Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song.
(NIV) Psalm 95:2
My favorite Holiday is Thanksgiving! I love, love this holiday!!
I had a wonderful, blessed Thanksgiving. It was about family and friends. It was busy, loud, reflective, and full of laughter and contentment.
We all have so much to be thankful for.
The presents we give to each other on Thanksgiving are from our hearts.
Thanksgiving Day is a beautiful reminder for us to stop and thank God for all that He has given us - the big things and the little things.
The biggest thing is God's love, grace and mercy that He gives each of us everyday.
In my journal I have the words to a song that is about God's priceless gift to us.
I come broken to be mended.
I come wounded to be healed.
I come empty to be filled.
I come desperate to be rescued.
I come guilty to be pardoned.
I come lost to be saved.
And I am welcomed with open arms just as I am.
I pray you will take time everyday to worship Him and thank HIm.
Your Father welcomes you with open arms.
Sunday, November 27, 2016
Sunday, November 13, 2016
Faith Fail Not
"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." Luke 22:31, 32 (NIV)
For many years in the above scripture I read Jesus' words as telling Simon not to fail.
I understand that God knows the end to the beginning and He knew Simon would deny Him three times. I think I read Jesus' words as a "heads up" to Simon as to what was coming. Like, possibly with the for warning Simon would make a different choice.
Recently my perception of this scripture changed. I now understand that Jesus didn't say Simon don't fail. Jesus said "that your faith may not fail."
He wants us to know and remember that He died on the cross at Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins. He is our Lord and Savior and that He is His word:
… "as I was with Moses, so I will be with you: I will not fail you, nor forsake you." Joshua 1:5
We will be tempted, tested and sometimes we will fail.
When we fail we will fall down.
When we fall down God wants us to repent, ask for forgiveness and stand up.
Our Father assures us that in sin He waits for us to turn back to Him.
Our Father also assures us that He has purpose for us: "strengthen your brothers."
Father God I pray that our faith does not fail. I pray when we fail and fall down; we repent, ask for forgiveness and stand up. And I pray Lord Jesus that we pass on to others what we learn so that our sisters and brothers will be strengthened and have a greater intimacy with you.
For many years in the above scripture I read Jesus' words as telling Simon not to fail.
I understand that God knows the end to the beginning and He knew Simon would deny Him three times. I think I read Jesus' words as a "heads up" to Simon as to what was coming. Like, possibly with the for warning Simon would make a different choice.
Recently my perception of this scripture changed. I now understand that Jesus didn't say Simon don't fail. Jesus said "that your faith may not fail."
He wants us to know and remember that He died on the cross at Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins. He is our Lord and Savior and that He is His word:
… "as I was with Moses, so I will be with you: I will not fail you, nor forsake you." Joshua 1:5
We will be tempted, tested and sometimes we will fail.
When we fail we will fall down.
When we fall down God wants us to repent, ask for forgiveness and stand up.
Our Father assures us that in sin He waits for us to turn back to Him.
Our Father also assures us that He has purpose for us: "strengthen your brothers."
Father God I pray that our faith does not fail. I pray when we fail and fall down; we repent, ask for forgiveness and stand up. And I pray Lord Jesus that we pass on to others what we learn so that our sisters and brothers will be strengthened and have a greater intimacy with you.
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Building Your Case
"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."
Matthew 7:3-5 (NIV)
"It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ' Let me wash your face for you,' when your own face is distorted by contempt? It's the whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor. Matthew 7:3-5 (Message)
A few weeks ago I became angry at my son-in-law for not following through on something that he had agreed to do. As I was "building my case" against my son-in-law: God spoke.
"When you are focused on the faults of others you lose sight of the things I want you to work on in yourself."
For about 10 seconds I said, "yah, but he (son-in-law) said he would do…" I stopped and God's words came into my being. In the spiritual battle for my mind the Holy Spirit put my defense to rest. Fortunately for me I lost my case. My body became very still and my mind was silent. The fight was over and the case building stopped.
