Working Together in Truth!

The elder, To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth. 3 John 1:1-8

There are a couple of things I wish to emphasize about John's letter and how it relates to our lives in 2017.

It is apparent from the content that there is a great deal of affection between Gaius and John and the work they do promoting the truth of the Gospel. John's praise for his friends hospitality and concern for others should motivate us to know how we are to treat others and what not to do (if we continue reading). It would appear that love and truth go hand-in-hand for those who love The Lord and it is because of the love He has poured into us that we are filled to overflowing, willing to love others.  

And when we truly love one another, we can work together--unified by love, walking in truth.
Notice that John wishes him good health and prosperity as his soul prospers. Too many times we equate prosperity with material possessions, but true prosperity resides in our health and knowing our soul (our conscience decisions) will always be on the side of right.

Why should we be concerned about our souls? The Word tells us when we die, our body returns to the dust from which it came, our spirits go back to heaven which it came and our soul is judged on that great day.

Whenever we look into the eyes of others or they look into our eyes, it is said, the depths of our souls can be seen. What do people see when they look into our eyes? Is there joy or bitterness? Is there love or hate? Is there concern or derision?

I've looked at people lately--seeking what resides inside--especially those politicians who claim to be followers of Christ, but their actions don't match their words. In fact, upon close inspection--looking into their eyes, all I see is emptiness or a great void--which would explain their attitudes towards others.  And since there is a void, there is no truth and certainly no love.

I would urgently challenge all to look into the eyes of those who claim to love and see if you can see into their souls.

For those who truly love, there is a light that shines brightly from deep within and it comes forth in any individual as joy and delight in life. They love to show affection to others, there is nothing hidden in them that makes them lie or promote falsehoods and they have no problem--looking back--open to full inspection--no guile in them.

When people don't want to look directly at you or their look is furtive (always looking from side to side), as if expecting the worse to befall them at any minute, they have a void in their souls and they're anxious about everything. People who are always trying to please people more than God are never at rest and it shows in their demeanor.

The eyes--regardless of color--are truly the gateway to the soul and if there is no light within guiding anyone--they struggle in darkness, trying to feel their way in life, never enjoying the fullness of what life has to offer.

I wish everyone reading this today, the joy of the Lord, overflowing onto all who come into your presence. I wish you good health and that you prosper as your soul prospers. Above all, I wish you the peace of God--allowing it to abide within no matter how chaotic the world is around you.

30 Days of Prayer and Praise--22!

Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if only you would hear his voice, “Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness, where your ancestors tested me; they tried me, though they had seen what I did. For forty years I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known my ways.’ So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ” Psalm 95 NIV

Day Twenty-Two

Lord Jesus,

Help us to remember the path taken by those who turned from You so we will not make the same mistake. Keep us on the path You have designed for us--with our steps ordered by You at every turn. Keep our hearts open to hear You and our minds willing to obey You in all You say.

Your Word, O Lord, is true whether some believe it or not. We know that You have chosen wisely all You use to accomplish Your goal in the earth. Thank You for using those who love You and know Your heart so we will not think more highly of ourselves than we ought. Keep us humble before those You have sent us to so they will be willing to receive from us what You have given us to say.

For the broken-hearted, we speak comfort and renewed joy with living; for those restless in their spirits, we declare peace in their lives from this day forward. For those who have never known You, we declare revelation from heaven--opening their spiritual eyes and ears to receive from You. For those who are weak and weary from debilitating illnesses, we declare they are strengthened, healed and whole, from their crowns of their heads to the souls of their feet with the joy of The Lord who heals--indiscriminately. For those who are fearful and lack trust of others, we declare boldness and courage to withstand any dart thrown at them by the enemy. For those who desire to speak, but feel unworthy or unable--we declare wisdom flowing from their lips and reception in the hearts of all who hear them. For those battling addictions for sin has overtaken them, we declare chains broken and shackles loosed from everything that would keep them from honoring You with their whole lives--body and soul.

For those who are lost--irredeemable because they've sold their souls to the devil, we declare a quick demise so they will not have opportunity to influence others. For the repentant heart--we declare forgiveness and opportunity to share God's love with others so none will be lost to the lake of fire.

You, O Lord, have given us reason to sing of Your goodness in the midst of chaos and crisis for we know we are never alone with You in our lives. In the heat of the battle and the darkness of hopelessness--You are the light that reignites our hope--and leads us out of the darkness.

Thank You for loving us enough to give us chance after chance to keep singing our praises of You and keep telling everyone we meet about You.

Great is The Lord and greatly to be praised! Hallelujah!

In Jesus' name we pray and thank You, Amen!

