Shout Grace!

Ephesians 5:8
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

Ephesians 1:4-6
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.


Numbers 6:25
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;

Psalm 92:13
Planted in the house of the Lord,
They will flourish in the courts of our God.

The Lord wants us to live close to Him, seeing things from His perspective more and more. Walk as a child of light, for Christ's radiance is all around us and within us; it transforms us inside and out. Remember we were once darkness until God's Spirit quickened us to life, empowering us to live in His Presence. Dwell on this until gratitude for God's glorious grace wells up within us.
Trust God to lead you step by step through each day. His face shines on us only in the present. This is where we find God's gracious love that never fails us.

Hungry? Taste and see!

Psalm 16:11
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 63:5
My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Come to God with all your aching emptiness. Make room for, and take time with God so He can fill you with Joy in His Presence. Food indeed! Even when all our needs are met there is still something vital missing; a living relationship with Christ. God is the only one who can satisfy our souls hunger. As the words of the shulamite woman ring out in the intimate passion of His Love for us  in the Song of Solomon "He brought me to the banqueting house,And his banner over me was love"...So open your heart and soul to God and let the joyous abundance of God's Presence flow into you.  Since God is the same yesterday today and forever, there could never be a time when we would find God lacking. It is crucial not only to know this truth, but also to believe it wholeheartedly....Help my unbelief!

Marrow and fatness indeed!

Isaiah 54:10
Though the mountains be shaken
and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed,”
says the Lord, who has compassion on you.


Psalm 46:10
"Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalm 63:1-5
O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.
2 So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise You.
Thus I will bless You while I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.

God understands us perfectly and loves us eternally. It is our soul He loves, not our appearance or performance. Sometimes we are so dissatisfied with these that they become our focus. To break free from this self-preoccupation, relax in God's Loving Presence and let the light of His Love soak into our entire beings. Remember that God created us to know Him: to enjoy Him and center our lives in Him. "Cease striving and know that I am God."
The world abounds with idols--things we turn to when we want to feel better about ourselves: eating, entertainment, exercise, mastery of something or someone. However, none of these things can shake the thirst of our soul for God alone. Idolatrous substitutes may suppress our appetite for God, mainly by distracting us, but they provide no satisfaction. When we get those gnawing sensations around the edges of our souls, return to God. "Out soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods."

Cast....Be...Indeed!

(emphasis mine~cl)

1 Peter 5:7-8
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Be self-controlled and alert.

Isaiah 49:13
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.


Romans 8:9
You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Cast all your anxiety on the Lord. Unless we deal with it properly, anxiety can be toxic--both to us and to others. Simply releasing it is not sufficient. We need to project it vigorously away from ourselves, toward God. When we cast our anxiety on Him, He moves it so far away that it cannot harm anyone.
Ever since the Fall, human emotions have been out of kilter. People often "act out" painful feelings without even realizing what is bothering them. Or they may bottle up their emotions and pretend that everything is all right. God wants us to be self-controlled and alert so we can identify hurtful feelings and confess them to Him. As we yield to God's work within us, our anxious feelings will subside. The Holy Spirit can accomplish holy changes in us--producing, Love, Joy, Peace...and self-control...Be that...

When the fire is on...time to cook!

Hebrews 12:28-29
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”

Exodus 24:17
The sight of the glory of the Lord was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel.


1 Corinthians 2:9
However, as it is written:
“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”—
the things God has prepared for those who love him—

John 14:3
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

God's Kingdom cannot be shaken! This present world seems to be shaking more and more, leaving us off balance much of the time. As we worship God though, our perspective changes and we regain our balance. To worship God "acceptably and with reverence and awe", thankfulness is primary and essential. God designed us to be thankful on a daily, moment by moment, basis. We need to resist the temptation to grumble when things don't go the way we'd like. Remember that God, our God, is a consuming fire.
God's unshakable Kingdom is for all people who love Him, who know Him as Savior. Let God's promises ignite our thankfulness, till we are on fire with His living Presence--shining brightly in this dark world...

