Psalms 108
1 O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.
2 Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.
3 I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.
4 For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.
5 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth;KJV
I am so thankful I have a loving Father, who takes care of me. My heart is fixed on Him, I will sing and give praise to Him; even when I don't feel like it. Some of my greatest times with the Lord has been through a sacrifice of praise even through my pain and tears. He is worthy of praise and honor and glory. When I begin my day in prayer and praise to Him, it makes the day a lot easier to walk through.
Remember "it came to pass" not to stay.
Have a great blessed day in the Lord.
Joy
Monday, April 30, 2007
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Praising God
Psalm 67:1-5 (Amplified Bible)
1 GOD BE merciful and gracious to us and bless us and cause His face to shine upon us and among us--Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!--
2 That Your way may be known upon earth, Your saving power (Your deliverances and Your salvation) among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise You [turn away from their idols] and give thanks to You, O God; let all the peoples praise and give thanks to You.
4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for You will judge the peoples fairly and guide, lead, or drive the nations upon earth. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
5 Let the peoples praise You [turn away from their idols] and give thanks to You, O God; let all the peoples praise and give thanks to You!
I hear people lamenting about the condition America is in with all the crime, killings and sinful living. If people would just realize the reason we are in this condition is because choices were made to take God out of everything. God is tired of the way this nation is living, I believe unless we wise up and really get into intercessory prayer that things are going to get worse. We as "Christians" need to begin to stand up and proclaim who God is and turn this country around. We need to begin to praise God at school, in the workplace, in the courts. We need to boldly say America get back to God! Then God will judge us righteously. We need to be glad and sing unto our King!
May God Bless you today.
Joy
1 GOD BE merciful and gracious to us and bless us and cause His face to shine upon us and among us--Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!--
2 That Your way may be known upon earth, Your saving power (Your deliverances and Your salvation) among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise You [turn away from their idols] and give thanks to You, O God; let all the peoples praise and give thanks to You.
4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for You will judge the peoples fairly and guide, lead, or drive the nations upon earth. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
5 Let the peoples praise You [turn away from their idols] and give thanks to You, O God; let all the peoples praise and give thanks to You!
I hear people lamenting about the condition America is in with all the crime, killings and sinful living. If people would just realize the reason we are in this condition is because choices were made to take God out of everything. God is tired of the way this nation is living, I believe unless we wise up and really get into intercessory prayer that things are going to get worse. We as "Christians" need to begin to stand up and proclaim who God is and turn this country around. We need to begin to praise God at school, in the workplace, in the courts. We need to boldly say America get back to God! Then God will judge us righteously. We need to be glad and sing unto our King!
May God Bless you today.
Joy
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Blessings as God Promised!
Deuteronomy 1:11 (Amplified Bible)
May the Lord, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times as many as you are and bless you as He has promised you!
Today as you go about your day look around you at the blessings God has given you. You might be saying God hasn't blessed me; however, if you are breathing God has blessed you.
If you can see, God has blessed you.
If you can walk, God has blessed you.
If you can talk, God has blessed you.
If you have a roof over your head, food on your table, shoes on your feet and a warm bed to sleep in, God has greatly blessed you.
Sometimes I don't think we take the normal things as blessings from God.
The above verse says God wants to bless us as he has promised. I don't know about you, but I want to walk in God's blessings. In order for me to get those blessings I need to walk close to the Lord. I need to do the things He has required of me. It isn't a one way street where I can demand things of God and not expect to give Him anything. God requires us to serve Him with a whole heart, mind and body. When we grasp the concept of serving the Master, then He will be able to pour us out blessings we won't be able to contain.
As you go about your day today, count your many blessings!
Joy
May the Lord, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times as many as you are and bless you as He has promised you!
Today as you go about your day look around you at the blessings God has given you. You might be saying God hasn't blessed me; however, if you are breathing God has blessed you.
If you can see, God has blessed you.
If you can walk, God has blessed you.
If you can talk, God has blessed you.
If you have a roof over your head, food on your table, shoes on your feet and a warm bed to sleep in, God has greatly blessed you.
Sometimes I don't think we take the normal things as blessings from God.
The above verse says God wants to bless us as he has promised. I don't know about you, but I want to walk in God's blessings. In order for me to get those blessings I need to walk close to the Lord. I need to do the things He has required of me. It isn't a one way street where I can demand things of God and not expect to give Him anything. God requires us to serve Him with a whole heart, mind and body. When we grasp the concept of serving the Master, then He will be able to pour us out blessings we won't be able to contain.
As you go about your day today, count your many blessings!
Joy
Friday, April 27, 2007
God's way is Perfect!
Psalm 18:30-33 (Amplified Bible)
30 As for God, His way is perfect! The word of the Lord is tested and tried; He is a shield to all those who take refuge and put their trust in Him.
31 For who is God except the Lord? Or who is the Rock save our God,
32 The God who girds me with strength and makes my way perfect?
33 He makes my feet like hinds' feet [able to stand firmly or make progress on the dangerous heights of testing and trouble]; He sets me securely upon my high places.
I am so thankful that the Lord's way is perfect. He has given us His Word that if we read it we can know how to walk away from fear, worry, stress and the temptations of sin.
He is my rock on whom I lean.
He is my anchor in a troubled world.
He is the one I depend on.
He gives me the strength to keep on keeping on.
He puts life into me.
He causes me to leap and shout with joy.
He is my life.
He is my friend.
HE IS!!!
May God Bless You today.
Joy
30 As for God, His way is perfect! The word of the Lord is tested and tried; He is a shield to all those who take refuge and put their trust in Him.
31 For who is God except the Lord? Or who is the Rock save our God,
32 The God who girds me with strength and makes my way perfect?
33 He makes my feet like hinds' feet [able to stand firmly or make progress on the dangerous heights of testing and trouble]; He sets me securely upon my high places.
I am so thankful that the Lord's way is perfect. He has given us His Word that if we read it we can know how to walk away from fear, worry, stress and the temptations of sin.
He is my rock on whom I lean.
He is my anchor in a troubled world.
He is the one I depend on.
He gives me the strength to keep on keeping on.
He puts life into me.
He causes me to leap and shout with joy.
He is my life.
He is my friend.
HE IS!!!
May God Bless You today.
Joy
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Let your Light Shine for Jesus!
Matthew 5:14-16 (Amplified Bible)
14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a peck measure, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.
Remember you are the only Jesus or bible a lot of people will see. Live your life so others can see Jesus in you and desire to accept Him and to walk with Him. If you are always moaning, complaining and not walking with the Lord and profess to be a "Christian" Shame on you. People are hurting and seeking for something to fill the void in their life. We need to boldly tell them of Jesus and His love.
Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Joy
14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a peck measure, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.
Remember you are the only Jesus or bible a lot of people will see. Live your life so others can see Jesus in you and desire to accept Him and to walk with Him. If you are always moaning, complaining and not walking with the Lord and profess to be a "Christian" Shame on you. People are hurting and seeking for something to fill the void in their life. We need to boldly tell them of Jesus and His love.
Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Joy
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
We are God's Garden!
1 Corinthians 3:6-9 (Amplified Bible)
6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God [all the while] was making it grow and [He] gave the increase.
7 So neither he who plants is anything nor he who waters, but [only] God Who makes it grow and become greater.
8 He who plants and he who waters are equal (one in aim, of the same importance and esteem), yet each shall receive his own reward (wages), according to his own labor.
9 For we are fellow workmen (joint promoters, laborers together) with and for God; you are God's garden and vineyard and field under cultivation, [you are] God's building.
In reading these scriptures, I believe God is telling us that we are all important in His ministry. We all have different personalities, talents and ministries to use for His work. We are to encourage each other to become the best we can be. We we get out of the BIG I concept and become the little me with God being the BIG I then we can accomplish the things He has called us to do.
I find the more I reach out to others that have a need, whether it's just offering a word of encouragement, or giving a few dollars the greater my blessing.
Today look around you and see if there is someone you can encourage.
May you have a blessed day in the Lord.
Joy
6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God [all the while] was making it grow and [He] gave the increase.
7 So neither he who plants is anything nor he who waters, but [only] God Who makes it grow and become greater.
8 He who plants and he who waters are equal (one in aim, of the same importance and esteem), yet each shall receive his own reward (wages), according to his own labor.
9 For we are fellow workmen (joint promoters, laborers together) with and for God; you are God's garden and vineyard and field under cultivation, [you are] God's building.
In reading these scriptures, I believe God is telling us that we are all important in His ministry. We all have different personalities, talents and ministries to use for His work. We are to encourage each other to become the best we can be. We we get out of the BIG I concept and become the little me with God being the BIG I then we can accomplish the things He has called us to do.
I find the more I reach out to others that have a need, whether it's just offering a word of encouragement, or giving a few dollars the greater my blessing.
Today look around you and see if there is someone you can encourage.
May you have a blessed day in the Lord.
Joy
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Bless the LORD!
Good morning everyone,
Psalm 34:1-4
[A Psalm] of David; when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him out, and he went away.
1 I WILL bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My life makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble and afflicted hear and be glad.
3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.
4 I sought (inquired of) the Lord and required Him [of necessity and on the authority of His Word], and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
I looked through my notebook of daily devotionals, as I wanted to share these verses with you this morning, however, I don't think I've used them, and if I have then it is still needed as this is the one the Lord gave me.
I left in the little heading, because in reading these scriptures several times as they are one of my favorites I never read the heading to realize David had pretended to be insane, David was fleeing from Saul and fled to Achish King of Gath. However some men recognized David and were afraid of him. They said Saul hath slain his thousands, but David his ten thousands. I I Samuel 21:10-15. So David changed his behavior and acted mad so King Achish would let him go. In Psalms 34 David is giving praise to the Lord for helping him escape King Achish. He is reminding us no matter what we are going through we need to give PRAISE unto the Lord. We are to bless the Lord at all times. When we walk in the blessings of the Lord we have nothing to fear.
God will listen to us and deliver us as we offer praise to Him and Bless His Holy Name.
May you go about your day today praising the Lord,
May God guide you and strengthen you.
Joy
Psalm 34:1-4
[A Psalm] of David; when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him out, and he went away.
1 I WILL bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My life makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble and afflicted hear and be glad.
3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.
4 I sought (inquired of) the Lord and required Him [of necessity and on the authority of His Word], and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
I looked through my notebook of daily devotionals, as I wanted to share these verses with you this morning, however, I don't think I've used them, and if I have then it is still needed as this is the one the Lord gave me.
I left in the little heading, because in reading these scriptures several times as they are one of my favorites I never read the heading to realize David had pretended to be insane, David was fleeing from Saul and fled to Achish King of Gath. However some men recognized David and were afraid of him. They said Saul hath slain his thousands, but David his ten thousands. I I Samuel 21:10-15. So David changed his behavior and acted mad so King Achish would let him go. In Psalms 34 David is giving praise to the Lord for helping him escape King Achish. He is reminding us no matter what we are going through we need to give PRAISE unto the Lord. We are to bless the Lord at all times. When we walk in the blessings of the Lord we have nothing to fear.
God will listen to us and deliver us as we offer praise to Him and Bless His Holy Name.
May you go about your day today praising the Lord,
May God guide you and strengthen you.
Joy
Monday, April 23, 2007
SHAME!
Satan's
Hold
Against
Man's
Effectiveness
A lady in our church last night gave the above meaning to the work that Satan does.
When a person recogines the ability Satan has and pleads the blood of Jesus over their lives, then Satan is rended ineffective and cannot harm us.
The blood that Jesus shed at Calvary breaks any hold Satan would try to have over us.
I am so thankful I don't have to offer sacrifices or confess my sins to a priest I can go boldly before the Throne of Grace and talk to the King of Kings and receive forgiveness and pardon for my sin.
I praise the one who died for me, I worship the one who rose again that I might have life and that more abundantly.
Have a great day in the Lord.
Joy
Hold
Against
Man's
Effectiveness
A lady in our church last night gave the above meaning to the work that Satan does.
When a person recogines the ability Satan has and pleads the blood of Jesus over their lives, then Satan is rended ineffective and cannot harm us.
The blood that Jesus shed at Calvary breaks any hold Satan would try to have over us.
I am so thankful I don't have to offer sacrifices or confess my sins to a priest I can go boldly before the Throne of Grace and talk to the King of Kings and receive forgiveness and pardon for my sin.
I praise the one who died for me, I worship the one who rose again that I might have life and that more abundantly.
Have a great day in the Lord.
Joy
Sunday, April 22, 2007
O GOD, My Heart is Fixed!
Psalm 108
1 O GOD, my heart is fixed (steadfast, in the confidence of faith); I will sing, yes, I will sing praises, even with my glory [all the faculties and powers of one created in Your image]!
2 Awake, harp and lyre; I myself will wake very early--I will waken the dawn!
3 I will praise and give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples; and I will sing praises unto You among the nations.
4 For Your mercy and loving-kindness are great and high as the heavens! Your truth and faithfulness reach to the skies!
5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and let Your glory be over all the earth.
The word praise is used 248 times in the Kings James Version of the Bible. I believe the Lord is concerned with how much we praise Him.