30 Days of Prayer and Praise--19!

LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am faint; heal me, LORD, for my bones are in agony. My soul is in deep anguish. How long, LORD, how long? Turn, LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love. Among the dead no one proclaims your name. Who praises you from the grave? I am worn out from my groaning. All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes. Away from me, all you who do evil, for the LORD has heard my weeping. The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer. All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish; they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame. Psalm 6 NIV

Day Nineteen

Lord,

Thank You for Your love, mercy, and kindness. Thank You for Your compassionate that overwhelms those who love You. Thank You for delivering us from the evil plots that harbor in the hearts of those who don't know You. Thank You for giving us strength and boldness and courage to keep moving forward--standing up and speaking out--against injustice wherever we find it. Thank You for healing our bodies of every sickness and disease and creating mental stability within us all the days of our lives. Thank You for seeing us for who we are--in You--and loving us enough to keep us encouraged to do all things according to Your Word.

Lord, while we yet have breath in our bodies, we'll praise You daily for we know that You can make the rocks cry out. We don't want rocks to out-praise us--so we lift our hands and our hearts to You, acknowledging You for who You are--Wonderful Savior, The Guiding Light in darkness, The King of Kings and Lord of Lords; You are an Awesome God, worthy of our praise, glory, and honor. It is to You--we sing and voice our love for Your enduring love and mercies that are new every morning. You indeed are the joy of our lives and no one can compare!

In Jesus' name we praise and thank You, Amen!

30 Days of Prayer and Praise--15!

Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” I say of the holy people who are in the land, “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.” Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or take up their names on my lips. LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.  I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16 NIV

Day Fifteen

Lord Jesus,

Thank You for being in the midst of our trials, challenges and victories. You alone are the refuge we seek, the comforter of our hearts and minds when things attempt to get the best of us. You alone, O God, are the only One to whom we can turn for wisdom and understanding of all the events that unfold before us.

Comfort hearts of those who are mourning loved ones all over the world and give them peace of mind. Embrace them as only You can in the spirit and send others to remind them of Your Love. Create in all a receptive heart to hear a word of encouragement, and understanding. Give us compassion for all those who are hurting and lost--not knowing which way to turn, but allowing us to see beyond the moment and even the day, to hope for the joy of Lord to renew us and keep us moving forward.

Lord, we know there are things that happen we will never understand, but our hope and trust is in You for we know You know all things and have determined the outcome of all situations before they even happen. We trust You to know what is best for all and yet we  know that You will not force us to do anything beyond our will, but with our choices, we must accept the consequences of our actions.

Look upon the hearts of all who have failed to acknowledge You and have even encouraged others that Your existence is but a figment of imagination spawned in the hearts of those who "they say are ignorant." Create a situation in the lives of all who scorn and disbelieve so they will know that You are not a figment of anyone's imagination, but You are the creator of all that was ever created and without You, nothing was created. Prepare that Damascus Road experience for them so they will not be lost, but will be able to enter into Your rest at the end of time.

In the midst of the trials--we lift our hearts, our hands, and head to see You in Your all Your glory and give You praise. Glory to Your Name of O God, and may all who have life and blood running through their bodies--declare Your righteousness, mercy and goodness and receive from You--the love You pour out upon all--without constraint--without consideration of ethnicity, gender or skin tone or religious beliefs.

In Jesus' name, we pray and thank You, Amen!

30 Days of Prayer and Praise--14!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God their Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob. Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD Almighty— he is the King of glory. Psalm 24 NIV

Day Fourteen

Lord, Our Lord,

Thank You for allowing us to see another day, to have another opportunity to celebrate Your arrival in the earth, clothed in flesh like man, but always God.

Thank You for looking upon this land and all of Your people--those who call upon You in times of need and praise You no matter what.

Thank You for loving us enough to be willing to join our fate in the earth, being tempted by sin on every side and yet, not caving; being ridiculed and persecuted and yet, not hating; being scorned, beaten and crucified, and yet--ever forgiving those in their ignorance who sullied Your reputation and good works.

God of heaven and earth, our heavenly Father, we praise You for the mercy and grace You keep showering upon us. We praise You for loving us enough to see beyond our faults and taking care of our needs, and keeping us focused upon You.

Help us this day, O God, to become more like You--seeing beyond the surface of skin color and differences in religious affiliation--to just seeing You and conducting ourselves as You do--without constraints--loving one another.

Who is the King of Glory? The Lord--mighty in battle, gentle in spirit, compassionate and loving, merciful in all His ways, and forgiving--of all who repent when they understand wrongdoing and wrong living, according to His Word.

