Good morning,
I pray you have a wonderful and blessed day!
I was thinking about the power of God while reading Mike's (Toni's my cousin, Mike is her brother) report on his grandson who was injured in a car accident last Tuesday. It is a miracle that He is alive. Even the doctors at Mayo clinic are talking about the miracles that have been happening; you see the Lord's hand in this situation so strong, people can't help but know it's the POWER of God working.
Psalms 20:13
Be exalted, Lord, in Your strength; we will sing and praise Your power.
When we give praise to the Father, we increase His strength and power. It enables God to work greater miracles for those we love. Why? Because when we praise Him, we bless the Father's heart and in so doing build up our faith to release the power for miracles.
Praise the Lord!
Have a great day! I am off to supervise a group of teens at our church youth camp. So say a prayer for me this week for strength, and that I would be a blessing to the teens I come into contact with.
Love in Christ,
Joy
Monday, July 23, 2007
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Praise to the Name of the Lord Most High.
Greetings,
I have been thinking a lot lately about PRAISE. Doesn't it make you feel extra special when someone gives you a compliment or thank you for a good job? Doesn't it just make your day a little brighter? How do you think we make the FATHER feel when we take time during the day to give Him thanks. Sometimes I just praise Him regardless if I think He has done anything for me; because if I woke up then He had done something for me, He gave me air to breathe. Even when a person doesn't think God is doing anything for them, they are wrong. God is doing something for us at all times.
Psalms 7:17 says
I will give to the Lord the thanks due to His rightness and justice, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.
That is my desire today and every day to give the Lord thanks and to sing His praises all the time. I will praise the Lord most High.
Not because of anything special He has done; but because of WHO HE IS!
Praise the Lord!
Have a great day!
Joy
I have been thinking a lot lately about PRAISE. Doesn't it make you feel extra special when someone gives you a compliment or thank you for a good job? Doesn't it just make your day a little brighter? How do you think we make the FATHER feel when we take time during the day to give Him thanks. Sometimes I just praise Him regardless if I think He has done anything for me; because if I woke up then He had done something for me, He gave me air to breathe. Even when a person doesn't think God is doing anything for them, they are wrong. God is doing something for us at all times.
Psalms 7:17 says
I will give to the Lord the thanks due to His rightness and justice, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.
That is my desire today and every day to give the Lord thanks and to sing His praises all the time. I will praise the Lord most High.
Not because of anything special He has done; but because of WHO HE IS!
Praise the Lord!
Have a great day!
Joy
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Knowing God's Voice!
John 10:27-30
27 The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me.
28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it or perish throughout the ages. [To all eternity they shall never by any means be destroyed.] And no one is able to snatch them out of My hand.
29 My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all [else]; and no one is able to snatch [them] out of the Father's hand.
30 I and the Father are One.
I am so thankful Jesus made a way for us to have eternal life. No one can snatch me out of my Father's hand unless I allow them to.
I love the Lord with everything within me. Praise His Holy Name!
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Praise Before the Answer Arrives!
Good morning from rainy Dallas,
It is interesting when I started the other day with the scriptures in Psalms 119:41 & 42b how much of what I've been reading since then has to do with trust and faith.
This morning I want to share with you the scripture:
John 11:41
So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.
Jesus prayed this prayer while Lazarus was still in the grave, and the thanksgiving precedes the miracle of resurrection. Jesus gave thanks for what He is about to receive. The gratitude breaks forth before the bounty has arrived.
The song of victory is sung before the battle has been fought. It is thanksgiving before the miracle.
Praise is really the most vital preparatory ministry to the working of the miracles. Miracles are wrought by spiritual power. Spiritual power is always proportioned to our faith.
"Nothing so pleases God in connection with our prayer and our praise, and nothing so blesses the man who prays as the praise which he offers". Rev. Henry W. Frost.
May you have a praise filled day!
Joy
It is interesting when I started the other day with the scriptures in Psalms 119:41 & 42b how much of what I've been reading since then has to do with trust and faith.
This morning I want to share with you the scripture:
John 11:41
So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.
Jesus prayed this prayer while Lazarus was still in the grave, and the thanksgiving precedes the miracle of resurrection. Jesus gave thanks for what He is about to receive. The gratitude breaks forth before the bounty has arrived.
The song of victory is sung before the battle has been fought. It is thanksgiving before the miracle.
Praise is really the most vital preparatory ministry to the working of the miracles. Miracles are wrought by spiritual power. Spiritual power is always proportioned to our faith.
"Nothing so pleases God in connection with our prayer and our praise, and nothing so blesses the man who prays as the praise which he offers". Rev. Henry W. Frost.
