In the Spirit, In Truth

God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

John 4:24 NIV

God as you know is a spiritual being.

He is THE spiritual being.

The one who created all of us.

When people begin to describe, energy, forces, which came together to build the universe, it drives me insane how they cannot identify that it is God who they are referring to.

God is spirit, our worship, our prayers, our praises, must be done in the Spirit to feel his presence. It must be done in the spirit to connect with him, but it needs to be done in Spirit and in Truth.

If there is no truth behind your praises and worship, the only person you are fooling is yourself.

God is all knowing of all our actions, our thoughts and our hearts.

When we do things for God, we got to do them right.

We have to do them in the Spirit and in Truth.

What does that mean?

In Spirit and in Truth?

This notion comes from the story with the Samarian Woman at the well.

There is so many fundamental lessons we can take from this encounter.

One being Jesus a Jew talking to a woman, and from Samaria nonetheless.

The women’s past can be taken into account (which is indeed mentioned when Jesus informs her he knows her: John 4:6-30.

In this story the woman and Jesus are comparing how they worship and who.  The Samaritans worshiping someone they do not now, while Jesus worshiping someone he knows. He tells the woman in verses 23 & 24 that a new day is coming.  Times are changing.  God is seeking true worshipers, those whom praise and worship with all their might, all their fervor, all their gratitude, In spirit and in Truth.

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. ²⁴ God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

It does not matter where we worship him.

It doesn’t matter who is worshiping him.

We can all worship God, Jew and gentile alike……

We can worship him in the temple.

We can worship him in Mt. Olive.

We can worship him in Mt. Sinai.

We can worship him at our churches.

We can worship him at home.

WE can worship him in a cave.

We can worship him from the deep of the belly of a whale.

We can worship him from the prisons.

Where we worship him, is not relevant as how you worship him.

God is seeking genuine worships, not memorized chants. God is seeking pure hearts. Not specific religions.  His chosen people have forsaken him, Christ allows both Jews and gentiles alike to receive the Blessings that can only come from God above.

⁵ “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ⁶ But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. ⁷ And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸ Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Matthew 6:5-8 New International Version (NIV)

He doesn’t want babbling.  He doesn’t want chants.  He wants a deep connection. To build a relationship when you pray.  He does not want you to just use fillers to elongate the prayers, he doesn’t care if its eloquent or not.  He just wants your raw true feelings and emotions.

Our worship shows God our Love for him.

Ever been in love?

Ever written a love letter?

Ever expressed to someone you love you truly, madly deeply you were in love with them?

Our worship should be like that.

A love letter to God.

Telling him how much you love him.

How much you appreciate him.

how truly madly deeply in love you are with him.

Loving him with your mind, your heart and soul.

To be able to worship in truth is knowing knowledge of GOd.

Having a relationship with God.

Knowing what he has done for you, and being totally grateful.

To some the Bible may just be just another book. Just another history lesson or collection of stories.  Yet once you know God, you understand that this is not just another book, not just another collection of stories. You get to fall in love with the Author, you fall in love with the man behind the pages, the man who an visit you via his spirit. the man who sent his son to pave the way for your salvation. The man who loved you, before you knew him, he loved you before you were born, he knew you, when you weren’t even though of by your parents here on earth.

The more you submit yourselves to God, let his presence over take you, let him be felt, the more you pray in spirit and in truth, the more you appreciate who he is.  The more we learn about him, the more we can connect with him, the more deeper our worship will get.

In Romans 12, Paul refers to pure worship as a sacrifice.

Romans 12:1-2 New International Version (NIV)

A Living Sacrifice

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Paul tells us not to conform to the patterns of the world, but be transformed by renewing your mind with God’s will and presence.  This is what God is looking for.  This is how he urges on to seek our pure worship in spirit and in truth.

We get God’s mercy, with our sacrifice.

Our sacrifices takes us to a place where it is pleasing to god.

It is sacrificing every temptation that may fall upon us, and not submit to the desires of the flesh. over coming them, and being pure with our please, being pure with our praises and being pure with our worship.

 

It’s also important to know that worship is reserved only for God. Only He is worthy and not any of His servants (Revelation 19:10). We are not to worship saints, prophets, statues, angels, any false gods, or Mary, the mother of Jesus. We also should not be worshiping for the expectation of something in return, such as a miraculous healing. Worship is done for God—because He deserves it—and for His pleasure alone.

Our Worship needs to be genuine without any expectation of a reward or a treat for our praise.  It needs to be pure, because he deserves it, not because you want anything, because he allowed you to wake up.  Not because you want him to answer your pleas, because he has taken you out of a difficult situation.  Not because you need something more, but because he is our way-maker, our miracle worker, our promise keeper, because he loves us and we love him. Worship him so that you personify the testimony you are giving..

 

Revelation 19:10 New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”

Worship can be public praise to God (Psalm 22:22; 35:18) in a congregational setting, where we can proclaim through prayer and praise our adoration and thankfulness to Him and what He has done for us. True worship is felt inwardly and then is expressed through our actions. “Worshiping” out of obligation is displeasing to God and is completely in vain. He can see through all the hypocrisy, and He hates it. He demonstrates this in Amos 5:21-24 as He talks about coming judgment. Another example is the story of Cain and Abel, the first sons of Adam and Eve. They both brought gift offerings to the Lord, but God was only pleased with Abel’s. Cain brought the gift out of obligation; Abel brought his finest lambs from his flock. He brought out of faith and admiration for God.

Worship him every where you go, not just in church, procliam his name without being embarassed, publically declare his wonders, in and out of church.  Proclaim the victories he has given you, the hurdles and storms he has taken you out of.  Rejoice in him.

Psalm 22:22 New International Version (NIV)

²² I will declare your name to my people;
in the assembly I will praise you.

 

Psalm 35:18 New International Version (NIV)

¹⁸ I will give you thanks in the great assembly;
among the throngs I will praise you.

Amos 5:21-24 New International Version (NIV)

²¹ “I hate, I despise your religious festivals;
your assemblies are a stench to me.
²² Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them.
Though you bring choice fellowship offerings,
I will have no regard for them.
²³ Away with the noise of your songs!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.
²⁴ But let justice roll on like a river,
righteousness like a never-failing stream!

In the book of Amos God tells us about the hypocrisy and will call us out in our worships.  he will call us out in our fake cries, our fake pleas.  He will not accept your praises, until they are pure.  Until they are genuine, until they are in spirit and in truth.