Wherever you go...there you are...and fortunately so is Jesus

Hebrews 1:3
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

Colossians 3:23
Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ.


Colossians 1:10
so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

Joshua 22:5
But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Beware of dividing up your life into things we can do by ourselves and things that require God's help. The truth is, EVERYTHING we do--even taking a breath--involves God's assistance. God sustains all things by His powerful Word. So recognizing our utter dependence on God builds a strong foundation from which we can do our work heartily--from the soul.
When we do routine tasks for God, they gain meaning. Our efforts become a way of expressing our love for God. He is less concerned about the outcome of our tasks than the attitude of our hearts. When our deepest motive is to please God, our work is good. 

Where two or more are gathered…You might be on a plane! Or You might be at a convention…but wherever you are at you know you are standing on Holy Ground…Brother Lawrence’s willingness to stay in the hot thankless kitchen…for it was there that he experienced God…It was in the going doing and walking…that he found his relationship with God and that works for us too

Learning to be the Light...Happy Birthday !

Aye its another birthday for me...although for the vast majority of the world its just another day...and as I have spoken often each day is the day the Lord has made another chance, opportunity and choice to begin again...some days are like Okay lets go back to Genesis 1:1...some days Revelation 20:20-21...today is one of those days we all have I believe...where the Spirit reminds me to go to the Word and in a small verse in the signing off part of the goodbyes in Colossians ...

“And, oh, yes, tell Archippus, “Do your best in the job you received from the Master. Do your very best." (Colossians 4:17).

Have you ever been in a place where the phone kept ringing and nobody answered it? In moments like that it seems everybody is busy with something else, assuming that somebody else will answer the call. But nobody does. After awhile it can get to be quite annoying. There is something irritating about an unanswered call.

Over the years I have noticed a similar thing in my life and the lives of many people – a call that is not being answered. A call from God. Busy with so many other things, and sure that the call is for someone else, so many of us lose ourselves in trivial desires and moments and miss, or ignore, or choose not to answer the opportunity to answer the call of God on their lives.

One of the greatest fears we all face is having lived a meaningless life; a life that didn’t matter; a life that made no difference. It is a thought that haunts even the most "accomplished" of individuals.

Indeed, it is unsettling to get to...or nearer the end of... one’s life, cast a cautious glance back over time and discover what has been suspected all along, “My life didn’t matter!” Each of us long to know that our lives counted; that we accomplished what we were put on this earth to do. We want to maximize every opportunity, seize the day, and live life to its fullest...but do we?  ...and How?

Yes it's an odd contradiction, that no matter what I have done..indeed all of us,  that I still wonder about and seek... unrealized potential. Many times I have ( and perhaps most of us) settle for far less than we are capable of being, and of doing. On the one hand we want our lives to count; on the other hand, we seem far too willing to become pushed aside into mediocrity. As a fav song shouts to me "sometimes I fall so easily to the ruler of this world..."  Our only hope is to answer the call of God upon our lives.

Abraham traveling into the unknown, Joseph remaining faithful in Egypt, Moses crossing the Red Sea, Joshua conquering the Promised Land, David slaying a Giant and becoming a King, Isaiah telling his visions, Zechariah telling his dreams, Daniel in the Lion’s den, Nehemiah rebuilding the Walls, Zerubbabel rebuilding the Temple, Simon Peter leaving his fishing nets, Paul preaching the Gospel, John writing the Revelation ~ each one answered the call. They heard God’s voice and followed Him with trusting hearts...

And yes I know the danger of comparing ourselves to others be it family friends or such historical heroes as these...

And now it’s our turn.  Instead of names  put your name or simply "me" in those places in the previous paragraph that have names and think on what it says about and to you.  At one place I read "Me crossing the Red Sea of unbelief..."

Answer the call…… and Please ...Just Ask Him!  Happy New Birth Day to you all

...My Joy...John 17

Psalm 52:8
But I am like an olive tree
flourishing in the house of God;
I trust in God’s unfailing love
for ever and ever.


Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Romans 8:26
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

Ephesians 3:19
to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

The Lord delights in our desire to live steadfastly in His Presence, as if we were a tree planted close to Him. However, unlike a tree that cannot move from where it is planted, each moment we can choose to stay near to Christ--or not. Though He will never leave us, we can "leave" Him by forgetting He is with us.
God's Spirit, who lives in us, will not leave us in this condition. He will help us remember Who Christ is and Whose we are. We belong to God! No matter how many times we forget God, His Love for us will never fail. Grow strong in this constant nourishing Love.

It's a Love thing!

Romans 8:38-39
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Psalm 145:18
The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.


Colossians 2:9
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form

Song of Songs 2:4
Let him lead me to the banquet hall,
and let his banner over me be love.

Nothing can separate us from God's love. When we trusted Him as Savior, He united Himself to us in eternal matrimony. Many things threaten to rip apart this holy bond--principalities and powers, controlling people, dire circumstances--but nothing can succeed, not even death.
Jesus embodies not only perfect Love but all the fullness of the deity as well. In Him we have everything we could ever need. As we invite Jesus into more and more aspects of our lives, we will discover a growing contentment within ourselves. Jesus is as near as a whispered prayer--even nearer, His banner over us is Love.

Thanks!

1 Thessalonians 5:18)
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Acts 3:15
You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.


James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Hebrews 12:28
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,

Everytime we thank God we acknowledge that He is our Lord and Provider. When we struggle to be grateful, stop and remember who God is: the author of our life and our faith. We are utterly dependent on Him for everything, including our next breath. When we persevere in this thankfulness, resisting the temptation to grumble, we can find Joy and Peace in the midst of our struggles.

Commune-icating

Matthew 22:37-38

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.

Psalm 90:8
You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.

Jeremiah 6:16
This is what the Lord says:

“Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls.
But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

Psalm 63:5
I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

A successful day is one in which we have stayed in touch with God. Even if many thing remain undone.
To avoid confusion we need a rule of thumb: Seek to please God first. When communicating with God is our first priority, when we commune with God as we go through our day, the more we will walk in His ways.. The light of God's presence lights our path and satisfies our soul.

Every day...begin again...Rejoice!

Romans 12:12
constantly rejoicing in hope, steadfast and patient in distress, devoted to prayer

Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 86:4
Rejoice the soul of Your servant,
For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

Revelation 19:1
After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,

Be steadfast and patient in suffering. When painful circumstances are weighing us down, God wants us to 'rejoice in hope' to 'leap joyously upward'. Although physical jumping is sometimes impossible, our soul can leap upward at any time. As we lift our souls to God in hopeful anticipation, showers of joy fall upon and within us. The longer and more expectantly we wait in His Presence, the more abundantly He can bless us.....we....us...it is a Fellowship of suffering...we are not in this alone! 

 Rock and Roll... some words from a song the Lord gave me to write... "Just for today I will be happy, Just for today I've made up my mind, Just for today I'll set my soul free... and even if it hurts...I won't be afraid , I won't be afraid... Just for today..."  Thank you Lord for daily  the chances and the choices we can make ....I do believe!... help my unbelief...

Pray then....

Romans 8:26-27
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

Micah 7:7
But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord,
I wait for God my Savior
my God will hear me.

Psalm 33:20-22
We wait in hope for the Lord;
he is our help and our shield.
In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,
even as we put our hope in you.

When we feel unable to pray, remember that the Spirit intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
God wants us to watch in hope as you wait for Him, our Savior. Wait expectantly; confident that God will do what is best. The longer we have to wait the more we must rely on our trust in God. If we start to feel anxious, seek His help with short prayers such as "Jesus fill me with Your Peace". As we put our hope in God, His unfailing love rests peacefully upon us...and the peace turns into Praise!

Great devo this morn which led us into a "discussion" about how and why and what we pray...for me I learned that seeking God in prayer is key to that relationship.  And as we look to Jesus we read about how What and How and Why and When Jesus prayed... and we heartily recommend a great life changing little book that helps us by a Pastor I met years ago.  It is titled 'The Red Sea Rules" written by Robert J Morgan ...As God has had me share these lessons with other churches   Let me encourage you and lets hsare the Good News that Prayer works!