We can move fairly fast when we build our case against someone. Anger is one of those emotions that can quickly rise out of control. It can become a fire burning down the hillsides. Our thoughts and words can become gasoline fueling that fire. I am not saying we won't or shouldn't get angry. I am saying that it is our job to train ourselves in anger to go to God fast. It's only God that can help us quench the fire to burning ambers and eventually extinguish the fire.
When the fire is out of control we open the door to Satan and invite him to come inside. God wants us to have and use discernment. However, we have to learn to recognize when we cross the line from discernment to criticism and judgement. Judgement is never ours. It belongs to God only.
In this situation my son-in-law didn't do what he said he would do. Even though he didn't keep his word; God let me know that I had crossed the line to criticism. I don't have to like my son-in-law's behavior but I don't have to build a case against him.
How do we build a case against someone? The thing that we are upset about becomes bigger and bigger to the point where our anger is out of proportion to what happened and; or if we have a history with the person we will dig up and remember every time we felt hurt by that person.
God turns us back to ourselves. The Holy Spirit speaks to us all the time. If we want to hear the Holy Spirit we have to listen. When we are "building our case" and making our selves right our hearing is limited.
If you choose to hear and obey God the case building stops and the anger diminishes or ceases to exist. What you are left with is the presence of God. It doesn't get better than that people.
Father God help us understand that we can't change others. Only you are that powerful.
Help us look and see what we need to change.
Help us Father God to believe that when You trim us You grow us.
We invite You to change us.
How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."
Matthew 7:3-5 (NIV)
"It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ' Let me wash your face for you,' when your own face is distorted by contempt? It's the whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor. Matthew 7:3-5 (Message)
A few weeks ago I became angry at my son-in-law for not following through on something that he had agreed to do. As I was "building my case" against my son-in-law: God spoke.
"When you are focused on the faults of others you lose sight of the things I want you to work on in yourself."
For about 10 seconds I said, "yah, but he (son-in-law) said he would do…" I stopped and God's words came into my being. In the spiritual battle for my mind the Holy Spirit put my defense to rest. Fortunately for me I lost my case. My body became very still and my mind was silent. The fight was over and the case building stopped.
We can move fairly fast when we build our case against someone. Anger is one of those emotions that can quickly rise out of control. It can become a fire burning down the hillsides. Our thoughts and words can become gasoline fueling that fire. I am not saying we won't or shouldn't get angry. I am saying that it is our job to train ourselves in anger to go to God fast. It's only God that can help us quench the fire to burning ambers and eventually extinguish the fire.
When the fire is out of control we open the door to Satan and invite him to come inside. God wants us to have and use discernment. However, we have to learn to recognize when we cross the line from discernment to criticism and judgement. Judgement is never ours. It belongs to God only.
In this situation my son-in-law didn't do what he said he would do. Even though he didn't keep his word; God let me know that I had crossed the line to criticism. I don't have to like my son-in-law's behavior but I don't have to build a case against him.
How do we build a case against someone? The thing that we are upset about becomes bigger and bigger to the point where our anger is out of proportion to what happened and; or if we have a history with the person we will dig up and remember every time we felt hurt by that person.
God turns us back to ourselves. The Holy Spirit speaks to us all the time. If we want to hear the Holy Spirit we have to listen. When we are "building our case" and making our selves right our hearing is limited.
If you choose to hear and obey God the case building stops and the anger diminishes or ceases to exist. What you are left with is the presence of God. It doesn't get better than that people.
Father God help us understand that we can't change others. Only you are that powerful.
Help us look and see what we need to change.
Help us Father God to believe that when You trim us You grow us.
We invite You to change us.
Thursday, September 29, 2016
How Much The Holy Spirit Has Of Me
And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you: and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Acts 1:7,8 (NIV)
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.
And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.
1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (NIV)
One morning in prayer when asking God for direction He said the following:
"Don't be concerned about how much of the Holy Spirit you have, but how much of the Holy Spirit has of you."
I am sure God had many purposes when He said that to me. Three things came to me as those words saturated my being:
1. God's words are always gentle, firm and life changing.
2. The necessity of going to our Father daily to be guided by the Holy Spirit. When we are in
surrender and obedience to God people will be touched by His light.
