HE Has What You Need

Lately I have had a hard time concentrating. Because of this, reading and writing just hasn't been happening much. Even reading God's Word has been tough. I hate that because things go so much better when I can sit and read my bible and concentrate on what the Lord has to say to me through His words. Because last night was a very restless. . . not much sleep. . . kind of night, I was up by 5a.m. sitting at my desk. My bible was laying there waiting for me so I picked it up. I read the whole book of Esther. . . which I had not done before. . . but still felt as if I needed more. . .

JESUS CALLING for today says. . .

Demonstrate your trust in Me by sitting quietly in My Presence. Put aside all that is waiting to be done, and "refuse" to worry about anything. This sacred time together strengthens you and prepares you to face whatever the day will bring.

Isn't it funny how, as Christians, we know this and yet. . . we don't always do it! For myself, I know when things aren't good that if I will just push through and keep reading my bible that something will break in my mind. . . and how I feel. . . and my spirit will become lighter and at peace. I also know that the longer I take to do this. . . the harder it is. But this morning I read and waited. As I sat, I talked to the Lord and asked Him to just help me. . . to speak to me in whatever way He chose. Another devotional came to mind. . .

GOD CALLING for today says. . .

Yes! when you are quiet before Me I lay My hand upon each head, and Divine Spirit flows through that healing, powerful Touch into your very beings. Wait in silence before Me to feel that.

When you look to Me for guidance My Hand is laid upon your arm, a gentle touch to point the way. When in mental, physical, or spiritual weakness you cry to Me for healing, My touch brings Strength and Healing, the renewal of your youth, the power to climb and strive.

When you faint by the way, and stumbling footsteps show human strength is waning, My Touch of the Strong and Helping Hand supports you on your way.

Yes! My children, My touch has still its ancient Power, and that Power is promised to you. So go forward into the future bravely and unafraid. 

Psalm 37:23-24

New Living Translation (NLT)

²³ The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
    He delights in every detail of their lives.
²⁴ Though they stumble, they will never fall,
    for the Lord holds them by the hand.

I know if I can just sit and read the Word and talk to the Lord that He always comes through for me. Sometimes its just that "pushing through" that is hard to do. There is another one who is always fighting us on that. . . satan. When you are a little down. . . or a lot down. . . he wants to keep you there and even push you further down. Don't let him do that.

Ephesians 6:12

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹² 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.

Fight back in Jesus name! We need the strength that spending time with the Lord each day gives us. Even if you don't have any major things going on in your life. . . you still need the strength of the Lord. You need Him sometimes more than you think you do.

I want to encourage you today to sit down and spend some time with the Lord. I can't stress to you enough how. . . He has what you need. Let Him touch you in a way that maybe you have never experienced before. Let Jesus take all your fears and replace them with His Peace!

Philippians 4:7

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Jesus Calling is written by Sarah Young

God Calling is edited by A. J. Russell

Where Will You Be?

When it's all said and done . . . where will you be?

 

Life on earth is uncertain. We go along everyday thinking we are going to take that next breath. In fact . . . we don't even think about it. Breathing is just a natural thing. We breathe in . . . we breathe out. We say goodnight . . . go to bed . . . fully expecting to see, or talk to, everyone we love in the morning. But really we can't be certain of that. Only God knows when you won't take that next breath. Nothing in life is certain.

Sometimes we get lucky and God gives us a wake up call. He allows things to come into our life . . . just to remind us . . . that our next breath is not a certainty. Really, that can be a good thing if we let it be. No one is guaranteed tomorrow . . . but do we usually think about it? No. We just do the same thing everyday. We live our normal lives. But . . . what do you do if something happens and you suddenly realize that your next breath is not a guaranteed thing?  

Many years ago I wrote a story titled;

If This Were My Last Day On Earth

When I wrote that story I was a different person. I won't tell you everything I said in it but I will tell you this . . . everything I said in it was a lie. Basically I wrote that it wouldn't be any big deal. I wouldn't treat my family any different and my last day would be one big party. I received an A+ on that paper. What I didn't write was that thinking about it . . . it scared me. I knew if it was my last day I would go to hell. But, it didn't scare me enough to do anything different. Today . . .

I consider every breath a gift from God. He gives life and He takes it back. It's His choice. The difference in then and now is . . . when I take that last breath I won't be going to hell. Heaven is my destination. And, I don't need to know when my last day is going to be because it won't make a difference. The important thing is where I will be going. That's all that matters for any of us. There's another aspect to think about too . . .

Before you have a chance to take that last breath things could change in an instant. The trumpet of the Lord could sound and everyone who knows Jesus as their Savior will be gone, including all the Christians who have died. As the Bible says it . . . in the twinkling of an eye!