He created us to offer PRAISE to Him. With a joyful heart we are to praise Him. Some people offer praise, however it is just lip service and doesn't come from the heart. When you begin to offer praise to the Father from everything that is within you, your praise changes. You begin to grow in your spiritual walk. He will take you to another level in your worship. Today as you go about this Sunday, take time to offer praise unto the Lord from your heart.
May you have a blessed day in the Lord.
Joy
1 O GOD, my heart is fixed (steadfast, in the confidence of faith); I will sing, yes, I will sing praises, even with my glory [all the faculties and powers of one created in Your image]!
2 Awake, harp and lyre; I myself will wake very early--I will waken the dawn!
3 I will praise and give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples; and I will sing praises unto You among the nations.
4 For Your mercy and loving-kindness are great and high as the heavens! Your truth and faithfulness reach to the skies!
5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and let Your glory be over all the earth.
The word praise is used 248 times in the Kings James Version of the Bible. I believe the Lord is concerned with how much we praise Him.
He created us to offer PRAISE to Him. With a joyful heart we are to praise Him. Some people offer praise, however it is just lip service and doesn't come from the heart. When you begin to offer praise to the Father from everything that is within you, your praise changes. You begin to grow in your spiritual walk. He will take you to another level in your worship. Today as you go about this Sunday, take time to offer praise unto the Lord from your heart.
May you have a blessed day in the Lord.
Joy
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Attempt Great Things for God!
Expect great things from God.
Attempt great things for God.
John 14:12 (Amplified Bible)
I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father.
As I spend more time in the Word and in prayer, not only do I expect more things from God, but I feel I can attempt to do greater things for Him. The time spent at the minister's convention was wonderful and I learned a lot. However, if I don't continue to study and search the scriptures then what I learned will become as nothing.
The more I search the scriptures I have a better understanding of who God is and what he expects from me. The more I get into His presence the hungrier I become.
May your time be spent in seeking the one who died and rose again for you.
Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Joy
Attempt great things for God.
John 14:12 (Amplified Bible)
I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father.
As I spend more time in the Word and in prayer, not only do I expect more things from God, but I feel I can attempt to do greater things for Him. The time spent at the minister's convention was wonderful and I learned a lot. However, if I don't continue to study and search the scriptures then what I learned will become as nothing.
The more I search the scriptures I have a better understanding of who God is and what he expects from me. The more I get into His presence the hungrier I become.
May your time be spent in seeking the one who died and rose again for you.
Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Joy
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Being a servant to all.
Greetings from sunny, but cool Bend.
I am sending this devotional from the minister's convention here in Bend. We have been having wonderful services.
"The greatest achievements are those that benefit others."
Matthew 23:10-12 (Amplified Bible)
10 And you must not be called masters (leaders), for you have one Master (Leader), the Christ.
11 He who is greatest among you shall be your servant.
12 Whoever exalts himself with haughtiness and empty pride] shall be humbled (brought low), and whoever humbles himself [whoever has a modest opinion of himself and behaves accordingly] shall be raised to honor.
Last night after the service several of us went to Shari's for a snack. Upon leaving the restaurant, Bro. Bill, Sis. Karen, Bro. Richard and Sis. Tonya who were together witnessed a guy in a jeep hit and run over a man 2-3 times. Bro. Bill immediately parked his vehicle to help protect the man. Bro. Richard and Sis. Tonya jumped out and began helping the man who lay dying in the road. Bro. Richard rebuked death while Bro. Bill was praying in tongues. There was a policeman that pulled up almost immediately and he caught the guy in the jeep. Sis. Karen saw the man and screamed to the others he was going to get hit. While she was giving her statement to the police, she told them the men were ministers and one was rebuked death while the other was speaking in tongues. She said the office thought she was crazy. The officer said that if the man should have died so something worked.
That group became servants last night to someone they didn't even know. They were good Samaritan's without worrying about themselves or the blood they got on their hands. Last night they were exalted in God's sight and a man is alive today, because they cared.
You probably won't be put into a position today to save lives, however check as you go about your day as to how you can serve someone in the name of the Lord.
God bless you!
Joy
I am sending this devotional from the minister's convention here in Bend. We have been having wonderful services.
"The greatest achievements are those that benefit others."
Matthew 23:10-12 (Amplified Bible)
10 And you must not be called masters (leaders), for you have one Master (Leader), the Christ.
11 He who is greatest among you shall be your servant.
12 Whoever exalts himself with haughtiness and empty pride] shall be humbled (brought low), and whoever humbles himself [whoever has a modest opinion of himself and behaves accordingly] shall be raised to honor.
Last night after the service several of us went to Shari's for a snack. Upon leaving the restaurant, Bro. Bill, Sis. Karen, Bro. Richard and Sis. Tonya who were together witnessed a guy in a jeep hit and run over a man 2-3 times. Bro. Bill immediately parked his vehicle to help protect the man. Bro. Richard and Sis. Tonya jumped out and began helping the man who lay dying in the road. Bro. Richard rebuked death while Bro. Bill was praying in tongues. There was a policeman that pulled up almost immediately and he caught the guy in the jeep. Sis. Karen saw the man and screamed to the others he was going to get hit. While she was giving her statement to the police, she told them the men were ministers and one was rebuked death while the other was speaking in tongues. She said the office thought she was crazy. The officer said that if the man should have died so something worked.
That group became servants last night to someone they didn't even know. They were good Samaritan's without worrying about themselves or the blood they got on their hands. Last night they were exalted in God's sight and a man is alive today, because they cared.
You probably won't be put into a position today to save lives, however check as you go about your day as to how you can serve someone in the name of the Lord.
God bless you!
Joy
Daddy's song
Daily Devotional from JoyGreetings! It is April 18th, a special day because it is my earthlyfather's birthday. My eleven siblings and I base much of our conception ofhow wonderful the Heavenly Father is on how wonderful our earthly father was. He was a humble, poor man that was rich in Spirit, whose eyes sparkled with life and mischief, who treasured the value of life and others,and who taught us much of life's lessons, though often bowed with the painhe carried with him from childhood when he broke his back falling onto amanger. We were the richest "poor" kids in the world!He (and Mother) taught us to love God, love each other, love our country andthe people of the world, love the creation of the Father, and above allthings, to give praise and glory to God every day. Embodied is a copyof a poem Daddy wrote the day after his 66th birthday, in his ownhandwriting. His instructions to us many times a day was always, "don'tforget to praise the Lord."The scripture says if our earthly father knows how to give the best he canto his children, how much more does the Heavenly Father know and want togive the best to His children. If you are a parent, sharing the love of Godwith your children is the most important thing you can do!Enjoy the love of your Heavenly Father today. And don't forget to praise theLord!Blessings on you!
