Overtaken By His Blessings!

“Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. “And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God: “Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country. “Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. “Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. “Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. “The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. “The LORD will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you. “The LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways. Deuteronomy 28:1-9 NKJV

There is so much more within this passage of scripture--blessings through the 14th verse, but then comes the 15th verse to the end--the curses of disobedience. We know the story of what happened to the Children of Israel in their journeys--when they obeyed God they were blessed; when they didn't, they suffered the curses of their choices.

From the beginning--after Moses met with God--commandments were given and expected to be followed. And then there were added various sundry laws and policies until realistically--God's people--like now--decided it wasn't worth trying to keep up. And this is why when God walked the earth in the person of Jesus Christ--He said--Love Him, and Love Your Neighbor--everything He wanted us to do--summed up in two commandments. Why? Because He is love and He wants us blessed beyond measure!

If we love Him, we desire to please Him, and if we endeavor to please Him at all times, we won't do anything that would create any cracks in our relationship with Him.

If we love each other--we won't do anything that would cause harm to one another or injury or damage of property. If we love each each other--we lift each other up and encourage one another to stay on the path He has established for us. Loving each other doesn't mean we have to agree with one another, but we know how to disagree, agreeably, maintaining the love relationship. That's what God wants from us and when we endeavor to obey, He blesses us--with more love, peace, joy, happiness, self-discipline, and wisdom from on high.

Most of us (I realize not all will feel the same) have a great deal to be thankful for on this day. Some have watched loved ones suffer and leave this life. Some have agonized over the fate of our nation and loved ones abroad. But in the midst of all the turmoil and upheaval, if we look hard enough--we can find a reason to be thankful.

I'm thankful for His love that never abandons me. I'm thankful for the peace within when I know I've been obedient to Him. I'm thankful for my family--a husband who loves me and for my children and grandchildren--who I admit--I've spoiled with love. I'm thankful for the friends who love me as much as I love them--even when we don't agree. I'm thankful for life, health and strength and determination to keep moving forward in His name. I'm thankful for the desire He has placed in me to rise up and speak out against injustice, hate and bigotry everywhere. I'm thankful for the wisdom He keeps pouring into me and directing my thoughts and actions in sharing with others.

I am blessed and highly favored, overtaken by His blessings and will continue on the journey He has established for me. And I pray that anyone and everyone reading this today, will feel the same way--overtaken by blessings.

Strength For The Battle!

Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.Hear my voice when I call, LORD; be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek.Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Savior. Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.Teach me your way, LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations. I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. Psalm 27:6-14 NIV

Sometimes, appearances can be deceiving,

Sometimes, when right, we simply keep believing,

The wrongs that need correction

Lord, guide us with Your direction

Speaking to hearts along the way,

Never giving up, by night or day.

Enlarge our hearts and our space,

Reaching others to seek Your face,

Never in fear, but always with love,

Knowing true wisdom comes from above.

Help us in this battle to remain strong,

Bold, and fearless while correcting this wrong,

Brought by manipulation and deception

Turned and righted for Your reception,

Of us into Your Presence.

Though the journey to seeing a wrong turned right,

Gets weary, never forget, we are precious in His sight,

Press on, mighty soldiers of valor and integrity,

Fight on with honor, strength, and dignity.

For the battle is The Lord's and not ours,

When weak, we're strengthened in His power,

To stay the course, never veering from the path,

Of victory that is before us, the win--in the math,

As God calculates it.

While we wait to see the victory,

Be strong, determined to make unprecedented history,

Remember God knows and truth will reveal

The tricks and lies used in attempts to steal,

Joy and happiness found only in Him.

The Joy of The Lord Is Our Strength!

Obtaining Happiness and Keeping It!

If people are bound with chains and trapped by the cords of affliction, God tells them what they have done and how arrogantly they have transgressed. He opens their ears  to correction and insists they repent from iniquity. If they serve Him obediently, they will end their days in prosperity and their years in happiness. Job 36:8-11 HCSB

People are looking for happiness--in all the wrong places--and when they find what they think is happiness, it is short-lived and leaves them frustrated and oppressed. When most are asked what makes them happy, the first words that come out of their mouths is having money, then love.

If people need money and love to make them happy, we can get a better understanding as to why there are so many miserable people in the world.

Factual understanding: 1% of all Americans hold the wealth of country. These are the big businesses that rake in money hand over fist, pay minimum wages, and often ship manufacturing jobs overseas. This is the Wall Street Gang and in many cases--upon close inspection and looking at their lifestyles--they are not happy because they are obsessed with obtaining more money. They think living lavishly makes them somebody and when in actuality, they are somebody without the frills.

On the other hand--there are many people who have little money, but have learned to be happy with what they have and they are generous to a fault, compassion always reigning in their hearts, and they know how to enjoy the little things in life.

When it comes to love--far too many people have confused lust with love and when feelings wane--and there is no more interest in the person--the lust having been satisfied and now they turn to other people who are looking for lust--not love--and start the cycle all over again.