May you have a praise filled day!
Joy
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Hope!
Lam 3:21-26
21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
22 It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
As the Lord brought this verse to my mind, I realized that what keeps us going is hope. I believe faith goes hand in hand with hope. God is telling us that it is only because of the Lord’s mercy that we are not devoured. His tenderness and kindness fail not. God wipes away our failings each night and his mercy is new every morning. Great is his faithfulness. When we let the Lord be our portion and seek him through his Word and prayer then our soul will hope in him. The next verse says the Lord is good to them that wait for him. Think of all the blessings we miss from the Lord, simply because we are not willing to wait for him. We tend to want everything now. We are a fast fix generation. The verse goes on to say to the soul that seeks him. We can again seek him through the word and prayer. It doesn’t mean getting down and saying bless me O God. Amen and expect to receive what God wants for us. It says to seek him. You can’t find him in a 20 second prayer or 20 seconds of reading of his word. Verse 26 says it is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. We need to have faith that when we pray God will answer, but he also says wait quietly for his salvation. We are not to go around moaning and groaning to everyone how we have prayed about something and God just didn't listen to us. We also need to be careful of talking negative as that is not waiting and believing that God is going to do what we have asked of him.
21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
22 It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
As the Lord brought this verse to my mind, I realized that what keeps us going is hope. I believe faith goes hand in hand with hope. God is telling us that it is only because of the Lord’s mercy that we are not devoured. His tenderness and kindness fail not. God wipes away our failings each night and his mercy is new every morning. Great is his faithfulness. When we let the Lord be our portion and seek him through his Word and prayer then our soul will hope in him. The next verse says the Lord is good to them that wait for him. Think of all the blessings we miss from the Lord, simply because we are not willing to wait for him. We tend to want everything now. We are a fast fix generation. The verse goes on to say to the soul that seeks him. We can again seek him through the word and prayer. It doesn’t mean getting down and saying bless me O God. Amen and expect to receive what God wants for us. It says to seek him. You can’t find him in a 20 second prayer or 20 seconds of reading of his word. Verse 26 says it is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. We need to have faith that when we pray God will answer, but he also says wait quietly for his salvation. We are not to go around moaning and groaning to everyone how we have prayed about something and God just didn't listen to us. We also need to be careful of talking negative as that is not waiting and believing that God is going to do what we have asked of him.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Unyielding Strength!
Greetings,
It is with pleasure that I greet you this morning. My heart is filled with praise to my Father.
Psalms 29:11
The Lord will give [unyielding and impenetrable] strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.
I am so thankful that my Lord knows what I have need of, He gives me strength when I am weary; hope when I am discouraged; joy going through a trial; and peace all the time. My Lord is an awesome Lord and deserves my praise all the time, not just when things are going well, but through the bad times as well.
God is not a Father to be used only when I want something, but He is my Father all the time. Some people feel the only time they need to call on God is when then are in a jam, however the Word says to ABIDE in Him. When I abide in Him then I can expect Him to answer my prayers.
God Bless You this Lord's Day!
Joy
It is with pleasure that I greet you this morning. My heart is filled with praise to my Father.
Psalms 29:11
The Lord will give [unyielding and impenetrable] strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.
I am so thankful that my Lord knows what I have need of, He gives me strength when I am weary; hope when I am discouraged; joy going through a trial; and peace all the time. My Lord is an awesome Lord and deserves my praise all the time, not just when things are going well, but through the bad times as well.
God is not a Father to be used only when I want something, but He is my Father all the time. Some people feel the only time they need to call on God is when then are in a jam, however the Word says to ABIDE in Him. When I abide in Him then I can expect Him to answer my prayers.
God Bless You this Lord's Day!
Joy
Monday, July 9, 2007
Thirsting for God!
Greetings from beautiful, warm, sunny Dallas,
I'm on my way to Washington with Sis. I am speaking at an Aglow meeting tomorrow in Sequim so please keep me in your prayers. Then it's off to Camp Meeting for the rest of the week. I will be sending out the devotionals every morning, I expect some really super preaching, so will be passing thoughts on to you from the meetings.
Today I want to leave you with the scripture from
Psalms 42:1-2
1 AS THE hart pants and longs for the water brooks, so I pant and long for You, O God.
2 My inner self thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God?
That is my desire to long for God, to drink up His Word, to daily have prayer time and communion with the Father, then I shall behold the face of God.