 

True worship is not confined to what we do in church or open praise (although these things are both good, and we are told in the Bible to do them). True worship is the acknowledgment of God and all His power and glory in everything we do. The highest form of praise and worship is obedience to Him and His Word. To do this, we must know God; we cannot be ignorant of Him (Acts 17:23). Worship is to glorify and exalt God—to show our loyalty and admiration to our Father.

Acts 17:23 New International Version (NIV)

²³ For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

 

Please don’t be ignorant in your praises.  Give the one who gave you all the praise he deserves.

 

I do want to share something personal that append to me.

A few days ago I began working on this post.  Meditating on the article. Meditating on the scriptures.  Meditating in what God has put in my heart for this post.  I ended up drafting it so I can revisit; knowing full well I was possibly done.  Yet God had another plan.

No one knew that I was writing this, nor the name nor the context.  When I write; I focus and meditate on God and what he puts in my heart and I never share details of my writings or analysis until after I have posted them.   I also hit a hurdle, a problem in my marriage; so i paused on this post to focus on that hurdle.  I had a deep conversation with my husband.  A conversation we both know was long over due.  Things were said, tears were shed, and we wanted to instead of going in a rant of bickering and yelling, we wanted a conversation to come to a compromise, a resolution, because at the end of the day, and the hurdle faced; we are a team.  He is my partner, I love him. No matter what I love him.  So we talked.  We talked some more. Then Sunday we went to church.

 

Sunday we had a guest preacher from another country come in.  The sermon was empowering. The sermon continued a theme that our pastors in-house have been talking of.  the sermon mentioned hues of my dream.  I knew then this man was an anointed man of God who was re-affirming what God has been telling us these past few weeks.

At the end of service during the alter call, I turned to my husband.  I know I needed to go up, but I knew we needed to go up together.  My husband did not budge; neither did I. Yet I remained in communion, I remained praying from where I stood.  Praying for those who did have the courage to walk up, praying for my needs, praying for the message which was spoken.  Then this ministers wife comes over to me as I am praying and gives me a word.  She had no idea that I am a mother of two.  When she entered the church; my oldest son was already at his place sitting by the instrument he plays during the service, while my youngest son was sitting next to me.  Yet in this prayer she professed protection, love, healing, strength for both of my boys.  She kept calling out; God I do not know this young woman but you know her.  She wants to praise you and worship you In spirit and in truth.  She is in a lot of pain, I do not know the pain she is in, Take this sadness out of her heart, help deliver her from the pain she is in, the hurt she is feeling. Let her get over this obstacle so she can serve you in spirit and in truth as you have called upon her to do.  She mentioned specific things that only I asked God about.  She mentioned things I never shared with anyone.  God used this woman.  As I received my confirmation; the tears could not stop from running down my cheeks.

 

Today Lord I want to praise you in spirit and in truth.  I want no one, and nothing to stand in my way to give you my purest praise, which is something you deserve more than anything.  I am thankful and grateful for all that you have done in my life dear lord.  I am thankful for your mercy and grace. Lord you know I am not worthy of this; but from the bottom of my heart I thank you.  I want to serve you. I want to be of service to you.  I want to proclaim that you are the one true Living God. The king of kings. God of Gods, Host of hosts.  You are the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end, without you we are nothing.  withyout your guidance I would be lost.  Thank you for always showing me that you are listening.  That you see I want nothing but you.  For reminding me of what I need to be reminded of in the most opportune times.  Lord I rejoice and sing your praises because you have been nothing but amazing with this unworthy child of yours.  A child who knows her imperfections and know I do not deserve you.  Yet I am thankful nonetheless.  I pray for anyone reading this who may be going through similar obstacles.  I may not have been detailed in my hurdle, but I pray for you reading this, who is going through something so personal and private, knowing that obstacle is hindering you from praising in spirit and in truth.  Knowing you needed to know you are not alone, I pray for you to get the guidance and confirmation you need to truly seek more of God, as I plan to truly seek more of him. I do not know you either, but God knows your heart, your please as he knows mine, I declare healing. I declare liberation. I declare restoration in the name of the Father, the son and the holy spirit.    Amen.

 

 

 

 

Can Loved Ones in Heaven Look Down on You?

There is a question that has been nagging me, because today more than ever I wonder what they would be thinking.  Can Loved one in heaven look down on you?  Do they see what I have done? Where I have been? My thoughts? My actions?  Would they be proud of me?

As I thought of these things, I received an email with this article:

 

I often find my self reminiscing on days of my childhood when my grandmother was alive as well as relatives and friends whom are no longer with us.

I will be quoting this article here and there while inputting my own input here and there.

Then the article arose the question I was thinking about my loved ones whom are no longer among the living.:

Can our loved ones look down on us and occasionally visit?

I believe they can.

This article I found seems to believe as well.

I am going to share a story with you that happened to me.

This July will make 10 years since I had experience something which makes me truly believe that our deceased Loved ones do look down over us.

It was 7/31/2010; the day before my birthday, when I had this encounter.

My husband and I were getting ready to spend a day in the city.

Before I get to this encounter, let me rewind a little bit to the beginning of that month.

That month was a draining month for me.

I was seeing my doctor more frequently because my husband and I were trying to conceive without having another miscarriage.

My aunt was very sick.

Yet any opportunity I had to see her I did.

Earlier that month, as I sat on the exam room chair, in my doc’s office, with the news of nope sorry not pregnant. I felt my heart break.  I either get pregnant and loose it, or I just can’t get pregnant.  That has become at that point the story of my life.  I was frustrated. I was tired.  I was about to give up.  Then my doctor said, give me til November, lets try something out.  He told me what to do, asked me to come back every week that month.  So I did.  Our agreement was we were going to try a different approach.  If Unsuccessful then we would try IVF.

 

I honestly did not want to take that approach, but I agreed to be open and try a new approach.

After that visit, being all blue, I decided let me see my Aunt and lift her spirits up, mine may be down, but Maybe I could still be a blessing to her.

She laughed, she joked, then she said something that til this day haunts me.

she said:

Nena, you are pregnant.  The Doctor missed it, but watch and see you are.  I am going to die, and after I am buried you will see that I am right.  Do not give up.  You are going to have your child, I will not live to see that baby.  I know that child will be a great blessing.