Dance then! Wherever you may be....

Hebrews 10:12-14
But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

Deuteronomy 6:5
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and with all your soul and with all your strength.


2 Samuel 6:14
Then David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod.

Acts 13:22
After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’




We are a work in progress. Jesus's sacrifice for sin made us eternally perfect the instant we trusted in Jesus as our Lord and Savior. The best way to enhance His sanctifying work in us is to love Him with all our heart and mind, with our entire being. King David expressed this love when he danced before the Lord. so, come more and more into God's passionate Presence, and His Holy Fire will ignite holy love in us.

keep walkin' its on the shared journey that we find His will and presence

1 Timothy 6:14-15
to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

John 8:58
Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”

Luke 15:20
So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

Psalm 16:11
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.

We have the amazing privilege of Knowing God intimately, yet this privilege is not an invitation to act as if we are His equal. God wants us to worship Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords while walking hand in hand with Him. God knows it's not easy for us to strike that balance. When we overstep our bounds, forgetting who I AM. We can be assured that God's love for us constant. When we remember His Majestic Presence and return to Him with repentance, He not only forgives us but runs to meet us! He celebrates the joy of us being close again as we walk down the path of life.

Yes Yes Lord!

Could not resist this song to help your worship in music  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqjivEw7gzE

2 Corinthians 4:8-9
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

Hebrews 12:2
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

1 Peter 2:25
For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

John 10:28
and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.

No matter what hardships the world may throw at us, we have--in Christ--everything we need to persevere.
Despair is a deep pit; and sometimes we totter around it's edges, precariously close to falling in. Our only hope at such times is to Fix our eyes on Jesus. To keep from falling we must change our focus: from our circumstances to Christ's Presence. This requires strenuous effort on our part, our natural tendency is to keep thinking about a difficult situation ad nauseam--trying to figure it out. However, Jesus is always nearby, eager to help us change our focus time after time.
Though we may be hard pressed on every side , we need not be crushed by our difficulties. We are not alone in our battles because Christ will never, ever abandon us. Even if we are killed, we will not be destroyed. Christ is the Shepard and Guardian of our souls--the part of us that is indestructible. As the Book of John says; I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.

Bliss!

1 Timothy 6:6-7
Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

Psalm 112:7
He will not be afraid of evil tidings;
His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.

Romans 8:6
For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,

God offers us contentment: A state of serenity that flows out of trusting in His great sufficiency. God is teaching us to depend on Him alone--content with whatever He provides. Relying solely on God is a rich blessing, even though it may lead us along paths we would not have chosen . If we are truly content to live with God's provisions--now and in the future--we will not be plagued by anxiety. Instead of worrying about "what if's" our heart will be firmly fixed--confident in God.
To counteract the messages of the world, it's essential for us to exert some control over our thinking. Ask the Holy Spirit to help us think God thoughts. The more God controls our minds, the more we will experience Life and Peace.
Remember, we bought nothing into this world. Everything we have is a gift from God. Though we can carry nothing out of this world, the spiritual transformation God is working in us is eternal. Collaborate with God as He transforms us into His likeness, preparing us for the ultimate in blissful contentment--Heaven!

Be ready to receive!

Romans 8:15

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

2 Corinthians 3:17

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

John 15:9

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.

Fearfulness is a form of bondage. Jesus died on the cross for us so we would not be a slave to fear. Christ's sacrifice was not only to provide forgiveness of our sins but also to open the way to God's heart. Now that we trust Jesus as Savior, we are recipients of Perfect love--Christ's Love, Abba's Love. This perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. (and there is no punishment for Christ's followers.)
We are born into the world in spiritual bondage, including bondage to fear. Because we inhabit both a fallen world and a fallen body, it isn't easy to break away from fearfulness. However, the spirit of adoption can helps us in this struggle, enabling us to see ourselves as we truly are; a much loved child of God! The Spirit frees us to cry out, "Abba Father." believing we are His precious adopted children. We have a perfectly loving, infinitely strong Father that we can bring our fears to. Let Him hold you close to His Abba Heart where we know we are safe. Open your heart to receive vast quantities of God's love. The more of God's love we hold in our hearts, the less room there is for fear. Receive God's Love with full measure!