Joy
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Walk in His Ways
Jeremiah 7:23-24 (Amplified Bible)
23 But this thing I did command them: Listen to and obey My voice, and I will be your God and you will be My people; and walk in the whole way that I command you, that it may be well with you.
I have been listening more and more to the voice of the Lord and to obey Him. I realize as I listen to Him and walk in His way that I can go to Him with any request and He will answer me. I also know that as I walk with Him, He not only leads me and guides me, He blesses me along the way.
I am a widow and I feel like the widow in the Bible who when she was obedient to the prophet of God, her cruse of oil never ran out. My cruse of oil is still full. Praise the Lord.
Begin to walk in the way He has commanded you and see the blessings overtake you.
Joy
23 But this thing I did command them: Listen to and obey My voice, and I will be your God and you will be My people; and walk in the whole way that I command you, that it may be well with you.
I have been listening more and more to the voice of the Lord and to obey Him. I realize as I listen to Him and walk in His way that I can go to Him with any request and He will answer me. I also know that as I walk with Him, He not only leads me and guides me, He blesses me along the way.
I am a widow and I feel like the widow in the Bible who when she was obedient to the prophet of God, her cruse of oil never ran out. My cruse of oil is still full. Praise the Lord.
Begin to walk in the way He has commanded you and see the blessings overtake you.
Joy
Monday, April 16, 2007
Overflowing with God's Love!
John 14:15, 21
15 If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands.
21 The person who has My commands and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I [too] will love him and will show (reveal, manifest) Myself to him. [I will let Myself be clearly seen by him and make Myself real to him.]
Sometimes if we are not careful we will get so busy we only know how to make a living. But when we begin to walk with God as our Father and love Him with everything within us we can begin to know how to make a life.
Jesus said"I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)."
I desire that abundant life. I want my life so overflowing with the blessings of God, they will overflow onto everyone I meet.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
May you have a beautiful day in the Lord.
Joy
15 If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands.
21 The person who has My commands and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I [too] will love him and will show (reveal, manifest) Myself to him. [I will let Myself be clearly seen by him and make Myself real to him.]
Sometimes if we are not careful we will get so busy we only know how to make a living. But when we begin to walk with God as our Father and love Him with everything within us we can begin to know how to make a life.
Jesus said"I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)."
I desire that abundant life. I want my life so overflowing with the blessings of God, they will overflow onto everyone I meet.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
May you have a beautiful day in the Lord.
Joy
Sunday, April 15, 2007
If God be for US!
Romans 8:31 (Amplified Bible)
What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?]
God plus one is always a majority!
When we go about our daily walk and run into difficulties, if we would just remember who is for us and walk in Him we would come out victorious every time. Maybe not in the way we think, but in God's way. In serving the Lord, we need to remember He said he will fight our battles for us. We need to get to the place in Him that we quit struggling with things and just rest in Him, knowing He will see us through.
Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Joy
What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?]
God plus one is always a majority!
When we go about our daily walk and run into difficulties, if we would just remember who is for us and walk in Him we would come out victorious every time. Maybe not in the way we think, but in God's way. In serving the Lord, we need to remember He said he will fight our battles for us. We need to get to the place in Him that we quit struggling with things and just rest in Him, knowing He will see us through.
Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Joy
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Praise The Lord!
Psalm 150
1 PRAISE THE Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in the heavens of His power!
2 Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to the abundance of His greatness!
3 Praise Him with trumpet sound; praise Him with lute and harp!
4 Praise Him with tambourine and [single or group] dance; praise Him with stringed and wind instruments or flutes!
5 Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with loud clashing cymbals!
6 Let everything that has breath and every breath of life praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)
Today as you go about your day may your mind and heart be filled with Praise. May every thought you think be pleasing unto our Creator.
God Bless You!
Joy
1 PRAISE THE Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in the heavens of His power!
2 Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to the abundance of His greatness!
3 Praise Him with trumpet sound; praise Him with lute and harp!
4 Praise Him with tambourine and [single or group] dance; praise Him with stringed and wind instruments or flutes!
5 Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with loud clashing cymbals!
6 Let everything that has breath and every breath of life praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)
Today as you go about your day may your mind and heart be filled with Praise. May every thought you think be pleasing unto our Creator.
God Bless You!
Joy
Friday, April 13, 2007
Lord make me a stronger person!
Don't ask for an easier life; ask to be a stronger person.
Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. Psalms 84:5
I don't know about you, but I want to be strong in the Lord. I want to be able to run and not be weary, to walk and not faint. I want to have the strength to do all my housework; to take long walks, to feel vibrant; to be full of life. I can get to that place if I begin to walk in the Lord and in His word. He says "The joy of the Lord is my strength" so if I want joy and strength I need to come to know the Lord. Not just have an on again off again experience; but to LIVE in Him at all times. I find the more I get into His Word and into prayer time with my Father the hungrier I become for Him.
May you have a blessed day in the Lord and draw strength from Him.
Joy
Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. Psalms 84:5
I don't know about you, but I want to be strong in the Lord. I want to be able to run and not be weary, to walk and not faint. I want to have the strength to do all my housework; to take long walks, to feel vibrant; to be full of life. I can get to that place if I begin to walk in the Lord and in His word. He says "The joy of the Lord is my strength" so if I want joy and strength I need to come to know the Lord. Not just have an on again off again experience; but to LIVE in Him at all times. I find the more I get into His Word and into prayer time with my Father the hungrier I become for Him.
May you have a blessed day in the Lord and draw strength from Him.
Joy
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Do you Love Yourself?
Greetings,
One day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful.--Sigmund Freud
Mark 12:29-31
29 Jesus answered, The first and principal one of all commands is: Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God is one Lord;
30 And you shall love the Lord your God out of and with your whole heart and out of and with all your soul (your life) and out of and with all your mind (with your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and with all your strength. This is the first and principal commandment.
31 The second is like it and is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.
In order to love God the way His word says to love him, we have to love our self. Then we have to love our neighbor.
God says we need to love him with everything that is within us. When we put God first in our life and seek him then we will be able to love our self and those around us. It is so wonderful when all is well with your relationship with the Lord.
Have a blessed day.
Joy
One day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful.--Sigmund Freud
Mark 12:29-31
29 Jesus answered, The first and principal one of all commands is: Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God is one Lord;
30 And you shall love the Lord your God out of and with your whole heart and out of and with all your soul (your life) and out of and with all your mind (with your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and with all your strength. This is the first and principal commandment.
31 The second is like it and is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.
In order to love God the way His word says to love him, we have to love our self. Then we have to love our neighbor.