3. Through the Holy Spirit we will be anointed with gifts. The gifts He gives us carry a responsibility of helping others. God gives us gifts to give away. We are to hold and use these gifts humbly knowing that God is working through us to help His people.
Dear Father help us stay focused on You so we can hear you.
Help us to surrender and be obedient as the Holy Spirit convicts us.
Let us use the gifts You give us to help others come into intimacy with You.
Acts 1:7,8 (NIV)
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.
And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.
1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (NIV)
One morning in prayer when asking God for direction He said the following:
"Don't be concerned about how much of the Holy Spirit you have, but how much of the Holy Spirit has of you."
I am sure God had many purposes when He said that to me. Three things came to me as those words saturated my being:
1. God's words are always gentle, firm and life changing.
2. The necessity of going to our Father daily to be guided by the Holy Spirit. When we are in
surrender and obedience to God people will be touched by His light.
3. Through the Holy Spirit we will be anointed with gifts. The gifts He gives us carry a responsibility of helping others. God gives us gifts to give away. We are to hold and use these gifts humbly knowing that God is working through us to help His people.
Dear Father help us stay focused on You so we can hear you.
Help us to surrender and be obedient as the Holy Spirit convicts us.
Let us use the gifts You give us to help others come into intimacy with You.
Thursday, September 15, 2016
When I Lay My Isaac Down
Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!"
"Here I am," he replied.
Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about." Genesis 22:1, 2 (NIV)
As a new Christian, I can't say I liked that scripture. In fact, I thought, " I think that's going a little too far God." Of course, the real truth is I didn't fully understand it.
Over the years I realized the scripture was about loving God first and more then any other person or thing. When my oldest daughter Jessica was a teenager, I remember giving her to God and; giving her to God again and again. When my second daughter, Samantha was a teenager, I repeated the same cycle. As a mom we can only teach and direct when our kids are in view. Our kids belong to God and He has them in view all the time. Was that like sacrificing them on an altar? No. Some of that cycle was out of: "I can't take much more of this." It was, however, a step in the right direction.
I have to say until a few years ago when I heard the song, When I Lay My Isaac Down, did I understand that scripture at a deeper level.
The words that stand out for me in that song go something like this:
…it's you and Isaac or it's you and Me.
At the altar I know it's not my Isaac You want, it's me.
Whatever you are putting ahead of God; God wants it. He wants no obstacle in the way of our relationship with Him. Initially, I believe we see some more obvious things that block our relationship with God and then God takes us a little deeper to smaller things. Smaller things that we dismissed as not being all that bad and or things we really don't want to give up.
In the spiritual world the smaller things are as important as the bigger. Why? The smaller things are still about doing it our way, not God's way. The world tells you that 90-95% of something is good, in fact real good. When it comes to God, He wants a 100% of us.
Some of things on that list could be unforgiveness, anger, negativity, pride, excess work, being a victim, rationalizing our behavior, justifying our behavior, and or the lies we believe about ourselves.
If we want to follow Christ then whatever He directs us to give up we are to give it up.
I listen to this song nearly every day. I find every day I have something to lay down. God knows we are sinners. I believe He wants us to understand that we need to be trimmed and; have a willingness on our part to be trimmed. If we allow Him to trim us , He will grow us.
Lord, I pray we want to follow you. I pray we lay our Isaac's down.
"Here I am," he replied.
Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about." Genesis 22:1, 2 (NIV)
As a new Christian, I can't say I liked that scripture. In fact, I thought, " I think that's going a little too far God." Of course, the real truth is I didn't fully understand it.
Over the years I realized the scripture was about loving God first and more then any other person or thing. When my oldest daughter Jessica was a teenager, I remember giving her to God and; giving her to God again and again. When my second daughter, Samantha was a teenager, I repeated the same cycle. As a mom we can only teach and direct when our kids are in view. Our kids belong to God and He has them in view all the time. Was that like sacrificing them on an altar? No. Some of that cycle was out of: "I can't take much more of this." It was, however, a step in the right direction.
I have to say until a few years ago when I heard the song, When I Lay My Isaac Down, did I understand that scripture at a deeper level.