God Bless You Abundantly,
Joy
I'm on my way to Washington with Sis. I am speaking at an Aglow meeting tomorrow in Sequim so please keep me in your prayers. Then it's off to Camp Meeting for the rest of the week. I will be sending out the devotionals every morning, I expect some really super preaching, so will be passing thoughts on to you from the meetings.
Today I want to leave you with the scripture from
Psalms 42:1-2
1 AS THE hart pants and longs for the water brooks, so I pant and long for You, O God.
2 My inner self thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God?
That is my desire to long for God, to drink up His Word, to daily have prayer time and communion with the Father, then I shall behold the face of God.
God Bless You Abundantly,
Joy
Sunday, July 8, 2007
God Our Healer!
Good morning,
God is so awesome. Yesterday I went to a BBQ at Suzan's. She is the lovely lady I wrote to you about just a little over a month ago. The doctors said she had cancer of the colon and lungs, and had called in Hospice. When Sis and I went to see her the first time, she was laying in bed, on oxygen and not expected to live longer than a month. We visited with her, shared scripture with her and prayed with her. We have been visiting with her, but due to our family reunion hadn't been out in awhile. Yesterday she had invited some caregivers, friends who have been praying for her, Sis and myself to a BBQ.
July 1, was her birthday and she wanted to celebrate. She was told she wouldn't live to see this birthday. So in essence she was celebrating not only her birthday, but her life.
The first time Sis, and I went out, Suzan prayed and told God she didn't want to die. The verses I chose for today, reminded me of her and what she prayed.
Hebrews 4:14-16 (AMP)
14 Inasmuch then as we have a great High Priest Who has [already] ascended and passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession [of faith in Him].
15 For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning.
16 Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].
Because Suzan knew how to pray, she went BOLDLY before the throne of grace to obtain mercy, and to find the grace she needed to help in her time of need.
Suzan hosted not only the BBQ, but opened her home to a group of friends who ministered to each other and to her yesterday in a very special way. I am so thankful I got to be a part of her LIFE party.
Have a most blessed day in the Lord!
Joy
God is so awesome. Yesterday I went to a BBQ at Suzan's. She is the lovely lady I wrote to you about just a little over a month ago. The doctors said she had cancer of the colon and lungs, and had called in Hospice. When Sis and I went to see her the first time, she was laying in bed, on oxygen and not expected to live longer than a month. We visited with her, shared scripture with her and prayed with her. We have been visiting with her, but due to our family reunion hadn't been out in awhile. Yesterday she had invited some caregivers, friends who have been praying for her, Sis and myself to a BBQ.
July 1, was her birthday and she wanted to celebrate. She was told she wouldn't live to see this birthday. So in essence she was celebrating not only her birthday, but her life.
The first time Sis, and I went out, Suzan prayed and told God she didn't want to die. The verses I chose for today, reminded me of her and what she prayed.
Hebrews 4:14-16 (AMP)
14 Inasmuch then as we have a great High Priest Who has [already] ascended and passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession [of faith in Him].
15 For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning.
16 Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].
Because Suzan knew how to pray, she went BOLDLY before the throne of grace to obtain mercy, and to find the grace she needed to help in her time of need.
Suzan hosted not only the BBQ, but opened her home to a group of friends who ministered to each other and to her yesterday in a very special way. I am so thankful I got to be a part of her LIFE party.
Have a most blessed day in the Lord!
Joy
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Refuge for the Opressed
Psalms 9:9
The Lord also will be a refuge and a high tower for the oppressed, a refuge and a stronghold in times of trouble (high cost, destitution, and desperation).
I am so thankful that my Lord takes care of me. He is my refuge, He is my stronghold, my place of safety.
In times of trouble He will keep me safe and protected. That includes my mind as well as the rest of me.
I Praise His Holy Name.
Have a Great day!
The Lord also will be a refuge and a high tower for the oppressed, a refuge and a stronghold in times of trouble (high cost, destitution, and desperation).
I am so thankful that my Lord takes care of me. He is my refuge, He is my stronghold, my place of safety.
In times of trouble He will keep me safe and protected. That includes my mind as well as the rest of me.
I Praise His Holy Name.
Have a Great day!
Friday, July 6, 2007
Psalms 3:3
But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.
I am so thankful that God is my shield, I can know without the shadow of a doubt, He is taking care of me as I abide under His wing.
He is my glory, and makes me to walk with my head up, and my heart filled with praise.
He is my everything. I praise His Holy Name.
But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.
I am so thankful that God is my shield, I can know without the shadow of a doubt, He is taking care of me as I abide under His wing.
He is my glory, and makes me to walk with my head up, and my heart filled with praise.
He is my everything. I praise His Holy Name.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
What Hinders you?
Galatians 5:7 (Amp. Bible)
7 You were running the race nobly. Who has interfered in (hindered and stopped you from) your heeding and following the Truth?
This morning I was thinking again about my getting into the Word and prayer time full speed ahead; only to have other things come up and I put them first. I really want to seek God first, I want to read His Word first! I start and stop, I thought to myself after I finish this one more thing, then I will get back into a daily routine of praying and studying first thing when I get up. I've even neglected to keep my daily devotional here up on a daily basis. I felt in my heart the Lord speaking to me and asking me "if you can't commit to doing it now, how can you expect to do better later.
There will always be something requiring my attention. So if I don't establish good habits now in praying and reading the Word, what makes me think I can do it later.
The thought came to my mind "What hinders you"?
What hinders you from serving God the way He desires you to?
I pray that I come to understand that God MUST come FIRST.
My whole day goes better when I put Him first.
7 You were running the race nobly. Who has interfered in (hindered and stopped you from) your heeding and following the Truth?
This morning I was thinking again about my getting into the Word and prayer time full speed ahead; only to have other things come up and I put them first. I really want to seek God first, I want to read His Word first! I start and stop, I thought to myself after I finish this one more thing, then I will get back into a daily routine of praying and studying first thing when I get up. I've even neglected to keep my daily devotional here up on a daily basis. I felt in my heart the Lord speaking to me and asking me "if you can't commit to doing it now, how can you expect to do better later.
There will always be something requiring my attention. So if I don't establish good habits now in praying and reading the Word, what makes me think I can do it later.
The thought came to my mind "What hinders you"?
What hinders you from serving God the way He desires you to?
I pray that I come to understand that God MUST come FIRST.
My whole day goes better when I put Him first.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Bond or Free?
Happy 4th of July,
I was thinking about the meaning of this holiday. July 4, 1776 the Declaration of Independence was signed, with a section about "all men are created equal". There has been a lot of lives lost through the years to maintain our freedom.
We have the freedom of speech, the freedom to worship, the freedom to vote, the list goes on, and yet how many of us take it for granted?
I was thinking of the "Christian's" freedom. I believe our "Independence Day" started with Jesus' birth, His death and resurection. The day a person asks Jesus into their life, is I believe their Independence Day. When a person begins to walk in the Liberty of the Lord, then they are truly free.
Galatians 5:1
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Yesterday as I was going about my day, I was carrying on a conservation with my Father. As I was talking to Him about some hurts and disappointments that has happened recently, I was asking Him to help me overcome them so I could move on and have peace and joy in my heart.
I felt Him speak to me and this is what I got from His Words, if you've been hurt or disappointed in the past or now and when you or someone else talks about it, if it still hurts you then you have not left it with me, when it no longer as the power to hurt you; then you have become victorious over it.
So today on this special holiday, I would leave you with this question
Are you free?
Have a fun and safe holiday!
Joy
I was thinking about the meaning of this holiday. July 4, 1776 the Declaration of Independence was signed, with a section about "all men are created equal". There has been a lot of lives lost through the years to maintain our freedom.
We have the freedom of speech, the freedom to worship, the freedom to vote, the list goes on, and yet how many of us take it for granted?
I was thinking of the "Christian's" freedom. I believe our "Independence Day" started with Jesus' birth, His death and resurection. The day a person asks Jesus into their life, is I believe their Independence Day. When a person begins to walk in the Liberty of the Lord, then they are truly free.
Galatians 5:1
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Yesterday as I was going about my day, I was carrying on a conservation with my Father. As I was talking to Him about some hurts and disappointments that has happened recently, I was asking Him to help me overcome them so I could move on and have peace and joy in my heart.
I felt Him speak to me and this is what I got from His Words, if you've been hurt or disappointed in the past or now and when you or someone else talks about it, if it still hurts you then you have not left it with me, when it no longer as the power to hurt you; then you have become victorious over it.
So today on this special holiday, I would leave you with this question
Are you free?
Have a fun and safe holiday!
Joy
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Apology
It seems like I have been so busy that I've negected to keep my devotionals current. For that I apologize. I am daily having to work on doing the spiritual things before doing everything else I need to do. I am so glad my God is a loving and patient Father who not only forgives my mistakes, but keeps on working with me to put Him first in all things.
Romans 5:1-2 says
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
I am so thankful that I have access into this grace and that I can rejoice in hope for all things.
I give God all glory, honor and praise.
Romans 5:1-2 says
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
I am so thankful that I have access into this grace and that I can rejoice in hope for all things.
I give God all glory, honor and praise.
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