Who is the King of Glory? The Lord--who chose to come into this world as a baby--experiencing life as all humans do, navigating childhood into adulthood, understanding all we must experience and yet not once failing to observe all His Father in Heaven commanded Him to do.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your love and willingness to sacrifice self for all who willingly come to You, receive Your love and accept You as Lord and Savior of their lives.

We give You praise, glory and honor for there is none like You; no one who deserves our unconditional love other than You for You first loved us and then loved us enough to die for us! Hallelujah to the King of Glory! Ride on King Jesus!

For all You have done, are doing and will do in our lives--we thank You and praise You. In Jesus' name, Amen!

ENJOY THIS DAY CELEBRATING WITH LOVED ONES AND REMEMBER THOSE WHO ARE ALONE--CARE ENOUGH TO SHOW THEM SOME LOVE!

30 Days of Prayer and Praise--12!

Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. I cry out to God Most High, to God, who vindicates me. He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me--God sends forth his love and his faithfulness. I am in the midst of lions; I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts— men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. They spread a net for my feet— I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path— but they have fallen into it themselves. My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. Psalm 57 NIV

Day Twelve

Lord Jesus,

We know You see how those who love You are treated and vilified; how liars spread falsehoods and engage in activities designed to bring us to a place of disaster. But we know, how much You love us and how much You care for all who love You. We thank You for Your faithfulness towards and continued mercy and grace.

Lord, look upon all those who dare to plot against Your children and deliver unto them the same fate they plot against us.

For every foul deed they plot--have it turn again unto them. For every lie they tell to make themselves seem more than they are--expose the lie with truth for all to see.

For every trap they lay--let them be caught in the traps of their making.

For every pit they dig--let them fall into them and suffer whatever plight they planned for others.

For every lie they tell--send ten messengers of truth to expose their lies.

For every deception they plot to fool others--let them fall into the peril of being deceived more mightily than they planned.

For everything they plan to steal to enrich themselves--let it be stolen from them one hundred times more.

Lord, for everyone who plans to do what is right--let their good deeds be known to all and their reward be great.

For everyone who gives out of the capacity of their heart to those who are in need, let their giving be returned unto them one hundredfold.

For everyone who loves--unconditionally--everyone they meet--let the love they share with others be returned without measure so they will continue to love.

For those who encourage hope--to keep others moving forward and never in despair--keep the flame of hope ignited and never let it die within them.

For those who are feeling unloved and discouraged--send to them one who knows You and Your love and is willing to share Your love with others.

For those who are without shelter--guide them to safety and keep them covered, embraced by love and a shelter without fear of being robbed or abused.

Lord, You are the greatest gift we could ever be given--our salvation, our hope, our light in the midst of darkness, our strength to keep moving forward--sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.

You, O Lord, are an awesome God! There is truly none like You and No One who will do the things You do for those You love. Our precious is Your love to all who seek to be loved and wide Your arms to gather, embrace and hold onto each of us--keeping us safe from harm.

Look upon this land and into the hearts of all and do justice according to Your mercy as only You can. In Jesus' name we pray and thank You, Amen!

30 Days of Prayer and Praise--10!

Day Ten

O Lord,

If the meadows and valleys can shout for joy and sing, surely Your children, those You have chosen as messengers and Watchmen can do no less.

You are the God of our salvation and we have no need to fear what the enemy might do, for You have prepared us in more ways than one to stand firm on Your Word and never waver, never doubt Your faithfulness towards us and to always walk embraced by love and mercy.

As the days unfold, one by one and we see the events revealed that demonstrate the lack of love for You and our brothers and sisters, we can still look to You--our hope and our help--for with You all things are possible and we will know victory in every area of our lives.

For those who are discouraged--encourage their hearts, Lord by speaking to them and reminding them how much loved they are. Give them a desire to keep going and to allow the love of Holy Spirit to flow through their bodies and into their minds, giving them courage and boldness to speak up and stand up for righteousness and to fight against the evil that attempts to overtake us.

Lord, remind those who think they are superior to other human beings that You created one man, one woman and commanded them to multiply and cover the face of the earth as one human race. Though our tongues speak many languages and our skin tones are many hues, we are yet one--one race, one blood, one of Your Children for whom You have prepared a place for us in heaven.

Lord, catheterize every heart and drain all hate from it replacing every void with love, peace, mercy and kindness, with joy overflowing into the lives of all who are around us.

Thank You for granting us an opportunity to spend time with You--allowing You to nurture our souls and replenish our hope and joy as events of the day attempt to drain us. Thank You for loving us enough to use us for good and not evil. Thank You for molding and shaping us to be more like You every morning we rise.