God says we need to love him with everything that is within us. When we put God first in our life and seek him then we will be able to love our self and those around us. It is so wonderful when all is well with your relationship with the Lord.
Have a blessed day.
Joy
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Who Shall Separate You From God?
Romans 8:35-39 (Amplified Bible)
35 Who shall ever separate us from Christ's love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword?
36 Even as it is written, For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long; we are regarded and counted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us.
38 For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers,
39 Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I am so thankful that NOTHING can separate us from the love of God, except ourselves. I can't understand why anyone who has experienced God's love and compassion would turn around and walk away from Him. I know for myself I don't know how I would ever survive from day to day without His leading and guiding me. I couldn't live without His love and compassion. He is my everything. In Him I live and breathe and have my being. Praise His Holy Name.
Have a fantastic day in the Lord.
Joy
35 Who shall ever separate us from Christ's love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword?
36 Even as it is written, For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long; we are regarded and counted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us.
38 For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers,
39 Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I am so thankful that NOTHING can separate us from the love of God, except ourselves. I can't understand why anyone who has experienced God's love and compassion would turn around and walk away from Him. I know for myself I don't know how I would ever survive from day to day without His leading and guiding me. I couldn't live without His love and compassion. He is my everything. In Him I live and breathe and have my being. Praise His Holy Name.
Have a fantastic day in the Lord.
Joy
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Be Courageous
Greetings,
I have received several emails and phone calls from some of you who are battling with discouragement. Yesterday 3 different books I picked up to read and the reading I'm doing in the Bible all gave the same verses which gave instructions on overcoming discouragement.
I thought I would share those with you today:
Joshua 1:6-9 (Amplified Bible)
6 Be strong (confident) and of good courage, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
7 Only you be strong and very courageous, that you may do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you. Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good [a]success.
9 Have not I commanded you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
This was a footnote at the end of these verses, I thought the comment very interesting and will study out the scriptures it gives, as I want to be strong and not walk in fear.
This is the only place in the early English versions where the word "success" is found. The secret of success is given in verses 5 through 9. Joshua accepted Moses' place of leadership without misgivings. God's will for him was his will, and he did not hesitate. To go "all out" for God was already habitual with him; it is the unfailing prerequisite of eternal success (Deut. 6:3-5; Ps. 1:1-3; Luke 10:25-28).
Sometimes we forget WE are not in this battle alone. God is with us. He will bring us through victorious if we let Him.
How do we become strong? The Bible says in Nehemiah 8:10b
for this day is holy to our Lord. And be not grieved and depressed, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold.
When we begin to grasp that the JOY OF THE LORD is out strength and walk in that JOY regardless of our circumstances; then we will have the strength we need to become strong in Him. We will be able to deal wisely and to have good success in every area of our lives.
Praise the Lord!
Joy
I have received several emails and phone calls from some of you who are battling with discouragement. Yesterday 3 different books I picked up to read and the reading I'm doing in the Bible all gave the same verses which gave instructions on overcoming discouragement.
I thought I would share those with you today:
Joshua 1:6-9 (Amplified Bible)
6 Be strong (confident) and of good courage, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
7 Only you be strong and very courageous, that you may do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you. Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good [a]success.
9 Have not I commanded you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
This was a footnote at the end of these verses, I thought the comment very interesting and will study out the scriptures it gives, as I want to be strong and not walk in fear.
This is the only place in the early English versions where the word "success" is found. The secret of success is given in verses 5 through 9. Joshua accepted Moses' place of leadership without misgivings. God's will for him was his will, and he did not hesitate. To go "all out" for God was already habitual with him; it is the unfailing prerequisite of eternal success (Deut. 6:3-5; Ps. 1:1-3; Luke 10:25-28).
Sometimes we forget WE are not in this battle alone. God is with us. He will bring us through victorious if we let Him.
How do we become strong? The Bible says in Nehemiah 8:10b
for this day is holy to our Lord. And be not grieved and depressed, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold.
When we begin to grasp that the JOY OF THE LORD is out strength and walk in that JOY regardless of our circumstances; then we will have the strength we need to become strong in Him. We will be able to deal wisely and to have good success in every area of our lives.
Praise the Lord!
Joy
Monday, April 9, 2007
When you feel like God can't use you....
God, grant me the Serenity to accept the people I cannot change, the Courage to change the one I can, and the Wisdom to know it's me.
The next time you feel like God can't use you, just remember...
Abraham was too old
Isaac was a daydreamer
Jacob was a liar
Joseph was abused
Moses had a stuttering problem
Gideon was afraid
Samson had long hair and was a womanizer
Rahab was a prostitute
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
David had an affair and was a murderer
Elijah was suicidal
Isaiah preached naked
Jonah ran from God
Naomi was a widow
Job went bankrupt
John the Baptist ate bugs
Peter denied Christ
The Disciples fell asleep while praying
Martha worried about everything
The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once
Zaccheus was too small
Paul was too religious
Timothy had an ulcer...AND
Lazarus was dead!
No more excuses now. God can use you to your full potential.
Besides you aren't the message, you are just the messenger.
Have a great day in the Lord.
Joy
The next time you feel like God can't use you, just remember...
Abraham was too old
Isaac was a daydreamer
Jacob was a liar
Joseph was abused
Moses had a stuttering problem
Gideon was afraid
Samson had long hair and was a womanizer
Rahab was a prostitute
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
David had an affair and was a murderer
Elijah was suicidal
Isaiah preached naked
Jonah ran from God
Naomi was a widow
Job went bankrupt
John the Baptist ate bugs
Peter denied Christ
The Disciples fell asleep while praying
Martha worried about everything
The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once
Zaccheus was too small
Paul was too religious
Timothy had an ulcer...AND
Lazarus was dead!
No more excuses now. God can use you to your full potential.
Besides you aren't the message, you are just the messenger.
Have a great day in the Lord.
Joy
Sunday, April 8, 2007
He is Risen
Easter Greetings,
He is Risen
Matt 28:5-6
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. KJV
Luke 24:5
Why seek ye the living among the dead? KJV
Sometimes we get so caught up in the things of the past or in the grief over someone we loved dying that we forget to live. Sometimes our mistakes we made seem to keep us from going forward. The past is dead. We can’t do anything to change it. So why not this beautiful Easter morning make a fresh start and begin to live. Striving to be all God wants us to be.
This Easter as we think about the resurrection of Jesus, we really need to think the significance of what His death meant for us.