The words that stand out for me in that song go something like this:
…it's you and Isaac or it's you and Me.
At the altar I know it's not my Isaac You want, it's me.
Whatever you are putting ahead of God; God wants it. He wants no obstacle in the way of our relationship with Him. Initially, I believe we see some more obvious things that block our relationship with God and then God takes us a little deeper to smaller things. Smaller things that we dismissed as not being all that bad and or things we really don't want to give up.
In the spiritual world the smaller things are as important as the bigger. Why? The smaller things are still about doing it our way, not God's way. The world tells you that 90-95% of something is good, in fact real good. When it comes to God, He wants a 100% of us.
Some of things on that list could be unforgiveness, anger, negativity, pride, excess work, being a victim, rationalizing our behavior, justifying our behavior, and or the lies we believe about ourselves.
If we want to follow Christ then whatever He directs us to give up we are to give it up.
I listen to this song nearly every day. I find every day I have something to lay down. God knows we are sinners. I believe He wants us to understand that we need to be trimmed and; have a willingness on our part to be trimmed. If we allow Him to trim us , He will grow us.
Lord, I pray we want to follow you. I pray we lay our Isaac's down.
Monday, September 5, 2016
Just Be With Me
"If you love Me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you."
John 14:15-17 (NIV)
"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." John 14:26 (NIV)
We believe there is a physical world because we can see it. Our focus is in and on the physical world. We look to the physical world for answers to our questions. As we live and focus in the physical world we look to the world to make decisions, to solve our problems, and to receive comfort. We have trained ourselves to look "out there" for what we need.
Our focus on the physical world has developed our physical senses.
God tells us to come to Him to make decisions, to solve problems and to receive comfort.
God gave each of His children the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is within each of us. When we go to God for what we need our focus is in and on the spiritual world. It is in the spiritual world that our spiritual senses are developed. Our spiritual senses help us see and hear beyond the what we see and hear in the physical. Our spiritual senses develop only if we have our faith in and on what Jesus did at Calvary.
We are to train ourselves to go "within" to the Holy Spirit to have our needs met.
Before I was a Christian I would prepare, prepare and prepare for speeches I had to deliver. Early on as a Christian when I was asked to speak at a conference I tried to come up with the outline of the message. Try as I might I couldn't come up with a outline. What God would give me were scriptures.
I learned to sit with scriptures He gave me and meditate on those scriptures. After several hours of meditation God would slowly fill in the message. For the most part He wouldn't fill in the message until the night before I was to speak. At first this was scary because i didn't have control. What if I arrived at the conference, got up to speak and had nothing to say?
On one such time when I received only one scripture from Him it left me confused and somewhat anxious. I asked God for more scripture and clarity. He said: "listen to worship music." After doing that for 3 or 4 hours I asked Him for the message. He said, "listen to my music." After several more hours of listening to music he gave me more scripture.
On the way to the conference I felt a lot of anxiety over only having a partial message to deliver at the conference. A conference where I was to speak twice. In the middle of major anxiety with my stomach upset and feeling like I wanted to throw up God used a friend to deliver His message to me: "God wants less of you and more of Him." His message calmed my being. Why did it calm me? The answer is spiritual. In my spirit I knew that God would give the message He wanted delivered even though I had little physical evidence of a message. I realized that when I listened for several hours to the worship music He prepared a message in me that He would deliver through me. How did He do that? God has the answer. Although I live in the physical world my focus was on God in the spiritual world. I didn't go "out there" for what I needed I went "within" to the Holy Spirit.
God's message for that conference and for whatever we are facing is Just Be With Me.
Lord Jesus help us as we live in the physical world to focus on You and trust You. Train us Lord Jesus to go "within" to the Holy Spirit.
John 14:15-17 (NIV)
"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." John 14:26 (NIV)
We believe there is a physical world because we can see it. Our focus is in and on the physical world. We look to the physical world for answers to our questions. As we live and focus in the physical world we look to the world to make decisions, to solve our problems, and to receive comfort. We have trained ourselves to look "out there" for what we need.