Just Call...on My Name...

Acts 4:12

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.

James 4:8

Come near to God and He will come near to you.

Act 2:21

‘And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

Numbers 6:25-26

The Lord make His face shine upon you,

And be gracious to you;

The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,

And give you peace.”’

We can invite Jesus into our thoughts by whispering His Name;

Suddenly our day brightens and feels more user friendly. When we speak Jesus's Name in loving trust, we sense His Presence and feel ourselves drawing closer to Him. You can imagine what having coffee with Jesus will do for your day...had a pastor once who encouraged us to take our morning beverage outside and there enjoy worship in a way we understand  waking up with Jesus, Call to Him...

There is great power in Jesus's Name; simply whispering "Jesus" can turn a hard day into a good one. By calling on Jesus's Name frequently, we acknowledge our continual need of Him. And when we pray Jesus's Name, we are actually calling upon His actual being. He will joyfully respond to our invitation by coming nearer to us.

Jesus is pleased by our desire to rely on Him in ordinary moments as well as in the big events of our lives. When we whisper His Name, He responds not only to our neediness but also to our love. As we look to Jesus, His face shines upon us in radiant approval--brightening our day and helping us feel secure.

a little song to encourage...from a new fav band  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQqsOC6W2ss&list=RDMMvifUaZQL8pc&index=3

Trust the man of constant sorrows learn to Love and trust

Psalm 62:8
Trust in Him at all times, you people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us.

Proverbs 29:25
The fear of man brings a snare,
But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.

Isaiah 53:3
He was despised and forsaken of men,
A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
And like one from whom men hide their face
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

Matthew 11:28
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

Trust in God at all times. Remember that Jesus is "A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." Because of all He suffered, He can empathize with us and share our pain. As we pour out our emotions in His Presence, our heavy burdens grow lighter. We no longer carry our sorrows alone. When we release them to Jesus, He then will "relieve and refresh our soul". Moreover, as our heavy heart grows lighter, we are freed to learn more about Him. We will find that He is indeed a refuge--a safe place flooded with eternal love.

Sonday!

2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Psalm 34:5
Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.

Philippians 4:19
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 6:34
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

God's Grace is sufficient for us, but it's sufficiency is for one day at a time. That's why it's essential for us to live in the present.
Our mind so easily slips into the future, where worries abound. We also spend way too much time analyzing the past. Meanwhile, splendors of the present moment parade before us, and we don't even notice. Part of the problem is our tendency to strive for self-sufficiency. God will help us to learn to rest in His sufficiency, depending on Him more and more.
We need God's grace in order to live in the present. Grace is all about God's provision for us, but accepting that goes against the grain of our natural tendencies. Each day we face a number of situations requiring God's help. Moment by moment God pro offers to us the needed assistance. Our part is to recognize our neediness and receive what He offers.
God's Presence is with us always, providing everything we need. So don't worry about tomorrow's needs. God's sufficiency is for a day at a time--today!!

God=Love=Spirit=Freedom=Father=Jesus!

Romans 8:15

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

2 Corinthians 3:17

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

John 15:9

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.

Fearfulness is a form of bondage. Jesus died on the cross for us so we would not be a slave to fear. Christ's sacrifice was not only to provide forgiveness of our sins but also to open the way to God's heart. Now that we trust Jesus as Savior, we are recipients of Perfect love--Christ's Love, Abba's Love. This perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. (and there is no punishment for Christ's followers.)
We are born into the world in spiritual bondage, including bondage to fear. Because we inhabit both a fallen world and a fallen body, it isn't easy to break away from fearfulness. However, the spirit of adoption can helps us in this struggle, enabling us to see ourselves as we truly are; a much loved child of God! The Spirit frees us to cry out, "Abba Father." believing we are His precious adopted children. We have a perfectly loving, infinitely strong Father that we can bring our fears to. Let Him hold you close to His Abba Heart where we know we are safe. Open your heart to receive vast quantities of God's love. The more of God's love we hold in our hearts, the less room there is for fear. Receive God's Love with full measure!

