He is the God that restores and provide for every emotional need. You know I always hear people claim God as Jehovah Jireh, the Lord their provider and it always is in reference to monetary needs but God doesnt just supply our temporal needs he fulfills our eternal needs. You see as we prepare for eternity, Christ our Great Shepher is concern about our eternal destiny and thats why he provided Jesus our Savior because he knew that we needed to be rescued eternally.
Moreover in this season of my life, Im recognizing the Lord as a father. The other night I went to a friends house for Christmas dinner and it just amazed me the father's relationship with his daughters. His daughter who was about 25 walked in and his eyes lit up and he walked over hugged her and she held on to him and just was basking in the moment. I was looking on in disbelief, as I've never seen a daughter and father so intimate. It was almost weird for me and as I sat there and processed this. I felt the Lord said thats how I want to be with you. When you walk in my presence, I get excited and I want to wrap my arms around you. I want you to find safety and security in my arms, thats what a father does.
Psalm 2:7
I will proclaim the LORD’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father.
He is an eternal father who is more concerned about your eternal destiny than your temporary plans. His delay or him saying no is his protection for you eternally. You see his plans are greater and much more sweeter and comes from a place of a loving father. A father that wants to protect you and lovingly provide for you. So this Christmas, receive the gift of a loving father. Open your arms and receive all that he has for you. Gods plans always have an eternal benefit, regardless of the temporary conditions.
I love you all. Merry Christmas.
The wonderful daily ways the Lord works in my life! From my heart to yours!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Thirsty????
This Morning I got up feeling tired, groggy and I simply was just in a foul mood. I got to work and the mood continued ofcourse and then I realized, I didnt meet with my King, my Father today. I quickly threw on worship music and my quenched and tired heart filled with joys of being with my Lord. NO longer was my gaze or focus on what I felt but on who HE IS. He is my Lord, He is my Father, the one that carries me in his bosom, the one that is ready to rescue me, the one that is ready to fill me up. So I raised my hands and said father fill these hands with what I need this day. Oh the refreshing feeling of meeting with the King.
Some people have no idea what it means to be with God, To rest in his presence. I believe far too many times, we've allowed everything else to crowd our time, our minds but NOTHING ELSE matters, NONE of it will in the end. In the END you will have to meet your king. Dont you want to know him? Dont you want to know his treasures that he has for you? The only way you can be intimate with him and sense his filling up is from being with him. How can he fill you if your hearts are not ready? How can he give you what he has for you, if you are not making yourself available? He wants to give you more of him today.
Stop Right Now and say Father I want to be with you today. Father I want to meet with you and raise your hands and say Father empty me of myself. I lay myself down and pray that you would fill me with only you. Jesus you are everything that I desire. Lord nothing else matters but you. Forgive me when I exalted everything else where only you should be. Father consume me with your love, consume Lord with only you. Sit and wait on God.
Deuteronomy 12:7
There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the LORD your God has blessed you.
Deuteronomy 12:6-8
1 Thessalonians 3:13
May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
Some people have no idea what it means to be with God, To rest in his presence. I believe far too many times, we've allowed everything else to crowd our time, our minds but NOTHING ELSE matters, NONE of it will in the end. In the END you will have to meet your king. Dont you want to know him? Dont you want to know his treasures that he has for you? The only way you can be intimate with him and sense his filling up is from being with him. How can he fill you if your hearts are not ready? How can he give you what he has for you, if you are not making yourself available? He wants to give you more of him today.
Stop Right Now and say Father I want to be with you today. Father I want to meet with you and raise your hands and say Father empty me of myself. I lay myself down and pray that you would fill me with only you. Jesus you are everything that I desire. Lord nothing else matters but you. Forgive me when I exalted everything else where only you should be. Father consume me with your love, consume Lord with only you. Sit and wait on God.
Deuteronomy 12:7
There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the LORD your God has blessed you.
Deuteronomy 12:6-8
1 Thessalonians 3:13
May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Encouragement for Today- Are your eyes on the King?
"Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart." Luke 2:51 (NIV)
Devotion:Not much is known about Mary, the mother of Jesus. It is obvious from the Scriptures that she was a young girl who loved God and was willing to obey Him at all costs. We don't know how God chose her to be the mother of His Son — we just know He did. Her response to the angel when she finds out about God's plan for her is our first clue as to why God knew she would be a great mother for Jesus: "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said" (Luke 1:38, NIV).
Recently, my children and I were reading in Luke where Jesus goes missing as a young teen, and His parents find Him in the temple. After searching for three days! As parents, we panic if we lose track of our child for a few minutes in a store. Can you imagine searching a city for three days for your 13 year-old son?
When they finally found Jesus, He was in the temple and wondered what all the fuss was about. The Scripture says that He told them He was where He should be, in His Father's house. "But they did not understand what He was saying to them" (Luke 2:50, NIV).
As my children and I read this passage, I tried to put myself in Mary's shoes. Her son had been missing. I am sure she vacillated between trusting God and panicking. And this was how I know that I would not have been a candidate for the Mother of Jesus award: as I tried to picture my reaction to finding Jesus in the temple after searching for three days, I pictured myself joyous and relieved. Then I pictured those feelings giving way to anger and questions.
Okay, so that was before the days of cell phones. He truly had no way to let His parents know where He was. But why didn't He stay with them in the first place? I got angry for Mary! And then I read the next verse: "But His mother treasured all these things in her heart" (Luke 2:51b, NIV).
The last time we saw Mary treasuring an event in her heart was right after her son was born. Once again, things were not going the way I would have wanted. She had given birth in a cold stable in dingy surroundings. Again, I was reminded of how accepting of her circumstances she was, and how her attitude reflected that.