You see when Jesus was in the garden praying for His Father (God) to take the cup from Him, yet He said “Never the less not my will but thine be done” Jesus knew in that cup was all the sins man had ever committed or would commit. He knew what it was to be the abuser as well as the abused. He knew what it was to be the violator as well as the violated. He knew what it was to be the murderer as well as the murdered. Jesus knew what it felt like to have every disease known to man. Yet He still went to the cross for you and me. Why? Because that was the only way God knew to change the curse after Adam and Eve sinned against Him.
There is a lady in our church who has 3 little boys. They are 6, 5 and 4. Those boys are full of fun, mischief and life. Last Saturday they went to a birthday party for their cousin. At the party they were each given a basket of Easter candy and a balloon. Tristian looked through his candy and found a chocolate covered marshmallow bunny. Last year the boy’s grandma went home to be with Jesus. As Tristian looked at that bunny he told his mom “mom I have to send this bunny to Grandma”. His mom tried to explain to him that Grandma was in Heaven and that Jesus would give her some chocolate covered bunnies. Tristian started to cry and explained again to his mom that he knew his grandma needed that bunny because they were her favorite candy. He then tried to tie the bunny to his balloon to get it to heaven. The bunny was too heavy and wouldn’t lift off the ground. His mom went to the store and bought 20 helium balloons and with all the family, dad, mom and the three boys standing in the yard with tears in their eyes, they again tied the Easter bunny to the balloons and sent it off to their grandma in Heaven.
Jesus is waiting with open arms to offer you His love and all the blessings Heaven has to offer, if you will just accept them. He will give you life! In fact He will give you an abundant life; it is not for when you get to heaven. It is for now. His dying and rising again was so we could have an abundant life spiritually, physically, mentally and financially now. Maybe we need to be like Tristian and become determined to get the blessings from God the way he was determined to send his Easter bunny to his Grandma.
Have a most blessed Easter and remember the GREAT I AM
Joy
He is Risen
Matt 28:5-6
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. KJV
Luke 24:5
Why seek ye the living among the dead? KJV
Sometimes we get so caught up in the things of the past or in the grief over someone we loved dying that we forget to live. Sometimes our mistakes we made seem to keep us from going forward. The past is dead. We can’t do anything to change it. So why not this beautiful Easter morning make a fresh start and begin to live. Striving to be all God wants us to be.
This Easter as we think about the resurrection of Jesus, we really need to think the significance of what His death meant for us.
You see when Jesus was in the garden praying for His Father (God) to take the cup from Him, yet He said “Never the less not my will but thine be done” Jesus knew in that cup was all the sins man had ever committed or would commit. He knew what it was to be the abuser as well as the abused. He knew what it was to be the violator as well as the violated. He knew what it was to be the murderer as well as the murdered. Jesus knew what it felt like to have every disease known to man. Yet He still went to the cross for you and me. Why? Because that was the only way God knew to change the curse after Adam and Eve sinned against Him.
There is a lady in our church who has 3 little boys. They are 6, 5 and 4. Those boys are full of fun, mischief and life. Last Saturday they went to a birthday party for their cousin. At the party they were each given a basket of Easter candy and a balloon. Tristian looked through his candy and found a chocolate covered marshmallow bunny. Last year the boy’s grandma went home to be with Jesus. As Tristian looked at that bunny he told his mom “mom I have to send this bunny to Grandma”. His mom tried to explain to him that Grandma was in Heaven and that Jesus would give her some chocolate covered bunnies. Tristian started to cry and explained again to his mom that he knew his grandma needed that bunny because they were her favorite candy. He then tried to tie the bunny to his balloon to get it to heaven. The bunny was too heavy and wouldn’t lift off the ground. His mom went to the store and bought 20 helium balloons and with all the family, dad, mom and the three boys standing in the yard with tears in their eyes, they again tied the Easter bunny to the balloons and sent it off to their grandma in Heaven.
Jesus is waiting with open arms to offer you His love and all the blessings Heaven has to offer, if you will just accept them. He will give you life! In fact He will give you an abundant life; it is not for when you get to heaven. It is for now. His dying and rising again was so we could have an abundant life spiritually, physically, mentally and financially now. Maybe we need to be like Tristian and become determined to get the blessings from God the way he was determined to send his Easter bunny to his Grandma.
Have a most blessed Easter and remember the GREAT I AM
Joy
Saturday, April 7, 2007
What does Easter mean to you?
Greetings to all of you,
I pray this day is filled with the presence of God's love.
As most of you are getting ready for tomorrow (Easter) I wonder what is on your mind? Is it the fancy new clothes and will they look ok? Is it the big Sunday dinner you have to cook? Is it the Easter baskets you bought your kids and whether they will like them? After all they cost enough. Will you be thinking about the huge Easter egg hunt you took your kids to and they didn't find enough eggs. What will be on your mind tomorrow as we celebrate Easter.
While I was thinking about Easter and what it means, God gave me some thoughts I would like to share with you.
First without the birth of Jesus there would be no Easter.
Second without the death of Jesus there would be no Easter.
Third without the Resurrection of Jesus there would be no Easter.
Fourth had Jesus not been willing to come down from Heaven to go through what he went through there would be no Easter.
Easter to me is the knowledge that Jesus loved me enough to die for me, and to live again so that I might have life.
Whether I accept His love and salvation is a choice only I can make. No one else can make that choice but me.
I am so thankful I made the choice many years ago to accept Jesus into my heart and walk with Him.
No it hasn't been an easy walk, but oh it's been such a rewarding walk. When I think of all I've gone through in just the last six years and the way the Lord has sustained me, my hearts overflows with love for Him.
I can say I have been strengthened and walk before the Lord with a new purpose and Love for Him. I know that comes First from my relationship and faith in the Lord. Second from the love and support of my family. Third from the love and support of my church family.
Today as you are rushing around doing things, remember the Christ who died that you might have LIFE.
John 10:10b (amplified)
I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance--to the full, till it overflows.
That is what I feel I have--except I'm hungry for more.
May God richly bless you this day.
Joy
I pray this day is filled with the presence of God's love.
As most of you are getting ready for tomorrow (Easter) I wonder what is on your mind? Is it the fancy new clothes and will they look ok? Is it the big Sunday dinner you have to cook? Is it the Easter baskets you bought your kids and whether they will like them? After all they cost enough. Will you be thinking about the huge Easter egg hunt you took your kids to and they didn't find enough eggs. What will be on your mind tomorrow as we celebrate Easter.
While I was thinking about Easter and what it means, God gave me some thoughts I would like to share with you.
First without the birth of Jesus there would be no Easter.
Second without the death of Jesus there would be no Easter.
Third without the Resurrection of Jesus there would be no Easter.
Fourth had Jesus not been willing to come down from Heaven to go through what he went through there would be no Easter.