At the same time, there are people who understand that real love begins with loving self, loving God, receiving His love and loving others. They don't need someone hanging onto to them to know love, they are loving to all--considering what's best for all they meet. They know how to nurture relationships, listen to others and genuinely care. True happiness is a mindset that is developed from loving self.

Now, getting back to Job and his situation in life. Although he had lost everything (materially) as well as his children, he never gave up on God--even when his so-called friends and wife encouraged him to do so. His reward for obedience and steadfast faith in God? Restoration of all he had lost and even more. He may have experienced some sad moments as we all do, but he was able to keep moving forward to receive from God.

No matter what happens to us in life, if we are open to correction, repent of anything that harms others or self, and obey God, He will keep His Word and we can end our days with prosperity and live our years (however many we have) being happy.

"Because I'm happy" is a popular refrain in a song, but it also needs to be a deeply-rooted attitude in the hearts of all Believers because we have love and we know that God is always more faithful to us than we might be to Him, so we can count on Him to provide our every need. And when we take the time to please Him, He gives us the desires of our hearts.

Enjoy!

"Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy" (I Timothy :17 NKJV).

Command--direct with specific authority, the rich in our times, not to be so haughty and arrogant that they trust in their riches, instead of the living God--who gives us (all of us) all things to enjoy!
There are some people who think because they have money (specifically some political parties), they have a right to take a superior attitude towards or over those who do not. Money can do a number of things to enhance one's life, but the things that God gives us all to enjoy--cannot be assessed with a dollar sign.

The beautiful blue skies on a clear sunny day--He gives.

The sun that warms the earth and our hearts after a brutally cold winter--He gives.

Majestic, snow-covered mountains--He gives.

The calming sound of brooks babbling along their journey into whatever waterway is their destiny--He gives.

The look of love and amazement in the eyes of new parents--He gives.

The wonder of all the miraculous things that happen in the universe--He gives.

Canyons shaped by ravages of time, but leave us in total amazement.

Natural springs where waters rise from the ground and fall majestically, back to be recycled and re-energized.

Beautiful flowers, honor-guard trees, that were never planted by the hands of man, but exist just for our pleasure.

Love between couples that never ends and we see it in the elderly holding hands, walking through parks or just taking a stroll.

The love of mothers with their children--ever-watchful, observant, caring and nurturing, ready to defend their children with their lives.

The simple pleasures of natural flavors that man did not create, but use in all manner of good things to eat--vanilla, chocolate, strawberry.

The sunrise that creates an explosion of color and patterns that man could not have imagined.

The sunset that serves as a glorious reminder that the end of the day has come.

Many may have money which they can use to "purchase enjoyment" but we all have access to enjoy those things He has given richly whether we have a dime in our pockets or not.

For pure happiness--remind those with earned (legally or illegally) riches to not think so highly of themselves because of what they have, but remember the riches that God has given all to enjoy and praise Him for it all!

From Father to Daughters

June 2013

My Darling Daughters,

            I have watched you for some time now and my heart grieves for you.  I know it’s not your fault and I know that you have done the best you can, with the life you’ve had.  All of the tragedies you suffered were not part of my plan for you.  My plans for you, were to bring you hope, a bright future, and all the joy and happiness you could handle.

            What I have seen is men abusing and using you, making you feel worthless, when you are worthy of love—unconditionally.  Your body—my creation and gift to you—was meant to be cherished, not exploited by the media, fantasies of sick men and even sicker women.  Your body was meant to be beautified and appreciated by all who looked upon you, not detested and scorned.  I have dressed you with a beauty that cannot be found in a tube or a bottle, so why do you feel the need to expose all the parts of you meant to be seen by the wonderful man I had predestined to be yours? 

            My heart aches for all the pain you have endured at the hands of those who could not possibly know how much destruction they caused when they influenced you to thinking that you are just body parts, not part of a body that was meant to loved.  My heart is heavy every time I see men leer and lust after you when all I wanted was for men to see your beautiful spirit, not your partially clad skin. 

            Sometimes, I wish I could close my eyes and not see how you have been convinced that your body—my wonderfully, unique creation—is meant to be used as an instrument of torture when men and women stick all manner of objects in you and abuse you for their wicked pleasure.  I cannot bear to see your mouth, meant to praise me, used for the act solely meant for the purpose of procreation.  I cannot bear the pain I know you feel when men prod the parts of you meant to be used as a means of exit, not entrance.  I cannot bear the pain I see in your eyes, when your expectations of finding love are lost in the illusion of sexploits, in the pages of books, on the screens of television and movies, and in the music where you are constantly denigrated by those who have no clue as to how to love you.

            Remember this, my darling daughters. I love you and would never use or abuse you because I Am Love and can do nothing else.  Learn to love yourself, as I love you, and watch all the wonderful things I had planned for you, come to pass.

Your Loving,

Heavenly Father