Our verse for today reminds us of a young woman at peace with her circumstances, trusting God no matter how things would work out. Fast forward 13 years later and she is still that kind, gentle woman — no yelling at Jesus, no threats, no yanking Him by the ear when they finally find Him. Instead, the Scriptures tell us that she treasured "all these things." Would I have been able to treasure that dirty stable? Would I have been able to treasure that seemingly errant teen?
As I pondered these two times where Mary is seen treasuring her circumstances, I began to wonder how often things go wrong in my life and I react instead of reflect. So I'm allowing these two Scriptures to seep into my heart. Is my attitude, "May it be to me as You have said," or is it, "Okay, God, this is not the way it's supposed to be and I want You to fix it right away."
As we go through this season of celebrating Jesus' coming, I plan to work on my attitude when things don't go right. I plan to practice accepting God's plan when it doesn't match mine. I plan to learn to treasure and ponder instead of whine and complain. I plan to grow in my love and appreciation of Jesus, just as Mary did. I plan to marvel at His coming and revel in His glory. And most of all, this Christmas, I plan to search for Him everywhere, just as she did — and never lose sight of Him again.
Dear Lord, thank You for sending Your Son into this world. As we celebrate His birth, help me to focus on who He is and why He came here. Help me to be the kind of servant to You that Mary was and for my attitude to reflect that each day. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Monday, December 20, 2010
We cant save ourselves!
The Christmas Season for most brings lots of joy for many, but for some this season reminds them of what they dont have, what they wish they had and all that is seemingly missing from their lives. Some have lost relatives, spouses, children, etc. So another year without these people leaves them just depressed. One of my friends,this year will be her first Christmas without her mother. I cant even begin to imagine what this feels like. While others get depressed about what they dont have, some get depressed because they feel pressured to buy gifts for people and it takes out all the joy of Christmas. Others are upset that they have to stay up all night cooking without getting any recognition or appreciation for all the hard work they've done.
I remember getting up every Christmas morning reading the Christmas story before opening presents. Somehow, hearing this story over and over kind of made me numb to it. Like I got it the last five times I read it but somehow I heard a message in Church yesterday that seemed like a different Christmas story that I've read all these years. You see somehow I just seemed to have detached myself from this story and just didnt get it and maybe you have too.
I wanted to revisit this story kind of breaking down the parts of the story.
Luke 2:8-10
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
Can you imagine being a shepherd and an angel appeared to you? You see the shepherds were on the lower scale of society and they were keeping watch over the lambs of God. These lambs were the lambs that Israelites used to sacrifice for the atonement of their sins. I love it how God shows up unexepectantly to ordinary people or the least expected persons. The Angel Showed up and said we brought Good NEWS! Imagine the Shepherds terrified as their feelings of worthlessness comes to mind. The Angels of the Lord are before us and we truly arent worthy or good enough and the Angel said Yes be afraid, ofcourse not they said Dont be Afraid and best of all, Im not just bring you Good News for you and just your family, Im bringing Good news to all people, not good people, or people that feel their righteous enough, Im bringing this Good News to ALL!! I love it!!!! (Romans 3:23 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus)
Like 2:11
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
Now having read this over and over again somehow it didnt excite me as much as it does now. You see the shepherds new that they needed a Saviour. This was the one that would have been the official sacrifice for all man kind. No longer did they have to sacrifice lambs, Jesus would pay it all for all man kind. More importantly, somehow we dont get that we need a Saviour. When you dont understand that nothing else in this world can save you but Jesus, the proclamation of a Savior is being born has no meaning. The King, The Lord is here to set our hearts free. He didnt ask for us to save ourselves with good works or how righteous we can be. So many religions to day focus on all the external things that we can do to prove ourselves to God. Jesus came that HE ALONE may save us. We cant save ourselves. So no matter how good you are that means nothing. Jesus did it all. He came to save us from our sins.
My pastor was sharing how he heard his friend saying, oh I try to be good, I read my bible, I go to bible study, I try to be good to my wife, I try to love my kids, etc. and finally my pastor told his friend, all I keep hearing is I, you are your savior not Jesus. and he wrote a big I and then crossed it and said, the cross, Jesus needs to be your Savior. (This rang in my spirit, how many of us are leaning on our self righteousness to get ourselves into heaven?)
When you recognize the state of your heart and that you need to be saved, Somehow A Saviour is being born gives a new meaning. One last story.
My pastor shared that this bridge had collapsed and this truck driver recognized it before he plummeted over. You see there was oncoming traffic and he wanted to warn them that they were going to drive over the edge to their death. So this man got out of his truck went in the middle of traffic, put his hand up and screamed stop stop you need to stop. People went around him and even some locked their doors. You see these people didnt stop to heed his warning because they had no idea they needed to be saved.
My friends this is us today, we dont get how much we NEED a Savior! So this Christmas season, my mind is not on all the gifts I can get or I can buy. My mind and heart is on the one that SAVES! The only one that can Save me, the greatest gift I can ever receive, the Messiah, The one who would pay the price so that I can one day walk into eternal victory. My friends today, I beckon you to receive the Savior, Jesus, Jehovah saves! He is the only one that makes Christmas and all the days of your life meaningful. Jesus saves!!!!
God bless you all! (Inspired by Pastor Rick Blackwood)
I remember getting up every Christmas morning reading the Christmas story before opening presents. Somehow, hearing this story over and over kind of made me numb to it. Like I got it the last five times I read it but somehow I heard a message in Church yesterday that seemed like a different Christmas story that I've read all these years. You see somehow I just seemed to have detached myself from this story and just didnt get it and maybe you have too.
I wanted to revisit this story kind of breaking down the parts of the story.