Thank You JESUS!!!

1 Corinthians 15:52

in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Whoa . . . isn't that cool!! Can you just imagine! It will be a great and glorious day if you know Jesus as your Savior. But if you don't . . . it will be the beginning of the worst time of your life!

Read the paper . . . watch the news . . . read the Bible. Then decide where you stand in relationship to the Lord.

How about you? Do you know where you are going when you take that last breath or if the trumpet blows? If you aren't sure there is a little prayer you can pray over on the sidebar. Don't take a chance with your life because life doesn't end here. Life goes on for eternity. Your eternity will either be in Heaven or Hell. It's your choice.

John 3:16

For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 10:9

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 8:1

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

You Are Simply . . . All

Lord You know just how it is

There are times when we are up

There are times when we are down

There are even times when we aren't either one

We are just caught somewhere in the middle

It's as if we are just suspended

Waiting for something to happen one way or the other

We know how we want things to be
We also know that You Lord have the plan
Yours is definitely the Master plan
The plan we have no control over
The plan You speak of in Your Word
For You know the plans
You know which way things will go
You know what will happen tomorrow
Next week
Next month
We don't
We are in Your hands Lord
Waiting . . . waiting . . . waiting
For Your perfect time
Your perfect will
Waiting  . . . it can be hard at times
We pray for answers
Miracles
For friends in our life
For family
For self
Trusting You because we know
You are all that's good
You are all that's right
You are simply . . . All
Everything begins with You
Everything ends with You
Whatever we have in the middle
As long as it's with You
Is all we need
You walk us through all the shadows in our lives
All the valleys
Keep us safe from all that is evil
You help us up the mountains
When there is a storm
You shelter us
Hold us
Keep us safe
You are all that is important
You are everything
You do everything
You are our Savior
Thank You

Surrender and Accept

It seems that I just can't move away from Isaiah in my  daily reading of the Bible. Each day that I pick up the Word I always go to Isaiah 55 and read. Sometimes a verse or two and sometimes all of it. I do "venture out" to other parts of Isaiah and sometimes even to other books but . . . I always come back to chapter 55. I believe it is the Lord bringing me back each time as He has more He wants to teach me through this chapter. Or . . . maybe He is just trying to get me to really grasp and take hold of what He has already said to me through His words in this chapter. Whatever the reason, I want to keep my heart open to hear what He is saying. This morning I feel that I should share it with you.

Isaiah 55 vss. 1-3 is again my main focus.

1 Wait and listen, everyone who is thirsty! Come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Yes, come, buy [priceless, spiritual] wine and milk without money and without price [simply for the self-surrender that accepts the blessing].

² Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your earnings for what does not satisfy? Hearken diligently to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness [the profuseness of spiritual joy].

³ Incline your ear [submit and consent to the divine will] and come to Me; hear, and your soul will revive; and I will make an everlasting covenant or league with you, even the sure mercy (kindness, goodwill, and compassion) promised to David.

What the Lord has to offer us is totally free. Isn't that incredible?! He gives us so much if we will just go to Him in total surrender. Surrender our heart, our will to Him! It will cost us nothing except the total surrender of self to receive what the Lord has for us. Sometimes that can be so hard to do but . . . OH when we do . . . it is so worth it! He showers blessings on us that are unimaginable to the human side of us! What we have to do is go into it with our spiritual eyes wide open . . . our hearts and souls ready to receive everything He is longing to give to us! The Lord wants to be everything to us. He wants to become the "more" that we long for . . . to fill the every need and longing of our heart. We search and search . . . through books . . . through people . . . when all we really need is with us already. The One that lives inside of us . . . is longing to give to us everything. We just need to listen and accept it.

I think that accepting what the Lord has to offer us can sometimes be the hard part. Maybe it's hard for us to wrap our minds around the fact that Gods incredible and amazing gifts are free. ALL we have to do is to reach out and take them. He is offering food for our souls to us. Just like our bodies get hungry for natural food our souls get hungry for spiritual food. Who better to receive it from than the Lord  himself? He knows exactly what each of us needs and He knows exactly when we need it.

The Lord is waiting to give each and everyone of us the nourishment for our souls that we need right now. He loves us and doesn't want us to go hungry. Respond to Him today. Sit down and enter into His presence and allow Him to feed your soul . . . to give you the nourishment that you need to get through your day. Whatever you are going through in life will go better if you sit at His feet for awhile and listen and receive what the Lord has for you.

Let Him fill you with His love and give you life!!

Still learning . . .

Don't Open The Envelope!

You know ~ just when you think you are getting it all together . . . something comes along and messes with your mind! At least that's what happens to me much of the time. Going along thinking that it's all under control . . . life was good today . . . it's all going to be good. Then I looked at my mail and opened an interesting looking envelope. The contents just made me start thinking way too much again.

Why do I do that . . . think about something that I can't change? Well . . . because I think that's what happens when I don't let GOD be in total control. When I don't really turn everything over to HIM. It only takes one second to let a little seed of doubt get planted in my head. Then that one little seed multiplies into big bunches of doubt. This all reminds me that if not for the LORD . . . I would be in sad shape!

So . . . after realizing again that I can't be in control . . . remember John 3:30 HE must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less . . . I got my Bible and started to read. I turned to Proverbs 3:24 and saw this . . . You can go to bed without fear; you will lie down and sleep soundly. I believe that the LORD led me to that verse. Then Proverbs 3:5 . . . Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.

So with that . . .

GOD is good all the time, and all the time . . . GOD is good!

2 Chronicles 20

Yesterday was a tough day for me. When I'm having a hard time I sometimes usually tend to shut down. I withdraw from GOD and friends when really I should be doing just the opposite.  Yesterday I decided that I'm going to do my best to not do that. Pulling closer in those times will be my goal.

The LORD showed me some really good scriptures yesterday. When I went to bed I left my Bible opened up to the last place I had been reading. I want to share that with all of you along with the rest of the story from today.

2 Chronicles 20 has some great stuff in it. I'm just going to post some of the verses. Read the whole chapter for yourself and you will be blessed! These are from the NLT Bible.

Vs 9: Part of Jehoshaphats' prayer before they went to battle against the armies of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir. He was reminding God of when He gave the land to Abraham and what they had said. Last night God was reminding me that when things are going bad, I'm in a battle, I just need to go to Him . . . cry out to Him and He will hear me. God will come to my rescue as He will to yours. We just need to go to Him!

⁹ They said, ‘Whenever we are faced with any calamity such as war, plague, or famine, we can come to stand in your presence before this Temple where your name is honored. We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.’

Vs 12: Just like Jehoshaphat and his army was feeling powerless in their situation I have been too. When you can't change things, and those things just seem to be getting worse, there is only one thing to do. Look to the the LORD our GOD. HE alone can help us through the battle we are in. We have to turn to HIM if we are going to beat what we are up against. 

¹² O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.”

Vs 15-17: The LORD responded to Jehoshaphats prayer just like HE will respond to our prayers. HE tells us to not be afraid or discouraged because this is HIS battle. GOD will fight it for us but we have to let HIM. The battle "is not ours"! WOW! Is that an easy thing to do? Turn our battle over to GOD? Not always and I can tell you truthfully that I have a hard time doing that right now. But GOD was reminding me through this that I just need to do the few things I can and be still and watch the LORD get victory for me! HE is with me regardless of how I feel. HE is with you too so just let HIM take charge of whatever your situation is. What ever army you are up against right now! The LORD our GOD will not let us down. HE works in ways we don't understand. Just get up and keep on going through faith and trust in HIM!

¹⁵ He said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. ¹⁶ Tomorrow, march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel. ¹⁷ But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!”

VS 20: Just Believe . . . Believe . . . Believe!

²⁰ Early the next morning the army of Judah went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. On the way Jehoshaphat stopped and said, “Listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in his prophets, and you will succeed.”

VS 21: After we turn it all over to GOD and believe HE has it . . . "Give thanks to HIM!" The LORD our GOD loves us so much and HIS love does endure forever! If you like to sing your praises . . . Sing out! Shout your praises . . . then Shout! Give a Shout Out to GOD! Maybe like me you might be a little quieter . . . HE doesn't care. As long as you praise HIM! HE longs to hear the praises of HIS children. When we praise HIM we feel better about things too.

²¹ After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang:

“Give thanks to the Lord;
    his faithful love endures forever!”

VS 26: This verse reminds me that I "want" to walk in the Valley of Blessing. In the valley is where we can really meet with the LORD our GOD. Sometimes we have to get in the valley before we realize how much we have to really thank GOD for. HE blesses us when we are in the valley. Our valleys can be blessings to us as we walk through them. I just really need to remember to not let them get me down. To keep praising and thanking the LORD while I am in it. Then it will become a Valley of Blessing that we can look back on and remember all that the LORD did for us while we were there. We can share our valleys while we are going through them and after we come out of them. Our valleys, and what the Lord does for us through them, can help so many others that may also be in their own valley.

²⁶ On the fourth day they gathered in the Valley of Blessing, which got its name that day because the people praised and thanked the Lord there. It is still called the Valley of Blessing today.

My study Bible says this for VS 15: If we ask for God's help when we face struggles, GOD will fight for us. And GOD always triumphs!