Easter to me is the knowledge that Jesus loved me enough to die for me, and to live again so that I might have life.
Whether I accept His love and salvation is a choice only I can make. No one else can make that choice but me.
I am so thankful I made the choice many years ago to accept Jesus into my heart and walk with Him.
No it hasn't been an easy walk, but oh it's been such a rewarding walk. When I think of all I've gone through in just the last six years and the way the Lord has sustained me, my hearts overflows with love for Him.
I can say I have been strengthened and walk before the Lord with a new purpose and Love for Him. I know that comes First from my relationship and faith in the Lord. Second from the love and support of my family. Third from the love and support of my church family.
Today as you are rushing around doing things, remember the Christ who died that you might have LIFE.
John 10:10b (amplified)
I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance--to the full, till it overflows.
That is what I feel I have--except I'm hungry for more.
May God richly bless you this day.
Joy
Friday, April 6, 2007
Peace Born of Conflict
Psalm 66:12 (Amplified Bible)
12You caused men to ride over our heads [when we were prostrate]; we went through fire and through water, but You brought us out into a broad, moist place [to abundance and refreshment and the open air].
"A man is only at rest who attains it through conflict. This peace, born of conflict is not like the deadly hush preceding the tempest, but the serene and pure-aired quiet that follows it." Taken from Streams in the Desert by Mrs. Cowman.
I think of myself and when I went through the fire literaly. I got burnt in the face in February 2004. It was a most intense pain, and yet I felt the Lord so close to me. I have grown so much and learned much walking through the fire. He has indeed brought me to a wonderful place in Him. I know I have become closer to the Lord than I ever was before. I can also relate and have compassion for those suffering. I am walking in abundance; and I praise God for it. He will see you through each trial and difficult situation if you let Him.
May you have a blessed day in the Lord.
Joy
12You caused men to ride over our heads [when we were prostrate]; we went through fire and through water, but You brought us out into a broad, moist place [to abundance and refreshment and the open air].
"A man is only at rest who attains it through conflict. This peace, born of conflict is not like the deadly hush preceding the tempest, but the serene and pure-aired quiet that follows it." Taken from Streams in the Desert by Mrs. Cowman.
I think of myself and when I went through the fire literaly. I got burnt in the face in February 2004. It was a most intense pain, and yet I felt the Lord so close to me. I have grown so much and learned much walking through the fire. He has indeed brought me to a wonderful place in Him. I know I have become closer to the Lord than I ever was before. I can also relate and have compassion for those suffering. I am walking in abundance; and I praise God for it. He will see you through each trial and difficult situation if you let Him.
May you have a blessed day in the Lord.
Joy
Thursday, April 5, 2007
The Heavens Declare The Glory of God
Psalms 19:1-2 1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.KJV
Psalms 19:7
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.KJV
I am so thankful that God gave us such beauty to enjoy. When I read about the heavens declaring the glory of God, I wonder how much more we should be declaring the glory of God to the world? God made all creation to glorify Him. They don't have a choice. We do, so why aren't we giving Him his due?
The Word of God is perfect. The more I read it and ask God for understanding the more alive it becomes. It also gets easier to understand. God is an awesome God and a loving Father. He waits with open arms for us to enjoy fellowship with Him.
May you have a blessed day in the Lord.
Joy
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
What does the Lord Require?
Micah 6:8 (Amplified Bible)
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, and to love kindness and mercy, and to humble yourself and walk humbly with your God?
I am so thankful that the Lord gave us His Word to know how to live our lives. He has given us a clear and to the most part simple instructions to be able to have a life that is abundant in Him.
We are to do good, to walk humbly with Him. It isn't hard for me to love kindness and mercy. Sometimes it's a little harder to pass that love and kindness on to someone who has hurt me or done me wrong.
I am learning though that when I pass the Love of Jesus along, I let the hurts and anger flow out of me. If I left them in my heart, they would begin to fester and get worse. Besides if I allow things like that to stay in my heart it takes away from the room Jesus has to fill me with His love, joy, peace, contentment and the Holy Ghost.
I want to be a vessel worthy of Honor, how about you?
Have a most blessed and joyful day in the Lord.
Joy
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, and to love kindness and mercy, and to humble yourself and walk humbly with your God?
I am so thankful that the Lord gave us His Word to know how to live our lives. He has given us a clear and to the most part simple instructions to be able to have a life that is abundant in Him.
We are to do good, to walk humbly with Him. It isn't hard for me to love kindness and mercy. Sometimes it's a little harder to pass that love and kindness on to someone who has hurt me or done me wrong.
I am learning though that when I pass the Love of Jesus along, I let the hurts and anger flow out of me. If I left them in my heart, they would begin to fester and get worse. Besides if I allow things like that to stay in my heart it takes away from the room Jesus has to fill me with His love, joy, peace, contentment and the Holy Ghost.
I want to be a vessel worthy of Honor, how about you?
Have a most blessed and joyful day in the Lord.
Joy
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
I am the Lord!
Isaiah 45:5-6 (Amplified Bible)
5 I am the Lord, and there is no one else; there is no God besides Me. I will gird and arm you, though you have not known Me,
6 That men may know from the east and the rising of the sun and from the west and the setting of the sun that there is no God besides Me. I am the Lord, and no one else [is He].
Isaiah 45:22 (Amplified Bible)
22 Look to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.
Isaiah 46:9 (Amplified Bible)
9 [Earnestly] remember the former things, [which I did] of old; for I am God, and there is no one else; I am God, and there is none like Me,
There is nothing in this life that can fill the void in your life except God. He created us to glorify Him. When we begin to understand the relationship the Lord wants with us and begin to walk in that fellowship with Him, then we will begin to share with others the love of God in a way we never could before.
God is love. He stands with arms wide open waiting for us to acknowledge that He is Lord and there is none other.
I don't know what it would be like to walk without the Lord! I don't want to try to walk without Him. He is my reason for living!
May you have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Joy
5 I am the Lord, and there is no one else; there is no God besides Me. I will gird and arm you, though you have not known Me,
6 That men may know from the east and the rising of the sun and from the west and the setting of the sun that there is no God besides Me. I am the Lord, and no one else [is He].
Isaiah 45:22 (Amplified Bible)
22 Look to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.
Isaiah 46:9 (Amplified Bible)
9 [Earnestly] remember the former things, [which I did] of old; for I am God, and there is no one else; I am God, and there is none like Me,
There is nothing in this life that can fill the void in your life except God. He created us to glorify Him. When we begin to understand the relationship the Lord wants with us and begin to walk in that fellowship with Him, then we will begin to share with others the love of God in a way we never could before.
God is love. He stands with arms wide open waiting for us to acknowledge that He is Lord and there is none other.