Luke 2:8-10
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
Can you imagine being a shepherd and an angel appeared to you? You see the shepherds were on the lower scale of society and they were keeping watch over the lambs of God. These lambs were the lambs that Israelites used to sacrifice for the atonement of their sins. I love it how God shows up unexepectantly to ordinary people or the least expected persons. The Angel Showed up and said we brought Good NEWS! Imagine the Shepherds terrified as their feelings of worthlessness comes to mind. The Angels of the Lord are before us and we truly arent worthy or good enough and the Angel said Yes be afraid, ofcourse not they said Dont be Afraid and best of all, Im not just bring you Good News for you and just your family, Im bringing Good news to all people, not good people, or people that feel their righteous enough, Im bringing this Good News to ALL!! I love it!!!! (Romans 3:23 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus)
Like 2:11
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
Now having read this over and over again somehow it didnt excite me as much as it does now. You see the shepherds new that they needed a Saviour. This was the one that would have been the official sacrifice for all man kind. No longer did they have to sacrifice lambs, Jesus would pay it all for all man kind. More importantly, somehow we dont get that we need a Saviour. When you dont understand that nothing else in this world can save you but Jesus, the proclamation of a Savior is being born has no meaning. The King, The Lord is here to set our hearts free. He didnt ask for us to save ourselves with good works or how righteous we can be. So many religions to day focus on all the external things that we can do to prove ourselves to God. Jesus came that HE ALONE may save us. We cant save ourselves. So no matter how good you are that means nothing. Jesus did it all. He came to save us from our sins.
My pastor was sharing how he heard his friend saying, oh I try to be good, I read my bible, I go to bible study, I try to be good to my wife, I try to love my kids, etc. and finally my pastor told his friend, all I keep hearing is I, you are your savior not Jesus. and he wrote a big I and then crossed it and said, the cross, Jesus needs to be your Savior. (This rang in my spirit, how many of us are leaning on our self righteousness to get ourselves into heaven?)
When you recognize the state of your heart and that you need to be saved, Somehow A Saviour is being born gives a new meaning. One last story.
My pastor shared that this bridge had collapsed and this truck driver recognized it before he plummeted over. You see there was oncoming traffic and he wanted to warn them that they were going to drive over the edge to their death. So this man got out of his truck went in the middle of traffic, put his hand up and screamed stop stop you need to stop. People went around him and even some locked their doors. You see these people didnt stop to heed his warning because they had no idea they needed to be saved.
My friends this is us today, we dont get how much we NEED a Savior! So this Christmas season, my mind is not on all the gifts I can get or I can buy. My mind and heart is on the one that SAVES! The only one that can Save me, the greatest gift I can ever receive, the Messiah, The one who would pay the price so that I can one day walk into eternal victory. My friends today, I beckon you to receive the Savior, Jesus, Jehovah saves! He is the only one that makes Christmas and all the days of your life meaningful. Jesus saves!!!!
God bless you all! (Inspired by Pastor Rick Blackwood)
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Gods Rejection is his Protection!
Over the past few days, I've experienced an insurmountable amount of peace like never before. You see I've finally learned how you can obtain peace. Its not only about knowing who God is but TRUSTING that God is who he says he is and that he will do what he says he will do. I know I am not the only one who have experienced broken promises over and over again by friends or loved ones. For me, I gave my hand in marriage and even that vow was broken which left me trusting noone and unfortunately I even transferred that on to God for awhile. As I started asking God to fill me and show me the state of my heart, he showed me that I didnt trust him to take care of me and the anxiety I felt was because I still didnt get that he is God and he is nothing like man. ON top of that, we sometimes hate bothering people with our concerns or things that just deeply hurt us. Sometimes we bottle it up and move on as if nothing even happened. Well, I am the master artist of that. Well you see I finally got that my tears, my pain didnt just bother God in scripture it says
that God is distressed with us.
In all their distress he too was distressed,
and the angel of his presence saved them.
In his love and mercy he redeemed them;
he lifted them up and carried them
all the days of old. (Isaiah 63:9)
The first time reading this, I thought to myself, he's distressed with me? Ofcourse he is, his greatest plan for us is not for us to be distressed. Even with his son on the cross, he felt his pain but the purpose of the pain was so much greater that he allowed it. Otherwise, we couldnt receive salvation today. Sometimes its in these places where peace is needed the most that God shows us exactly what he can do.
Im reminded over and over, God is nothing like man, he wants our good and most importantly we can trust him. He never fails and the times I've felt he said no, Im learning it is just his protection. You see Gods rejection is just his protection. He is stopping us from settling and not moving into the greatest plans he has for our lives. So I can trust when he says no because I know that his plan is greater than mine. Im reminded that Gods foolishnes is mans wisdom, which means trying to conceive his plans will sometimes be impossible but he never fails.
More importantly, I know that I would like to see alot of things occur in my life time but if they dont happen, its okay because one day, I get to be with Jesus, the one that laid down his life for me even though I didnt deserve it. I never thought one could love Jesus this much. I love Jesus with all my heart, my mind, my soul and strength. It takes life to teach us the state of our hearts. Sometimes God allows us to see maybe we desire a career, relationship, money, family or whatever it is more than him and when he doesnt give it to us, we stop seeking him. Well you see God is better than whatever it is you desire. (Delight yourself also in the LORD,And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Psalm37:4)
There are days you may experience extreme loss or loneliness but God is bigger than that or any temporary emotions we feel. God is enough in every situation but we have to press into him. Im learning that if I really choose to constantly press into God as things occur, yes I still cry, yes I still feel emotional pain but I cry knowing that God is on the throne and he is in control and all that occur is for my good and this my friend gives me peace. This weekend I've experience such a peace that I thought was impossible but this came because I know God loves me, his plan is greater and I know his love never fails (1 cor 13:8)
God bless you my friends. Lets try God this week and experience his Peace. He gives willingly to the one that allows him to take control of his lfie!
that God is distressed with us.
In all their distress he too was distressed,
and the angel of his presence saved them.
In his love and mercy he redeemed them;
he lifted them up and carried them
all the days of old. (Isaiah 63:9)
The first time reading this, I thought to myself, he's distressed with me? Ofcourse he is, his greatest plan for us is not for us to be distressed. Even with his son on the cross, he felt his pain but the purpose of the pain was so much greater that he allowed it. Otherwise, we couldnt receive salvation today. Sometimes its in these places where peace is needed the most that God shows us exactly what he can do.
Im reminded over and over, God is nothing like man, he wants our good and most importantly we can trust him. He never fails and the times I've felt he said no, Im learning it is just his protection. You see Gods rejection is just his protection. He is stopping us from settling and not moving into the greatest plans he has for our lives. So I can trust when he says no because I know that his plan is greater than mine. Im reminded that Gods foolishnes is mans wisdom, which means trying to conceive his plans will sometimes be impossible but he never fails.
More importantly, I know that I would like to see alot of things occur in my life time but if they dont happen, its okay because one day, I get to be with Jesus, the one that laid down his life for me even though I didnt deserve it. I never thought one could love Jesus this much. I love Jesus with all my heart, my mind, my soul and strength. It takes life to teach us the state of our hearts. Sometimes God allows us to see maybe we desire a career, relationship, money, family or whatever it is more than him and when he doesnt give it to us, we stop seeking him. Well you see God is better than whatever it is you desire. (Delight yourself also in the LORD,And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Psalm37:4)
There are days you may experience extreme loss or loneliness but God is bigger than that or any temporary emotions we feel. God is enough in every situation but we have to press into him. Im learning that if I really choose to constantly press into God as things occur, yes I still cry, yes I still feel emotional pain but I cry knowing that God is on the throne and he is in control and all that occur is for my good and this my friend gives me peace. This weekend I've experience such a peace that I thought was impossible but this came because I know God loves me, his plan is greater and I know his love never fails (1 cor 13:8)
God bless you my friends. Lets try God this week and experience his Peace. He gives willingly to the one that allows him to take control of his lfie!
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Love Never Fails...
So today as I thought and prayed, the greatest advice that I think that I got today was DONT THINK!
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.[a]
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil.
8 This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.
Now how do I trust in the Lord with all my heart? This lead to other thought provoking verses that said:
Now what about leaning not unto our own understanding. The scripture also says:
God bless my friends.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.[a]
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil.
8 This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.
Now how do I trust in the Lord with all my heart? This lead to other thought provoking verses that said:
- Psalm 37:4
Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:3-5 (in Context) Psalm 37 (Whole Chapter) - Psalm 37:23
The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; - Psalm 35:9
Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation.
Psalm 35:8-10 (in Context) Psalm 35 (Whole Chapter
Now what about leaning not unto our own understanding. The scripture also says:
- Isaiah 5:7 Let the wicked forsake their ways
and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon. 8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. - Romans 11:33
[ Doxology ] Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! - 1 Corinthians 1:25
For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. - 1 Corinthians 3:19
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”
God bless my friends.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
God's giving little old me a choice...Really???
So its seems that this week the Lord is really speaking to me about my CHOICES! You see growing up I was taught that I just had to do certain things or be obedient or ELSE. So out of fear sometimes I chose to be obedient. Somehow I grew up transferring this fear on to God and being the fearful little girl that I was, it was hard for me to understand that God didnt want me to serve him out of ungodly fear but out of a choice to love him. I always wondered why God would allow us free will (the choice to choose him, I mean wouldnt it be just easier to make us chose him) and its really because he wants us to willingly CHOOSE Him. After all he has already handpicked us and call us his own. Hes just waiting for us to accept his gifts and choose HIM. (This humbles me as I think the Lord God King of All Kings is waiting for my acceptance to his invitation..gives me goosebumps)
However, Although Salvation is the greatest choice we can make, God doesnt just want us to stop there. He desires that we get up every morning choosing to present ourselves to him because we recognize his sovereignty and Lordship in our lives. Even Further, God wants us to choose to enter into his gates with thanksgiving and praise. Moreover, he wants us to choose life, i.e. to be joyful, happy, have peace, be loving, kind, compassionate and choose to operate in all the fruits of the spirit. If thats not hard enough, he even expects me to choose the thoughts I allow to enter and stay in my mind. The old me would think that this is impossible there is no way I can choose these things and be okay. Now that Im living this out, I realize that sometimes minute by minute, God gives us opportunities to CHOOSE Him instead of ourselves or our own selfish desires. You see when YOU willingly Choose God, you end up with the abundant life, filled with an internal joy receiving all the victories from the battles that you chose to allow God to fight for you.
This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live
God is setting before you LIFE or DEATH, Blessings or Curses. He beckons us to CHOOSE LIFE, so that You and I and even OUR CHILDREN may LIVE! Which will you choose today?
I'm choosing LIFE!
God bless you my friends and may his abundant peace be with you today!
However, Although Salvation is the greatest choice we can make, God doesnt just want us to stop there. He desires that we get up every morning choosing to present ourselves to him because we recognize his sovereignty and Lordship in our lives. Even Further, God wants us to choose to enter into his gates with thanksgiving and praise. Moreover, he wants us to choose life, i.e. to be joyful, happy, have peace, be loving, kind, compassionate and choose to operate in all the fruits of the spirit. If thats not hard enough, he even expects me to choose the thoughts I allow to enter and stay in my mind. The old me would think that this is impossible there is no way I can choose these things and be okay. Now that Im living this out, I realize that sometimes minute by minute, God gives us opportunities to CHOOSE Him instead of ourselves or our own selfish desires. You see when YOU willingly Choose God, you end up with the abundant life, filled with an internal joy receiving all the victories from the battles that you chose to allow God to fight for you.
- We have the power to choose what we focus on. Although this is hard, I know that this choosing develops character and self control and discipline, which is one of the fruits of the spirit. God said that if we seek ye first the kingdom of God all these things will be added unto us. (Matthew 6:33
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.)
This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live
God is setting before you LIFE or DEATH, Blessings or Curses. He beckons us to CHOOSE LIFE, so that You and I and even OUR CHILDREN may LIVE! Which will you choose today?
I'm choosing LIFE!
God bless you my friends and may his abundant peace be with you today!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Choose Life!
So Im bouncing off the walls and in my heart I keep singing I've got the joy joy joy joy down in my heart, where? down in my heart to stay!!! Its amazing to me what spending time with our Lord can do, he'll truly bring such a sweetness to your soul that delivers you from all oppression. You see its in recognizing who our God is that always remind me that I'm okay.
He is father, who will take care of all of our needs and he will guide and direct us.
He is our friend, That listens all the time, no matter where we are or what state our heart is in
He's our teacher, he gives us his spirit that admonishes us, reprooves us and corrects us
He is our priest, He leads us into the holies of holies, behind the veil where he purifies us
He is our Saviour, he is the ultimate redeemer that saves us out of our mess
He is our Defender, We dont fight any battles for our king fights them all for us
He is our Provider, he takes care of our financial and even physical/spiritual needs.
He is our Doorkeeper, he opens the doors no man can shut and closes the door no man can open
He is our future, we know that our stories end well because where the Lord is there is liberty, joy, peace
He is our everything, He is our all in all and in him we can put ALL of our trust, He is not like man
his ways are not our ways and his thoughts are not like our thoughts.
I can go on and on about who God is but when I begin to think back on how he's been all these things to me in no matter what season I've been in, that brings me Joy. When I think back on all the things hes brought me through, out of and protected me from, that brings me joy. When I think of my future Jer 29:11 , that brings me joy and when I think about Revelations, that one day I get to see the face of our precious Lord and Messiah, One day I get to bow down before his presence and join in with the angels, singing Holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty, brings me to a place of humility with tear filled eyes hands held high this always leads to a joyous smile.
So today think about WHO GOD IS, not about your problems or situations. God is greater than where you are. Lets declare and decree that this is the day the Lord has made and WE WILL REJOICE (choose to rejoice) and BE GLAD in it!
Deuteronomy 30:19
This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.
God Bless you my friends!
He is father, who will take care of all of our needs and he will guide and direct us.
He is our friend, That listens all the time, no matter where we are or what state our heart is in
He's our teacher, he gives us his spirit that admonishes us, reprooves us and corrects us
He is our priest, He leads us into the holies of holies, behind the veil where he purifies us
He is our Saviour, he is the ultimate redeemer that saves us out of our mess
He is our Defender, We dont fight any battles for our king fights them all for us
He is our Provider, he takes care of our financial and even physical/spiritual needs.
He is our Doorkeeper, he opens the doors no man can shut and closes the door no man can open
He is our future, we know that our stories end well because where the Lord is there is liberty, joy, peace
He is our everything, He is our all in all and in him we can put ALL of our trust, He is not like man
his ways are not our ways and his thoughts are not like our thoughts.
I can go on and on about who God is but when I begin to think back on how he's been all these things to me in no matter what season I've been in, that brings me Joy. When I think back on all the things hes brought me through, out of and protected me from, that brings me joy. When I think of my future Jer 29:11 , that brings me joy and when I think about Revelations, that one day I get to see the face of our precious Lord and Messiah, One day I get to bow down before his presence and join in with the angels, singing Holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty, brings me to a place of humility with tear filled eyes hands held high this always leads to a joyous smile.
So today think about WHO GOD IS, not about your problems or situations. God is greater than where you are. Lets declare and decree that this is the day the Lord has made and WE WILL REJOICE (choose to rejoice) and BE GLAD in it!
Deuteronomy 30:19
This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.
God Bless you my friends!
Monday, December 13, 2010
Challenges to stretch me???
"We all face challenges and difficult times. God doesn't send these storms, but it's in times of difficulty that we grow and become stronger. It is an opportunity to allow God's Word to come alive in your life and see you through to victory. You can't run from everything that's hard in your life and expect God to deliver you immediately. God uses these challenges to stretch you and enlarge your vision."
My friend sent that to me today and I thought, wow! What a reminder that God is always working behind the scenes and those difficult moments when we want to run God is using even those to prepare us for our next season. I'm always reminded that it was God who allowed Pharaohs heart to be hardened which caused the Israelites to free from Egypt. Sometimes, God will use these difficult things to bring out the best he has for us while purifying us in the process. So today Lets raise our hands and say Father we give you these empty hands and fill them with your desire and we invite your holy spirit in to do your will and I will trust you with all my heart and lean not unto my own understanding (for his thoughts are higher than our thoughts) but in ALL not some father All my ways, every area of my life, career, relationships, friendships, finances, education, ministry, motherhood, etc. I acknowledge you and I rest in the assurance and promise that you will direct my path. Father be the light unto my path way as I step out in faith today. AMEN!
Lets Move some Mountains friends!
Sunday, December 12, 2010
My Favor Rests upon you Do not be Afraid.
