Happy Resurrection Day

Happy Resurrection Day, He has risen!!

Father, today my prayer is for everyone to get to know You. And for everyone to make the decision to follow Jesus and to be secured for eternity in You. AMEN

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

His thoughts toward us......

 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11, New King James Version)

This letter of Jeremiah’s was sent to the captives in Babylon, which were the Israelites.

In order for God's people to get away from believing false prophets at that time, God took them into captivity. Here is what Jeremiah speaks to them for God: 

"He will perform His good word towards you. Let not the failing of those predictions which are delivered as from God lessen the reputation of those that really are from him. That which is indeed God’s word is a good word, and therefore it will be made good, and not one iota or tittle of it shall fall to the ground. Hath he said, and shall he not do it?"

In other words, God's Word for them is good and He WILL perform it! No matter what others say. We are sometimes ready to fear that God’s designs concerning us are all against us; but He knows the contrary concerning His own people, that His thoughts are of good and not of evil. Even that which seems evil is designed for good! (Romans 8:28)

His thoughts are all working towards the expected end, (of captivity) which He will give in due time. The end they expect will come, though perhaps not when they expect it. 

"Let them have patience till the fruit is ripe, and then they shall have it."

He will give them, not the expectations of their fears, nor the expectations of their fancies, but the expectations of their faith, the end of their captivity, which He has promised and which will turn for the best to them. This shall be in answer to their prayers and supplications to God.

Do you see, by this example, we can be assured that when we are in our own captivity (some call it desert experience or sanctification process) we will come out of it. 

Friends, I have shared often with you, my walk through my captivity. But that has come to an end now. The fruit is ripe now, ready to be harvested!!

January 2018 has brought a time of redeemed manifestation 

CHANGE!

What He has promised to me many years ago, at the beginning of this journey, is now coming through. I am not talking so much of material change, but even that. It has brought me peace unending, joy which is uplifting and a very close relationship with God. Although these things have always been mine (ours by the cross), I did not know that always in my heart; and therefore was not able to enjoy Him every moment of my life. I can now!

I now can see relationships being restored, my response to suffering and difficult situations has completely changed. Because of the faithfulness of God toward me, I can now respond and live more in a Christlike manner. Manifesting the character of my savior, Jesus Christ. Healing of the heart, soul, and mind. 

Yes, along with this journey, there have been pockets of the blessings of God to overflow. But you see, we have to learn to let God take the lead completely. Not just here and there. We have to learn the Goodness of God by experience. Not just by reading His word. Even though His Word is the most important. But to connect His word and our human experience.It takes His faithful leading us through a time of captivity. where He and He alone gets our attention. 

So, if you find yourself in such captivity. If you find yourself struggling to exist every day, but you have made a commitment to follow Jesus, there is great news for you: 


For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (Jeremiah 29:11, King James Version)

There is an expectant end to it. And this is a promise!
There is a light at the end of the tunnel. And during the in-between time, let Him take the lead. Allow Jesus to lead you into the promised land of your own destiny. 

Not to have your own little world to enjoy, but to be a mighty testimony of the LOVE of God toward you and everyone. Especially to those who have made a commitment to Christ and need encouragement. But no less to those who are lost and need this marvelous savior to save them from themselves and the enemy of their souls for eternity. Which is, in turn, all of us. 

Father, give us today our daily bread. Give us the courage to endure this race of life in your promises to us. Help us to see YOU in everything! Help us to turn to YOU for everything. Show us our need to give YOU and only YOU our attention. In Jesus\ Name AMEN.


Please leave your prayer request. Thank you. 

God is just different

Have you ever heard some believers making statements about what God has done for them (or rather HOW God has done things for them) and you think: "That sounds weird"!

Well, just think about this part of scripture in Matthew 1:18-23

 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother, Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.  And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

Doesn't that, what is happening to Mary sound weird? No, not really. It only sounds weird when we measure what God does to our own standards, our own understanding.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. Isaiah 55:8

Also, we find in this passage that God's ways are not as our ways. He made a way for Mary not be ashamed, not to suffer consequences for what happened to her. It was ordained (purposed) by God for this birth of Christ to come forth exactly this way. 

Now let's not mix this up with sinful behavior. Because it was the plan of God for Mary to conceive by the Holy Spirit, it was not sinful. It was as pure as it can get. When something in our lives is conceived by the Holy Spirit it is always pure. God is pure!

Apart from this Jesus, who was born of a virgin, which is definitely the most important thing happening to anyone, we can learn something else. We as believers of Jesus Christ must give the Holy Spirit room to move in our lives!

The Holy Spirit is the power and vehicle for God to bring change into our lives. Blessings and growth.God is a NOW God and not only of old. He is eager to use His Holy Spirit to provide a relationship, healing, restoration, protection.....and so on, for and in us. 

We receive the Holy Spirit the same way we received Christ, by faith! 

So today, will you receive the Holy Spirit and allow God to baptize you with the Holy Spirit in order for you to have a deeper relationship with the Father and Jesus. All you have to say and mean it : 

"Today, I receive you, Holy Spirit into my life. I accept you as I accepted Jesus, by faith. Believing and allowing you to be part of God in power. AMEN"

Now you are sealed with the power of the Holy Spirit and you will see a change! The bible says He is our teacher and comforter. He, the Holy Spirit in His power, will bring us the purpose of God for our lives. His guidance is our safety.

I encourage you, brothers and sisters, to read about the Holy Spirit. My favorite teaching on this matter comes from the Bible itself. Also, pastor Robert Morris, Gateway Church Southlake has a great sermon on that subject. You can find it under www.gatewaypeople.com and then go to messages. There my friends, you will find a number of great teachings. 

Once again, I leave you with a prayer

Father, we want to see the power of the Holy Spirit in the life of all believers of Christ, Jesus, we thank you for making this possible by your death on the cross and your resurrection after the 3rd day. In your Name, we pray. AMEN

Happy Resurrection Day. 

Please leave your prayer requests and I will pray for you. 

And He sings over me.......

The Lord your God in your midst,
The Mighty One will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”

Zephaniah 3:17

This is a prophecy in the Old Testament to Zion, which is now Israel (the church).

Have you ever heard the Holy Spirit singing a song over you? I have! Often actually. You know when you hear that Gospel song, Worship song on Sunday. Or maybe on the radio and you can't get it out of your mind for hours or days?

Well, this may just be the Holy Spirit singing over you.

In this prophecy of Zephaniah, God addresses the unfaithfulness of men and the coming faithfulness of God with a remnant of people that are obedient to Him.

Just imagine: He sings over us.....I don't know about you, but I love music. Especially worship and praise music. To me, this is an expression of His love to me as He sings over me.

And that is just what and who He is LOVE!!

Next time you have a tune stuck in your head, ask Him: is He speaking to you?

God is singing over Zion/the church because of the joy He feels, seeing His people turning to Him. Trusting Him and accepting His love and love Him in return. And furthermore, He is joyful because He knows that He is faithful, even when we are not. Isn't that amazing??

Father, today help us to hear Your song over us. Let us see Your joy and Your faithfulness. Help us to love you with all of our heart, mind, and soul. AMEN

Goodbye and farewell. Until next time.

Please leave your prayer requests. Thank you.

Anxious heart of mine

Let's look at the Old Testament today.

Nehemiah 4:12-15

So it was, when the Jews who dwelt near them came, that they told us ten times, “From whatever place you turn, they will be upon us.”

As I am reading these first verses in this chapter, I stop and think. How many times has God protected me in the midst of rebuilding my life? He has caused me to fortify the broken walls of my life. The walls that hold HIS altar inside of my heart. Which the enemy has been trying to destroy.

The key is not to focus on how many times the enemy has been trying to come and steal, destroy and even kill. But to remember the mighty things God has done !!

14 And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.”

15 And it happened when our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had brought their plot to nothing, that all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work.

God gives us strategy on how to fight for what is ours:

“Remember the Lord....” and PRAYER, DECLARATION, WORSHIP as well as standing on the promises/word of God.

He has protected us in the past and He will do it again now and in the future. He is the same: yesterday, today and forever! We need to remember the benefits of God. 

'Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation! Selah'  Psalm 68:19

Father, today help us to calm our anxious hearts. Help us to remember who YOU are and not how bad we have it. Lord help us to overcome the plan of the enemy, by cooperating with YOU! Help us to stand on YOU, Jesus. AMEN

That's all for now. So long and remember to leave prayer requests. Thank you.