Are You Feeling Blown Away?

Has something blown you away? Time to go to the One who controls the wind - and get your life back on track...

There are days when I feel just like the last scene in the movie "Forrest Gump" you know the scene - when you see the leaf just drifting aimlessly along with the wind.  Those are days when I just want to cry out to God.  Just cry out to Him in frusturation and confusion and aggravation.  I want to say, "God! I have made a mess of things and I don't know how to fix it!! HELP ME!"  Or I want to say, "Father! I am doing ALL I know HOW to do - I can't think anymore! HELP ME!" Or I want to say, "Life wasn't suppose to be like this Lord, what can I do to get back on track?!"  Have you ever felt that way?

I've just gone through a major life change.  One that I saw coming, had been in the works for years - but I didn't realize all I would feel when it actually occurred.  When it was all said and done.  I thought I was ready for it.  I thought I would be fine with it.  I thought I wouldn't feel a thing.  I was wrong.  While my reaction and feelings surprised me, they didn't surprise God. 

"What has been will be again,what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 1:9)

That is true, yet it feels SO different when "you" are the person "it" is happening to...   It's okay not to have "all the answers."  I don't think God expects us to.  In fact, I think He might raise an eyebrow at you if you acted as if you did.  HE is the great I AM.  HE is the Alpha and the Omega.  HE is our beginning and our end.  HE is the one we should turn to when we have hit rock bottom - or are on our way down...

God knows I don't have all the answers, but I think that is why Jesus says to us:

"Come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest."(Matthew 11:28)

He is our rest.  He wants us to come to Him.  Just go to Him in prayer and trust that He hears you because He does.  There are many situations in life that we get in to albeit our own doing, or just life happens.  There are burdens that are too heavy for us to carry.  We weren't meant to carry them and when we do they sometimes double us over from the load.  Bring it to the cross.  Talk to Jesus.  He wants you to.  Pour out your heart and when you do, you will feel lighter. 

We aren't that floating leaf randomly blowing with the wind. We have a purpose and a reason for being here.  We can't go backwards and sometimes forward feels like we are walking in heavy muck. But if we pray from our hearts - sincere conversations with God, we can trust that as it says:

"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." (Psalms 30:5)

God allows certain situations to occur in our lives to draw us closer to Him and help us to realize that we need Him.  We do.  So lean on the Lord.

"Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. In ALL your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5)

Isn't it about time you stopped trying to work things out on your own? You have someone who cares about you.  He's waiting... Just try it and see.  Try it and you'll see. Open up your mouth and talk to Him as if He was just sitting right there before you (because He is). Pour out your heart - your concerns, your thoughts, your frusturations, the things that you are anxious over. He's listening.  He cares.  If He didn't care He would not have allowed them to put Him up on that cross and crucify Him for your sins - and mine.  He did it because He LOVES you.  He cares.  Believe it and take the time to go some place quiet and have a discussion with Him.  It won't be a one sided conversation.  If you pour out your heart to Him, He will respond.  One way will be that you will feel the removal of that burden from your shoulders just by taking the time to talk to Him.  To pour out your heart.  It may feel silly at first - but once you open your mouth and speak the words will pour out and afterwards, you will feel a peace like a healing balm that will come upon you. (That is the Holy Spirit).  He will minister to you.  He will soothe you.  You will feel what the Bible says is "the peace that passes ALL understanding." (Psalms 4:7).  He loves you, He cares, He wants to have a relationship with you.  A relationship requires communication.  Communication requires allowing Him to see what is in your heart and mind.  The truth is He already knows - but He'd like to hear it from you JUST the same.  TRY IT.  He's waiting, He wants you to - and the truth is - You need to.  I need to, too.

Touch and Be Touched - It's Called Restoration

"And Jesus asked, 'Who touched me?" Luke 8:45

 

 

I’ve been thinking lately about the woman described in Mark who just wanted to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment.  How focused she was! How deep her faith!  The story is as follows:

“And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’” He looked all round to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” (Mark 5:24 – 5:34)

As a cancer survivor, I understand her desperation.  Her sole focus was getting to Jesus and touching Him. I think this pertains not only to those of us who have gone through a life threatening illness, but can also extend to someone going through a difficult period in their walk.  Does your heart cry out to the Lord for relief? For understanding? For direction?  He’s right there, touch Him.  He’s not playing “blind man’s bluff” Jesus came for such as these.  He’s not toying with you.  He’s there.  He wants you to touch Him.  Jesus said the following:

"It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Mark 2:17)

There is a need, deep inside each one of us that is the core of why we were made; to worship and be close to God.  The devil has made many people blind to that and instead we try to fill it up with sex or addiction or food or even a hobby – something that distracts us from what our real need is.  You are hungry for God.  It is a soul hunger that cannot be satisfied with anything BUT a relationship with God, try as you may to fill that hunger with substitutes.  You CANNOT substitute your need for your Creator.  I think that is why there are so many people that have what they consider “everything” yet still they are unhappy.  The Bible says:

 “Taste and see that the Lord is good.”  (Psalms 34:8)

