Tag: God

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The Feast

The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever. (‭Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭1-6‬ NLT)

How many times have you read that scripture?  Probably hundreds…kikr me. How many believe the promises in this Psalm?  Do you apply those promises to your life?

Sometimes God has to remind me that He protects me & prepares a feast for me.  Even when He gives me a peek at great things to come, I have a hard time trusting Him.

 I know I should trust Him, but my fleshly mind wants to try to apply logic where there isn’t, at least earthly speaking.  God works in a different realm than we live.  Because of this, His works rarely make sense to out sheepy brains.

I just went through a season of receiving confirmation after confirmation that something is going to happen…from God…and I was still anxious that it wouldn’t happen.  I knew I shouldn’t feel that way, but these earthly centered emotions got in the way.  My Father (and yours) already laid it all out before me.  I just had to wait for supper time to enjoy the feast.

Are you waiting for something, you know it is coming due to confirmation from the Holy Spirit, but you continue to struggle with doubt and anxiety?  Wait and trust.  The wait is worth it.  Let Him lay out the fine china and make that extra dessert.   It is all gonna be great, I promise.

Pray this with me: My dear Father, thank you for always taking care of me.  No matter how many times I doubt your works, you continue to do for me.  Forgive me, Lord, for not trusting you.  Help me do better. I love you with my entire being.  In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Be blessed, everyone.

  

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Footsteps

Generations – my church’s theme this year. I have been thinking about this a lot lately – about whose legacy I am living out. I find it interesting that my maternal grandmother retired from the insurance business and now I currently am working in insurance. I am walking in her footsteps and find it very special. Her husband, my beloved grandfather (we called him Papa) – was one of a kind. I wish the entire world knew him because I truly believe they would fall head-over-heels in love with him. I am a little partial, though.

My grandfather only wore cowboy boots – it is a Texas thing. I loved walking around in them. They went all the way to my thighs as a young girl and I couldn’t even bend my knees, but they were my grandfather’s so I didn’t care. My heart longs to walk in his shoes today – be kind to one another, love people, take care of them. I hope I am making him proud. Another habit of his I am trying my best to immolate is reading the Bible every day. He loved that thing and you can tell it was well used when you looked at it.

Having a heart for God’s word is a vital part of having a relationship with God. John 1:1 speaks of how the Word of God was there in the beginning, it was with God and it was God – speaking, of course of Jesus Christ. Knowing the Word brings us closer to who Christ is – having that in our heart will make us like Jesus. It will also help us know when the Enemy himself is setting a trap for us so we can avoid it and not succumb to his advances.

I encourage you to spend a part of your day taking in the Word of God. You will be happier and more at peace than you ever have been. No need to be super ambitious and try to read the entire book in one sitting. Just take a chapter a day to start out. Let it flow over you like a refreshing spring. Do this and watch your life change!

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” (Psalm 119:105 NIV)

Pray this with me: Father, I thank you for the Word you have provided. I want to learn it and hold it in my heart. As I start to read your word, speak to me. Show me things about my life that I need to know. I want to know you better and carry your word inside my heart. Help me continue with this good-for-me habit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Be blessed everyone!

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One is the loneliest?

This past weekend, I was able to take a small “staycation” in a town just outside Dallas.  It was nice to get outside the normal and take a step back from life.  In all truth, that is all that I thought I would get out of it…a small break from reality.  God had a different plan.

If I can be transparent for a moment – I can admit to you that I have at time struggled with loneliness. I feel so alone sometimes that it brings about sorrow.  I know that this is not just a state for my fellow singles, but for all people.  We long for someone to know us.  We want someone to understand us on a deep level – am I touching any nerves here?

I sat and ate my fast food breakfast in the park as a “start” to my day when the overwhelming sense of His presence came around me.  Feeling so safe and secure, even the small anxiety of being a single female in a park without someone physically with me fell away.  An overwhelming sense of freedom came upon me.

This feeling of freedom, being totally loved, totally cared for – that nothing was going to happen to me – carried me through the entire weekend.  What a wonderfully eye-opening experience the Holy Spirit gave me.  That, no matter if I look like I am alone physically, without another human there, I will never be without Him.

For those of you who understand what loneliness really is, whether you are single, married, a teenager, or anything in between – know that God loves you.  He made you and understands who you are.  He wants you to understand and see that no person can fully fulfill that need for relationship in our lives.  We need to have a relationship with Him first and make that our foundation.  Once we have that, we will never feel alone again.

I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you. (‭Psalms‬ ‭139‬:‭7-12‬ NLT)

Pray this with me: Dear Holy Spirit, thank you for being my companion.  Thank you for walking with me in all circumstances.  Help me to understand in my loneliest times that you are still there with me.  Don’t let me use the people in my life, even a spouse, to try to fulfill only what you can fulfill.  I love you with my entire being.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Be blessed everyone!

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The Tomb

Have you ever wanted something to happen – something that would transform your life – something that God has promised you will happen – and all you see around you is any and everything that contradicts that your promise is going to come to pass?  We all have seasons in our lives like this.  We know that healing will come, reconciliation will come, peace will come, jobs will come, finances will be made right, joy will be felt once again – but it seems like those things we know will happen are so far away and seem impossible to reach.

The disciples had a season like this – and it lasted just 3 days.  I can almost guarantee that it was the longest 3 days of their life, though.  When their leader was captured, killed, and laid to rest.  Can you imagine their grief?  Can you imagine the doubt they held in their head that Jesus would rise up once again?  The fear that have encompassed them must have been unbearable.  Their dream had not only died, but tortured and humiliated.

Then, everything changed!  Sunday arrived and the supernatural happened.  What was humanly impossible became real!  Their dream came alive again! (See John 19 & 20)

Do you have a dream that you doubt will ever come to pass?  A dream that God Himself placed in your heart?  Do not give into that doubt!  You will see it come to pass.  Just know that there are supernatural things happening that we cannot perceive.  God has us all in His hands.  All we have to do is trust Him!

Pray this with me:  Lord, I cast down the stronghold of fear and doubt right now.  I know that what You have promised will come to pass.  I have faith that You will do all things in my life, no matter how humanly ridiculous it may be.  I thank You for Your grace and mercy, for your precious Son who bled and died for me.  But oh how marvelous is the gift of His resurrection!  We give You honor, dear Lord.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Be blessed everyone!

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Never walk alone

This past weekend (March 29th) we celebrated Palm Sunday.  Therefore, this week was the last week that Christ lived before He was executed.  Pondering the significance of that this morning, I cannot imagine what Jesus went through this time in His life.  The mental torture He went through must have been excruciating. We see a glimpse of that mental torture when Christ was praying in the Garden of Gethsane (Matthew 26:36-46).

Christ’s plight through this week should be a comfort to those that go through hard times.  Especially when you see those hard times coming & you know you have to walk through them, remember that Jesus understands.  He has been there.  Lean on Him.  Let Him show you how to walk it out.  You are not alone.

Remember that the Easter story is a story of God’s love and restoration.  That, even when we walk in the valley, we will be restored as Christ was restored when He rose from the grave.

Never walk alone, Beloved.  He will give you your day of resurrection.  Trust Him.  Remember that He holds your world in His hands!

Be blessed everyone!

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Silence

After an array of events in my life, God has sent me into a season of silence.  No, not that He is silent, but that I am.  It’s not that I don’t talk to people…because I do.  It is not that type of silence.  But more of rest.  We all need seasons of rest!  So, in lieu of a post, I wanted to share some “silence” scriptures with you this week:

Psalm 46:10: Be still, and know that I am God!
                      I will be honored by every nation.
                      I will be honored throughout the world.

Matthew 11:15: Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!

Psalm 62:5: Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.

Habakkuk 2:20: But the Lord is in his holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before him.

Romans 10:17: So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.

Be blessed everyone!

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Mind games

I am a thinker – even though I am not always much of a talker.  My mind is constantly going.  What about you?  Are you also a thinker?

Well, this often is a good thing, but there are times when my mind gets the best of me.  Why?  Because the mind is the enemy’s greatest weapon. The battles we fight start in our minds first.

I can have a perfect situation drop in my lap, a situation God has set up, and mess it completely up because I am caught up in my emotions and perceptions.  Do you do this too?  Are you often tripped up because your mind is playing games with you?  Well, let me share some hope with you:

When you are put up against other people because of one thing or another, regardless of what it is, think on this scripture –

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. (‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭12‬ NLT)

Our fight isn’t with fellow humans, for they are our brothers & sisters.

Never stop running, people…ever.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin. (‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭1-4‬ NLT

Pray this with me: Father, help me fight the battle of my mind and live beyond my emotions, beyond my perceptions, and even my current situation – leaning in you and your promises only.  Help me not get caught up, discouraged, or become disheartened.  Let me walk in who you made me and finish this race that I am on in a way that pleases you.  In Jesus name, amen.

Be blessed everyone!

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Victory

People will hurt you.  You will hurt people.  Living in a fallen world, this is a guarantee and a reality we all must live with.  It is in those times when our true characters are seen.  Yep, mine, yours, theirs…all our characters will be tested at some point.  We will all have to face the sad truth that even those who love us dearly will harm us in one way or the other.

Let’s look at David.  His King who was also his father-in-law spent many years trying to kill David.  King Saul was a troubled man who spent a lot of his efforts and resources as king to take David out.  One day, David was hiding in a cave and King Saul came into the very cave David was hiding to relieve himself:

He came to the places where the sheep were kept on the way. There was a cave there, and Saul went in to get rid of his body waste. Now David and his men were sitting farther back in the cave. David’s men said to David, “See, this is the day the Lord told you, ‘See, I am about to give the one who hates you into your hand. You will do to him what you think is best.’” Then David got up and cut off a piece of Saul’s clothing in secret.  After this, David felt guilty in his heart because he had cut off a piece of Saul’s clothing.  So he said to his men, “May the Lord not let me put out my hand against my leader, for he is the Lord’s chosen one.”  David stopped his men with these words. He did not let them go against Saul. So Saul stood up and left the cave, and went on his way.

After this David got up and went out of the cave and called to Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David put his face to the ground, showing much respect.  David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘David wants to hurt you’?  See, your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you to me today in the cave. Some told me to kill you, but I had pity on you. I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my leader, for he is the Lord’s chosen one.’  Now, my father, see the piece of your clothing in my hand. I cut off the piece of your clothing but did not kill you. So know and understand that I have no desire to do wrong to you. I have not sinned against you, yet you come wanting to kill me.

1 Samuel 24:3-11

David was a man after God’s own heart – therefore he understood that, in order to win, he must not raise his hand against anyone, even when they are doing him wrong.  We must love our neighbor – just as Christ commanded in Matthew 22:36-40.  (Also see Matthew 5:44).  This is an easy thing to say, but so much harder to do.

What would happen if you were put in the same situation as David was, but with someone who has done you wrong?  Would you be able to not bring harm to them?  Or would you do something to “make them pay?”

Let me tell you a secret – if you leave the battle up to God, you will get your victory!  The story of David would have gone very different if he had not left the revenge up to God.  He would not be the revered King of Israel he became.  He is still revered today as a great King of Israel because he went the way he did.  Paul writes in Romans 12:19: “Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, ‘I will take revenge; I will pay them back,’ says the Lord.” Some things need to be left to God to handle because we were never meant to carry them ourselves.

Let it go, y’all.  Let God handle it.  Why?  Because David got his Kingdom, got his Temple, and is still revered today.  Live in freedom from bitterness, anger, and strife.  Let God do what only He can do.  Don’t try to step in and do things your way.  You (and I) will only mess things up.

Our freedom is worth too much to lose it over someone else’s actions.  Live in peace with each other and we all win.

Pray this with me: Father, thank you for another day I get to see and for the sacrifice of Your Son so that  I may live in freedom and in peace.  Lord, search my heart and show me areas of my life that I’ve tried to fight battles that weren’t mine to fight, but Yours.  Help me learn to lay these things down at your feet so that I may live in the very freedom that Christ paid for on Calvary.  Fight my battles, my Father, so that we all win.  I ask you to bless my enemies and all those who despise me.  Show them your love.  I thank you for all of this.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Be blessed everyone!

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Chosen

We make choices every day.  I made a decision to get out of bed, make breakfast, run errands, and go to the gym.  I had the choice not to do any of those things and just stay in bed.  At first, I am sure it would feel good, but after a while, it would get really old.  Life is full of good and bad choices.

God created us to be able to make our own decisions and face their consequences.  All the way in the front of the Bible, we see this played out with Adam, Eve, and the serpent (see Genesis 3).  As a result, we have the ability to believe or reject just about everything.  As I am typing on this computer, I can believe that I am a billionaire.  I am not (yet), but I can still believe it.  That is my choice that I get to make.  If I spent money like I as a billionaire without being a billionaire, then I would be in very big trouble.

Due to the consequences of our personal choices, God will bring things to us and take things away.  If we decide to live by our wills and not His, then we will not be able to do what we are called to do.  God had a plan for each of us.  He created us with purpose.  This purpose is meant to glorify Him and be a blessing to those around us in some form or fashion.  This could be at our jobs, at our church, or in our families.  Our purpose is unique to us – therefore we are exceedingly important to this world.  Some of us, though, will make a choice not to do what God has called us to do.

Some are waiting to be chosen, some are wanting to do their own thing, some are just too busy with other things to do what they need to do.  I used to be someone who believed that the opportunities would just fall into my lap.  If I go to church and do good, I will get all that God promised me.  Then, I realized that if I am not doing my end of the bargain – if I did not put myself in the right place and learn the things I need to learn, then I will not achieve what I was meant to achieve in the time I was supposed to achieve it.  Will there be other chances?  Yes, I think there will be – because God is good like that.  His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Let’s look at this Parable:

Again Jesus spoke to them in picture-stories. He said,  “The holy nation of heaven is like a king who gave a wedding supper for his son.  He sent his servants to tell the people, who had been asked, to come to the supper. But the people did not want to come.

“He sent other servants, saying to them, ‘Tell those who have been asked to come, “See! My supper is ready. My cows and fat calves are killed. Everything is ready. Come to the wedding supper!”’  But they did not listen and went on working. One went to his farm. Another went to his store.  The others took hold of his servants, and hurt them and killed them.

 “When the king heard this, he was very angry. He sent his soldiers to put those to death who had killed his servants. He burned their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding supper is ready. Those who were asked to come to the supper were not good enough. Go out into the roads and as many people as you can find, ask them to come to the wedding supper.’

 “The servants went out into the roads and brought all they could find, both bad and good. The wedding supper room was full of people.  The king came in to see those who had come. He saw one man who did not have on wedding supper clothes.  He said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding supper clothes?’ The man could not speak!  Then the king said to his servants, ‘Tie his hands and feet, and throw him out into the darkness. In that place there will be loud crying and grinding of teeth.’ For many are called but few are chosen.”

Matthew 22:1-14

I want to be among those who are chosen!  I want to make sure that whatever I do, I do unto God.  Because just going about doing my own thing, even if it is good, isn’t going to cut it.  I need to do exactly what God wants me to do.  I don’t want to disappoint Him.

What about you?  Do you want to live a life on purpose – that life that God meant you to live?  Are you willing to be bold about it?

Let’s do it together, y’all!  Let’s walk out this life just as God intended us to live it.

Pray this with me:  Father, thank you for making me who I am.  You put me on this earth for a reason and there is something that I can do that no one else will ever be able to do.  Help me learn exactly what you want from me and give me the boldness to walk it out.  Show me who I am in you and where you need me right at this moment and how I can get there, if I am not already there. And, finally, as I walk this life out, let me listen to your voice – only your voice – so that I remain on the road you meant for me.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Be blessed everyone!

Choose

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Restoration

I’ve heard it on the radio, I’ve seen devotions about it and I’ve seen my Facebook friends do it – picking a word for their year.  A word that they will focus on all year and make that year about THAT particular word.  (What’s your word for the year?)  Yeah…I am late on this, but I thought I had my word….until I heard differently from God.  Yep…my word is kinda awesome: RESTORE.

The definition of restore per Merriam-Webster is “to give back (someone or something that was lost or taken) : to return (someone or something); to put or bring (something) back into existence or use; to return (something) to an earlier or original condition by repairing it, cleaning it, etc.”  The implications of this word are magnificent.

I have so many things in my life that I want to see RESTORED!  Relationships, finances, housing, ministry, life, health, faith, etc., etc. – for me and for my loved ones.  Can my God do it?  YES!  Whatever the situation may be, I know that God will do it…in a mighty way, too.

Let’s delve into some scriptures:

Jeremiah 30:17

I will give you back your health
    and heal your wounds,” says the Lord.
“For you are called an outcast—
    ‘Jerusalem for whom no one cares.’”

Joel 2:25-26

The Lord says, “I will give you back what you lost
    to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts,
the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts.
    It was I who sent this great destroying army against you.
 Once again you will have all the food you want,
    and you will praise the Lord your God,
who does these miracles for you.
    Never again will my people be disgraced.

Psalm 51:12

Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
    and make me willing to obey you.

Acts 3:19-21

 Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah.  For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets.

1 John 5:4

For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.

Whatever you need restored, God can take care of it!  He has promised us RESTORATION and healing.  By HIS STRIPES we are healed, restored, made whole again.  Yep…because our Savior was broken, we are able to live a RESTORED life.  I’m so thankful for that!

What are you faithfully hoping that God restores this year?  Are you faithfully praying over that restoration and believing God will deal with it, no matter what the now looks like?

Pray this with me: Lord, thank you for your faithfulness in all things.  Thank you for the promise of restoration through the death and resurrection of your son Jesus.  Please touch the areas of my life that I and my loved ones desire and/or need restoration in.  Help me to have faith and stand on your word that all will be given back as long as I follow you!  I thank you for already doing it in my life and the lives of my loved ones.  We pray this all in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Be blessed everyone.

Restore