Because of You, O Lord, we can hold our heads high, knowing who we are and what we have in You. Because of You, we can sing out loud our praise for You and never fear what others may think or say. Because of You, we can move forward--desiring nothing more than to see peace and love overflow in the earth so all may come to know You and be glad about it.

Thank You, Lord for one more day to give You praise and to see the marvelous works we know will result in our obedience to You. In Jesus' name we pray and thank You, Amen!

30 Days of Prayer and Praise--9!

Hear me, my God, as I voice my complaint; protect my life from the threat of the enemy. Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, from the plots of evildoers. They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim cruel words like deadly arrows. They shoot from ambush at the innocent; they shoot suddenly, without fear. They encourage each other in evil plans, they talk about hiding their snares; they say, “Who will see it?” They plot injustice and say, “We have devised a perfect plan!” Surely the human mind and heart are cunning. But God will shoot them with his arrows; they will suddenly be struck down. He will turn their own tongues against them and bring them to ruin; all who see them will shake their heads in scorn. All people will fear; they will proclaim the works of God and ponder what he has done. The righteous will rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him; all the upright in heart will glory in him! Psalm 64 NIV

Day Nine

Lord,

We thank You for seeing all the evil that is planned against us--the spitefulness, the intention of destroying a nation and all those who love You. We thank You for allowing all who plot evil to be destroyed before the world so all may see that it does not profit anyone to stand against Your children.

Encourage hearts today, O God--those who feel weakened and hopeless by events that are out of our control, but will change in an instant at Your bidding. Stiffen spines and resolve to stay in the battle until victory is won and all will know, we are Your children and we will not cave as some already have.

For we know, through study and understanding of Your Word, that all good and perfect gifts come from You and nothing the enemy has planned for us or against shall ever prosper. No weapon--not doubt, not scorn, not rude behavior, not name-calling, nothing shall keep us from obeying You and waiting for the victory we know is ours in You.

Thank You for always being with us--never abandoning us or leaving us alone--directing our footsteps on the paths You have forged for us--paths of honor and integrity, unity and wholeness, love and respect--for all who love You.

Keep us mindful O God that we are not in the battle against flesh and blood, but spiritual wickedness in high places and that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through You in pulling down strongholds.

Blessed is the name of The Lord and blessed it is to belong to Him! We know that mercy and goodness will follow us all the days of our lives and we shall open our mouths and sing songs--rejoicing in Your love and protection--never allowing the enemy a foothold in the territory of our hearts.

For the mighty acts of deliverance and joy in You, we thank You and give You praise.

All this we ask and thank You for in Jesus' name, Amen!

30 Days of Prayer and Praise--8!

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.Psalm 100 NIV

Day Eight

O Lord,

How excellent is Your name in all the earth! How wonderful it is to know You and how You love us. How precious is the gift of salvation to all who understand the sacrifice of love You gave to all who will believe!

We magnify Your name this day O Lord, for what You are doing in the hearts of those who love You, for those who are determined to do what is right for all people.

Lord, we love You because You first loved us and desire for all to have every good and perfect gift from You. We give You praise because there is none like You, no one who can satisfy us like You do, no one who cares about us the way You do, no one who is willing to forgive our shortcomings and keep loving us, giving us chance after chance to get things right before You. All the honor, all the glory, we give to You!

Now, Lord--we thank You for speaking to hearts, giving us wisdom and direction in all things so in all things we know You are with us and will never abandon us. We thank You for all who are hearing You speak, ready to receive a Word from You and willing to do what is right no matter what others may think. For we know it is better for us to obey You rather than man; it is better for us to commit to Your Word, rather than the laws of man.

Lord, we thank You for strengthening us with Your joy, for giving us boldness in the face in the enemy, courage to stay in the battle no matter how things look for we know--with You going before us--we are victorious in all things--for the battle is not ours, but Yours.

Thank You O Lord, for finding us worthy to be Your spokesmen, Your Watchmen, Your Messengers of love and hope, and giving us the right thing to say to all to keep them encouraged and looking to You--our comforter when distressed, our joy when sadness tries to seep into our souls, our help in time of need, our light when darkness falls upon the earth--You are everything we need and we thank You for Your love that never ends and Your faithfulness that endures for all generations!

Lord, we thank You for knowing that in Your infinite Wisdom, You created one human race, infused us all with red blood, and give us all the same choices--to receive love and love, to be thankful for Your mercy and grace, to be obedient to You in all things and live a life that speaks a loud message about who You are in our lives.

For all You are yet doing, yet speaking to the hearts of all, we thank You and praise You with our whole hearts. In Jesus' name, Amen!