Made Free! Free indeed! Freely!

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

1 Peter 1:8-9

whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

Psalm 107:1

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.

John 10:28

And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

God knows full well the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts, so it is wise to be honest with Him. When our hearts overflow with Love and Joy, God rejoices with us and delights in us. When we are rebellious and ungrateful, He continues to Love us perfectly--even though our behaviour is unacceptable. The more we believe in God--in WHO He is and what He has done--the better our attitude will be.
When we are feeling ungrateful, we need to focus on the goal of our faith; the salvation of our soul. No matter what we suffer in this life, our soul is absolutely secure. We have an eternity of inexpressibly wondrous life reserved for us in Heaven. This glorious inheritance has been credited to our account ever since we trusted in Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. As we ponder the wonders of our souls salvation, we become FREE-- free to receive Joy beyond description and full of Glory!

Light....Glory! Let is shine!

2 Corinthians 4:6-7

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

Colossians 1:27

To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Luke 10:20

Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

Ever since the fall, people have wanted to make idols of themselves and their own creations. We find it easier to make idols of things visible than to worship God's unseen Reality. We spend years trying to perfect ourselves. Now we are more vulnerable to idolizing what we have made or done than what we are. This is a rather subtle sin, especially when we have created something for God's Glory and purposes. God has deigned to use some of our creations to bless other people, this has delighted us. When they express their appreciation to us we soak up their praises. We forget that everything we make is as flawed as we are. Just as we are a jar of clay filled with heavenly contents, so are the things we have made or done for God.
Jesus is Christ in us--shining the light of the knowledge of His Glory into our hearts. Jesus is the treasure that fills not only us but also our creations of clay, giving them meaning. When we do our work in dependence on God, He can use it powerfully for His purposes. Delight in what we accomplish together, but find your utmost Joy in Jesus--our eternal treasure...Glory!

interACTIVE...your your your...nor ;)

Philippians 4:6-7

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Proverbs 3:5

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;

Isaiah 54:10

For the mountains shall depart
And the hills be removed,
But My kindness shall not depart from you,
Nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,”
Says the Lord, who has mercy on you.

Our weaknesses and brokenness draws Jesus ever closer to us. We can give it all to Christ because He understands us perfectly. His compassion for us is overflowing. As we open ourselves to His healing Presence, He fills us with Peace that transcends understanding. So stop trying to figure everything out! Instead, lean on Jesus, letting our head rest on His chest. While we rest, He will be watching over us and all that concerns us.
Trust in Jesus with the very depths of your being. His healing work in us is most effective when we are actively trusting Him. Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet His unfailing love for us will not be shaken. This is the essence of Christ's compassion for us; no matter how desperate our circumstances, the one thing we can always count on is Jesus's unfailing Love.

Triple play keep your feet sure and Hit the heights!

Habakkuk 3:19

The Lord God is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer’s feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills.

Isaiah 40:30-31

Though youths grow weary and tired,
And vigorous young men stumble badly,
Yet those who wait for the Lord
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.

Psalm 37:5

Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.

Our awareness of our deep need for God is a profound strength. People who think they don't need God are in serious trouble, because they rely on their own insufficient abilities. God is training us to depend on Him--our strength.
Living in a fallen world can weigh us down. However as we keep looking to God, He'll make your feet like the feet of a deer. He lightens our load so much that we hardly notice the jagged rocks beneath our feet or the steepness of our ascent. Before we know it, we are on the high places--with God!
We need to remember that He is Sovereign. He will not help us go along a path that is not of His choice for us. So it is vital to commit our way to Him, asking Him to lead us each step of the way. This is how we collaborate with God as He enables us to go on the heights.