Our focus on the physical world has developed our physical senses.
God tells us to come to Him to make decisions, to solve problems and to receive comfort.
God gave each of His children the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is within each of us. When we go to God for what we need our focus is in and on the spiritual world. It is in the spiritual world that our spiritual senses are developed. Our spiritual senses help us see and hear beyond the what we see and hear in the physical. Our spiritual senses develop only if we have our faith in and on what Jesus did at Calvary.
We are to train ourselves to go "within" to the Holy Spirit to have our needs met.
Before I was a Christian I would prepare, prepare and prepare for speeches I had to deliver. Early on as a Christian when I was asked to speak at a conference I tried to come up with the outline of the message. Try as I might I couldn't come up with a outline. What God would give me were scriptures.
I learned to sit with scriptures He gave me and meditate on those scriptures. After several hours of meditation God would slowly fill in the message. For the most part He wouldn't fill in the message until the night before I was to speak. At first this was scary because i didn't have control. What if I arrived at the conference, got up to speak and had nothing to say?
On one such time when I received only one scripture from Him it left me confused and somewhat anxious. I asked God for more scripture and clarity. He said: "listen to worship music." After doing that for 3 or 4 hours I asked Him for the message. He said, "listen to my music." After several more hours of listening to music he gave me more scripture.
On the way to the conference I felt a lot of anxiety over only having a partial message to deliver at the conference. A conference where I was to speak twice. In the middle of major anxiety with my stomach upset and feeling like I wanted to throw up God used a friend to deliver His message to me: "God wants less of you and more of Him." His message calmed my being. Why did it calm me? The answer is spiritual. In my spirit I knew that God would give the message He wanted delivered even though I had little physical evidence of a message. I realized that when I listened for several hours to the worship music He prepared a message in me that He would deliver through me. How did He do that? God has the answer. Although I live in the physical world my focus was on God in the spiritual world. I didn't go "out there" for what I needed I went "within" to the Holy Spirit.
God's message for that conference and for whatever we are facing is Just Be With Me.
Lord Jesus help us as we live in the physical world to focus on You and trust You. Train us Lord Jesus to go "within" to the Holy Spirit.
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
I Can't Even Walk
It is God who arms me with strength
and makes my way perfect.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
He enables me to stand on the heights.
He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You give me Your shield of victory,
and Your right hand sustains me;
You stoop down to make me great.
You broaden the path beneath me,
so that my ankles do not turn. Psalm 18:32-36 NIV
When I started to attend church it was the "music" that kept bringing me back every Sunday. I never really heard a sermon for three months. I say music because at that time I didn't even understand that it was worship music. God used music to speak to my heart and draw me to Him. He knew that music was the way to my heart.
Even now there are certain worship songs, especially old hymns, where tears run down my cheeks as I feel God's presence. It is not uncommon for me to play a certain worship song over and over again for days. Every time I press repeat I feel the words go deeper and deeper into my being. Don't worry I do this in my car so as not to drive my household up the wall.
My sharing with you today is a song that has been playing in my head and on my car radio for the past three days.
The name of this song is: I Can't Even Walk Without You Holding My Hand.
I thought that number one would surely be me.
Thought I'd be what I wanted to be.
I thought I could build on life's sinking sand.
But I can't even walk without You holding my hand.
I thought I could do a lot on my own.
I thought I could make it all alone.
I thought, I thought of myself as a mighty big man.
But I can't even walk without You holding my hand.
The mountains are too high and the valleys are too wide.
Down on my knees is how I learned to stand cause I can't even walk without You holding my hand.
I can't even walk without You holding my hand.
Lord I pray that this song plays in the heads of everyone that reads this and that the words are fixed into the depths of their being.
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Our Guide
For this God is our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end.
Psalm 48:14 NIV
This morning I asked God to open my Bible to the scripture He wanted me to read.
The above Scripture is a reminder to all of us to follow only Him. As He guides we follow.
The application note in the Life Application Bible (NIV) said the following :
Psalm 48:14
"We often pray for guidance as we struggle with decisions. What we need is both guidance and a guide - a map that gives us landmarks and directions and a constant companion who has an intimate knowledge of the way and will make sure we interpret the map correctly. The Bible will be such a map, and the Holy Spirit will be the constant companion and guide. As you make your way through life, use both the map and your Guide."
Our constant Companion and Guide has intimate knowledge of the way and will make sure we interpret the map correctly.
I pray we always follow the map and never lose sight of our Guide.
Psalm 48:14 NIV
This morning I asked God to open my Bible to the scripture He wanted me to read.
The above Scripture is a reminder to all of us to follow only Him. As He guides we follow.
The application note in the Life Application Bible (NIV) said the following :
Psalm 48:14
"We often pray for guidance as we struggle with decisions. What we need is both guidance and a guide - a map that gives us landmarks and directions and a constant companion who has an intimate knowledge of the way and will make sure we interpret the map correctly. The Bible will be such a map, and the Holy Spirit will be the constant companion and guide. As you make your way through life, use both the map and your Guide."
Our constant Companion and Guide has intimate knowledge of the way and will make sure we interpret the map correctly.
I pray we always follow the map and never lose sight of our Guide.
Saturday, August 6, 2016
When The Light Is Dim
Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise Him,
my Savior and my God.
Psalm 42:5 NIV
In Him was life and that life was the light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
John1: 4,5 NIV
What came into existence was Life,
and the Life was Light to live by.
The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness;
the darkness couldn't put it out.
John1: 4,5 The Message
In prayer a few weeks ago I thought how good it feels on days when I believe that everything will be all right. I know that I am not alone in this life and no matter what I face I will get through. My heart feels the Light of His Presence. I have a peace in my being.
Today was one of those days.
Then there are the days I feel alone and feel the weight of what I have to handle. I still know I will get through this life but on those days the burden (weighs me down) is heavy. Darkness hovers over me.
I asked God, "How does that happen? Where does the heaviness come from? Where
does the peace go? On both days I know you God, but on one day my heart feels and sees Your light and on the other day the light seems dim."
God's answer to me was to write. I prayed, " empty me out God," and then started to write.
The following is what poured out of me:
"The mountains are so high... I feel alone and tired... I wonder why the mountains; always the mountains.
The burdens of my life are on me to figure out; to handle.
I know God is here, but the darkness is telling me He isn't with me. Discouragement is taking over and pulling me down. God's light has dimmed. The peace is gone. Darkness is fighting to take over.
Why does His light seem dim? I know in my head that God is in me and beside me, but my heart is heavy today.
Where from yesterday to today did this happen?
Where and when did Satan find the opening to come in with the darkness?
When did my grip on God's hand loosen? Loosen just enough for Satan to enter?"
Help us God.
Help us to always remember that we cannot dispel the darkness.
It is You who dispels the darkness.
We need the Holy Spirit to empower us. Help us depend on You so that we will be empowered by the Holy Spirit.
I ask you God to take our strength and give us Your strength.
But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth (John16:13 NIV).
Everyday
Everyday pray.
Everyday repent of our sins and ask Him to forgive us.
Everyday thank Him for the blessings in our life.
Everyday read His Word.
Everyday ask God for His Presence.
Everyday ask Him to set the priorities of our day.
Everyday in all things ask Him to direct our steps.
Everyday put the Armor of God on ourselves and our loved ones.
Everyday.
Satan's job is to move us away from God's light and into darkness.
Satan preys on our vulnerabilities.
Satan is darkness and his plan is to break our unity with God.
Everyday is our weapon against darkness.
Spiritual battle is every day.
God's light extinguishes darkness.
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise Him,
my Savior and my God.
Psalm 42:5 NIV
In Him was life and that life was the light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
John1: 4,5 NIV
What came into existence was Life,
and the Life was Light to live by.
The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness;
the darkness couldn't put it out.
John1: 4,5 The Message
In prayer a few weeks ago I thought how good it feels on days when I believe that everything will be all right. I know that I am not alone in this life and no matter what I face I will get through. My heart feels the Light of His Presence. I have a peace in my being.
Today was one of those days.
Then there are the days I feel alone and feel the weight of what I have to handle. I still know I will get through this life but on those days the burden (weighs me down) is heavy. Darkness hovers over me.
I asked God, "How does that happen? Where does the heaviness come from? Where
does the peace go? On both days I know you God, but on one day my heart feels and sees Your light and on the other day the light seems dim."
God's answer to me was to write. I prayed, " empty me out God," and then started to write.
The following is what poured out of me:
"The mountains are so high... I feel alone and tired... I wonder why the mountains; always the mountains.
The burdens of my life are on me to figure out; to handle.
I know God is here, but the darkness is telling me He isn't with me. Discouragement is taking over and pulling me down. God's light has dimmed. The peace is gone. Darkness is fighting to take over.
Why does His light seem dim? I know in my head that God is in me and beside me, but my heart is heavy today.
Where from yesterday to today did this happen?
Where and when did Satan find the opening to come in with the darkness?
When did my grip on God's hand loosen? Loosen just enough for Satan to enter?"
Help us God.
Help us to always remember that we cannot dispel the darkness.
It is You who dispels the darkness.
We need the Holy Spirit to empower us. Help us depend on You so that we will be empowered by the Holy Spirit.
I ask you God to take our strength and give us Your strength.
But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth (John16:13 NIV).
Everyday
Everyday pray.
Everyday repent of our sins and ask Him to forgive us.
Everyday thank Him for the blessings in our life.
Everyday read His Word.
Everyday ask God for His Presence.
Everyday ask Him to set the priorities of our day.
Everyday in all things ask Him to direct our steps.
Everyday put the Armor of God on ourselves and our loved ones.
Everyday.
Satan's job is to move us away from God's light and into darkness.
Satan preys on our vulnerabilities.
Satan is darkness and his plan is to break our unity with God.
Everyday is our weapon against darkness.
Spiritual battle is every day.
God's light extinguishes darkness.
Saturday, July 30, 2016
Your Sphere of Influence
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 6:12 NIV
but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.
Acts 6:4 NIV
"'For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.'"
2 Chronicles 20:12 NIV
"My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness."
2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV
At the beginning of 2016, I attended Koahine ( a wonderful women's ministry for all denominations). Taimane, a precious woman of God, spoke about the Jewish meaning of 2016.
She said, "God has given each of us a sphere of influence. We are to claim it and stake it."
Her message was very familiar to me. I had heard that message in prayer for over a year. What was new about her message were the words "stake it."
All of God's messages are important and when God repeats a message though prayer, scripture or another person I believe He is stressing the urgency for us to meditate and gain a deeper understanding of what He is saying.
Through meditation and understanding I believe God's prayer for us is that our faith will increase and our commitment to fully live His message will be strengthened.
To me the words: "stake it" told me that I wasn't exerting the full power and authority God had given me. I know I understand some of what it means to move in Jesus' name in power and authority but I also know I have a long way to go.
In War Room, Elizabeth Jordan's (Priscilla Shirer) marriage was falling apart. Her husband was distant and withdrawn. Elizabeth was angry at her husband. In a large sense she saw her husband as the enemy. Through a very wise older woman of God she was directed to understand that the real enemy (Satan) was working to destroy her marriage. She began to understand that her focus had to be God and not her circumstances.
Elizabeth turned to God for help and focused on Him only.
She prayed daily.
She surrendered her anger and forgave her husband.
In Jesus' name she claimed the sphere of influence that God had given her (her marriage, her family).
She believed God - in His name she had power and authority to change her sphere of influence.
Again the same message.
God gave her a miracle. He restored her marriage and family.
What sphere of influence has God given you?
How much do you believe that prayer is a required spiritual weapon to fight in spiritual warfare?
How much do you believe that God is bigger then anything you face?
How much do you believe that God will give you the grace (spiritual, emotional and physical power) you need everyday to claim and stake the sphere of influence He has given you?
Lord, I pray we go to You everyday in prayer.
Increase our faith (trust) in You.
Help us remember and believe that You are bigger than our circumstances.
Help us stand and move in your name Jesus in the power and authority you have given us.
Miracles took place with Jesus and through His apostles 2000 years ago and miracles do and will take place today as we pray and walk as His apostles in His Name.
Hold On To Me Only
"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
"Come," he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"~Matthew 14:28-30 NIV
Recently I had a time of rest and at Hualalai on the Big Island. On the 2nd day of my stay I went into the ocean even though the water was rough. I am a poor swimmer so I decided to stay in the shallow. I thought I was choosing a place where the water was calm. Instead it was a place where a fast current circled me.
"Come," he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"~Matthew 14:28-30 NIV
Recently I had a time of rest and at Hualalai on the Big Island. On the 2nd day of my stay I went into the ocean even though the water was rough. I am a poor swimmer so I decided to stay in the shallow. I thought I was choosing a place where the water was calm. Instead it was a place where a fast current circled me.
I have partial hearing loss in
my right ear which can cause me to lose my
balance especially with fast movement. Even though I was only in about
3 feet of water I fell. I tried to stand but I couldn’t. As the current tossed me around I saw a
large rock. I grabbed the rock and tried
to hold on to it. I couldn’t hold on and
continued to be tossed around in the water.
Finally I realized that I couldn’t stand on my own. I asked God to help
me. God immediately helped me stand and I walked to shore.
As I sat on shore
and and thought about what had happened, God spoke to me.
“You will be knocked down if you don’t focus on me. You will be off balance. Even if you hold on
to someone else, you will still be tossed around. Hold on To Me Only.
I believe God's message was a reminder to come to Him every day in all situations. God wants our focus to be on Him in the easy and difficult times.
We are taught in this world to do things in our own strength without a lot of help. That world teaching carries over in our relationship with our Heavenly Father. We either don't ask God for help/direction or wait too long to ask Him.
In the ocean, I couldn't stand. I tried to hold on to a rock. I couldn't hold on to it. When I realized it wasn't a rock I needed, I called out to God to help me. He immediately put me on my feet.
As Peter focused on Jesus, he walked on water. When he focused on his fear Peter began to sink.
When we exclude Him, the outcome is never as good or as great as it could be.
To those who are wondering if we have a role to play in helping ourselves, the answer is yes. Our role is to go to Him first in all situations and ask Him what He wants us to do.
Dear Father, I pray we would go to you first for help.
Direct us every day in all situations.
Father I pray we obey Your directions.
Saturday, July 23, 2016
If
"'...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.'"
2 Chronicles 7:14,15
I had something else in mind for the first blog entry and then yesterday God directed me to this painting. A painting I have had for over 20 years. Then He directed me to this scripture. The scripture fit.
Today I decided to google Beth Sweigard, the artist. I had never googled her before today.
What I found:
Beth Sweigard painted this original piece in 1980 and titled it, If My People.
She painted it after 2 Chronicles 7:14.
2 Chronicles 7:14,15
I had something else in mind for the first blog entry and then yesterday God directed me to this painting. A painting I have had for over 20 years. Then He directed me to this scripture. The scripture fit.
Today I decided to google Beth Sweigard, the artist. I had never googled her before today.
What I found:
Beth Sweigard painted this original piece in 1980 and titled it, If My People.
She painted it after 2 Chronicles 7:14.
Saturday, June 18, 2016
His Words are Always Meaningful
For several years I have known that I am to write a blog with messages that I believe the Holy Spirit gives me. I started a blog in 2008 but stopped. In this new season this blog is a priority.
I believe that God speaks to all of us. He desires to instruct, teach and encourage us. What He speaks to us is not just for us, it is for others. Our job is to pass it on.
God does not waste time. His words are always meaningful. He speaks to help us get through this life in the best way possible - His way.
My purpose in sharing these messages is to help you along your journey. We all need help. I pray on the very day and time you need help you will find yourself reading one of His messages.
May His messages remind you of His love for you and His Presence in your life.
In Our Father's Loving Arms,
Memrey
P.S. Thank you Keiger for helping me in 2008 with the blog. Sorry it took so long. Thank you Yvonne Hopkins for helping in 2016. Especially for creating the home page and pulling the name of the blog from my being.
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