I was like yo, auntie, whatever is running in your IV must be really strong, stop talking this nonsense.  shoot if it has you on this happy blissful moment, maybe I need to be on this same drip.

She cussed me out like she always does in a form of endearment that only my aunt could do when to the average person it looks like you are being cussed out.

Days went by, my aunt kept getting worse.

my appointments were also killing me.

Still not showing pregnant.

Still doing more tests.

Then came Saturday 07/31/2010.

My husband wanted to Celebrate my birthday a day early, so I can sleep in on Sunday. [we were not actively going to church back then].

As I am waiting for my husband to get ready, I see at the entrance to my house my uncle (who has been deceased since April of 2001).  He tells me “Nena avansa (hurry up), its time, its time, its time”.

I said Pero Tio, what are you doing here?  Its time for what? why do i need to hurry?

then he disappeared.

I didn’t think anything of it.  Didn’t even tell my husband (didn’t want him to think I was going crazy).  So we went on our way.

When we make it to the city one of my aunts and mom are both calling me back to back.

So I answered.

My aunt said, nena its is time.  if you want to say Good bye come now.

I screamed.

I cried.

I turned around with my husband and came back to Brooklyn.

I made it to my aunt 5 minutes after she passed.

Her husband told me it’s time.

He warned me its time.

I just didnt know for what.

The article states:

“I believe the answer is yes.”

Not just from my experiences, but also from others who have reported similar incidents. We are told about the thin veil between heaven and earth, and scripture bears witness to the possibility of movement from one to the other.

In the Old Testament, we read the story of King Saul, who asked to speak to the prophet Samuel. Granted, Saul made the connection through the witch of Endor (1 Samuel 28), but God allowed that experience. Samuel asked, “Why have you summoned me?” He and Saul discussed the kingdom and Samuel critiqued the embattled king. Saul asked for advice and God allowed it through his deceased servant, Samuel.

We are cautioned in Deuteronomy 18:10 not to seek out sorcerers and witchcraft. But the passage in First Samuel shows it is possible for someone who has passed to revisit earth and even speak to us…

Lets look at Deutronomy 18.

Deuteronomy 18:10 New International Version (NIV)¹⁰ Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft,

We are not to engate in sorcery, omen,s witchcraft and all that stuff.  but in 1 Samuel 28; God allowed Saul to make a connection with the witch of Endor.  Saul and the Medium at Endor from verse 3.

God made this Exception for Saul to allow Samuel to speak to him.

 

The article I read continued with this:

The Stories

Reverend Stella Ruiz, an ordained minister and bereavement coordinator for Hospice, writes, “I have listened to many family members share how they have experienced the presence of their loved one. After a loved one dies, many family members yearn for just a touch, a scent, a sign, to know their loved one is alright: the soft smell of the loved one’s perfume, physically feeling the loved one’s arms around the family member, or lights turned off without any reason. The experiences are precious and unique, but can also be painful after the special moment has ended.”

Several years ago, I met a remarkable woman in a nursing home. In her 80s, Cora loved reminiscing about her life during World War II, the Depression, and the rebuilding of the United States.

Cora shared with me that her son, Buddy, loved his dog. They often played in the backyard, cavorting around the perimeter of the yard, jumping over a tree stump, and playing peek-a-boo under the sheets drying on the clothesline.

Cora’s precious Buddy died in the flu epidemic of 1918. She grieved long and hard. Then one day she heard the dog barking. She looked in the backyard and saw something that had not happened since Buddy became ill: The dog cavorted around the perimeter of the yard, jumped over the tree stump, then played peek-a-boo under the sheets drying on the clothesline. Cora knew the dog was playing with her invisible son, and a piece of her fractured heart began to heal.

But there is an argument…

The argument from the article continues:

The Argument

A common argument asks, “Why would someone in heaven watch what is happening on earth? That would simply make them sad.”

But what if God protects the deceased from the sadness and allows only what brings them, as well as us, joy? 

We all need to be encouraged. God is faithful in providing that boost of encouragement exactly when we need it. Can’t the God who knows our hearts determine when and how to send a message of hope? Can’t he “save” our souls with a glimpse into his beautiful world and the affirmation that our loved ones are with him?

“We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1).

The use of the word “cloud” implies a different entity – possibly above us and enveloping us. Within that cloud stands those gone before, cheering us on, praising God for our progress as we “run with endurance the race set before us.”

Since we are told guardian angels walk with us and minister to us (Hebrews 1:14), is it not possible that the spiritual realm around us might also include those who have passed?

 

Hebrews 12:1 New International Version (NIV)

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us

 

Hebrews 1:14 New International Version (NIV)

¹⁴ Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

These two verses answers the question of wouldn’t they (the deceased) be sad if they look upon us?

Are not angels spirits of God who come to offer us protection?

Does not the spirit of God manifest in us when we receive him in the spirit?

I am sure God gets sad at our behavior, how we speak, how we do things, how we ignore him, yet here he is…Arms wide open saying I will forgive you, just be true with your word with me.

Let us continue on what this article states:

On the Desiring God website, John Piper addresses the topic this way:

A Biblical Perspective

“God will give the saints whatever measure of knowledge they need for the greatest experience of happiness in God. If they need to know something for their fullest experience of joy in God, they will know it. He won’t withhold what is needed for their happiness in him.” –John Piper

In the New Testament, we read about the rich man and Lazarus. Luke 16:22-26 records the story of how the rich man looked up and saw the poor man, Lazarus, at peace in heaven. The rich man realized too late his mistake in not believing and not caring for the poor folks who journeyed through his life. He asked Abraham to send Lazarus as witness to his family, to warn them before it was too late. Abraham declined the request, but this passage underscores the fact that a deceased Abraham conversed across the spiritual divide.

If those who suffer in hell can look upward, is it not also possible – under God’s tutelage – for the reverse direction?

The Bible gives us another example…

Luke 16:22-26 New International Version (NIV)

²² “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. ²³ In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. ²⁴ So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

²⁵ “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. ²⁶ And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

When God Wills It

In Matthew 17, the Transfiguration account underscores how deceased saints may suddenly appear on earth. Jesus is joined by Moses and Elijah, who talk with the Son of God. It is a moment of instruction for Peter, James and John, as well as a reminder to us that the saints in glory – when God wills it – can travel back to earth.

