Are you being tested?

1 Peter 1: 7 “These trials will show that your faith is genuine.  It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold –though your faith is far more precious than mere gold.  So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.”

When I was younger I thought that God believed that I was an “elastic” always stretching me and it never occurred to me that God was strengthening my faith.

As the years go by and every trail that comes my way I sometimes do well and sometimes I don’t.  The times I fail the trail, I believe God lets it come back again until I have learned to deal with that specific situation.

Do you feel discouraged, lonely and just not in the place where God wants you?  I think you are exactly where God wants you, the circumstances you are facing right now is what is changing your character.  It’s is building you and changing you so that you are becoming more and more like the Lord Jesus Christ.

Sometimes when I hear people say, it’s just a season and it too will pass, I feel like running away and hiding.  The thing is you actually cannot hide from your circumstances and you have to ride it out.

Prayer

O Lord God, sometimes we just want to hide and not be in the firing line, it isn't the nicest thing in life to go through trials and tribulations.  We do realize that You are busy working.  In all humility Thank You, for always being there for us even when we feel the need to run and hide.  In the precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen

Experience the truth

John 8: 31-32 MSG “Then Jesus turned to the Jews who had claimed to believe in him.  “If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure.  Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you.”

It is with excitement I start today, I am so grateful that I am able to sit down at my computer and write my thoughts.  Walking through God’s word each and every day is such a privilege.  It is my heart's desire that I am able to learn as much as I can and that I am able to renew my thinking.

Struggling with fear and doubt is something everybody probably experiences, for myself, I am not fearful but I do believe that doubt is constantly nagging at my heels.

The one thing I am currently doing is to read God’s word, meditate on it and stay focused on what I am reading.  When Jesus was speaking to the Jews he knew them and what they were thinking.  He also said that “If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure.  Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you.”  What an awesome revelation. 

When you keep your focus [Scopos] on the Word of God, you are disciples for sure.  You will experience the truth which in turn will free you.  What an awesome thought and we are learning to renew the way we think.  Deciding what is important.

Prayer

Lord, please help us to focus [scopos] on Your Word.  Teach us and guide us, help us to ditch doubt and fear and to embrace believe that Your word is changing out thoughts word-for-word and thought –for-thought.  In the Holy Name of Jesus Christ, we pray.  Amen

Pray for them!

Luke 22: 31-32 AMP “Simon, Simon (Peter), listen!  Satan has demanded permission to sift [all of] you like grain; but I have prayed [especially] for you [Peter, that your faith [and confidence in Me] may not fail; and you, once you have turned back again [to Me], strengthen and support your brothers [ in the fait].”

I thank the Lord Jesus for people who intercede on my behalf because sometimes I just don’t have the strength to pick myself up and carry on.  It sounds so easy to say you will pray for someone.  The fact is we just say things like, “I will pray for you” and walk away instantly forgetting about that person.

Satan is constantly standing before God asking that the sifting will start, he believes that he is on a good foot.  Please start praying for your loved ones, praying for family and friends and the people you believe are not saved.  Time is running out, we never will know when the Lord will appear in the clouds but it's closer than you and I even know.

When you enter into your quiet place before God, remember to bring the people you deem important and place them before You.  Remember because of Noah his entire family lived.  We are also living in the same perilous times.  Keep watch and don’t stop praying, stand in the gap for the people you love.

Prayer

Abba Father, thank You that we still have the opportunity to come to You in humble prayer, that we may stand in the gap for our loved ones.  We know and realize Satan is asking for the sifting to start.  Please have mercy on us Lord God, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.  Amen

Do Not Stop Praying!

1 John 3: 21-22 AMP “Beloved, if our heart does not convict us [of guilt], we have confidence [complete assurance and boldness] before God; and we receive from Him whatever we ask because we [carefully and consistently] keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight [habitually] seeking to follow His plan for us].”

For a couple of days I felt so out of sync, you know I lost my rhythm and I just couldn’t see what the problem was.  I would start my day saying “thank You, Lord, for another day.”  Rising and it seemed I would get caught up in doing so many other things that I would forget what I was doing in the first place. 

As I reflect on the things that have become so “important” to me I have come to realize that I have stopped praying.  Taking the time to come and sit at the Lord’s feet.  Just being in His presence and speaking to Him about everything that I needed and wanted.

Thank the Lord for the “little voice” that reminds me, “Hey, aren't you going to make time for the Lord today?”  We see that the Lord Jesus disappeared early in the morning to go and speak privately with the Father, see Mark Chapter 1 verses 35 – 39 NIV. 

Only after the Lord had spent time in the Father’s presence was He ready to share with the people.

Prayer

Please Lord, forgive me for not always being faithful when it comes to my prayer life.  Help me to stay focused on You, create a pure spirit within me and a clean heart.  Help me to seek You, early in the morning and late at night.  For You, Lord is the Light of my soul.  In the Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen

Hebrew word "Scopos" - "Look"

Philippians 2: 4AMP “Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interest of others.”

“Look” in Greek is “scopos” which means to focus on.  We also derived “microscope” and “telescope” from the same word.  My thinking here is that we are reminded to focus on the needs of our fellow man and not be so self-absorbed.

We are so easily misled when it comes to our own needs and we really believe that we should first look out for No. 1 (me) and the rest will follow.

True we should look our for ourselves but we shouldn’t be so concerned about our own interests that we forget about the rest.  The problem with being so selfish is that your needs will never really be met.  You always need more and want more. 

Giving all our focus and being interested in the wellbeing of our fellow man should be our focus point but it is a hard decision to make.  You might have to give something up and why should you be the one helping?  “Bad things happen when good people do nothing.” 

The Apostle Paul is reminding you and me to take a look at the person next to you and stop looking for your own interests.  Are you able to do that?  Do you want to take the focus off yourself?  Something each and every one of us needs to consider.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we are all guilty of focusing on our own interests most of the time, forgetting that other people also need our help.  Today as we start our day, please give us the necessary compassion and love and understanding for our fellow man.  Teaching us to be fair and kind and helpful as You intended it.  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Boomerang

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Matthew 7: 1-5 MSG “Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults – unless, of course, you want the same treatment.  That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging.  It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own.  Do you have the nerve to say, “Let me wash your face for you,” when your own face is distorted by contempt?  It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part.  Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.”

Perhaps you can associate with me, sometimes you seem to have all the answers and you assume people are just not as smart as you think you are.  Or you may know someone that is the “Know-it-all” person when you start saying something they will end the story with something that happened to them.

But then you notice they have so many faults and you just want to point it out to them but in the meantime, you have even greater problems. 

I have had to deal with myself for a very long time and fault finding was one of the things that I was a master at.  The slightest thing and I would be in your face, never mind all my own faults.  I was according to me, perfect and the rest of the people weren’t on the same page.

Now when this boomeranged back on me I was totally devastated, how on earth could this happen to me, I am not that kind of person.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, please Lord, forgive me for my over zealous judgement of other people and their problems.  Help me to first investigate my own life before I deem it my business to check others.  Forgive me for being such a fault find and not a love seeker.  In the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen

#Good #Parents

Hebrews 12: 11 NOG “We don’t enjoy being disciplined.  It always seems to cause more pain than joy.  But later on, those who learn from that discipline have peace that comes doing what is right.”

What is it that we need to do here?  When it comes to our children we all want the very best, I mean things I never had I wanted my children to have and they are doing exactly what I did.  So when it comes to Dad’s we know that they too are acting out as good Fathers.

As a mother it is difficult for me to discipline my children and I have tried, when my youngest son was still in school he was much taller than I.  So when I wanted to smack him, he would hold both my arms so that it was impossible to spank him.  After holding my arms I would just let it go. 

When children have a father there is no getting away with things that are wrong, and discipline is inevitable.

The thing about discipline, we want to teach our children good values, we want them to know right from wrong and we want the very best for them.  It is and still will be the most important thing in my life.  I dislike being disciplined, now that is a different kettle of fish.  It not only hurts but it isn't fun and I don’t like the discomfort.

Prayer

Lord thank You, for being my Good, good Father, I don’t know what I would be without You.  Yes, I know when You are disciplining me, I want to pray that in times of discipline that You will teach me, show me and guide me so that I am able to learn to form my discipline.  In the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen

When we pray

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Psalm 39: 12 NOG “Listen to my prayer, O Yahweh.  Open your ear to my cry for help.  Do not be deaf to my tears, for I am a foreign resident without, a stranger like all my ancestors.”

As an intercessor, I realize that when I pray to the Lord my God I need to be open to receiving a vision or an answer through God’s word or even while speaking to friends.

I have witnessed so many answered prayers for family and friends it amazed me so.  I believe God is looking for men and women who are willing to come before Him and intercede for our families and friends.

Sometimes we fall to the ground it feels like we are just not being heard.  As I cry out to the LORD in humble prayer asking that He will listen as I cry for help.  That He will see my tears as I feel that I am a stranger in this land and I need help.