I don't know what it would be like to walk without the Lord! I don't want to try to walk without Him. He is my reason for living!
May you have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Joy
Monday, April 2, 2007
How to avoid a nervous breakdown
Isaiah 26:3-4
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Trust ye in the Lord forever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.
Isaiah 25: 1 & 4
O Lord thou are my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.
Isa 25:4
4 For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.
When you think of all the people in the Bible who went through terrible things the thing that stands out in my opinion is how they all realized that without God in their lives they were nothing. With God in their lives they were able to face and conqueror the most terrible situations.
Look at Abraham for a moment when he was commanded by God to take Isaac up to the mountain God would tell him of and to offer him as a burnt offering he did it. Can you picture in your mind your reaction if God told you to take your only child and offer him/her at a burnt offering before the Lord? Abraham did not question God he was obedient and for that God rewarded him and spared Isaac. Abraham could have played all kinds of mind games. He could have lain awake and argued with God. He could have gotten up the next morning out of sorts and mad at the whole world. Abraham chose not to do that and just did what God told him to do. What faith! What obedience! God wants us to be so centered on him that nothing else matters. He is trying to show us through his word and the example of men and women in the Bible that He will take care of us and give us perfect peace if we will completely trust in Him.
I believe if we keep our minds stayed on God then we will be able to sing his praises and glorify him regardless of what we are going through.
I know I haven’t been thrown into a fiery furnace, a lion’s den, jail or beaten just for believing in Him. I sometimes wonder what we would really do and how our lives would be changed if we had to go through some of the things the faithful men and women in the Bible went through. We think we have it rough trying to go to church a couple of times a week. We have our cars that are warm in the winter and cool in the summer, warm homes, food that we don’t have to plant, cultivate and harvest, most of the time we just pop it into the microwave or eat out. Think for a moment if you will of what it would have been like to walk everywhere you needed to go, or if you were fortunate have a horse or donkey to ride. Having to sleep out in the open wherever you went and to scrounge for what food you would get.
God has indeed given us an abundant life. The more we are content with our life and the more we praise our King the greater peace we will have. Peace of heart, peace of soul and peace of mind what a way to avoid a nervous breakdown.
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Trust ye in the Lord forever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.
Isaiah 25: 1 & 4
O Lord thou are my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.
Isa 25:4
4 For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.
When you think of all the people in the Bible who went through terrible things the thing that stands out in my opinion is how they all realized that without God in their lives they were nothing. With God in their lives they were able to face and conqueror the most terrible situations.
Look at Abraham for a moment when he was commanded by God to take Isaac up to the mountain God would tell him of and to offer him as a burnt offering he did it. Can you picture in your mind your reaction if God told you to take your only child and offer him/her at a burnt offering before the Lord? Abraham did not question God he was obedient and for that God rewarded him and spared Isaac. Abraham could have played all kinds of mind games. He could have lain awake and argued with God. He could have gotten up the next morning out of sorts and mad at the whole world. Abraham chose not to do that and just did what God told him to do. What faith! What obedience! God wants us to be so centered on him that nothing else matters. He is trying to show us through his word and the example of men and women in the Bible that He will take care of us and give us perfect peace if we will completely trust in Him.
I believe if we keep our minds stayed on God then we will be able to sing his praises and glorify him regardless of what we are going through.
I know I haven’t been thrown into a fiery furnace, a lion’s den, jail or beaten just for believing in Him. I sometimes wonder what we would really do and how our lives would be changed if we had to go through some of the things the faithful men and women in the Bible went through. We think we have it rough trying to go to church a couple of times a week. We have our cars that are warm in the winter and cool in the summer, warm homes, food that we don’t have to plant, cultivate and harvest, most of the time we just pop it into the microwave or eat out. Think for a moment if you will of what it would have been like to walk everywhere you needed to go, or if you were fortunate have a horse or donkey to ride. Having to sleep out in the open wherever you went and to scrounge for what food you would get.
God has indeed given us an abundant life. The more we are content with our life and the more we praise our King the greater peace we will have. Peace of heart, peace of soul and peace of mind what a way to avoid a nervous breakdown.
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Look on us
Acts 3:1-6
1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
The lame man wanted something from Peter and John. He had been begging money, so when Peter and John told him to “look on us” I expect the man figured he would be getting some money. I think when he looked up at Peter and John his hopes might have fallen some as he saw them as two fishermen. He probably knew that fishermen didn’t have much in the way of money, however he looked up which to me was his first step in faith. He believed he was going to receive something from these two men. What he didn’t know was he was about to receive something that had unmeasureable value.
Peter said to this man Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
Peter was so full of God and the Holy Ghost he knew what he could give this man through the power of Jesus.
Peter and John were able in the power of Jesus to give the man his healing, which enabled the man to have the strength to work and earn his own money.
Acts 3:7-10
7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
Note when Peter took him by the right hand and lifted him up immediately his feet and anklebones received strength. Had the man not taken Peter’s hand, he would have still been sitting wishing and begging for money. I believe this was his second act of faith. He had to reach out and take Peter’s hand. He had to believe what Peter was telling him to the point of reaching out and believing something he could not at that moment see. How many of us are still crippled by choice, somewhere we have lost the faith that God can and will heal us. Some are crippled spiritually, some are crippled mentally and some are crippled emotionally. I believe that Jesus is saying, “Look on me” and reach out and take my right hand and I will heal you.
1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
The lame man wanted something from Peter and John. He had been begging money, so when Peter and John told him to “look on us” I expect the man figured he would be getting some money. I think when he looked up at Peter and John his hopes might have fallen some as he saw them as two fishermen. He probably knew that fishermen didn’t have much in the way of money, however he looked up which to me was his first step in faith. He believed he was going to receive something from these two men. What he didn’t know was he was about to receive something that had unmeasureable value.
Peter said to this man Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
Peter was so full of God and the Holy Ghost he knew what he could give this man through the power of Jesus.
Peter and John were able in the power of Jesus to give the man his healing, which enabled the man to have the strength to work and earn his own money.
Acts 3:7-10
7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
Note when Peter took him by the right hand and lifted him up immediately his feet and anklebones received strength. Had the man not taken Peter’s hand, he would have still been sitting wishing and begging for money. I believe this was his second act of faith. He had to reach out and take Peter’s hand. He had to believe what Peter was telling him to the point of reaching out and believing something he could not at that moment see. How many of us are still crippled by choice, somewhere we have lost the faith that God can and will heal us. Some are crippled spiritually, some are crippled mentally and some are crippled emotionally. I believe that Jesus is saying, “Look on me” and reach out and take my right hand and I will heal you.
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