This July, my best friend suffered a sudden illness and left for heaven. After the funeral, I holed up for a while, journaling through my grief and trying to find some sense in my world without Deb.

One night, I sat on my bed with my Bible open, crying out the raw emotions of grief. Then I sensed Deb behind me, her hand on my shoulder – letting me know she was okay.

I did not actually see Deb or feel her in the physical sense; yet somehow just knowing she was in the room reminded me that our friendship continued into eternity and beyond what I could physically experience. As in life, so in death, her presence was a comfort.

Final thoughts:

Final Thoughts

We can’t know everything that happens after death –  and truthfully – we probably don’t want to know everything. Yet I believe God is so loving, he sometimes allows us to “see” or “feel” into another realm to remind us he is omnipresent and always caring.

Years ago, I read an anonymous quote that still encourages me today: “Since God is with us, and our loved ones are with Him – then they’re not very far away.”

---

So now my final thoughts on this:  

Yes if God wills it, your loved ones can become available.

They come in dreams, in visions, in thoughts, in just random ways, that you know God is sending you protecting via an Angel, but the only way that you may possibly receive what God has to offer you is sometimes by showing you someone familiar to you.  Some of us are creatures of habit creatures aided by our comfort, so to relay a message to us he might use the appearance of a loved one .   Jesus was joined by Moses and Elijah in Matthew 17.  God allowed Moses and Elijah to appear.  God allows Samuel to appear to Saul in 1 Samuel.

God allowed my uncle to appear to me knowing full well what was about to come.  If God wills it God will allow it.

 

Father  God Thank you Lord, Thank you for allowing us to see your hand move.  For connecting to us in ways you know we will recognize that you have sent a messenger to speak to us on your behalf.  Lord you have always been faithful, always been merciful and always gracious in my times of need.  I hope I can pay you back in love, in my praises, in my actions  and show you my gratitude for all that you have done for me and my family in our times of need and moments of despair where you made yourself available to find comfort.  Thank you Lord for all you do in our lives. Amen.

God’s Promises in the midst of all the Storms in our lives.

Hi all,

We all go through moments where we feel our world is falling apart.

Sometimes we know how to weather that storm.

Sometimes we are scared when we are facing the storm.

We are humans.

We stress.

We fret.

We worry.

We try to solve these problems on our own.

We hold things in.

Sometimes we want to avoid it.

We do not want to face the reality of what is happening.

We confide in others.

We are given advice.

Some advice are useless.

Some are helpful.

We all have different ways of dealing with storms.

Some of us remember to put it in God’s hands.

Some of us remember to thank him, knowing full well he will provide for us.

Some of us just need that little reminder.

 

But God made promises to us on how to handle these situations which come up.

 

Someone I love and care for was going through something recently.  This person’s troubles I will not share, for that person did share their troubles in confidence, Though that person’s troubles and victories did inspire this piece today, I will not violate the trust that person gave to me when that individual opened up.  But I dedicate this to you, and YOU know who you Are.

For some people opening up is not easy. I know I suffer from that.  I do not open up easily, usually opting to weather my storms alone.    I am not saying this is the case here, but nonetheless because of My love and respect for this person details of the storm weathered will not be spoken for, at least not by me.

My friend was going through something.

That pain, I felt it, that worry, I felt it.  My heart broke, I personally wanted to do all I could to help.  I do have the heart of a servant. There was nothing I could do…..to undo what this person was going through.

I did not carry that persons burden, for this was their cross to bear and I too have my own crosses to bear.  Though this person has been a rock for me in my moments of despair. I hope in part I was able to pay it back with our continued talks and moments we share.

I checked in, I spoke scripture when opportunity arose to the person.

I showed the person love….For I have nothing but love for this person.

I told the person that they were not alone. [God Is with you you]….But I am here too if you need me.

I reminded the person they got this and to have faith. [I know deep down you do]….but a little reminder doesn’t hurt.

God has a purpose for this person’s life.

I can’t say what, but that is between that person and God.

In the midst of this hurdle, in the midst of this storm, I hope and pray that the person can see that with this hurdle which just came to pass, that in this victory, how great God is.  He never fails!!!

I know the person is thankful.  I know the person is feeling mighty good right now with this hurdle down and over with.  I just pray for this person, I pray they remember that God was with that person the entire time.  They were not alone. God made a promise, to all of us.  When we face difficult times, he is ever present, ever more.

 

When I go through the storms, I go through several phases.  I pray, Plea and cry out to God for the strength.  Sometimes I hide, and isolate myself.  Sometimes I fall, sometimes things begin to spiral, sometimes my judgement gets clouded. I am so deep in my own thoughts within my storms, that I can’t see the light, nor the rainbow shining in the horizon.  I too tend to forget that God has promised me victory.   Some storms I reach out to people I trust, people I can vent to and guide me, or people I know will pray with me.  Let me repeat that…not pray for me….Pray with me. This is my battle. I too need to pray, while others pray with me. Each storm is handled differently.  Each storm strengthen us differently.  Yet regardless of what we face, God’s words, his promises to us and how to handle these situations, are the same, time and time again.

 

Throughout the Scriptures we see God Fulfilling his promises he makes to us.

There are there to bring us comfort during our challenges.  They are there as reminders to trust in him when we feel like throwing in the towel, for he is always going to be there with us and for us.

 

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Isaiah 43:2

 

It doesn’t say “if,” but “when.”

The storms, the Trials the tribulations, will happen.

When it comes, God gives us comforting words that he will be with us.

He remind us that we will not be burned; he reminds us that he will be in it with us.

A gentle reminder that WE will pass through those waters, things are not going to be easy, But he will make sure you will not be burned; you will not be drowned, Keep faith. Trust in him to guide you.  You will get through this.  He tells the prophet Isaiah I got you.

He is telling you, I got you!

 

“Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.” Matt. 24:42

God reminds us to be aware, to be focused.

Even in the midst of our troubles, he reminds us, that his second coming, can be any day now.

Despite what challenges we face, still be vigilant.

Stay woke.

Stay in faith.

Trust in him, because in that given hour he might return, you don’t wanna miss your shot.

Don’t wanna miss your chance your blessings, because you were not paying attention nor vigilant.

He tells us to wake up and be mindful, be attentive and be prepared. I may arrive before your troubles are over with, but its OK, because I got you. So long as you are awake and ready when I come for you.

 

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:15-17

He tells us to be careful in our walk.

Be wise in our decisions.

Make the best of our times.

Not to be foolish….For in those foolish decisions we can spiral; we can ruin the victory that is up ahead….

Understand Gods will…will be done.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Ps. 46:2

In our darkest moments, in our most difficult hour, in our times of trouble, we need to always trust that God is our refuge and our strength.

“…When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.” Isa. 59:19

When the enemy and his attacks comes like a flood. the Spirit of the Lord will protect you, will stand against these attacks, will block that flood from seeping into your lives; keep faith and trust in God.

“The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever. May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!” Psa. 29:10-11

God gives his faithful people the strength and resources needed; he provides peace and watches over you.  Please remember that when you are facing the storms.

“I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” Gen. 9:13

Remember Gods covenant with us.  He promised to protect us, to guide us, he promised Noah and his people and every living creature that he would not let us suffer a flood.  God Promises to protect, to guide and the rainbow is our reminder that we will overcome this hurdle after the storm.

Winds can blow

Devastation may come.

Financial troubles may come.

Personal problems may arise.

Pain may find their way in your lives.

We may loose important things or people in our lives.

We might find ourselves facing sickness.

No matter the torment.

No matter the storm.

No matter the hurdle.

You are note alone.

He is always with you.

He will not let you sink.

He will not let you fall.

He will lift you up.

In his own words he makes a promises to protect us.

He gives us a covenant.

He makes a pact.

These scriptures I mentioned; are just some of over 3,000 promises in the Bible that God makes us, where God shows he is unfailing, faithful promises to those who chooses to walk with him and trust in him.  His promises are eternal.  He never breaks them, the way we do, time and time again.  No matter the situation, God has a promise for you, he has a victory that will come from this storm, if you are willing and able to put your faith and trust in him.

 

Father God thank your love, your grace and your Mercy.  Thank you  for the promises you have given us in your scriptures that we can use for comfort  and serve as a reminder that when we are facing difficult times in our lives, you are evermore present. Thank you for showing that you are here time and time again, that you do not leave your children alone. That when you see us facing temptations that lead us to walk through the valley of the shadow of death, that you will guide us to greener pastures. That you give us strength when we find our selves weak, when the floods are coming our way, you clear a path, when the fire is surrounding us, we will not be burned.  Father Thank you for the promises you kept, even when I failed to keep me own.  Thank you for each victory from each storm.  To you I owe all the glory. It is you whose name I lift in praise, for without you, this victory would not have come. Amen.

 

Below are some scriptures with promises you can hold as reminders as needed.  You can fall back to for a pick me up, to give you strength in the midst of your storm.

 

Isaiah 40:29-31

“He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

Exodus 14:14

“The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.”

2 Chronicles 7:14

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. ”

James 1:5

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

Philippians 4:19

“ But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Psalm 37:4

“Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”

John 14:13-16

“And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.  If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;”

Luke 11:9-13

“And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”

Matthew 6:31-33

“Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Romans 10:9-10

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

Revelation 3:5

“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.”

John 8:36

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

Deuteronomy 31:8

“And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.”

James 4:7

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

 

Isaiah 61:6

“But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.”

Isaiah 54:17

“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.”

1 Peter 4:1-2

“Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.”

2 Corinthians 4:17-18

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Colossians 3:3-4

“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”

Revelation 2:7

“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”

Isaiah 43:2

“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”

John 3:36

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

Malachi 3:10

“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”

 

Psalm 18:3

“I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.”

Ephesians 3:16-19

“That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.”

Psalm 103:2-5

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

2 Samuel 7:28

“And now, O Lord God, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant”

Psalm 19:7

“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.”

John 10:10

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

Isaiah 54:10

“For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

My long lost Hollywood

It’s been 13 years since I’ve seen you.

Yes I have kept count.

16 years since I’ve laid next you, embraced in your arms.

16 years since I told you, I loved you.

Yet recently I have found myself near the place it all began.

I miss you.

I’ll always love you.

I should’ve never walked away.

You weren’t the one that got away, you were the one I pushed away, because I loved you so much, and was afraid. I was afraid of what we could become.

I was afraid of what we had.

I was afraid of telling you the truth.

I was afraid of telling you about my miscarriage.

I was afraid of telling you, that I wanted nothing more than to pursue everything you shared with me, alongside with you.

Knowing full well you supported my endeavors, my dreams, my passions and desires…. and baby you know I always had your back. I helped you, when you went back to school…. I knew what we were capable of…. and that scared me.

I wanted to settle down with you, when you mentioned it.

But I started to push away.

I saw other people.

I stopped answering your calls.

One night you called me drunk.

Confessing.

My heart broke.

I was with another man that night.

The same man I married.

I loved you.

I was scared of a future with you.

I still love you.

I will always love you.

Everyday I walk to the place it all started.

I sit by the water.

I think of you.

I am reminded of you.

I am reminded of us.

You still have that affect on me.

I am reminded of the way you made love.

I am reminded of your gentle touches.

I am reminded of your embrace.

I am reminded of your sweet face.

I am reminded of your passion.

I am reminded of your kisses.

I am reminded of every essence of you.

3 weeks assigned to my new location, near where it all began….

3 weeks I think of nothing but you.

Praying for you.

Praying for your family.

Hoping you got what you once saw as your future.

Hoping you got your family.

The family I was scared I couldn’t give you.

My son was born a day after our sons due date….5 days after your birthday.

The son you didn’t know I carried, the son you didn’t know I lost. The son I knew I would’ve named after you. The son I never got a chance to hold. The loss that caused my downward spiral.

I was terrified to tell you.

I knew how you felt about having a child.

I had already lost our son. I didn’t want to loose you with him.

Yet I did.

I lost you both forever.

Because I was scared.

Holding on to this secret.

Holding on this pain I didn’t want you to live…..and you know why.

I drowned my sorrows with alcohol.

You asked me to tone it down.

I drowned my sorrows with partying.

You asked me to tone it down.

I drowned my sorrows with other men and traveling the world and seeking adventures.

You asked me to travel with me, to go on adventures with me, and asked me to stop befriending these other guys.

I am sorry.

I probably won’t ever get a chance to tell you in person…. because I have not seen you and doubt I ever will….but with all my soul and all my heart I hope you feel it… I am sorry my love.

Last night I dreamt of you.

I poured out my soul to you.

You poured out yours too.

I was with you, talking to you, happy to see you. Nervous to be in front of you. Like time never passed…. it was just us again…. for one last moment. In my dream I told you I loved you still and forever will. In my dream I confessed to you what I was to scared to tell you. In my dream I told you why I left and never came back. In my dream I apologized to you.

Then you said something in my dream.

I will not share here.

I know God works in mysterious ways.

I know God uses dreams as visions and symbols to get a message across.

The message I received from you scared me.

Broke my heart.

Are you suffering?

In pain?

Needing interception on your behalf?

I began to cry.

I began to pray.

This dream felt too real.

Especially the ending.

I’m anguished, because I feel your anguish.

I’m in pain, because I feel your pain.

I have never woken up from a dream like this.

I can’t stop the tears from flowing.

I have had dreams of you in the past, but nothing like this.

Feeling what your feeling.

I sit here worried over you.

So my darling, my first love, my heart… I am praying over you. Sending you love and healing wherever you are.

Sending you strength, hope, faith and all my love.

I wouldn’t be the woman I am today, had it not been for you. You have taught me so much, about myself as a woman, to embrace my sexuality, to explore my desires and to live in the moment. I learned to love a man, deeply and passionately because of you.

Aside from my husband, I never loved anyone the way I love you.

My other partners were just men who attempted to fill a void I knew they would never be able to fill, because you will always have a part of me. I married my husband once I accepted the fact I already loved with all my heart once. I married my husband after I learned to love with all that I had left with my heart…..the new all that remained, because you still hold the rest.

Still praying over you, even as I write this. Praying for your health, your happiness, your wellbeing, for strength, peace and your family.

If anyone who reads this knows why God would wake me from a dream feeling like I was feeling, the dream was us just talking, nothing sexual, my love and me talking, But me feeling his pain, his anguish, I learned something new about him, something I hope is not true. But I woke up feeling it all. Just as he felt it in his dreams.

Is he suffering?

Is he calling out for help?

Is God trying to send me a message?

Or is it just a dream?

Help please!

My Hollywood, because I will never use your real name here, I lift you up in prayers. I serve a merciful and forgiving God whose love endures forever. God allowed me to dream with you. A scenario was given to me in this dream and I am unsure how to interpret it. Yet I woke up feeling your pain and your anguish. I woke up fighting back tears. Feeling your pain. Feeling your suffering. Feeling your anguish. I pray that god brings you forth healing. That god answers your prayers. That god gives you strength in your moment of weakness. May you be comforted and be embraced by God. May you find the peace you seek. May you know I will always pray for you and continue to love you unconditionally from afar. May you bounce back to where you need to be spiritually and physically. May God place his hands over you and may you be filled with his grace. God I feel this anguish from Hollywood…. please guide him. Thank you lord for allowing me to feel connected to him. Thank you lord for using me to help intercede in his pain. Thank you lord for your love and mercy. Love you my God. In the name of the Father, the son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The process continues at church

God bless everyone.

Today was beautiful.

The service amazing.

We began our service the way we did last week.

All the women and female leaders of the church young and old united in a prayer chain.

Proclaiming God’s victory.

Feeling his presence.

Setting the ambiance for a service filled with blessings.

Today, during the devotional songs of praise… I lifted my hand up, and like the song I mentioned yesterday, I praised God. Praised God in all times, praised God because despite what is going on, not just in my life but in the lives of my brothers and sisters at church whom are all under spiritual attack.

I lifted my hands high, eyes closed, pouring out my soul, I praised, I cried again, like I did yesterday. While I cried I heard the voice of God say you are not alone. As I continued praising him, I felt a warmth come over me…. as I felt this warmth come over me again I felt someone grab my hand. I was going to open my eyes to see but the voice of God said no, no, no don’t stop praising. So the person held my hand right. The person I could faintly hear praising right next to me. So I continued to meditate. I continued to feel the warmth. Then when that all ended I saw who it was. It was one of my sisters from church. By my side. Holding my hand and we hugged.

God was with me, but he also sent someone to be by my side in the flesh. I was not alone in both senses. I was not alone spiritually. I was not alone in the flesh. I did not doubt. I know I’m not alone. I have a good support system regardless of what happens.

One of the sisters at the church had a death in her family and we all showed support despite what one another has been experiencing.

I shared these words with one of my sisters describing what happened while she sang the devotionals.

Remember yesterday when I told you that when I had that 1:1 with God that I felt that heat come over me…. cover me like a blanket and heat the areas of concern.

It happened again in church.

I felt this heat overcome me….

Then heard a voice say you are not alone.

Moments later I felt the heat intensify on my right hand…. and I felt a hand grab me…. I was going to open my eyes to see who it was and he said no, no, no don’t stop praising.

So I continued how I was.

I had no idea until after that it was R. G holding my hand.

The hug she gave me afterwards was exactly what I needed.

Beautiful to see God’s way of showing me both spiritually and in the flesh…. “you are not alone”

Even though I know I am not and everyone has been so united these past few weeks with the back to back attacks we’ve all been getting and each of us uplifting and supporting the other…. it’s like ‘Y’ said during her thanks…. it’s overwhelmingly emotionally beautiful when we receive and see it.

🙏🏼🙇🏻‍♀️🙌🏼

I’m not worried you know.

I’m not scared either.

I’m just glad I have all of this love, prayers & support to lean on.

No matter what you are going through fellow reader.

No matter what how easy it might feel to throw in the towel and give up. Don’t.

Don’t let doubt set in.

You are not alone.

Don’t let nothing distract you.

Don’t let nothing intervene in your blessing.

Don’t let nothing deter you from your salvation.

God is always with you.

God is good.

Have a good support system to help you.

Pray.

Pray without ceasing.

Praise him with all your might.

Good or bad….

Big or small….

No trial and tribulation should be handled without our God.

He comforts us.

“Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy. For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious. But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church. I wish you could all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy. For prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be strengthened. Dear brothers and sisters, if I should come to you speaking in an unknown language, how would that help you? But if I bring you a revelation or some special knowledge or prophecy or teaching, that will be helpful. Even lifeless instruments like the flute or the harp must play the notes clearly, or no one will recognize the melody. And if the bugler doesn’t sound a clear call, how will the soldiers know they are being called to battle? It’s the same for you. If you speak to people in words they don’t understand, how will they know what you are saying? You might as well be talking into empty space. There are many different languages in the world, and every language has meaning. But if I don’t understand a language, I will be a foreigner to someone who speaks it, and the one who speaks it will be a foreigner to me. And the same is true for you. Since you are so eager to have the special abilities the Spirit gives, seek those that will strengthen the whole church.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭14:1-12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

http://bible.com/116/1co.14.1-12.nlt

Father God thank you for this.

Thank you for this process.

Thank you this growth.

If the enemy felt that this was going to knock me out like he did the last time, then I have bad news for him….. I’m fighting back. I’m not going down. I will not drown in my sorrows…. I will I turn praise God at every step.

Father thank you for the comfort. Thank you for the love, thank you for the guidance, thank you for he blessings, thank you for everything. By your wounds I am healed. I declare healing in your name. Amen.

Motivate to Succeed

I love following Dean Grossman from NYU.  His commencement address to the graduating class year after year is something I look forward to reading.  His speeches are so eloquent. Each year he has something new to say. Each year he not only motivates these professionals of tomorrow, but he motivates me.

 

The following is an excerpt from Deans Grossman’s address to the graduating class of 2018. I hope it becomes useful to your life as I know i will apply many aspects in my life and in my children’s lives.

• Have assurance, but not arrogance, in your abilities.

• Be receptive to criticism, for that enables learning.

• Believe in yourself. You have navigated a very difficult knowledge base. You have assimilated an amazing number of facts. You have performed at the highest level.

• And if the house officer or attending assumes you know very little—so be it, don’t be offended—just quietly prove her wrong.

• Appreciate how you feel when someone undervalues your knowledge, intelligence, or insights and try not to replicate that behavior as you ascend the career ladder. This will make you an empathetic leader and, I might add, a better person.

• Lastly, remember others may underestimate you, but you should never underestimate yourself! AND NEVER BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP!

For each point Dean Grossman stated, I found comfort in a scripture.

So today I may not be standing before a podium addressing the masses on their future Career.  I am actually finding comfort behind a screen typing away on my keyboard on how to maximize on these words using GOD’S WORD.

• Proverbs 13:10 Pride causes arguments, but those who listen to others are wise.

 

• Hebrews 5:8  Jesus was the Son of God, but he still suffered, and through his sufferings he learned to obey whatever God says.

 

• Proverbs 31:25 She is a strong person, and people respect her. She looks to the future with confidence.
• James 3:13 
  [ True Wisdom ] Are there any among you who are really wise and understanding? Then you should show your wisdom by living right. You should do what is good with humility. A wise person does not boast.
• Hebrews 10:34-36  Yes, you helped them in prison and shared in their suffering. And you were still happy when everything you owned was taken away from you. You continued to be happy, because you knew that you had something much better—something that would continue forever. So don’t lose the courage that you had in the past. Your courage will be rewarded richly. You must be patient. After you have done what God wants, you will get what he promised you.

 

• Proverbs 3:6 With every step you take, think about what he wants, and he will help you go the right way.

 

We as Christians can not only put to practice the word of God, but even inspiring words of leaders, educators and public speakers.  Always remember though to find comfort first in God’s word. You can make Parallels of God’s word and apply them in your lives.

There is proof that even the advice given in this commencement speech, has been given to us for many years in the bible.

• So Do not have Pride, and listen.
• Learn from everything that life throws at you, learn from what the scriptures tells you.
• Be strong and confident.
• Remain humble despite the knowledge and wisdom you gain.
• Have courage.
• Be Happy.
• Be Patient.
• Help others & ask for help along the way.

 

Though this is only a snippet of an amazing commencement speech.  We are able to use his advice, support it with the Lords word to show that the same advice we are getting in the flesh, is the same advice God tries to tell us.

We have to keep our eyes, ears , mind and heart open when we meditate in the word to be able to hear what he has been trying to tell us.

Awareness – day 7

 

As I mentioned in the previous post I am currently reading another devotional series.

This is a 7 day devotional entitled

Seeking Wisdom‘ If you want to read the full devotional click on the hyperlink. If not just wait daily and for the next  few days for the completion of the 7 day devotional. I will post their devotional with my own reflection piece.

These Past 6 days these devotionals touched on: Awareness, Assistance, Advice, Assumptions, Acceptance & Application. Today’s subject will be on Awareness.

Associated scripture with today’s devotional:

 

“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”

Jeremiah 33:3 ESV

 

Jeremiah is one of my favorite prophets. He prayed often. He is also known as the prophet who cried often. There is a song which I sing at church which speaks of that.

The song is in Spanish it goes like this

“Como Jeremías, oraba y lloraba

así quiero yo, orar y llorar.//

//Dios le contestaba la petición que hacia,

asi quiero yo que conteste la mía.//“

In English it roughly translates to:

Just like Jeremiah, prayed and cried

That is how I want to pray and cry.

God answered the petitions he made,

That is how I want god to answer mine.

His prayers were always answered. He lived knowing that God would answer his petitions. He had faith. He believed. He trusted. When he prayed he didn’t say I hope. He was determined he said God I know you can….

We should all pray like Jeremiah. With so much faith, trust, passion, fervor and belief in the one true and living God.

This passion, this trust, this much faith and belief leads me to today’s last devotional from the series.

Day 7 Mala Ministries:

Affirmation

Be reminded today that God knows, understands and even cherishes your diligent pursuit of wisdom.  As you seek, He is waiting to be found, and wishes to reveal to you “great and unsearchable things you do not know.”  Our desperate search for answers can sometimes blind us to the ultimate answer – the source of all things. As we read earlier this week, King Solomon was wise to acknowledge the source of His blessings. If we believe whole-heartedly in the source, there is then no room for fear or doubt, for we know that “from Him and through Him and for Him are all things” (Romans 11:36).

With the pursuit of a goal comes obstacles, challenges, mistakes to be made and lessons to be learned. This journey is no different. We have learned over the last six days that the process of seeking wisdom entails being aware, asking for assistance, receiving advice, being cautious with assumptions, practicing acceptance, and perfecting application – all these actions must be performed deliberately and diligently, with focus and intention. That being the case, another “to-do” may not seem appealing; but you will be happy to know that when it comes to affirmation, the only action required is that we receive it with open hearts.

So to you, friend, God is speaking, loud and clear. He tells you that you can stand affirmed, assured and secure in the knowledge that though the answers to some questions remain uncertain, His supply of wisdom, strength and guidance is certain. It is vast and abundant, and knows no bounds. That promise, as stated in Jeremiah 33:3, is a clear picture of His limitless resource of wisdom, which is yours to claim.

My closing prayer.

Father God most high, only you are worthy of so much praise. You know created the heavens and the earth. You who created man and the animals. You who are the one true living God. Guide me in supplying wisdom, strength and guidance to those in need deer lord. Guide me to the be more like Jeremiah in my prayers dear lord. I will call to you with all my might so that just like you answered Jeremiah you can answer me. I will always keep my eyes, my ears, my mind and my heart open for you dear lord, willing and ready to receive your blessings and word. In the name of the father, the son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Advice – day 3

 

As I mentioned in the previous post I am currently reading another devotional series.

This is a 7 day devotional entitled:  Seeking Wisdom‘ If you want to read the full devotional click on the hyperlink. If not just wait daily for the next  few days for the completion of the 7 day devotional. I will post their devotional with my own reflection piece.

Associated scripture with today’s devotional:

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.”

Proverbs 12:15 ESV

 

Socrates once said “To know, is to know that you know nothing. That is the meaning of true knowledge.”

Chinese Proverb Lao Tzu said “The wise man is one who, knows, what he does not know”

A Chinese proverb said “

“The wise man knows he knows nothing, the fool thinks he knows all.”

Plato once said “Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something.”

In other words we all think we know it all, but we don’t. It takes a wise man to realize that we do not know it all. We become fools when we speak just to speak. When one speak of certain subjects not knowing what one is talking about that is when we become the fool. Yet a wise man asks for Advice, and listens to the advice.

We have all been in situations where we needed advice, yet did not seek it. Not because we didn’t know where to turn, sometimes it’s pride, sometimes it’s you don’t want people in your affairs, sometimes the reasoning is pretty foolish.

It is important to ask for advice from time to time. With that said, This brings me to the devotional I read.

 

 

Day 3 Mala Ministries:

Advice

In a “hooray for me” and “heck with you” culture, we are always looking for self-fulfillment. Life seems to be filled with the pressure of academic requirements in our youth, societal acceptance when we are young adults, parental approval in life and career choices and peer recognition in our careers. The grade always seems to be a few notches higher than where we are. This keeps us in the endless pursuit of seeking and searching.

Let one of those dimensions of search today be for advice and counsel. Maybe it’s the old man at the corner bakery who serves you your morning tea. It could be a colleague who is three levels below you in the corporate hierarchy. It may be closer to home and in your inner-circle. The wisest thing you can do for yourself is to look around at the wisdom you may have ignored, because culture told you that it was in a far-off place, and tradition forced you to look at someone older.

Pray that God will allow you to be open to the counsel of the godly who are already in place. He equips the team before He selects them to play. Make a decision today to stop hearing the world and to start listening to the Word.

An older gentleman once asked Dr. Ravi Zacharias, considered one of the foremost voices of reason in the world, what he was doing. He responded with remarks regarding activity ahead and achievements behind. The older gentleman calmly replied, “No, you are making memories, so make them good ones.” That is advice that we should all be receiving and taking to heart.

Each day is a new day to seek and search, learn and leap. However, we need to pause every so often and ask ourselves what memories we are creating today so that tomorrow, we can look at yesterday and be grateful for the lessons hidden in those memories.  Time is indeed a canvas and the advice of others becomes the paint that can draw a clearer picture of what can be.

 

My closing:

Father God I love and thank you more than words could ever express. Today I glorify your name most high. I thank you for all that you do for me. Thank you for those you place in my path whom are willing and able to give advice. I find strength and comfort that these individuals whom you have provided knowledge and are of a blessing when I seek them for guidance and advice. Father may you bless them as well as provide us all with knowledge so we can be able to provide assistance and advice to one another since our knowledge comes from our experiences which we experience.

Amen.

 

Be strong and of good courage

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“And David said to his son Solomon,

‘Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed,

for the LORD God–my God–will be with you. He will not leave you nor

forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD’.”

(1 Chronicles 28:20, NKJV)

One if the many problems and challenges we can face as Christians is our doubt and fears. Our doubts and fears puts limitations on what we have planned to do but also in what God has planned for us as well.

Many times I have doubt not only in myself but those around me based on circumstances. We need to stop doubting and do exactly as David told his son Solomon ‘Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed,

for the LORD God–my God–will be with you.’

Be strong.

Of good courage.

Do it’

Do not fear.

Do not be dismayed.

For the lord god will be with you!

What he has planned for you it will be completed, we need to combat the doubts and fears that come forth in order to move on with Gods will.

It is natural to be scared, it is natural to doubt, it is naturally to worry…. it is also natural to trust in God.

Sometimes our fears is what holds us back from the things we set to accomplish. Put your trust in God so that we can proceed, with his help he will full-fill what needs to be accomplished. He will complete the tasks at hand. He will guide you. We just need to trust.

Never let circumstances which may arrive deter you from accomplishing anything.

Don’t let anyone who maybe spewing negativity your way deter you from your accomplishments.

It all starts with you.

I’ve wanted to go back to school for a career change for quite some time. My fear is my children, not being able to spend much time with them. My fear of not being around has deterred that. The same advice I am giving to you is the same one I need to take myself. It’s the same one I plan on taking myself. I have looked into programs o am interested in. I need to get over my fears, my worries and the obstacles and trust ind God that he will deliver.

I am taking my first steps in faith to pursue another degree. I want to be of service to my lord, my family and my community. I do not have any doubt in him. I know he will provide. It’s with this declaration and act of faith that I will take my next steps. My friends I ask that you too take that leap of faith.

I am going to repeat this not just for my sake but yours as well so:

Be strong.

Of good courage.

Do it.

Do not fear.

Do not be dismayed.

For the lord god will be with you!

Father God I want to start off by thanking you for always being with me. I want to thank You for completing every good work that You have started in my life. I choose to believe Your Word, to trust in you, even when things look impossible. I choose to believe that You are working behind the scenes and that You will bring victory and breakthrough to every area of my life. I will lean on you for guidance, I will Be strong. I will be Of good courage.

I will go ahead and Do it. I will not fear.

I will l not be dismayed.For lord god I know that will be with me!

in Jesus’ name! Amen.