Its so funny how we can recite over and over Jer 29:11 but in the times we really need to believe and stand upon Gods promises, we are struck with fear. God would you really answer my prayer? If God says NO or Yes, would I be able to receive it? So many questions filled with much anxiety. So today as I reflected on the Christmas story and heard the message in church a few things struck out to me. You see on an ordinary day the Angel Gabriel appeared to the Shephards as they tended their flock and out of the clear blue sky God shows up. This tells me that God can show up anywhere even on our mundane activities at work. Not only that but the Shephards wanted to run away out of fear. Imagine Jesus shows up to you right now would you be struck with fear? I imagine I would be replaying all the negative things I've done and all the guilt I would begin to bear. Remember when God showed up to Isaiah he said God I am unclean, I am not worthy to be in your presence. So many times in the Bible when God shows up, people are afraid. You see as a natural tendency because of who we are as sinners we want to run away from God when he shows up.
But God, doesnt care about our performance or how afraid we are. He speaks and says Do not be afraid. You see Christ did not come to us, he came for us. He came so that he can redeem us, not by our works can we be saved, it is through the humility of a God that he decided to give his ONLY son and all he asks is that we receive the gift. You see when we receive the gift Luke 2:14 the Angel declares, Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” He came that he can give us peace and more importantly his favor. All he requires us to do is accept it. So today I say to you my friend that is reading this, That God favor rests upon you, Do not be afraid. Dont run from God, run into his arms for this loving father wants to manifest his favor in your life.
Once broken but now Redeemed only by his grace and accepting the gift of his son, Jesus Christ,
Latara
(Read Luke 2)
But God, doesnt care about our performance or how afraid we are. He speaks and says Do not be afraid. You see Christ did not come to us, he came for us. He came so that he can redeem us, not by our works can we be saved, it is through the humility of a God that he decided to give his ONLY son and all he asks is that we receive the gift. You see when we receive the gift Luke 2:14 the Angel declares, Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” He came that he can give us peace and more importantly his favor. All he requires us to do is accept it. So today I say to you my friend that is reading this, That God favor rests upon you, Do not be afraid. Dont run from God, run into his arms for this loving father wants to manifest his favor in your life.
Once broken but now Redeemed only by his grace and accepting the gift of his son, Jesus Christ,
Latara
(Read Luke 2)
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Why are You Crying???
I was in the car on my way to Barnes and Noble, and in the back seat of my car I heard Jayla (my four year old) whimpering. So I said, what's wrong? She yells at me, Im hungry! So my response was, then why are you crying? You see the ideal thing would've been for her to just tell me she was hungry. The moment she realized that I passed our home and I wasnt going home to make her dinner,she started whimpering, but little did she know, I had other plans. I wanted to get dinner elsewhere (Mcdonalds, so that she can get the new toy watch that she wanted). So I said to her, why are you crying Jayla, use your words and tell me what you want, and she said Mom I want dinner and I thought, see how easy that was. You dont need to cry just ask for what you want because I may have other plans or even better plans.
That situation rang a bell in my spirit. Lord how many times I sit crying, frustrated, lonely, depressed, overwhelmed without really asking you for what I need in that moment. How often do we just cry thinking that God had counted us out, when he had other plans and if we just asked, he would've willingly told us, hold on, wait a minute, I have other plans, even better plans.
I was then reminded of John 14:13-14
13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
and I must add to it what God said also in James4:3
3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
You see God wants us to seek him for his will and plans in our lives which is so much better than ours. So today let us stop whining, crying, feeling sorry for ourselves and begin to raise our hands to the father and say, Lord Im asking (insert whatever it is) but nevertheless, I want your will to be done, show me what your will is for me in this situation.
Remember James 1:5 promises
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
So Let the asking begin!!!!!!
That situation rang a bell in my spirit. Lord how many times I sit crying, frustrated, lonely, depressed, overwhelmed without really asking you for what I need in that moment. How often do we just cry thinking that God had counted us out, when he had other plans and if we just asked, he would've willingly told us, hold on, wait a minute, I have other plans, even better plans.
I was then reminded of John 14:13-14
13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
and I must add to it what God said also in James4:3
3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
You see God wants us to seek him for his will and plans in our lives which is so much better than ours. So today let us stop whining, crying, feeling sorry for ourselves and begin to raise our hands to the father and say, Lord Im asking (insert whatever it is) but nevertheless, I want your will to be done, show me what your will is for me in this situation.
Remember James 1:5 promises
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
So Let the asking begin!!!!!!
Friday, December 10, 2010
I will fight for you!
So I just had to write again, I just read something from His Princess Bride, love letters from your Prince.and this is what today's said.
My Brave Bride,
My courageous Princess, allow me to fight any and all battles this life brings you. I dont want my Bride to exhaust herself fighting in her own strength. The battle you face, My Love is already won! Now step behind me and let your powerful Prince shield you from the attacks of the enemy of your soul. Yes, I am your warrior and your protector. As long as you stand behind Me and let Me fight for you, there is nothing that can or will overtake you. It is my pleasure to go to war for my beloved Bride,
Love , Your Prince and Protector. Deutoronomy 20:4 For the Lord your God is the one who goes wtih you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.
Your Response.
My Prince,
I am ready to let You fight for me, my wonderful warrior. I am tired of fighting this battle for myself. You alone are the one who will bring victory to my life. Please forgive me for using my actions and words as weapons to hurt those who have hurt me. Thank you for being my shield and my strength...Thank you for fighting for me. I love you, My Lord! Love, Your Princess Bride who is ready to stand behind you.
I love you, Lord you are my strength. Psalm 18:1
Grant us the favor of your Love, Jesus! (My prayer for us)
This really blessed me, hope it blesses you as well. Love you all!
My Brave Bride,
My courageous Princess, allow me to fight any and all battles this life brings you. I dont want my Bride to exhaust herself fighting in her own strength. The battle you face, My Love is already won! Now step behind me and let your powerful Prince shield you from the attacks of the enemy of your soul. Yes, I am your warrior and your protector. As long as you stand behind Me and let Me fight for you, there is nothing that can or will overtake you. It is my pleasure to go to war for my beloved Bride,
Love , Your Prince and Protector. Deutoronomy 20:4 For the Lord your God is the one who goes wtih you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.
Your Response.
My Prince,
I am ready to let You fight for me, my wonderful warrior. I am tired of fighting this battle for myself. You alone are the one who will bring victory to my life. Please forgive me for using my actions and words as weapons to hurt those who have hurt me. Thank you for being my shield and my strength...Thank you for fighting for me. I love you, My Lord! Love, Your Princess Bride who is ready to stand behind you.
I love you, Lord you are my strength. Psalm 18:1
Grant us the favor of your Love, Jesus! (My prayer for us)
This really blessed me, hope it blesses you as well. Love you all!
My Love is Enough
Isnt it interesting how we can hear so many great words said about us or have so many great things happen to us but if it isnt quite from the right person or the one whom you're seeking attention from somehow its just not enough? This morning I woke up hoping that I wouldve heard from a particular person and I didnt. In that moment, my old feelings of rejection and abandonment came rising to the top and I heard God whispered to me, Isnt my love enough? I died on the cross for you, I layed down my life for you, I am here with you always, Ive delivered you, Ive set you free, why are your affections solely set on them, when Im right here? Stuck in my tracks, I had to repent for I realized there is no greater love and we are called to set our eyes only on things above. You see its when we loose focus and begin fixating our eyes on a job, finances, a relationship/friendship, our eyes are taken off the Only one who deserves ALL of our love and affection.
So today I pray that we would refocus our eyes back on ONLY God. That we would hear his voice declaring, You are my beloveth and I am yours. As you reflect on the Love of God, here and now, Please listen to this song and let the words minister to you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoC1ec-lYps
He loves us all dearly and uniquely, lets fix our eyes on the King of Kings, El Elyon (the Most High God), he is deserving of all praise and honor!
So today I pray that we would refocus our eyes back on ONLY God. That we would hear his voice declaring, You are my beloveth and I am yours. As you reflect on the Love of God, here and now, Please listen to this song and let the words minister to you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoC1ec-lYps
He loves us all dearly and uniquely, lets fix our eyes on the King of Kings, El Elyon (the Most High God), he is deserving of all praise and honor!
Thursday, December 9, 2010
I Am Your God!
As the Christmas season rolls around, it's so easy to think of gifts, holiday cheer and forget the real reason for the season and its not just that Jesus is born, its what his birth represented. You see long before Jesus, we had to make animal sacrfices for our sins, and the priests had to go in pure and holy behind the veil to meet with God. Now we have the privilege to go into his temple freely with reverence, and we have the privilege to pray to our God. Moreover, we dont make animal sacrifices, we repent and ask our Savior, Jesus to cleanse us with his powerful blood. Its so easy to forget how privileged we are when we're on this side of the world. I was sharing this with my young girls in my Sunday class at Church yesterday, and one of the little girls whose family is from the Philipines, shared how in the Philippines, they arent allowed to even say the name of Jesus or profess their faith. In this holiday season, as we pray and we seek the Lord, let us not forget what a privilege it is to be counted as sons and daughters of a MOST HIGH GOD! He is El Elyon and he has hand picked you for such a time as this. Let us be reminded that we are not here for ourselves, he has given each of us talents and gifts. This reminds me of the parable where Farmer gave each three men seeds, while two of them doubled their seeds the other one made excuses of why he kept his. No gift or talent too little or small is a good enough excuse for not using them. God has equipped you for where you are at. Share the gospel this Christmas. I explained to my little girls yesterday, I dont want to see any of our friends and family die and go to hell. These days people are dying young. God wants them apart of his family.
Finally, as I prayed this morning and repented for not appreciating and taking advanatage of God. I heard him whisper to me I am YOUR GOD! He is your LORD. HE is your KING, HE alone is Your Eternal Father and Husband. and I was led to the following verses. Let us refocus this Christmas on the JOYS of knowing GOD and let us SHARE our Faith and remember he is YOUR God!
Leviticus 26
1 "Don't make idols for yourselves; don't set up an image or a sacred pillar for yourselves, and don't place a carved stone in your land that you can bow down to in worship. I am God, your God.
2 "Keep my Sabbaths; treat my Sanctuary with reverence. I am God.
Finally, as I prayed this morning and repented for not appreciating and taking advanatage of God. I heard him whisper to me I am YOUR GOD! He is your LORD. HE is your KING, HE alone is Your Eternal Father and Husband. and I was led to the following verses. Let us refocus this Christmas on the JOYS of knowing GOD and let us SHARE our Faith and remember he is YOUR God!
Leviticus 26
1 "Don't make idols for yourselves; don't set up an image or a sacred pillar for yourselves, and don't place a carved stone in your land that you can bow down to in worship. I am God, your God.
2 "Keep my Sabbaths; treat my Sanctuary with reverence. I am God.
11-13 "I'll set up my residence in your neighborhood; I won't avoid or shun you; I'll stroll through your streets. I'll be your God; you'll be my people. I am God, your personal God who rescued you from Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians. I ripped off the harness of your slavery so that you can move about freely.
Isaiah 41 : 8-10"But you, Israel, are my servant.
You're Jacob, my first choice,
descendants of my good friend Abraham.
I pulled you in from all over the world,
called you in from every dark corner of the earth,
Telling you, 'You're my servant, serving on my side.
I've picked you. I haven't dropped you.'
Don't panic. I'm with you.
There's no need to fear for I'm your God.
I'll give you strength. I'll help you.
I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.
You're Jacob, my first choice,
descendants of my good friend Abraham.
I pulled you in from all over the world,
called you in from every dark corner of the earth,
Telling you, 'You're my servant, serving on my side.
I've picked you. I haven't dropped you.'
Don't panic. I'm with you.
There's no need to fear for I'm your God.
I'll give you strength. I'll help you.
I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.
11-13"Count on it: Everyone who had it in for you
will end up out in the cold—
real losers.
Those who worked against you
will end up empty-handed—
nothing to show for their lives.
When you go out looking for your old adversaries
you won't find them—
Not a trace of your old enemies,
not even a memory.
That's right. Because I, your God,
have a firm grip on you and I'm not letting go.
I'm telling you, 'Don't panic.
I'm right here to help you.'
will end up out in the cold—
real losers.
Those who worked against you
will end up empty-handed—
nothing to show for their lives.
When you go out looking for your old adversaries
you won't find them—
Not a trace of your old enemies,
not even a memory.
That's right. Because I, your God,
have a firm grip on you and I'm not letting go.
I'm telling you, 'Don't panic.
I'm right here to help you.'
14-16"Do you feel like a lowly worm, Jacob?
Don't be afraid.
Feel like a fragile insect, Israel?
I'll help you.
I, God, want to reassure you.
The God who buys you back, The Holy of Israel.
I'm transforming you from worm to harrow,
from insect to iron.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47elk3n3_3s
Don't be afraid.
Feel like a fragile insect, Israel?
I'll help you.
I, God, want to reassure you.
The God who buys you back, The Holy of Israel.
I'm transforming you from worm to harrow,
from insect to iron.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47elk3n3_3s
Keys Locked in My Car???but he is Control!!!
A great morning to all:
So last night I had such a wonderful night at my small group where we shared of what the Lord had done for all of us in this one year, the theme it seemed from every one's testimony that God is in control even when we dont realize it. With that said, I woke up this morning with much joy and just worship to our God and I just began rededicating my heart back to God and asking his forgiveness for any thing that I've allowed to exalt itself above our father, I was just giving myself back to God on the throne and I just prayed for friends and family and I left my house feeling awesome.
Lo and behold on the way, I was sharing with a friend about the wonderful night I had and how I felt like I was being attacked because of all the wonderful things God was doing in my life, I didnt hang up with her five seconds yet and I locked my keys in my car. In that moment I actually didnt panick, I kept repeating to myself with Joel Oesteen's voice in my head God you are in control and this is happening for my good. At that moment, a guy happened to walk by and said I can help you, he goes and gets a fishing pole. Really??? a fishing pole?? at this moment Im watching God work out all the small little details, (had this happened to me maybe yesterday I woulda been so freaking out) IT just so happened that I left my sunroof open and it was raining and I thought to myself to close it but I got distracted while driving and didnt. Thus he was able to use a fishing pole, funny thing is, it wasnt happening right away, and I started smiling and I said Enemy you're doing this to discourage me but MY God is on the throne, God you're in control and this is for my good. You're allowing this to happen for a reason I repeated over and over, I go Lord allow the door to open, and it did!!! After he went to his truck to add two poles together it worked itself out.
Even in the small details, God is still in control!!! He is in control!!!!! and I smile because all yesterday I was being attacked but I stand in faith saying he is control and as friends reminded me yesterday John 14:13-14 still works. God still hears our prayers when we just ask. So my prayer today for all of you that you would receive insurmountable joy and just riches in knowing our Lord Jesus, I pray that today you would find peace and love and that God will literally wrap his arms around you and that you would encounter him in every moment. I thank You God for what you are about to do and the victories we are going to have this day in Jesus Mighty Name.
Remember HE IS THE ALPHA AND OMEGA, BEGINNING AND THE END!!!!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlgUUeQh0CQ
So last night I had such a wonderful night at my small group where we shared of what the Lord had done for all of us in this one year, the theme it seemed from every one's testimony that God is in control even when we dont realize it. With that said, I woke up this morning with much joy and just worship to our God and I just began rededicating my heart back to God and asking his forgiveness for any thing that I've allowed to exalt itself above our father, I was just giving myself back to God on the throne and I just prayed for friends and family and I left my house feeling awesome.
Lo and behold on the way, I was sharing with a friend about the wonderful night I had and how I felt like I was being attacked because of all the wonderful things God was doing in my life, I didnt hang up with her five seconds yet and I locked my keys in my car. In that moment I actually didnt panick, I kept repeating to myself with Joel Oesteen's voice in my head God you are in control and this is happening for my good. At that moment, a guy happened to walk by and said I can help you, he goes and gets a fishing pole. Really??? a fishing pole?? at this moment Im watching God work out all the small little details, (had this happened to me maybe yesterday I woulda been so freaking out) IT just so happened that I left my sunroof open and it was raining and I thought to myself to close it but I got distracted while driving and didnt. Thus he was able to use a fishing pole, funny thing is, it wasnt happening right away, and I started smiling and I said Enemy you're doing this to discourage me but MY God is on the throne, God you're in control and this is for my good. You're allowing this to happen for a reason I repeated over and over, I go Lord allow the door to open, and it did!!! After he went to his truck to add two poles together it worked itself out.
Even in the small details, God is still in control!!! He is in control!!!!! and I smile because all yesterday I was being attacked but I stand in faith saying he is control and as friends reminded me yesterday John 14:13-14 still works. God still hears our prayers when we just ask. So my prayer today for all of you that you would receive insurmountable joy and just riches in knowing our Lord Jesus, I pray that today you would find peace and love and that God will literally wrap his arms around you and that you would encounter him in every moment. I thank You God for what you are about to do and the victories we are going to have this day in Jesus Mighty Name.
Remember HE IS THE ALPHA AND OMEGA, BEGINNING AND THE END!!!!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlgUUeQh0CQ
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