You cannot adequately explain to someone what it feels like to have a personal relationship with the Lord.  I think the reason for this is because – it’s personal.  The needs I have, the hurts I have, the person I am is different than the person you are.  The Lord knows where to meet me.  He knows me.  He has called me by name.  No matter where I am with my walk – I am HIS.  He knows every hair on my head!  And He is no respecter of persons – He knows every hair on YOURS as well!  To drink deep of Him is to feel what the Bible describes:

“And the peace of God that passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”(Philippians 4:7)

The Bible is the living Word.  It is the same today as it was yesterday as it will be tomorrow. (Hebrews 13:8).  You can still touch the hem of Jesus’ garment. Whatever your situation, He came so that you would reach out and touch Him.  He loves you in a way that no other ever will.  The one thing I noticed when I read that story about the woman in Mark is that she acted on her faith.  She was convinced that if she were to touch Jesus, she would be healed.  In order to do that she needed to step out on faith and follow Him and get beyond the crowds to touch Him.  She was focused on what she needed to do.  When I read that chapter, I visualize her focus.  She’s got a goal and she’s going to achieve it.  To touch Jesus.  And when she did, she felt it. She felt the change in her body, just as Jesus felt the power going out from Him.  I picture Jesus stopping, knowing who it was who touched Him, but questioning it to see if they will acknowledge there relationship with Him and what He had done.  I picture her coming forward, humble and thankful and perhaps a little nervous.  I picture Jesus turning around, seeing her, smiling at her with such love, taking her face in between His two hands as if she was precious to Him – because she is.  His sole focus at that moment was her.  He called her “daughter.”  Are you focused?  Are your eyes focused on Him?  When you believe something, you act on that belief. She did just that.

What was her life like before that? I can only imagine.  I know that as a breast cancer survivor, I often felt alone.  Some of the people in my life backed away from me.  As if I had leprosy and they would “catch it.” Although I think the truth of the matter is that perhaps my having a life threatening sickness may have made them think about their own mortality…  Some people don’t know how to act around someone who is sick, so they stay away.  What was that woman’s life like? I’m quite sure it affected all of her relationships.  I’m quite sure there were some who looked down upon her as if she had brought this on herself, as if she was “dirty.”  As if she had done something to deserve this.  I know that when you have a life threatening sickness that is one of the things that goes through your head.  You look over your life and see your sins and begin to think that this came upon you because of something you did (or didn’t do).  But the truth of the matter is God does not work like that.  When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden it brought death, sin and destruction into the world.   Sickness is part of this fallen world.  It is the reason God brought Jesus; For life, for healing and for restoration.

There is no greater purpose than to know that God cares.  That He longs for you to “reach out and touch Him.”  The thing is, when you reach out and touch someone, they are touching you back, it is a two way street.  When you reach out and touch Jesus your heart will overflow with peace and love and the knowledge of truth – that once you taste and see that the Lord is good, you will understand how very much He loves you, because He truly does.

Run Like The Wind...



"Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” (Hebrews Chapter 12)

I woke up early this morning (as has become a new habit of mine over the last several weeks), formally a night owl I have transformed into an early bird.  Last Summer I downloaded the “Couch to 5K” running program onto my IPhone at first I thought, “Me, run? That’s a laugh – it’s NEVER going to happen…” Nevertheless, I decided to give it a shot.  I joined an inexpensive gym, got on the treadmill and started the program.  Three or four times a week I made a commitment to myself to keep at it, each workout section ranging from  20 to 40 minutes, breaking me in slowly with a warm up, brisk walk, and eventually intervals of jogging then running over a 12 week period.   I completed the total program by October and much to my surprise (and this did not happen overnight…) found myself actually enjoying these sessions of steady runs!    Feeling a sense of completion and a bit of well-earned self-pride, I wasn’t a couch potato anymore! I boldly moved forward and downloaded the next program – “5K to 10K.”  Now this program is a bit more difficult, it includes intervals of jogging, steady run and a fast run.  It encourages me over a period of days and times to move forward.   It is not easy, and there are times when I wonder if I can keep going until the daily program is completed – but still I push myself to continue.  Being a divorced parent, the best time for me to workout is early morning when the gym first opens.  Now when I say “early morning” I mean wake up at 4:15 am and get to the gym by 5 am.   This morning, I woke up at 4:15 am and just lay there looking up at my ceiling.  I decided to go back to sleep instead of going to work out.  It started my day off on the “wrong foot.”

I grew up in a small town near Boston.  The Boston Marathon runs right across Beacon Street. I grew up off of Beacon Street.  Growing up, it had been a family tradition to go down the street and watch the runners run the race.  What perserverance it takes to run the Boston Marathon.  Those runners push themselves in the most amazing way.  It takes training and discipline and perserverance to run any race. It takes a mindset to continue on - even when everything in you doesn't want to keep going.

As I continued to stick to the program, I started to see a connection between my body, my mind and my spirit.  How the three are truly tied up in one.  Hard as it is for me to get up in the morning that early, how rewarding it feels once I have gotten up, driven to the gym and completed my workout.  I feel a sense of accomplishment, energized and ready to begin my day.  On the days I don’t get out of bed, I find myself lagging with a lack of energy, on edge, irritable with a lack of patience and just all around “yucky.”  This is not something that happened “overnight” it has been a process. 