30 Days of Prayer and Praise--5!

My heart is not proud, LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore. Psalm 131 NIV

Day Five

Lord Jesus,

Look upon our hearts and see if there is anything in them that is not like You. You know our thoughts long before we ever think them. Cleanse our minds of any thoughts of evil or unrighteousness and plant the seeds of benevolence and compassion everywhere wrong thoughts might have been. Renew in us daily, a fresh desire to please You and to trust You with all the cares that weigh our spirits down. Continue to strengthen us with the Joy of The Lord rising up in us whenever the enemy tries to discourage us.

Thank You for reminding us that our hope--in this life at this moment--is truly in You. We thank You for speaking wisdom to all in positions of authority and decision-making. We thank You for giving us yet another opportunity to inspire right living in all we do.

Lord, I thank You for keeping me focused on doing what must be done without stooping to the levels of ignorance so blatantly betrayed by those who don't know You. I thank You for keeping me mindful that everything I do is a witness to who You are and that I have no desire to shame You. Thank You for gifting us with diverse gifts for us to use to praise You and magnify You in all we do. Thank You for not allowing us to be ashamed before others because of our love for You.

Lord, remove the blinders of hatred and bigotry from those who would plot evil against Your children. Remove the shutters of fear and complacency from our eyes so we might see there are more with us than against us and the battle we face has already been won in the Spirit and will manifest itself to the natural.

Lord, we humble ourselves before You--acknowledging our limited wisdom and Your infinite wisdom and thankful You pour into us always. We know we do not have all the answers, nor do we even have all the questions, but we know because You love us--You are the answer to any question we might ever have.

Give us--the patience--to allow You to work in our lives so that it is to Your glory and honor, we give all the praise and not men. We thank You for working in us and through us so that all will be accomplished to Your glory and we will not be ashamed of the outcome.

For everyone that has a heart to serve You, bless them mightily in the name of Jesus and keep them focused and moving forward to see the end as You have planned it.

And we who Believe--declare that everything we ask for that aligns with Your Word--is done and it is so, in Jesus' name. Amen!

Listen From Within!

Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the LORD called me; from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name.He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver. He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.”But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing at all. Yet what is due me is in the LORD’s hand, and my reward is with my God.”And now the LORD says— he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD and my God has been my strength—he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”This is what the LORD says— the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel— to him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the servant of rulers: “Kings will see you and stand up, princes will see and bow down, because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”This is what the LORD says: “In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances, to say to the captives, ‘Come out,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Be free!’ “They will feed beside the roads and find pasture on every barren hill.They will neither hunger nor thirst, nor will the desert heat or the sun beat down on them. He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water. I will turn all my mountains into roads, and my highways will be raised up. See, they will come from afar— some from the north, some from the west, some from the region of Aswan. Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. Isaiah 49:1-13 NIV

Many people "hear" things and other people, but how many people "listen" from within--blocking out all the noise around them?

There is noise all around us--the sound of hate and bigotry, the sound of war and anger, the sound of pride and arrogance, the clanging, the whistling, the shouts, the moans and groans, the sounds of victory and defeat, the sounds--bombarding us, sometimes, making us cover our ears because of the deafening loudness. We hear all the noise from the outside that keeps us from hearing The Lord speak to our hearts--when we are unable to listen!

In times past--hundreds of years ago--the chosen prophets were the messengers of God and now--for all who are filled with Holy Spirit--and listen to Him, we are the messengers of God. But what message are we providing to the people? Is it our message or His message? If we are hearing the outside noises to the degree we cannot listen to Him, the message we deliver may not be His, but ours.

How do we know when we are delivering God's message and not our own? If what we are saying is based upon His Word and we have spent time with Him--in a position to hear and listen to Him, we can be assured that the message He has given us to share --is indeed, His message and not our own.

If we learn to listen--to Him--and tune out all the noise around us--we will always know the message is one of God's truths, not our own and the message will encourage all to seek Him and develop a right relationship with Him, not people. For if our relationship with God is right, He will give us favor with men and when we demonstrate the love He has poured into us with others, we will generate an environment of love--not hate, peace--not war, joy--not sadness; if we learn to listen from within!

Lord,
Unstop our spiritual ears that we may hear You above the noise and listen--intently to all You have to say and then stir up our hearts, renew our courage and boldness to obey You in all things whether others understand it or not. For it is to You and You alone we give glory and honor, for You are the only One worthy of our praise. Thank You for hearing and answering our call--always and for guiding us in doing the right thing at all times. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen!

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!

The Power Terror Doesn't Have!

