewing in the tropics.

To those of us who live in Florida this should be an expected occurrence since we actually have a time designated as “hurricane season”.

I was filled with a bit of wonder when I heard several of my friends talk about preparing for the hurricane as if this was a surprise!

There are lists of things recommended for this time of the year; ways to secure our homes, recommended emergency supplies including water and non-perishables, etc. Agencies give free seminars and pass out free booklets. Homeowner associations list local shelters and encourage preparedness, and yet there are always those who will be unprepared.

Matthew 25:1-13 King James Version (KJV)

25 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

² And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

³ They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

⁴ But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

⁵ While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

⁶ And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

⁷ Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

⁸ And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

⁹ But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

¹⁰ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

¹¹ Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

¹² But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

¹³ Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Some of us will be as poorly prepared for the return of Our Lord and Savior as we are for the storms of the world despite the fact that the gospels give us all of the information, we need to be ready.

We have been told how to secure our hearts. We already have the Greatest Commandments and the Great Commission. You have given us parables and words of wisdom to light our paths through life.

We have been given the shelter and guidance of the Holy Spirit. We have been given the words of the Prophets. Yet we wait in a state of unpreparedness for the knock at the door of our lives when there will be no time to fill our lamps!

Father God, I pray that You open our eyes and our hearts to Your gift of salvation. Please give us listening ears to hear and obey Your Word. Thank You for all that You are in our lives.

My friends…

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

“Stand Still and Trust the Lord!”

“Stand Still and Trust the Lord!”    

It takes effort to stand still when the pressures of the world are on us. It takes true faith to stand still when prayers, especially urgent prayers, are not answered in our time.

We must truly believe in the wisdom of God to enable us to “Stand Still and Trust the Lord!” when the answer to our prayer is “no”.

I read a wonderful poster which stated…

God is always faithful to answer

Sometimes His answer is a much desired “yes”.

Sometimes His answer is a merciful “no”.

Sometimes His answer is a faith-building “not yet”.

                                                          And                                                          sometimes...sometimes                                                                            When an answer cannot be  found                                                                 His answer is simply

Trust Me

This poster served as a gentle reminder that I must be faithful in my knowledge that it is always in my best interest to Stand Still and Trust in the Wisdom of God!

God has given us comforting messages in His Word which we can call upon when we need strength to face life’s trials. He has given us examples of His faithfulness to those who truly place their trust in Him.

I pray that these scriptures bring hope, strengthen your resolve in trying times and encourage you to truly “Stand Still and Trust the Lord!”

Exodus 14:13-31

Job 37:14

Psalm 4:4

Psalm 37:7

Psalm 107:28-29

Isaiah 40:31 

and many more….

Psalm 46:1-7 God is our refuge and strength, a great help in times of distress. Therefore we will not be frightened when the earth roars, when the mountains shake in the depths of the seas, when its waters roar and rage, when the mountains tremble despite their pride. Look! There is a river whose streams make the city of God rejoice, even the Holy Place of the Most High. Since God is in her midst, she will not be shaken. God will help her at the break of dawn. The nations roared; the kingdoms were shaken. His voice boomed; the earth melts. The Lord of the heavenly armies is with us; our refuge is the God of Jacob.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!