The Bible tells us:

 1 Corinthians 6:19 “Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, Whom you have received of God.”

Therefore it is important that we take care of our physical bodies, for they are our “temple.”  I never really paid much mind to that before, never being an athletic person, but after getting into the habit of working out 30 -40 minutes a day, 3-4 days a week, I can see how it truly affects my attitude, my mind, how I feel about myself and even extends to how I treat others, not to mention what it does for my health.  Since I have begun working out I have seen my health improve, and being a cancer survivor this is a definite plus.    Often we are so busy with our lives that we neglect ourselves.  Now I am in no way a “gym rat,” I go in complete my 30 – 60 minutes workout, 3-4 times a week, hit the shower and then I’m outta there.   But the outcome is not only felt through my physical body, as I have indicated above, but through my mind and my spirit.

This also got me thinking about my spiritual walk.  How as in the case with the beginning of trying the “Couch Potato to 5K Program” there were times I wanted to stop, to give up, feeling like I couldn’t go on.  It was too difficult, too hard.  I was too tired.  But I didn’t – I persevered. I kept pushing myself forward.  Giving myself “pep” talks.  There are many times along our spiritual walk that we have to do the same thing, especially if you have had a prodigal period in that journey.  The Bible says: 

Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

There have been so many times over the last four years that I have wanted to give up.  Where I have really asked myself, “What is the point??!”  But even at my lowest of moments, I have perservered.   It says:

Galatians 6:9 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Why is it so hard to do that which is good for us?  Do that which benefits us? Physically, spiritually, emotionally, our bodies, spirits and minds are all tied together.  If you don’t take care of your body there are physical consequences.  If you don’t feed yourself spiritually or pray – there are consequences.  All of these affect your mind and therefore your life.

Honestly, it has not been until I got into the habit of exercising over the last 8 months that I can see the difference it has made in my life.  It has made me stronger, it has made my mind sharper, it has made me realize that not only do I need to exercise my body, but my spirit and my mind.  I have realized that there may always be something that I need to work on – that is okay, that is life.  As long as we have breathe in our body we will always have something to better.  I think that is a good thing, and I think it is humbling to have that realization.  Coming to the point I am at (and still have so much farther to go) I can see all of this, myself.  Just like it says in the Bible:

Psalms 34:8 “Taste and see that the Lord is good!”

There are realizations that can only hit deep when we experience them and realize them personally for ourselves.  My needs are different from your needs. My strengths may be your weaknesses; your strengths may be my weaknesses.  But it is something that you can’t discover for yourself until you try it yourself.  There is a big difference.  It becomes personal.

Romans 7:19 “For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing.”

That is a scripture that I find myself wondering ALL the time.  There is always room for improvement, always.  My motivation with my body being the healthiest it can be is not only due to the fact that I am a cancer survivor.  No one ever expects (at ANY age) that they will come down with a life threatening illness.  We were created to live forever – it is only because of the sin of Adam and Eve that sin entered into the world, and hence – death.  So you never feel as though “you have had enough life.”  When I was diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago, it was a shock (to say the very least).  It was a wake up call for my body, my spirit and my mind.  The three are tied together.  Your body is your tent, your spirit is housed in the tent and your mind – to me, is part of your soul.  All three affect your life.  They go hand in hand.  When you think about taking care of yourself – think about ALL three parts of YOU.

You matter to God.  Isn’t it time you mattered to yourself?  It won’t be easy – but nothing WORTH anything ever is.  Each new day that you are blessed with is a new blank sheet of life to write on.  Isn’t it time to start a new chapter?  Write well.  These moments never come back again…

Be Careful What You Pray For...

“Be careful what you wish for ‘cause you just might get it all, you just might get it all – and then some you don’t want…” ~ Daughtry

I was listening to a song entitled “Home” by the group, Daughtry. A certain section of lyrics in the song particularly stood out…

“Be careful what you wish for ‘cause you just might get it all, you just might get it all – and then some you don’t want…”

Have you ever wanted something so badly – you know the kind of “want” where you squeeze your eyes shut as hard as you possibly can and earnestly begin to beseech God for it?

You know, the “Oh please God, please God,please God – Puuuuuuhleaaaase God!” kind of prayer? And as you go about your life waiting for an answer, you hear silence. So you pray it again. “Come on Lord, please! I’m waiting! Oh I want this soooooo bad. Please make it happen!”

And still all you hear is silence… You scratch your head wondering when your answer will come through. And as you wait, you find yourself really thinking about what it was that you were praying for… 

That’s when the “maybes” start to filter in… “Well maybe there is more to this than what I can see…” 

You start to think. Then you start to doubt if you should even want what it was you were requesting in the first place. Then, if you have a wild imagination (like I do) – you start picturing just what it would be like if God did answered your prayer… And maybe that prayer request begins to not look so appealing anymore…

The truth is, the Bible tells that we only see in part… In fact 1 Corinthians 13:12 says:

 “For now we see only a reflection, as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall now fully even as I am fully known.”

In other words, we don’t see the “whole” picture. We see – in part. Only part of it; Not the full story, not the total outcome. Just a tiny piece of it…

Hmmmm… That has got me thinking, how about you? I am a mom. Part of my mommish job is to hear the hundreds of requests my kids have each day. My mother use to tease us when I was little and say she made up the parent song. Which goes:

“Gimme, gimme, can I have, will you loan me, can I borrow?” 

These requests range anywhere from buying something from the store, going to a friend’s house, doing an event, etc.” There are some that I say yes to, and some that I say no. God, being our Father, does the same thing… And here's the thing - the last part of that verse is "then I shall now fully even as I am fully known." God FULLY knows you!  He's got your best interest at heart. He KNOWS you.  He sees the WHOLE picture.  We only see a tiny little piece.  Maybe seeing the whole thing would be more than we could handle? Maybe it is God's grace which allows us to only see a little part?  I know that there are parts of my life that if God would have shown me - I would have turned tail and ran and said, "uh uh - not ME Father!!!"

I have found myself thinking during those times that I’ve been waiting on the answer of a prayer request, “What would it be like, if God said yes to this request?” Sometimes the different outcomes that I visualize, doesn't seem as appealing as how it started out...

“Father God? Ummmmm… This is me… Yeah, remember that request? You know the one, the one I’ve been bugging you about? Well, could you please just forget about it? I’ve changed my mind… I don’t want it anymore… And Father? Thank You…”

The “part” that you didn’t see was the Holy Spirit watching you, nodding His head and smiling a “mission accomplished” kind of smile…

A Letter From God to You

A LETTER FROM GOD TO YOU

 

This letter is many Bible Promises from God to you. Read the Bible as if was written to you because it was.

Taken from Seek God Ministries (www.seekGod.org)

 

To My precious child:

Because I knew even before I created the earth that you would accept My love for you, and that you would seek to know Me thus…

In the beginning I created the heavens and the earth. Then at the right time and in the right place I created you. I created your inner most being, I created every part of you, I knit you together in your mother's womb. You were carefully and wonderfully made; my works are wonderful, and you My precious child are my work. My eyes saw your unformed body. All the days planned for you were written in my book before one of them came to be. How precious are my thoughts for you, How great is the number of them! If you were to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand.

 

Listen to me, My precious child; I created you and have cared for you since before you were born. I will be your God throughout your lifetime, until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you. I will carry you in my arms, holding you close to my heart. For I know the plans that I have for you plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

 

My precious child there are some times of suffering in your life. But the temporary suffering of this life does not compare to the glory that shall be revealed in you. Know this that I am with you and I will help you. Your help comes from me, I am the God who created the heavens and the earth, and the one who created you. I will never leave you, I will never reject you. When your parents fail you I will pick you up, hold you close, and adopt you. Nothing can ever separate you from my love for you. When you are in trouble and distress my love is with you. When you are persecuted my love is with you. When you are hungry and cold and naked my love is with you, I am always with you. When you are in danger and threatened with death my love is with you, I will be with you forever.

 

My precious child know that nothing can separate you from my love, no matter how high you go, no matter how deep you sink, nothing in life and not even death can separate you from Me, and My love for you. No demon or any other power in hell can separate you from my love. My love for you is revealed through Christ Jesus your Lord. In all things and every situation you will have victory, you will conquer, because the victory of Christ Jesus is your victory.
 

But now, My precious child, I the LORD, who created you and formed you, says: Do not be afraid, for I have purchased you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, they will not over flow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned. I command you to be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid; do not be dismayed, for I, the LORD your God will be with you everywhere you go.

 

My precious child, know that everything will work together for your good, because you love me. You have been called according to my purpose. For I knew you before you were born and I predestined you to be conformed to the likeness of my Son, Jesus Christ. This is your destiny, and this is your purpose, that you become one with my Son Jesus, and thus one with me. I created you in my image so that you and I can express love to each other. The most intimate relationship you can have is with me because you and I are becoming one. You and your brothers and sisters that believe in me are becoming one with Jesus, and thus one with me. You in me, and me in you, together, unified by my love for you. You were designed for this purpose, nothing else will ever satisfy your deepest needs, your deepest desires, only I can. Because you seek to know me I satisfy your heart with love, joy, and peace that only I can give you.
 

My precious child if you should forget me, and enter into sin, and not turn back to Me on your own then I will punish you. Because your sin will separate you from feeling My presence, and My influence, and I want you to return to your first love, the One who loves you. I the Lord discipline those I love, and I punish everyone who I accept as my child. Just as a good Father disciplines His children to turn them away from a dangerous path, so I shall discipline you for your good, that you may share in My holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
 

My precious child, When you confess your sins, I am faithful and just and will forgive you of your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. In repentance and resting in Me is your salvation, in quietness and trusting Me is your strength. I will create in you a clean heart and renew a right spirit within you. I will not send you away from My presence, and I will not take My Holy Spirit from you. I will restore again the joy of your salvation, and make you willing to obey Me. Then you will teach My ways to sinners, and they will return to Me also. Humble yourself, therefore, under My mighty hand, that I may lift you up at the right time.

 

My precious child do not forget all my benefits, I forgive all your sins and heal all your diseases, I rescue your life from the pit of destruction and crown you with love and compassion. I satisfy your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles. I The LORD work righteousness and justice for all the oppressed; I The LORD am compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. I will not always accuse, nor will I harbor my anger forever; I do not treat you as your sins deserve or repay you according to your iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is My love for you because you fear Me; as far as the east is from the west, so far have I removed your transgressions from you.

 

My precious child, call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know. Always pray to Me about your every concern, pray from your mouth and pray from your heart, I hear every thought that you think. Everything that you care about, I care about also because it concerns you. Cast all your cares and anxiety on Me because I love you. Trust in Me, the LORD YOUR GOD, with all your heart, do not depend on your own understanding; In everything acknowledge Me, And I will direct your paths. Do not worry about anything, but in everything big or small, by prayer, with thanksgiving, present your requests to Me, the Most High God. And I will give you My peace in your heart, peace that is beyond all human understanding, and it will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus. Always be joyful. Keep on praying always. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is My will for you because you belong to Me.

 

My precious child, Study My Book of law and truth, the Holy Bible, do not let My words depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. My words are Spirit and they are Life. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you will, and it will be given you. For the word of God is living and powerful. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. The most important thing you will ever own is your Bible because it gives you knowledge of Me, The Most High God. It makes the poor rich, it gives hope to the hopeless, faith to the fearful, food to the hungry, water to the thirsty, love to the despised, comfort to the lonely, freedom to the prisoner, health to the sick, light in the darkness, and life to the dying.
 

My precious child I have set up circumstances and situations in your life to cause you to seek Me and find Me. I desire that you know Me. I am The Lord your God, full of compassion, and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But My precious child glory in this, That you understand and know Me, That I am the LORD, exercising compassion, lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight and take pleasure.
 

All things are created for My pleasure and My pleasure is to show forth loving compassion. I have compassion on the poor and needy, and I am a Father to the fatherless, I help them, and I defend them. Far below Me are the heavens and the earth, I stoop to look down, and I lift the poor from the dirt and the needy from the garbage dump and I set them among princes. My precious child I want you to do these things also, have compassion on the poor and needy and help them, this is what it means to know Me. For I am Love, and when you live in love, you live in Me, and I live in you. Loving compassion is good, and this is what I require from you, to do what is right, to love compassion, and to walk humbly with your God.

 

As a father has compassion on his children, so I your LORD have compassion on you because you fear Me; for I know how you were formed, I remember that you are dust. Forever and ever My love is with you because you fear Me, and My righteousness with your children's children; with those who keep My covenant and remember to obey My laws. My law is to love. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments all of My laws are based. When you walk in love you are obeying all My laws. When you walk in Love you are walking in My Holy Spirit for I AM LOVE!

 

My precious child come and live in My shelter, in the protection of the Most High God, you will find rest in the presence of the Almighty. You will say, "This I declare of the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I am trusting him." My precious child I will rescue you from every trap and protect you from the fatal plague. I will shield you with My wings. I will shelter you with My feathers. My faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor fear the dangers of the day, nor dread the plague that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. But you will see it with your eyes; you will see how the wicked are punished.

 

Because you My precious child make the LORD your refuge, because you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your dwelling. For I order My angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone. You will trample down lions and poisonous snakes; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!

 

My precious child, My servant, and My friend, whom I have chosen, I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will hold you up with my righteous right hand. All who come against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you. Do not be afraid, for I myself will help you declares the LORD, your Redeemer. You will rejoice in the LORD and glory in the Holy One of Israel.

 

My precious child, when you asked Me to forgive your sins and come into your heart I sent My Holy Spirit into you to comfort you, to give you power, and as proof to you that I have adopted you as My child. The Holy Spirit shall lead you into all truth because He shall testify of Jesus, and He will give you power to testify of Jesus. I will speak to you through My Holy Spirit that is in you, He will tell you what is right and wrong, what is love and hate. My Holy Spirit is a gentle whisper inside your heart telling you the path to walk in. If you walk in My Spirit you will walk in love, you will not sin. And you will see great and mighty things happen before you, they will not be accomplished by strength, nor by outside force, but by My Spirit says the LORD ALMIGHTY. Through My Holy Spirit I shall give you supernatural gifts that you may be blessed, and that you shall bless others through demonstrating My love for them. My Holy Spirit will be with you through out your whole life, and after I will receive you into My glory.

 

I your LORD say to you I will rescue you because you love me. I will protect you because you trust in my name. When you call on me, I will answer; I will be with you in trouble. I will rescue you and honor you. I will satisfy you with a long life and give you my salvation. Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me. It is your destiny.

Soul Hunger



Are You Fully Prepared to Battle Those Things That Keep You from Experiencing God's Best in Your Life?

I woke up this morning - the "worries" were waiting for me to open my eyes to harrass me, but I refused to listen and began to silently pray.  God has felt so far away from me - but as I sat there trying to collect my thoughts, I realized it is not God who is far from me - but ME who has been far from God... Part of the process of moving forward down the pathway home from a prodigal moment.  I thought I was experiencing the spirit of fear - but as I woke up and began to go about my day, I realized that actually what I am feeling - is a deep hunger for God.  Do you know the kind I'm talking about?  It is kind of like that feeling when you are famished.  Your belly aches because you are hungry.  My spirit aches.  I am hungry for God.  The problem is I am having a hard time cutting all the weeds of distraction out of the way so that I can just quietly get before Him.

Do you remember the scene in Disney's "Sleeping Beauty" when the spell goes into affect and the Princess and all who are in the castle are sound asleep, and thorns and briars begin to surround the castle?  The scene where the Prince while riding through the forest is taking his sword and slashing the thorns and branches out of his way so he can get to his goal - the princess?  I've been thinking that at times we need to be steadfast in slashing those distractions and things keeping us from "God's best" out of the way, but we need to do it using our "Sword of the Spirit."  Ephesians Chapter 6 talks about our spiritual armor.  How many times in our rush to get out the door and get our day started have we forgotten to put our armor on?  We remember to get washed up and dressed in clothes every day (who of us walks out the door naked???) but we need to also remember to put on our spiritual armor.  It is as follows:

"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, the breast plate of righteous in place and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes with the gospel of peace. In addition to all this take up the sheild of faith, which with you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit which is the word of God and pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people." (Ephesians 6:13-6:18)

I realize in writing this how many times I have walked out the door spiritually naked.  This makes us vulnerable to the attacks of the evil one.  How ridiculous I feel writing this, as I would never walk out the door physically naked to start my day.  Our spiritual armor protects our most vulnerable parts - one of which is our heart.  In attacking all those distractions, worries, thoughts that would distract us from starting our day off on the right foot and feeling close to God, experiencing that peace that passes all understaind - we need to be fully clothed in our spiritual armor.  Prodigals already feel vulnerable.  Raw, anxious, on edge as we make that trek back home to the Father.  We especially need to put on our armor.

I realized that the ache I am feeling is not coming from my "belly" but from my Spirit.  I can fully understand why I am crying out like David:

"Why my soul are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God." (Psalms 43:5).

There is a part of us - the center of us that was made to fellowship with God. It is a hunger that we often drown out with the busyness of life or we mistake that longing for something else... We think if we fill it with food or with drugs or with alcohol or with another person - that it will subside.  But the truth IS we were made to worship and love God.  There is a part of us - our soul that cries out for Him.  For His purpose, for His love for fellowship with HIM.  There is nothing that can feed that soul hunger except to be in union with Him.  When we are not - we become famished.  Are you famished?  I am famished for my Father.  I am tired of distractions, worries, insecurities getting in the way of what He has for me.  It is time to utilize that spiritual armor.  But in doing so - keep in mind that not only must we be fully clothed in that armor - but the most important part - is to PRAY.  Prodigals need to PRAY.  Sometimes that is the hardest thing to do because your "rawiness" or awareness of your prodigal situations (past or present) get in the way and the enemy whispers in your ear that you "aren't worthy to go before the Father."  Especially if you are struggling with something trying to hold you back as you journey back home to the Father.  There may be something trying to keep you from going forward.  For me - it has been a soul tie.  Yes those are real.  But this is where the Word of God (which is the Sword of the Spirit) comes in hand... This is where you use that sword and quote your promises outloud.  Jesus said:

"Come now let us settle the matter, though your sins are scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they are as red as crimson, they shall become like wool." (Isaiah 1:18) 

There are certain ties and binds that we do not have the strength on our own to break or fight.  This is where we need the Lord.  I love the fact that scripture in particular starts off with "Come now, let us settle the matter" - because it shows communication and discussion.  Jesus cares and He is listening.  Often a prodigal doesn't feel as though ANYONE cares or ANYONE understands.  But Jesus does.  There is such peace in that...  As I write this post I can feel God's peace starting to fill my soul.  This is why it is important to have your spiritual armor on, to pray and to get into God's presence.

The end result is that it may not be "Prince Charming" who stands over your bed - but it will be "The Prince of Peace" that stands over your life and takes your hand in His and guides you down the pathway of life - promising to never leave nor forsake you... Now I don't know about you - but that certainly sounds like a better ending than any I've seen in any Disney movie... Doesn't it?

Although you may not realize it.  You were created for a purpose...  You were.

The Creator knit you together in your mother's womb. (Psalms 139:13).

You may not even have realized it.  There is a purpose for your life.

There is a part of you that was made for one purpose.  ONE. And probably for most of your life you have been trying to fill it with things it wasn't meant to be filled with...  Deep within the very essence that is YOU - there exists a need a desire that can only be filled with one thing.  You will *never* be whole without it.  Until you recognize what it is.

That need is for God.  Your God.  Your Creator. Your Father.

What have you been trying to fill it with?  Because you and I both know it hasn't worked.  You can fool yourself for a period of time and *pretend* that it did, but you will always come back to point A because that precious spot deep inside of you was made with one purpose in mind.  To LOVE God.  To Worship God.  To NEED God. To Want God.  And it is not until you allow Him to flood the very center of your being that you will know that that is what you were lacking ALL ALONG.  When you allow Him to come into your life.  When you invite Him into your heart - not because someone TELLS you to.  Not because it is a "family tradition" to. But because you recognize  you NEED Him.  Be honest.  Not because you have to admit it to anyone else.  But to yourself.  You will never know true contentment.  True peace, true love - never be able to fill up that void deep inside of you that was made for ONE purpose only - until you admit to yourself that YOU NEED GOD.  You need Him.  That's the truth.  No matter what you try to fill that special God Given space within the very essence of you.  You will NEVER feel completely whole until you do.  And when you reach that point.  When you, like a dog having spent many hours chasing his tail - get tired of trying to fill that space with ALL OTHER STUFF.  When you reach a point where you can truly say "God I NEED YOU."  Then when He floods that spot with His Holy Spirit - and you feel such joy.  Such Peace, Such love - like nothing you can compare.  You will know that that one part of You - the very essence of you. Was reserved for Him and only Him. With God the only thing you will want more of - is Him...

Close your eyes and talk to God. Pray "Father, I need you." Even if you don't know what difference this prayer will make in your life. Pray it - and then sit back and see...

YOU are reserved for HIM.  It's time you knew it... And once you have experienced Him, you will wonder what took you so long in the first place.  He is and always has been your first love - you JUST didn't know it...

Humpty Dumpty Moments



Pride Before a Fall (Proverbs 16:18)

Humpty Dumpty moments... Have you had one? Come on, be honest with yourself… I know I have…

“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)

We have all heard the story of Humpty Dumpty, haven't we? 
Ask yourself this - How close are you to falling off the edge of the wall of your own life? And are you even aware of the fact that you are sitting on the very edge?

In one shocking moment, you’re free falling…

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the King's horses,
All the King's men couldn't put Humpty together again.

There you lay waaaaaaaay down on the ground looking up at the distance of how far you’ve fallen. You are absolutely incredulous.

"How did this happen? Why did this happen? What happened?"

Your thoughts are as shattered as your being.

“This can’t be happening to me… Things like this don’t happen to me, they happen to someone else. I must be dreaming.  That’s it – this isn’t real. I’m dreaming…”

You lay there with no idea of how much time has passed, willing yourself to wake up from this dreadful dream so that you can just shake it off and laugh over it by sharing the “dream” with a friend. Yet the dream doesn’t go away and you don’t wake up. It’s not a dream, it’s real and you don’t know what to do.

Soon you can hear the rumbling of the ground, even from as far below as you are, the sound of hoofs hitting the pavement above.  Before long the King's men peer out at you from over the top of the wall.

“Help me!!!!” You cry out, relieved that help has finally arrived.

They look long and hard at you from waaaaaaay above.

“Help you?” The leader responds.

“Yes! Help me!” You cry out somewhat exasperated wanting to stamp your foot if only it wasn’t over there… Somewhere...

“Well if I help you – who will help ME?” The leader questions eyeballing the distance from the wall to the ground, “What if I fall because YOU fell?” He adds, backing up. And in following his lead the others back up as well.

“Well if you don’t help me, who will?” You cry out in despair.

"Clearly you brought this all on yourself.” One of the King’s men calls down.  “This is your fault.  You did it; you fell and now look at you.” He waves his hand in disgust at your scattered pieces.  “What an absolute mess!”

“It serves you right!” Yells down another, “Why should I lower myself down to your level and risk my own life to help you out? No thank you! I have my own life to consider!”

“Maybe you were pushed!” Another King’s men suggests. “What did you do to make someone push you off that wall?”

“You must have done something to deserve this.” Calls down another, “If I were you, I would sit there and look back on my life and see what I did to find myself in such a predicament. You must be being punished for something you’ve done.”

Oh how the taunts and jabs continue, on and on they went looking down their pompous noses at your scattered pieces, not trying to help, not caring that you could hear every single word they said.

One by one the King's men turned their horses around and go about their merry way. And although you can no longer see them from your lowly position of below the wall, you can imagine the slander, gossip and stories that will be told throughout the town of the state they found you in.

If not for the noisiness of your own thoughts, all would be quiet...

"Maybe it is my fault… Perhaps I was over confident in my life. Perhaps I became too cocky and prideful and maybe even judgmental and so sure of myself. Never in a million years did I ever think this is where I would be… No one can help me now, it’s hopeless, I don’t see a way out. I suppose I shall lie here and die.”

“You will not die. The number of your days shall be fulfilled." (Exodus 23:26)  "I can help you.”

“Great, I’m really losing it now.” You say out loud. “I’m losing my mind on top of everything else…”

“Are you ready to listen to me? Or will you drown me out as you’ve done in the past by covering my voice up with excuses or with the noisiness of your life? If you had listened to me up there on the wall, you would not be in the physically broken state you are in.”


“Go ahead! Taunt me as the King’s men have! Kick me when I’m down! There is nothing you can say that is any different from what I’ve already heard!” You cry out wishing you had arms to fling out in frustration but they are located way over there somewhere...

“How about, I love you? How about, though your sins are scarlet I shall make them white as snow.”(Isaiah 1:18)

The words are healing. They begin to soothe you, like a mother soothes a fussy child. You’re fully listening.

“I came so that you could have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10), yet you thought you knew better than I what that abundance in your life should be. So against my better judgment, I let you. I wanted you trust in me with all your heart and not to lean on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6), I wanted you to acknowledge me in all your ways. Yet you never made time for me. The more I tried to show my love for you, the more you allowed the noise of your life to drown me out. There have been many times in your life where I have had to sit back and watch you – fall.  I’ve been waiting for you to call upon my name. Yet you didn’t.  And the louder your life has gotten the quieter my voice has become.”

It’s true, you think. And so obvious, there is no denying it.  “Okay.” You say. “What choice do I have?”

“You have always had a choice.  You just haven’t chosen the wisest ones.”

“I’m listening…”

The Holy Spirit continues to speak words of love and healing and direction over you and as you lay there intently listening, receiving and nodding in agreement with the words He says, your pieces start to fly together from where they are strewn and hold fast until all of you is as you once were, whole. As God had originally created you to be, yet there is something that is now a part of you that wasn’t before…

His peace.
His wonderful, beautiful peace – that passes ALL worldly understanding and comes only from Him.

You rise up a new creation.

“Remember all I have said to you,” The Lord says.  “The truth is Humpty, you were broken on the inside before you even fell off that wall.  You just didn’t know it. Sometimes I have to allow situations in your life to happen, because it is the only way I can get your undivided attention; bring you to a point where you can truly see that the only answer is ME.  For without Me, whether you admit it or not – you are broken.  You are lost and there is NO ONE who can put you back together again.  Not yourself, not anyone else – only ME.  To try to find another way is useless.  For I am the way, the truth and the life; No one comes to the Father, except by Me.” (John 14:6). It takes some people their whole life to realize the truth of My words – if at all.  There has always been a plan for your life and all you have ever needed to do – is acknowledge me and heed it.”

Psalms 18:33-36 fills your head as you walk back up to where you had fallen off that wall and peer down at the distance you had fallen.

“He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me; your help has made me great. You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way.”

And you rejoice and thank God for His forgiveness, His grace, His mercy, His patience and most of all His love and that the best, safest place to be – is in His presence in His good and perfect will.  With that realization you also realize that life is a journey and during those times when you feel “broken” all you need to do is call on His name and He will restore you.

 “I will restore to you the years that the Locust has eaten.” (Joel 2:25)

He calls you "His Beloved" because He loves you, and whether or not you are aware of it - you belong to Him.

The Worries

The worries woke me up this morning... They are the ugly black creatures that wait until the wee hours of morning to harass you and wake you up from your sleep whispering in your ear... "How are you going to resolve this problem or this one.... or this one... or this one..."  They steal your peace and fill you with fear and well - worry.  The more of an ear you give them, the louder and more aggressive they become.  Their biggest trick is to taunt you, often times repeating the same thing over and over again..."You have to take care of A,B,C - but you can't... Because all you have is this... How are you going to do it? You can't.. There will be ramifications... You are in trouble..."  They get louder and louder because they are "faith drowners."  If you listen to the worries, the voice of your faith becomes a whisper until it blows out like a fire that becomes nothing more than an ember and if you're not careful they can totally blow the fire of your faith out until all that is left is smoke.

Worries  can only become as big as you allow them to get.  If you give them your undivided attention they grow, bigger and bigger and bigger!  They make your heart palpitate and ruin any enjoyment you might get from a day.  They drown out everything around you until you are consumed with them. Like a tornado they can destroy everything good in your life.  Wiping out family moments, or enjoying the small things in life because all you can see is the darkness of the worries and the more you give them room - pretty soon they are all you can focus on. All you can see is their blackness, they choke out anything good around you and rob you of the simple things in life. Their job is to steal from you - peace, joy, love, contentment, happiness.  They fill you with stress, heart palpitations, health issues and sometimes turn you into a person full of bitterness instead of one of faith.

How do you combat the worries when they come flooding into your mind? Sometimes having someone to share them with helps to make them shrink down into the little itty bitty things they really are. Two heads are better than one, sharing your worries helps sometimes helps put them in perspective. 

The most powerful slayer of worries, is the Word of God.  The best way to combat the worries is to quote scriptures out loud.  Sometimes the louder you quote your promises, the bigger your faith becomes and the worries shrink.  Lift EACH worry up to the light of your Heavenly Father in prayer, because He is BIGGER than ANY worry that can harass you.  How to handle worries are even addressed in the bible:

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more than food? And the body more than clothes? (Matthew 6:25)

"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?" (Luke 12:26)

"I sought the Lord and He heard me, and delivered me from ALL my fears." (Psalms 34:4)

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones." (Proverbs 3:5-8)

“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19) 

“I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13)


We choose how we live life.  We can allow "the worries" to overwhelm us and take over and live our lives in worry and fear - or we can choose to recognize those worries, sort out the things we can change and pray about those things we have no control over.  The choice is ours. Worries are thieves that try to enter our mind and rob us of all the good things in life.  John 10:10 tells us that "God came so that we could have life and have it MORE abundantly."  Who do you choose to listen to? The Author and Creator of life? Or the worries that are nothing more than annoyances that try to deplete us of the enjoyment of life that God has so abundantly given us? 

L'Chaim - To life!  Choose life!  When the worries flood your mind - combat them by "changing your mind."  Watch them dissipate as you concentrate your mind on your blessings instead of on your lack.  Darkness cannot abide with light.  As you begin to think of all the many ways that you are blessed those little dark "worries" will run in fear, for they cannot stand when you replace them with recognizing ALL the blessings you have in your life.  They will flee. Try it and see and watch God as He blesses you with an increase of faith, mercy, grace and appreciation for ALL the good that is in your life. 

"Worries - be gone! I've no room in my mind for you today as I concentrate on all that is good and right in my life. I give you no more power over my mind. You may not steal any more moments of my life or take away my peace of mind! Be ye gone! I cover you with the blood of Jesus. In Jesus name! AMEN!"