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. Psalm 91:1-10 NIV

Though darkness creeps upon us like dense fog and we cannot see our way, we can be assured of this one thing--God has never failed those who love and trust Him. Those who live according to His Word--in all things--shall know victory, joy and peace.

Father, in the name of Jesus,

We thank You for keeping watch over us throughout the night and we thank You even more for resolving whatever may make hearts faint and weary on a daily basis. We know that in You--we have peace and joy and through You--victory reigns in every area of our lives.

We know that no weapon formed against us, shall prosper. None of the evil that the wicked plot against us shall keep us from hearing and obeying You.

We know that You are more than the world against us and we have no need to fear what any man plans.

We know that Your Word is true and that You are not a man that You should ever lie to us and that we can count on Your Word to see us through the valleys, in the fire, and climbing the mountains, through the floods--that appear to overwhelm us.

We know that perfect love--unconditional love towards one another--casts aside fear for where love is--fear and hate cannot abide.

We know that You are Love and that none who claim to know You can hate people or promote hatred of others simply because they are different.

We know that You are the Only Wise God--though many may serve other gods or think they are gods. You are the only one who created all things and without You, nothing was ever created.

We know that You are the same--Your character never changes from the beginning to the end and we can count on You to be faithful to Your Word.

We know that any battle we enter into is not truly ours, but Yours when it comes to standing up for justice and defending the rights of the poor and needy.

We know that You have assigned angels to watch over us day and night and we thank You for the love and protection from those things or people who would harm us or put obstacles in our path to keep us from doing Your Will.

You said, whatever we ask of You in Your Son's name, would be granted and we ask You right now, in the name of Jesus, restore sanity, peace, dignity and integrity in all who trust and worship You in the beauty of holiness. Provide an avenue by which all Americans will know You and You alone have the final word over all of our lives.

We thank You for giving us rest in You all the days we have left to praise You.

Amen!

When Souls Are at Risk!

From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” Matthew 16:19-26 NIV
Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.Proverbs 16:8 NIV
Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool— how much worse lying lips to a ruler! Proverbs 17:7 NIV

How do we lose our soul? By trying to live according to man's dictates rather than living by The Word of God and obeying what we hear Him say to us.

When man thinks it is more important for people to listen to them, than to God, souls are at risk. Since I've never been one to try to please people, I try to make sure my soul--my soul--remains in position to be blessed by God, knowing where my eternity shall be spent. All is well with my soul!
Now, because of my love for God and the desire to please Him, what I do is often misinterpreted as being an act of disobedience by some who think they know more than God. I realize that God has given us all a gift--specifically--purposed by Him, for Him. Though I did not recognize the gift as a child when I was always the one trying to maintain peace among kids on the playground and in school, I do recognize it now. He has always used me to fight for the underdog--those who were not capable of speaking up for themselves or not willing to do so because of fear.

Looking back at the endeavors I've undertaken, I can see how I was being prepared for such a moment as this. I've always been a community activist--fighting for justice and equality for the oppressed. I've never had a lot of money, but what I had, I often used to help others in need and God has tremendously blessed my life. So, I know when I hear God speak to me and another--I will not hear. I will not be tempted by religious affiliation to steer others onto a path that is not of God.

When trying to choose between two job offers--one that paid more money and was fairly secure and the other that paid less and offered no job security, but involved defending the rights of poor people. I prayed and found in His Word the right path for me--taking the job that paid less, but enriched my life.

I've spent years volunteering my time and skills to help others who could not afford to pay for the services I rendered, but the joy of the Lord was kept alive in my heart by their gratitude, not their money.

As an educator--my purpose was to give those students I taught what they needed to succeed beyond the walls of a classroom and when I see some of them now, they let me know how much they appreciate me--pushing them to do their very best.

And now I understand more than ever how important it is to hear God for ourselves and obey what He's telling us today. I am still an avenger for justice and though I lose the approval of man, I know I have the approval of God when I obey Him, rather than man.

Until the end comes--the end of life or the end of my ability to type--I will obey God because my soul is too important for me to heed the words of mere mortals over the voice of God. My soul belongs to Jesus and another will not cause me lose my place in eternity, simply to pacify another mere mortals with religious rhetoric.

Lord, I thank You for giving me another opportunity to glorify You in all I do. Forgive my reluctance to act even sooner, not obeying what I heard You say, out of concern for what others might think, because I didn't understand, clearly. I will hear and obey--whether I understand it or not so people will not have to live under the dictates of fearmongers and hatemongers who pretend to know You, but don't. And now I ask Your continued blessings and wisdom to be poured into all who desire to please You as we continue our journey to defend the rights of the poor, needy and oppressed.

Recognizing Love!

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. I Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV

Not only do we know how to recognize love, we know that in the absence of love--hate reigns and consumes and devours--eats away desire for compassion, common sense and logic and drowns the soul in bile and venom; hate blinds to truth and integrity and hope.

Love attempts to see the best in everyone and ignites hope in the hopeless, not despair.

Love soothes hurt feelings and seeks forgiveness for any perceived wrongs committed against others.

Love is consumed with doing what is best for all people.

Love is considerate and patient--does push itself on people, but waits for acceptance and even when love is not returned, love keeps loving.

Love does not brag about self, but will boast about the accomplishments of others and credit all their own achievements to God who led them in all they do.

Love embraces wisdom from God and knows all good things come from Him.

Love is thoughtful and disciplined; it is not thin-skinned and easily angered.

In the absence of love--hate opens doors for evil to walk in and then is amazed that they too are ensconced in the evil planned for others.

In the absence of love--self is the center of attention and no one else matters for no one else is considered worthy.

In the absence of love--one thinks their brain is so great they don't need to listen to anyone else and certainly not God.

In the absence of love--hunger for power to destroy exists and delights in hurting others.

In the absence of love--there is no hope; only despair, hatred, and bigotry and fear.

In the absence of love--there is no light to see truth, only darkness.

In the absence of love--hate--like a fungus grows in the dark places--the voids where love should be--waiting for someone to take the first bite and be poisoned for life.

LOVE never fails! Perfect love--the ability to love all unconditionally--casts aside fear and embraces truth, honor, integrity.

When we know how to recognize love and know by what we see and hear when love is absent, we know who has received the love of God into their hearts and who has not.

Lord Jesus, pour out--in abundance--more love from on high; fill our hearts to overflowing so we will have more than enough to share with others in all we do and will know how to resist the evil from without, never giving any place in our hearts for hate to exist. Remove the scales from the eyes of those blinded by bitterness, despair and hopelessness and fill them with the joy of The Lord, restoring hope and trust in You!

Maintaining Our Focus!

I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. LORD, the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep these desires and thoughts in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you. Then David said to the whole assembly, “Praise the LORD your God.” So they all praised the LORD, the God of their fathers; they bowed down, prostrating themselves before the LORD and the king. 1 Chronicles 29:17,18, 20 NIV

Do we know who our God is that we can keep our focus on Him?

Our God--the One who created all things and without whom--nothing was ever created.

Our God--the God of heaven and the bible.

Our God--who is love and loves us so much He willingly sacrificed Himself when He came in the flesh of man--His Son--to take our sins upon Him, that we might have eternal life.

Our God--the One who provides for our every need.

Our God--the One who provides us with wisdom from Him, and never thinks little of us because we asked for more wisdom.

Our God--the One who heals all our sicknesses and diseases.

Our God--the One who forgives our sins when we repent and seek Him.

Our God--the only One who has prepared a place for us to spend eternity with Him.

David understood the significance of making a distinction when talking about The Lord, Our God, because so many were worshiping gods they made with their own hands and thought those things they made had power. They worshiped their gods with human sacrifices and burning children--thinking (influenced by the god of this world--Satan) that their sacrifices would mean something or save them from something. They did not realize that nothing made by the hands of man has the power to save anyone from the wrath of God--who removes His hand of protection when we choose to go our own way--rejected Him and His wisdom.

It is not that God destroys anyone or anything, but that He allows the destruction because of our disobedience. And there are some now who think we are headed for destruction because of this election cycle. This election cycle--has proven and revealed where the hearts of people really are. Satan has truly blinded some to the truth by wrapping up the wolf in the guise of being a Christian--who doesn't even know what the term means. More hatred and vitriol has been spewed towards others who disagree with the candidates and their supporters than I've ever seen.

I am absolutely sure--God is not pleased with our behavior and I am just as sure that we shall all feel His wrath when He removes His hand of protection and we find ourselves captured--held in bondage-by allowing the enemy to influence our decisions.

So, what do we mere mortals do? We maintain our focus on God's Word and living it so others will know who we are--not by what we say, but by what we do--aligning our lives with The Word. We stay positive and when the negative nannies throw venom our way, we stop the flow with love and correction, turning the focus to Him, not us.

God is love--and for any who do not know how to love those walking the earth, they cannot love God. My choice in this election cycle is following the dictates of Holy Spirit who will only speak as God directs.

The Reaping Principle!

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:7-10 NKJV

The principle of sowing and reaping or planting and harvesting is one that farmers understand only too well. Whatever a person plants and nurtures is what will grow and can be harvested later. Farmers know they cannot plant corn and expect to harvest green beans.

This principle should be a staple for living for all of mankind. Whatever we plant--love, joy, hate or fear and nurture is all we'll harvest.

If we plant (seed, feed and water) love--then all that will grow is love and all we can reap (gather in from the growth) is love. 

If we plant (seed, feed, and water)  hate--then all that will grow is hate and all we can reap (gather in from the growth) is hate.

When it comes to The Word which is what all Believers should be sowing, we understand that one plants, one waters, but it is God who nurtures until harvesting time.

The same is true in the political arena we observe today. All it takes is "one" to plant hatred and bigotry, feeding the seed that may have been lying dormant in the minds of frustrated people. And when the rhetoric doesn't change, it waters and nurtures the hatred and bigotry until we see a full-blown harvest of violence and negativity in the interaction between people.

Having different opinions about a situation is not justification for promoting hatred and bigotry, but that seems to be the protocol for most who dare to express an opinion about our presidential candidates--on both sides. I can express a differing opinion without resorting to name-calling, but then I'm not nurtured hate and therefore, hate does not spout from my lips or fingertips.

What on earth makes us think that there is a culturally superior group of people on the planet? None of us are perfect, but some of us are mindful of the fact that when we belong to Jesus, we have a higher standard to live up to--one that He determines, not us. We cannot set standards for anyone, but we can assess whether those standards set by God are being achieved.

Seriously, I am fed up with people who spew hatred--at anyone who dares to confront them and in some cases, they are confronting others with their hatred--vilifying anyone who dares to disagree with them. They think (out of their frustration and hate of themselves and their situations) they have a right to malign others, not realizing they are setting themselves up to receive (reap) everything they sow.

If we really want to see what it is we're sowing (planting), we need to keep a mirror in front of us and see us as others see--and get understanding about what we do. How many times has the republican presumptive nominee called every other candidate a liar and then has been proven to be one? How many times has he called someone crooked and yet he has forgotten his documented business background? Does he do what he does because this is all that resides within him and therefore, that is all that can come out of him? And while he claims that everyone else is not trustworthy, what he has done to engender trust in him? He needs a reality check--someone to remind him that this is not entertainment, but the the real world--where his antics--the profanity and bigotry and lack of wisdom displayed is forging mindsets against him, not for him.

But then again--maybe that's part of his plan--to just plant, water and nurture hatred and bigotry and then slink away into the tower of ignorant bliss.

I have faith in God and in the American people who will determine who will sit in the White House for the next four years and I know because of my relationship with God and understanding of His Word that He loves us and will not tolerate hatred and bigotry to reign over His Children. When the Spirit of The Lord resides within a person, hatred and bigotry have no room to operate and only love will spring forth from those guided by Holy Spirit.

The Center of Our Joy!

They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read. Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:8-10 NIV

"Jesus, You're the center of my joy,
All that's good and perfect comes from you,
You're the heart of my desire, the hope for all I do,
Oh, Jesus, You're the center of my joy!"

The words from a very popular song keep ringing in the depths of my soul this morning. When Jesus is the center--the very core of all we do--we can do it with confidence and joy, knowing that it's not about us, but about Him!

In this passage of scripture (The Word), the children of Israel are reminded of the journey their ancestors made with the reading of The Law and the explanations provided, making sure all understood. They wept with remorse when they realized just how off center and off track they had been when they chose to worship idols and engage in other pagan rituals. They were convicted by The Word, but they were not beaten down after showing remorse. They were encouraged--"Don't cry because the joy of The Lord is your strength," they were told.

When we hear The Word today, are we convicted and filled with remorse or are those preaching it--using The Word to beat people down rather than to encourage? Are those reading The Word doing so with understanding and able to explain so all have clear understanding?

Perhaps, the reason our society is in the shape that it's in is because few leaders are reading The Word in the presence of the people, explaining what it means and encouraging the people not to worry because once we understand The Word, we have great joy in knowing Jesus is our strength.

We don't have to worry about things when Jesus Christ is the center of all we do--careful consideration and deliberate communication (prayer) with Him is sought before we do anything. If we understand The Word and know how God intends for us to live, then our lives should not be easily derailed when challenges confront us. And though we make mistakes, He is there to keep us from utter failure and plummeting  when we remember our strength is in Him.

For those who may be reading this blog for the very first time, I encourage you to hear The Word (read it aloud) and allow Jesus into your heart, making Him the center of your life. For those who already know that He is, I encourage you to share the joy of The Lord with all you know and greet.

Jesus, You're the Center of my Joy!