Do you need someone to stand in agreement today with you about something you are worried about?  Do you feel alone and that no one seems to understand what it is you are facing?

You are very welcome to drop me an email and I will pray with you and ask the Lord to help you solve your problems.  We know that when there are more than one praying about a specific problem, God hears and will address it.

Prayer

Humbly, Father, we pray for guidance, we pray for wisdom and we pray that You will touch our hearts, soul, and minds.  Whatever it is that is driving us crazy today, we bring it to You in humble prayer.  Please Abba Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, help us.  Amen

Eat your own words

Proverbs 18: 21 (NOG) “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love to talk will have to eat their own words.”

My mom constantly said “think before you speak” and most of the time I would speak my mind anyway.  Sometimes people will take offense and other times they wouldn’t.  I was of the opinion “if the shoe fits, wear it.”

Now, unfortunately, I am learning the hard way, constantly getting back exactly what I put out there many years ago.

It never occurred to me that as you grow older people say harsh words, and many times they cut like knives.  At least the Lord has given me the opportunity in correcting my mistakes.

Someone I know had made a statement and to be honest I took offense, this person is young and believes that she is right and I do suppose she feels that she may speak her mind.  Something I also realized is that she doesn’t have all the facts at hand and was only making assumptions, which by the way implicated me in something I wouldn’t like to be implicated in.  Anyway, I thought and prayed about this matter and have decided to cut ties with her totally.

I didn’t speak my mind and I don’t think I need to this is now in the Lords' hands.  I am watching my own tongue as it can set a whole city lit up.  My words can be sweet as honey and they also can come out so wrong.  So from my side, I don’t want to be eating my own words anymore.  I release the lady and move on.

Prayer

Lord because we have life and death in our mouths and many times we love to hear our own words.  Humbly I confess that I have sinned on more than one occasion.  I confess Lord that I am guilty of speaking my mind without thinking.  I pray asking You Lord, forgive me for I have sinned and help me keep a watch over my mouth and keep a watch over my thoughts and mind.  I ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen

Hebrew “Pardes” – Garden

Genesis 3: 8 (NOG) “In the cool of the evening, the man and his wife heard Yahweh Elohim walking around in the garden.  So they hid from Yahweh Elohim among the trees in the garden.”

Picture yourself walking in the Garden of Eden, Pardes.  There is a slight breeze and the afternoon sun is shining over the garden.  While you are walking in the garden you can hear someone calling your name.  Do you recognize the person calling you? 

I read that someone suggested while you are reading the bible you are entering into the Garden of Eden, God’s Pardes.

The interesting part of the Garden is that we now are able to learn more about our Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Think about it, each time you read something in your Bible it comes to live within your spirit.  The Holy Spirit that is living inside of you is guiding you and teaching you.  The words are starting to make sense and you are starting to see how the Word of God is working in each of His children's lives.

I am still on my journey, I do not believe that I have arrived as yet, but it sure is my heart's desire to draw closer to God.  I want to recognize His voice when He calls my name, don’t you?

Every revelation or insight I receive from walking through Pardes is something helping me to grow spiritually.  Today, I want to encourage you to keep on reading God’s Word, you will grow and mature into a beautiful Christian.

Prayer

Elohim, the Lord, thank You, for today, that we may come into Your garden, pardes.  As we open our Bibles, Holy Spirit touches our lives and teach us how to use the word.  Guide us and be your guide each and every day.  In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen

#Midbar - #Desert #Experience

Hosea 13: 5 AMP “I knew and regarded you and cared for you in the wilderness, in the land of drought.”

I believe each one of us is going through a season, some people are enjoying summer and others are in fall.  But what about the people that are going through a desert experience – Midbar?  Do you know that the word “midbar” means “the place of the word.”

Awesome wouldn’t you agree, that means that in our desert experiences we are closer to God.  I remember when I had been facing really trying times in my own life, that I was the closest to God.  It seems that I also grew spiritually and that I was able to understand what God wanted from me.

I want to encourage you today that should you find yourself in the desert and maybe you feel all alone.  Stop for one minute and meditate on these words:  “For the mountains may be removed and hills may shake, but My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, nor will My covenant of peace be shaken,”  Says the LORD who has compassion on you.” Isaiah 54: 10AMP

Prayer

Our Heavenly Father, thank You, Lord for today, that we may draw near to You in our desert experiences, knowing that we are in the place of the word.  We pray please Lord help us face each day, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen