"Dad, You came for Me"

When tragedy strikes, who do we call on? When the bad report comes, who do we run to for answers? Are we listening to the world's report or the Lord's report?
In recent weeks, I have had this extreme fatigue in my body. My husband and I have started reading the Bible more and I have added more healing scriptures to my list plus have some CD's going all the time. I had asked for prayer from a few people. It was one day I was fine and the next I could not get out of bed. One report was low blood sugar and then after a few more weeks, no, it was an electrolyte imbalance. But one thing was certain, we were going to the God who is more than enough! Who do you then turn to for the answers and life? In my life in the recent weeks, I have seen hope as a very expressive emotion. I have seen it in a demonstrative type of speaking by faith with a whole heart leaning on the Lord. This hope will reach further and go higher in trusting the Lord.

Isaiah 41:10...........10 Fear not, for I am with you;

Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you,

Yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'   NKJV

Deuteronomy 31:6........6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you."  NKJV

The one we spend the most time with will be the one we want to turn to in time of trouble! So what does our life look today? Are we holding onto hope that God will intervene? Are our beliefs based on and held in the solid foundation of the One God sent into this world? For our true bread was sent from heaven to eat. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. (John 6:33)


I desire to share this with others as it was an article written long ago in a Christian magazine. It was of a report written about the horror of earthquake and of the "anchor of hope" that we are known by God and that He will never fail us!

I had come across the article and had shared in a Bible study back in 2008 and again last December 2013 with those who came for the Women's Prayer Meeting. We had wanted to come together with food and fellowship and a quick word from scripture on December 6.  Some ladies came over the icy roads that night to be a part of the party time in worship to the Lord and to break bread together. The Holy Spirit had impressed upon me to share this article written years ago at this time together on December 6, 2013! One thing was certain that night, there was not a dry eye in the house!

I could not find the original copy of the article or which magazine produced it,or even the author, but its short, life giving promise of hope that God will never leave us or forsake us. God is with us!

The story began to unfold in a horrific earthquake in a third world country.

Spitak, Armenia 

1988 December 07 07:41 UTC (11:41 a.m. local time)
Magnitude 6.8

 

Two events about 3 seconds apart. At least 25,000 people killed, 19,000 injured and 500,000 homeless in the Leninakan-Spitak-Kirovakan area of northern Armenia, USSR. More than 20 towns and 342 villages were affected and 58 of them were completely destroyed. Estimated damage was 16.2 billion dollars….

In a later written article of said earthquake…...testimonies of survival and hope flooded the world of that major event!

A reprint in a Christian Magazine some twenty years to the date……..December 2008.  It goes like this: Some years ago there was an earthquake in Armenia that leveled the country from one end to the other in just 4 minutes. A father who survived the quake had thought of his son who was at school. After everything had quieted down from all the seismic activity he ran as fast as he could to the school and he saw nothing but rubble.

As his heart began to sink within him, a promise burned in his memory of the days he walked his son to school and promising the boy he would always be there for him.

He started moving bricks and debris from an area where he believed his son’s class room was. People came up to rebuke him. They were telling him that there was no hope. He was even told by a police officer to stop, that he was bound to get hurt in all that rubble.

After 38 grueling hours of pulling broken furniture and bricks and with skin hanging off his bloody hands he raised a brick from this one spot and heard…..”Dad, you came—-You said you would be here for me.” His dad asked, “You could not see me, how did you know it was me?”

The young boy replied, “YOU promised me dad, that you would always be here for me!”

"YOU PROMISED THAT YOU WOULD ALWAYS BE HERE FOR ME!"

Just like this man going to rescue his son, our Father sent His Son to rescue us! God Almighty put on humanity and came to earth to give us hope in our final outcome!

Whatever the circumstance, whatever is destroyed in your life, our God is able to raise up a new life and make it better than the last thing.

HOPE : a confident expectancy

It is knowing the Faithful, the Committed, and being assured that hope resides IN OUR HEARTS, when being daily reminded that there is one with you, one who goes with you, and one who does what He says He will do.

"My hope is in You" (Psalm 39:7). The real, the genuine hope is not a wishful thinking, but a firm assurance about things that are unseen and are still in the future.

Like in the article above, the son expected the Father who spoke that he would always be there for him no matter what the circumstance.

Trouble can come in many forms, but even if surrounded by it, we look to God's faithfulness. Now is a good time to remember the year and whatever the heartache, God is still active, still the protector, still the faithful One and He is on the scene!

I was thinking of this scripture when writing this word today for you: It is found in John 6:16-21........... 16 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them. 18 Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing. 19 So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. 20 But He said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid." 21 Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going. NKJV

When the winds are blowing, and appears to be an ill wind towards us or our family, we should willingly receive Jesus into the boat and sail on to tomorrow. For when we allow Him in, the turmoil ends, the chaos is quieted, and His peace and love lead us to a future that is bright and glorious!

In closing:

Psalms 4 ……4:1……Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!   You have relieved me in my distress;  Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.

2 How long, O you sons of men,  Will you turn my glory to shame?    How long will you love worthlessness  And seek falsehood?                    Selah

3 But know that the LORD has set apart for Himself him who is godly;  The LORD will hear when I call to Him.

4 Be angry, and do not sin.  Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.                      Selah

5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,  And put your trust in the LORD.

6 There are many who say,  "Who will show us any good?"  LORD, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.  7 You have put gladness in my heart,  More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.

8 I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;  For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.    NKJV

Father, thank You for those men and women who write for these magazines and of the words of life that come together to make a truth known.......that YOU are there in the hardship. Bless those who write for those magazines that make a difference concerning Your goodness and love to us in this day and in this hour! Bless the works of their hands and make them a blessing to others.

Father, thank You for Your faithfulness to me and to my family. YOU PROMISED THAT YOU WOULD NEVER LEAVE US OR FORSAKE US. YOU PROMISED! 

 I pray in the name of Jesus that we, men and women alike, will call on YOU our righteousness. It is You Who have been on the scene so many times when it seemed like trouble would take over, but it was YOU who held us and delivered to us YOUR glory. Our trust is in YOU and we have this anchor of hope in our hearts. In YOU we lie down in peace and sleep for YOU alone make us to dwell in safety. May we always lift our voices to the God of glory and profess YOUR goodness to us in the land of the living. Truly YOU will never leave us and never forsake us! I pray that we would recognize that YOU have extended YOUR hand through YOUR Son and THAT IT IS YOU WHO expects us to walk forward without fear.  Thank YOU for hearing when we call. Amen.

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV 

What is in a Name?

Proverbs 30:4......4 Who has ascended into heaven, or descended?
Who has gathered the wind in His fists?
Who has bound the waters in a garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is His name, and what is His Son's name,
If you know?  NKJV

Exodus 3:13-15...13 Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?" 

14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'" 

15 God also said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob--has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.  NIV

What is in a name? One of the hardest and greatest times of our lives is naming a newborn child! It is filled with an almost anxious thought that one is taking a test to get the name just right! It was that way for us to name our daughter. We worked hard on coming up with just the right name. Her middle name was a cinch to get, but the first took some time. But when my husband spoke it out, we knew we had the name she would carry through life. They did not do the tests back then like they do today for finding out the health and sex of a child. Yet, I knew it was a girl. I planned her room and the things to have for her to wear! Every detail had to be just right for the homecoming of our first child.

In Exodus 3:15 it states that God said " Say to the Israelites.........'the LORD, THE GOD OF YOUR FATHERS---THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB---HAS SENT ME TO YOU.............'this is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.' 

In the Bible we can find names of importance to those precious parents who named their children.

For Abraham and Sarah, his name was Isaac whose name meant "laughter". (Genesis 21:6)

When we think of Moses, his name meant the one "drawn out" of the water. (Exodus 2:10)

Matthew 1:21-25............21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." 22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." 24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS. NKJV

A Son born of a virgin and "they will call His name Immanuel", "God is with us."

It was a moment in time for us that God came and joined Himself with us through His Son Jesus.
 In the scripture passage below we find the lineage from David all the way to Jesus. We find by going back into the Old Testament to study, we can find the things for which some had a reputation, a name that carried names like adultery, lust, murder, prostitute, etc.  Yet in all this, God used those who would become the lineage to bring forth the Consolation!

Matthew1:1-17.....1:1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham: 2 Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. 3 Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. 4 Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. 5 Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, 6 and Jesse begot David the king.

David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah. 7 Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa. 8 Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah. 9 Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah. 10 Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah. 11 Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon.

12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel. 13 Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor. 14 Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud. 15 Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob. 16 And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ. 17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations. NKJV

Yes, in the names like David, his son Solomon is listed for whom Bathssheba gave birth, for she had been the wife of Uriah. Then there was Tamar, a redeeming quality of a woman. Absolutely not! She is mentioned only twice in Genesis 38 and Matthew 1. Tamar was the extreme example of sexual immorality. Rahab was mentioned. She too had the name of prostitute tacked onto the "need to know" list. She told a lie to help God's people who came to spy out some land! And of course we have Ruth, who was the product of incest.

Some outcasts made this list of the" need to know"! For when Jesus came, He came for the world and not just a few men and women.  It was peace on earth toward men......that Jesus came!

In the New testament, we are shown the close relationship between names and their meaning. One such scripture is found in Acts 4:12, " For there is no other name under heaven by which we much be saved." 

It is in power that this proceeds from grace by God, not by blood of goats or sheep .....but..........by the One Holy Lamb of God that man can be saved.

In Philippians 2:9, scripture states, "God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name. By inheritance, Jesus obtained a more excellent name than the angels in Hebrews 1:4...... 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. NKJV

Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 2:19, that we as Christians, are those who name the name of the Lord and depart from their iniquity.

2 Timothy 2:18-19............. 19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity."NKJV

If you have had a job outside the home, you know there is always those who desire to add their name with those who are in "what is considered a high position" in that company! They will jockey their way through to try to have the same favor. I have seen it and know you probably have too! It is not only in the work place but can be in the church as well! Oh yes it can be done in church as well. Any place there is the opportunity for some to sit in the seat of the honored. But what are we attaching our name to that could turn out to be a problem and not a help to us?

When I was growing up and our family had moved to another area down south, I encountered a lot of that  ...." so you are one  of the..... name of family here?"

" Well, yes, I am one of the   name of family here!" would be my reply.

But I knew they meant those who specifically had this business in this country town we had just moved to at the time. Yes, they were all my family, like aunts and uncles and many cousins. And I love them, everyone the same today! But my father had  had his own business , too, and it certainly was different from the rest of the family business and yet,so many thought we were all the "happy family of .......name of family here."! When there is already something established like a business, even being a son, the middle one, can wreck havoc on family unity. My father wanted to do other things, like raise horses and race them!

After a couple of years of the "family thing" and all the jockeying to hold their positions...........many things changed and somehow we seemed separated from rest of the family, those with the very same name!  But in remembering this small mist moment of time I recall a scripture found in............Mark 3:31-35..................31 Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him. 32 And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You." 33 But He answered them, saying, "Who is My mother, or My brothers?" 34 And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother." NKJV

This word guides us to be respectful of and governed by Jesus and...........not by any other person who might be named. It is important for us to honor those who have a fear of the Lord. For when we place honor on Him, we can see Him do great things. When we are in fellowship with the KING and His kindred, we maintain that place that is guarded by His word and His way of doing things!

I would rather have my name attached with "Emmanuel", " God with us"..........for He came from heaven to walk with man and bring an opportunity for us to have a fellowship with the Father and the Son...............Who has ascended into heaven, or descended?

Who has gathered the wind in His fists?
Who has bound the waters in a garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is His name, and what is His Son's name,
If you know?

For when we have our name added to His Name, then we experience the wind that is gathered in His fists, and we see the One who actually bound the waters in a garment.
When we Know His Name and place it first in our lives, there is no devil in hell that can keep us from going the distance in the things of God!

John 3:13-21............. 13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God." NKJV

What is in a Name? There is power and love in His name! He is truth, and life and resurrection.

Clearly when we attach our name to His and come to profess and confess the Word of truth, our deeds are clearly seen and they are done in God! We hold the promises, and see them manifest before our eyes. We can see our prayers make a difference in those who are of the"family of God"!

If I am found in Christ Jesus and am a part of His family, how am I treating those Jesus says should be our brothers and sisters according to Mark 3:31-35?

Father, thank You for grace. In seeing the genealogy so plainly displayed for us to read and remember, it is You who could use a sinner. The best part of this Lord is that we all are in Your family and look forward to eternity with You. In Jesus' name, help us to not skip over the "begats' in the Bible. They remind us of the importance of each person. I pray too that we would be men and women who would always operate in truth, for a lie will always be found out! Thank You today for Your love and acceptance, we readily receive Your grace to move forward in Your plan that includes the entire world. We pray for ourselves and others who may not have the same culture, the same color of skin or even the same language, but have the same God of glory. You are the Great "I am" in our midst. It is by Your great love that the Son of Your love came for us. By the grace of God and in light of His great mercy towards us...........help us to pray for those who have sinned against us and we are ever ready to forgive any trespass against us. Amen!

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV 

A BIG DOSE OF JOY

Jeremiah 15:16.....Your words were found and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts. NKJV

Acts 2:28.....You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence. NKJV

JOY: God's kind of joy is holy and pure. It is one that will rise above any circumstance and sets our focus on the One who gave this joy.  Joy: usually Hebrew gil to "leap" or "spin around" with much pleasure.
Rejoicing: Greek...chara..........gladness as seen in Matthew 2:10.......10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.  NKJV

In our present moment, joy may seem far from us! But when we run our fingers through the written Word of God we find God delivering with each verse the joy we are blessed to have. It is in His goodness and love that we look for the enjoyment of a joy that takes us to new heights in Him.


It is a characteristic that brings us or transport us to a place of satisfaction, to a place in His peace, a place of triumph.........and it is an honorable place. It is described as glory.



Psalm 43:4............4 Then will I go to the altar of God,
to God, my joy and my delight.
I will praise you with the harp,
O God, my God.  NIV

Isaiah 61:10-11..............10 I delight greatly in the LORD;

my soul rejoices in my God.

For he has clothed me with garments of salvation 

and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness,

as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 

11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up 

and a garden causes seeds to grow,

so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise 

spring up before all nations.  NIV

From the above scripture, we find that Isaiah pronounces his delight in the God of his soul. He proclaimed that God had clothed him with the garments of salvation and arrayed him with a robe of righteousness.

Wow! Sounds like royalty to me...........

It is God Himself who makes the sprout and causes a plant from the seeds to grow. In His Sovereign Love and righteousness...........He sows seeds of righteousness and praise.

When we spend time with our grandchild, she has her agenda. She loves to color and loves to dance to praise music to the Lord. One cannot but be infused with that same love once you pick a coloring book and a scented marker and start placing some color over those pages of white with black lines. When you hear the child speak and you both share a common end............that is to see a picture finished in its entirety and know that every color was placed "within the lines" with love, you experience a great amount of satisfaction. It brings me back to my time as a young child and how I loved to color and create things out of paper, clay and color paint.

When the music begins to play out, you cannot help but want to dance as she dances before the Lord. She sings and makes up many songs to the Lord and in all that, she has a joy. There is laughter and fun in each thing she brings to the table.
Our grand-daughter was just being who she is created to be. She has no ulterior motives. She is a child and expects fun no matter what. She sows to the things she has been taught. She is being taught that the Word of God works and there is praise to be given to His holy name.

So when we spend time with the Word and search out His joy and His glory.........we find that we speak and can continue to sow seeds of joy............a gladness in our hearts that others will see and experience much like we did with our grand-daughter.

This joy is always produced by the Spirit of God. It is a joy that always looks forward to eternity. It does not focus on the bad report, the evil day or the world's economy, but looks for the coming of Jesus for His believers.

When the Holy Spirit is invited in, He is known by the fruit of His love, His joy, His peace, kindness, patience, goodness and faithfulness, gentleness and yes, self-control.
 That those who belong to Jesus Christ have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. To live by the Spirit is to keep step with the Spirit. We are to never become conceited, provoking and envying each other. Galatians 5:22-26
The spirit of rejoicing, joy and laughter is our heritage. Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty….an emancipation from bondage

If we must protest something, can we be those who do it in and through the Holy Spirit,so that people will know us by His love? Can we expect to see the justice in our lives that is from heaven when we allow God into every situation?

If I sow joy into others, will I not see the sprouts spring up into joy for my own life?
If we sow towards being self-centered, our way and no other way, then we leave ourselves open to chaos, perverseness and judgment. (and it will come)

When we say come Holy Spirit, and have Your  way today in our lives...........we move over into the things of God that lead to life-giving plans He placed in us from the foundation of the world. When we understand that we can keep and abide in His presence by seeking His plan and find that assignment for our lives. We should be able to see with His eyes and experience the same creativity He did from the beginning of the this world. His joy is one that brings us out of human plans and programs and brings us to the new thing in God. Today, I ask for the perfect plan that God has given us through His glory, His joy that helps us rise above every devil, every evil day and every bad report and expect to see God arise in our lives and see His glory. Amen


John 17:20-24........................20 "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. 24 Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. NKJV

It was our being restored to glory that was the "joy" set before Christ. We were made one with He and the Father. When we look to the scripture of the "prodigal son" in Luke 15 we see the great joy our Father had in restoring us as sons to Himself. He delighted, and took great joy to see this oneness. It was the gift of the Holy Spirit, His Spirit to dwell within us and live as one.
The answer is clear: it is God who as our Father took delight in His children and His own created children to delight in Him.   Just like we delight in our grand-daughter who is so vitally important in our family, so too, are we so vitally important in the family of God. Yes, it was a Big dose of JOY!

Father, thank You for Jesus who endured the cross despising the shame that was set before HIM! You were working on bringing Your family back together as one! I pray that each who read this will walk as sons and daughters of the Most High God.  I pray we tremble with extreme joy of knowing and living in Your Presence our Heavenly Father. Today I thank YOU for restoration and salvation for all who take part in this prayer. I believe and expect to see Your glory that is joy abounding in our hearts and lives.You live in our hearts by faith and know YOU have our best in mind. I pray that we would continue to be those who walk on in connecting with You daily and to see our relationship with You grow and expand. Nothing matters more than our life with You. I thank You for the legacy of glory in our families. I bless YOU and give thanks in remembrance of Your Holy Name and Your Son's Holy Name. Amen.

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV 

On the Road to Emmaus

Have you ever had a dream and see it come to nothing? Did you have have a desire to complete something and it seemed to ravel and fizzle out? Have you wanted to do something great for God and the vision was there and the dreams, yet it failed to come to pass?
Have you ever been on the road to Emmaus, meaning "warm wells", and found another who reasoned with you about why the things turned out like they did? Did the broken dream bring you to a road that is cluttered with reasoning and depression? Is the road you travel much like these two men traveled when they hit their lowest point of grief and not see "their plans" come to pass?
We read about two who had an idea about what the future was to be for themselves, and were disappointed to say the least.

Luke 24:13-35.......13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. 17 And He said to them, "What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?" 18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, "Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?" 19 And He said to them, "What things?" So they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. 22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24 And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see." 25 Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. 29 But they constrained Him, saying, "Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." And He went in to stay with them. 30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. 32 And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?" 33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" 35 And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.  NKJV

Jesus hearing this conversation, asks why they are having this talk and with sadness. He wondered why they grieved! Was not Jesus, now the Risen One?

They wanted to know why "this stranger" would not know about the death of Jesus! How could someone not hear all the uproar, and all the talk of the one who just died and had done so much in God's name.

Yes, these two were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. They had hoped He would usher in the Messianic kingdom......But by the third day, all seemed hopeless.

You know those "women" came and told them that His body was gone from the tomb! And so Cleopas and friend went to see for themselves, and these women were right, there was "no body" in the tomb! 

And then Jesus spoke in verse 25 .......and reminds them, "O foolish ones, slow of heart to believe in all the prophets have spoken! 26. Ought not the Christ have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?"
Translation of the the word "foolish" is translated wrong. It was never meant for those who are sorrowful and suffering grief. Luke 24:25.... The word is compounded of a (NT:1), "not," and noeoo (NT:3539), which implies, besides "seeing," perception "of the mind" as consequent upon sight. It is therefore equivalent to "dull of perception." They had read what the prophets had spoken, but had failed to "perceive" its application to Christ. 

Understanding what is written in Luke 24:25.......we find that when He spoke......"O foolish",..... was an address to those slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: this O foolish is not the term of reproach denoting any kind of wickedness, but is that which is not connecting the hearing part in relation to Jesus.  Jesus was correcting them in the respect that they did not see and clearly understand that He was going to the Cross. He wanted them to see the clear evidence that they were holding onto to their own opinions and prejudices and were blinded to the truth that He would die and rise again.

Ought not the Christ, stand in fulfilling the prophecies found in Scripture? As Jesus spoke to them, we find He intimated the very truths. He unfolded the "Scriptures" again to them. From the very first of Genesis to the the last of Zechariah, we find many prophecies that were written about Jesus.

These two asked Him to abide with them for the evening. Since travel at night on that road was considered dangerous, they asked Him in to eat with them and have shelter for the night.

As the bread was broken, their eyes were opened, He spoke what He had spoken every time they took bread and broke it.

Things may not turn out like we think they should, but when we have the testimony of Jesus in our hearts then we return to the former thing. We return to His Word that gladdens our hearts, lifts our spirit man and leads us to the greatest time of our history. By faith, engage HIM, and seek the prayer time to have one heart with Him. Enter in and lodge, abide in His presence and see the grief fade away. Stop reasoning...........just continue to......................

BELIEVE!

BELIEVE HE IS YOUR SOURCE!

BELIEVE HE IS YOUR ETERNAL ANSWER!

BELIEVE HE IS FOR YOU!

When you return to do what He asked then the fire will burn brighter and stronger.Joy will flow from your innermost being and a youthful step will found to lead you to the new things in the Lord!

Rise up and go to tell others about  how Jesus rescued you from grief, from disappointment and pain. Go tell others about the answer of Life that comes in knowing Jesus and obeying His commands.

Jesus is still on the scene and is active...........always there to remind us He has the words of eternal life!

Father, thank You for Jesus, the promised One who came to set the captives free. Thank YOU for all that YOU did in getting Your Son to us for salvation. It is His shed blood that claims us for His very own. I pray for each who read this that we will ultimately move forward in the direction You have chosen for us. I pray that we would be those who "press in" to YOU and the Word. Our destiny, our history has its beginning in You. Today we thank You for Your wisdom that is not limited to a measurement in regards and restrictions of a natural world. Help us to see that we should never filter Your Word through our opinions and false beliefs. Help us Lord to know that we are to keep the Word before us and allow that Word to lead us in new paths and freshness of life.You are still in our midst when we speak out Your name, declare Your word and see Your beauty. May we not be taken in by any failures for our God will never fail. YOU are the Faithful One, the Mighty One, the everlasting Father.  I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that we may know Him better.  I pray also that the eyes of our heart may be enlightened in order that we may know the hope to which He has called us. 

Father, thank You for Your unfailing love. Your love is UNCONDITIONAL…Thank You that we might know that love and how vast it truly is……….We are thankful that we shall not perish but have everlasting life through YOUR SON JESUS , OUR SAVIOR, AND OUR REDEEMER. We are not ARE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD but we are renewed to the Word our GOD. LORD do not leave us to ourselves. WE DESIRE TO SEE YOUR MAJESTY, YOUR GOODNESS IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING in Jesus' name. Amen

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV 

With the Finger of God

Psalm 8:3-5
3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
4 What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor. NKJV

This is a Psalm written by David. He had many opportunities to view the night skies and consider the beauty that God had ordained.
I loved the summer months in the south when I was in grade school. After dinner was done and dishes washes and dried, my sister and I would throw a blanket on the thick green grass in a special spot in the front yard. There were no trees there to block our view of the sky that covered us each night. It was a delight to lay and watch the show begin, first with the Evening Star and then the explosion of light that sparkled and danced on the blanket of the darkest of blue color.
Occasionally a star would shoot across the sky and add a quiet but yet spectacular show to the magnitude of stars and moon that moved across the sky above us.


In life since those early days, I am still in awe of the work of his fingers. He spoke a Word, but His finger, that touch of Who He is, brought a work of artistry, a work of imagination and so curiously wrought for us to enjoy. It is His power, the Father of lights displays, to remind us that we are not alone.

Yes, each thing created would be governed by Him and those ordinances He put in place are never altered.
What a thing to behold and then to be reminded that YOU God think of us. With Your eye on us from heaven, You have benefited us with a wonderful and awe inspiring world.
As with David, we have the encounters with God. When he writes of the visit, that God would come and check on His creation. Just as I would visit my neighbor, God visits us, but do we know it when He comes around?

Hebrews 2 :1-9...............2:1 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? 

5 For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. 6 But one testified in a certain place, saying: 

"What is man that You are mindful of him,

Or the son of man that You take care of him?  

7 You have made him a little lower than the angels;

You have crowned him with glory and honor,

And set him over the works of Your hands.  

8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet."

For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. NKJV

David was speaking prophetically when he wrote Psalm 8. For when we read the scripture from Hebrews 2, we find that man God was devoted to was the Son of Man, who would die for the world. Jesus was the man, who was God and came to show us the way in truth. He, like the scripture above states, mindful of Him who spoke the same words of God. When we speak the same as God then we stand steadfast believing for God's best. When we have become His sons through salvation, we become those who He crowns with glory and honor. It was Jesus who tasted death for everyone. And since that time, all things have been under His feet and ours as well!


Exodus 31:17-18......17 It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.' "

18 And when He had made an end of speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.    NKJV

Luke 11:20-28.......20 But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. 22 But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils. 23 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

24 "When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' 25 And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. 26 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first."

27 And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, "Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!" 28 But He said, "More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"
NKJV

2 Corinthians 3:1-3................3:1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? 2 You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3 clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart. NKJV

With One Finger he wrote the tables for the first writing of the Ten Commandments. I have heard a teaching that it was with such power that was probably very similar to a laser writing out those commandments for man. From Luke 11, we too can cast out demons with the finger of God. For if we stand in the Lord will gather, but those who do not go the way of the Lord and choose their own thing or way will instead scatter even that which they have now. Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it! Truly we find that from 2 Corinthians 3 that men can clearly see us as an epistle of Christ. For when we allow the Word of God to penetrate our hearts, our hearts are not those of tablet of stone written on not with ink but the Finger, the Spirit of the living God.

Ultimately, not only Israel, but the whole world would have opportunity to know the living God. We would know that He would be our God and we would be His people. He would write on our hearts with His very finger.

John 8:2-12..................2 Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. 3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?" 6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. 7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." 8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?" 11 She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." 12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."    NKJV

Jeremiah 17:13...........13 O LORD, the hope of Israel,
all who forsake you will be put to shame.
Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust 
because they have forsaken the LORD,
the spring of living water.    NIV

I close with this: When God touches our hearts like He did the heavens, we stand with the crown of glory and honor. We are not quick to judge but we are to use the ability to ponder as we see in scripture that the heart of the wise studies how to answer.

Some think that He was writing the names of those who were being wicked in being quick to judge another person. But when we like David, spend time under the beauty that parades before us in the night time sky, we can see He demonstrates His power even in silence! I believe Jesus knew these men's hearts and knew they had not given their lives to God. They should have known Him who gives life and that He was and is the living the water!

With Jesus came the New Covenant and in it, man could readily receive justice by admitting his sin and asking for forgiveness. In the sum of all the commandments, Jesus spoke that we are to have one God and to love our neighbor as ourselves. When we allow His Finger, the Holy Spirit to have His way in us, we ultimately enjoy not only the demonstrations of the moon and stars across the star lite sky of the dramatic heavenly blue black of night, but we see our lives changed into the brilliance of who He is.

Father, thank for the gift of the Holy Spirit in our lives. He truly is the Finger of God who touches our hearts and crowns us with glory and honor. In the name of Jesus, may we always be inviting HIM into every situation. May we always be those who put HIM first and ask the questions and pray the things so heaven comes to earth. I pray that we never be put to shame for we have chosen the spring of living of Water who brings that freshness of life to our being. We have chosen truth and righteousness.
Holy Spirit You are the giver of life and I am thankful for this blog and the opportunities to encourage others with it. Today I thank You for the beautiful cold crisp night skies that declare the glory of God in His creation.
 Precious Holy Spirit, thank YOU from the  depths of my heart for bringing me into YOUR world. I want to be here. I love being here with YOU!

I love tasting what YOU have created. I love beholding, observing and gazing upon the beauty that YOU have imagined and brought into being. Thank YOU for the beautiful animals, the trees, the birds and squirrels around me. Thank YOU for my husband and daughter, son-in-law and Quinn our granddaughter and for Penny, my little poodle. Thank YOU for allowing me to enjoy YOUR world. Show me how I may bring pleasure to YOU in return. YOU have made me for greatness. YOU made me to bring pleasure to YOU. Draw me toward YOU HOLY Spirit. I pray in Jesus’ holy name.  Amen!

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV 

The Wise or the Foolish

Psalm 90:11-12..........11 Who knows the power of Your anger?
For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath.
12 So teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom. NKJV

When we read through the book of Proverbs we find a lot on the differences of the wise and the foolish. An individual, either male or female will have a disposition, a marked trait that points to their upbringing in a specific area and having qualities that make them distinct from other people. We have short hair, curly hair, blonde hair or even gray hair but that does not mean who we are as a person We grow up learning a certain language, the integrity or lack of integrity, a strength or bent towards having a heritage that shows in a respect to serving God, or lack of serving God in regard to whatever nation we are born.

I may resemble my dad more than I favor my mom. I may have his hair coloring, and shape of his face but my nose resembles my mom's nose. I may tell the stories my dad would tell when I was a child. I may favor him in many ways, but in truth, I am to look for truth, and it is seeking God's wisdom for my life.

We are either known by a reputation that proceeds us, what comes out of our mouths, and either we are at peace where we are positioned in life or outwardly always striving with others. Yes, we are known by our character.
Whatever that personality is and how one reacts to that around them, will certainly tell others a lot about them. If all hell is breaking loose, do we remain at peace in God or do we yell and throw things?
Is what comes out of our mouth glorifying God or ourself? Is what I say encouraging to others and their lives?
In my estimation, I believe the greatest gift besides our salvation in Jesus Christ is to have a heart of wisdom. We can turn on the evening news and find a lot of chaos, and we find those choosing to have it their way and kill others. We find others choosing to quarrel about something rather than sitting down and talking about the situation.
Proverbs 15:5 tells us that a fool despises his father's instruction, but he who that is yielding to correction is prudent.

My question is: are we foolish or are we wise?
Foolish: from the Greek word "Moros", which one who is stupid or dull.

Proverbs 12:15.....15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise. NKJV

The scripture states that one who walks as a fool is doing what feels right in his own eyes. But to be wise according to this verse means that one is to heed counsel of the wise. God's word is filled with counsel to lead us into peace and a smooth pathway.
Psalm 27:11-12........11 Teach me your way, O LORD;
lead me in a straight path
because of my oppressors.
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
breathing out violence. NIV

If I follow after the wisdom of God, I stay on a straight path. When I heed His correction and teaching I stay in a safe place that guards me by His Word.

James 3:17-18....17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. NKJV

Always asking God for “the wisdom that comes from heaven [ which ] is first of all pure, peaceable (peace-loving), considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere”

According to this scripture verse, God's wisdom is pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy AND GOOD FRUIT!

Do our lives mirror this scripture?

Do we have the fruit that looks like a peacemaker, a wise man or woman who holds back our feelings? Or are we the hypocrite.............oh my!

Matthew 5:14-16………..14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. NKJV

Jesus said that we are to BE A “light of the world”. Are men seeing our light shine for Jesus or ourselves……?

John 8:12…………….12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." NKJV

Jesus is the source of our “light”.

So is my “light” shining, flickering or just burned out?

Have we lost our purpose? Is life’s storm blowing like a “NOR' EASTER” against our “light”?

Have we neglected to keep that light shining for all to see?

If it is like a Nor'easter blowing against our light, we know that these specific storms can occur the year around, but are stronger and more intense in the months of September through April.

Problems can come and go in our lives. But trouble should never overtake us for we are to be overcomers according to the word of God.   1 John 4:4-6.................4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.
NIV

What are some ways that God’s light shines through our lives?

2 Corinthians 4:1-6 ……………4:1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. NKJV

His light is to shine in our hearts for it is God who commanded for light to shine out of darkness. When we renounce the shame, the dishonor, and receive His mercy, when we choose to walk in His ways that are right and are upright in the eyes of God, our hearts are no longer veiled. We see clearly to walk in His light and learn the knowledge of His glory in the face of Jesus Christ.

If we can look into the face of our children, and learn their ways and know their good and bad traits………..surely we can know and recognize a good God. Surely if our focus will turn towards YOU our Father and read YOUR word and apply it to our lives, we can inhale YOUR presence and see YOUR wisdom in our daily decision making. For everything we do, in line with God's Word will show the world we are different. We will stand and pray for others when all hell is breaking loose.

We will not flaunt ourselves before the world, but raise the Word of God and expect to see His faithfulness in our lives and those we love and pray for each day.

Proverbs 4:7-9................7 Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
8 Esteem her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 She will set a garland of grace on your head
and present you with a crown of splendor." NIV

No, we do not have to flaunt ourselves but it is God who will exalt us when we highly esteem His wisdom. Though it cost all we have, when we esteem and delight in wisdom, to embrace it and not let go, then we will see ourselves come to a place of honor as she sets a garland of grace on our heads and present us with a crown splendor.  We become the one whom the Lord delights in and the one whom the Lord brings honor to in His love and mercy for us. We are then, no longer the forsaken and the the one of reproach.

Proverbs 29:11...... A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back. NKJV

When we refuse to believe that we are always right in our own eyes, but seek the counsel of God’s word we find more peace and wisdom. When we are willing to receive instruction then we become those who will hear, and not react but give time for God to speak and our prayers to work when we pursue the justice of God for any situation. When we choose to not strive with others, we become the peacemaker.

Father, today we have the choice of being a fool or the wise. I pray in Jesus' name, that we be those who will be the wise for we understand that any fool can start a quarrel. (Prov. 20:3) May Your Light shine in and through us this day and everyday. We renounce the shame and receive Your mercy. Today I pray that all would choose to walk in ways that are right and upright in YOUR eyes O'God. May we expect to see YOUR faithfulness in our lives and in those we pray for today and every day.Your Word God is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.(Psalm 119:105)  I thank YOU today for godly Christian counselors, godly parents, godly pastors, wise friends and fellow believers that YOU our Father have placed around us when we see the necessity to make some major decisions for our lives. May our walk in YOUR wisdom be to YOUR honor and glory. May we always heed Your counsel and shun the advice of the world. Let our light so shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify You our Father in heaven. Amen.

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV