Whatever You Do, I Pray JOY TO FILL YOUR HEART..

I had read this recently on a card and started to cry.  "Whatever you do, I pray joy to fill your heart...because you deserve the blessings...............! Now there was much more in the written sentiment, but my heart keyed in on the "joy".

How beautiful? Experiencing that joy of God to fill our hearts in such a way that is never taken away.
God's joy is one that is of Him, all supernatural and never fades away, never leaves, but always becomes more in our lives. It is tangible! When we suffer from losing a loved one, to finding out a relationship so broken and abandoned to grieve of the that loss..........all hope seems to appear on a distant land and far from our reach. But in keeping step with God, we venture into a land that is overflowing with His goodness that is a place of joy, peace, love, longsuffering..........and it all comes from the Holy Spirit who resides in us when receiving Jesus as Lord.

I love watching butterflies. I think on them today as I was reminded by my Father in heaven of the beauty they bring in those lazy days of warmth and sunshine. I was reminded how they seemed to dance across the yard of green and find all those delicious flowers calling them to come. In the beauty of all that color of the butterfly and called to color of fragrance and life........I was reminded how God our Father calls us daily to His life of love that overflows with much color. His life of love to be displayed on our hearts was to be that daily reminder He gave His greatest and best gift for us. He gave the Ransom for our release from an enemy who hates us.

I wrote on joy before. And in one writing I had put together that which Paul had written about the sadness when Jesus was going to the Cross. What the disciples experienced was that which was of heaviness in losing their Rabbi, their mentor, their Leader. But in that walk to the Cross, we gained victory and the way into heaven through the precious shed blood of a Savior.
The disciples thought "their" king  had come, and the "suffering Messiah" had come, but not to take His throne at that time. He came to get "things rolling" in that direction for the plan of God to be heard and implemented!

Galatians 5:19-26
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,

20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,

21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another. NASU

The man who is caught up in the flesh nature will be the one who is jealous, have those outbursts of anger, disputes, sensuality, sorcery, and strife. It will not be a person to be around. They make life miserable for many.

The fruit of the Spirit........the Holy Spirit living in us is producing (if we allow Him to do it) His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, against such things where there is no law.
In Romans 14, we find Paul again talking about what is the "kingdom of God". It was not about eating and drinking, but what is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Read on:

Romans 14:17-19
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

18 For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.

19 So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.
NASU

I do not think Jesus had a "bad day". I believe He had all He needed from God in Word of the Scriptures and through His prayer time with Him. He was about seeing the kingdom of God begin.

I am certain in Jesus' time that He had no thought of a New Year's Resolution! 

I had seen this meaning on resolution: an action to which a problem is solved, or a dispute is settled or a contentious matter has ended in satisfactory manner.

Did we mention back in 2015 that we would get the kids in school and serve the Lord completely? But alas, school started then came the holidays, right, and then oops, New Year! How fast time travels and we never have time to pack for the fast pace momentum of everyday life.

In the fast paced, qualifying for that Indy race, we forget what race we are in. Well, I am in the "one to get a raise in pay this year" or " I am in the race to lose 20 pounds this year" or " I want to study some more in college, but kids are starting in a couple of years, " or " I desire to take a vacation, but have no idea where to go where I could rest."

Then another year has passed!

But seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness.........is finding His holiness, justice, and faithfulness..............just to mention a few. It takes discipline to gain that prize. It takes discipline to move away from the table when a meal is finished and eat NO DESSERT! It takes discipline to be faithful to commit what we have spoken we will do. It takes a disciplined life to follow Jesus, being prepared to follow His every command and to do it.

Today, we should invite the Holy Spirit in..........to take His view of how we are not doing it right, ask for His guidance and then we are to follow through and do it. That would mean in the eating department, as well as in the shopping and spending department! When we ask the Holy Spirit to control our lives, by the Spirit of God that is love, joy, peace, self-control, we are the enabled to walk within our homes with a clean heart. A loved one can die suddenly, but where we reside in that will either be in condemnation or in God's peace and freedom, that place of joy that is free.

It is a place that is the kind, the patient, not excluding ourselves at the end of day, say that we are tired..........and move to our little cubicle to be "the sad", "the gloomy" and the "depressed". We are to make it through our days with joy on our lips and a song in our hearts. When our spirits are broken because of sorrow............well it is sorrow for everybody in that place, but the enjoyment of a continual feast in the Word of God brings a merry heart. (Proverbs 15:15)

When we share our evenings with our family members we are choosing to dwell with our families in love and not because of some inner turmoil brought on by something that happened 20 years ago in my life or your life.

When we choose to give of ourselves, we are choosing to connect with people, and especially family............not the people in the job place (unless they are your ministry) still your own family who you delivered into your home by carrying for nine months is to be foremost of that which we are in the family: like the mother of said child/children and to be the wife who told her husband on their wedding day, "till death do we part"..........! No as the wife, and the mother who birthed child/children is that woman who will bring joy, laughter and fun, and not hardship, pain, and a sullen, no talking grumpy woman( or even in the case of the husband)..

One thing I pray for us as a family is that my husband and I would always have a spirit of joy and keep us from growing into a grumpy sort of people.

I always want to be those people who show up with a joy that is contagious. I want others to know we have been with God and how pleased He is with us.

Are we waiting for fall to arrive……..and kids go back to school……. Will the world’s schedule always interfere with God’s plan for us? Or are we waiting for the sun to shine, the wind to stop blowing, and summer temps to return before we can do anything for the Lord? Will there always be a lion in the street, and the Jordan always be overflowing its banks?

You will not gain joy that is of God by Facebooking. You will not gain His joy by reading the latest best seller of self-help books. YOU only gain His joy, by spending time with HIM, loving Him and gain His perspective on your life. For there will always be some disaster looming, some dark thunder clouds and loud noises, but our contentment is to be in the Lord.  Whatever may be flooding, spilling out of the washer, running down the kitchen cabinet, or making you stand for five more minutes on your feet, our true joy is that which is walking with the Lord and to esteem others.
Anointing is that which  breaks bondages, breaks the yokes, and brings freedom.

In the glory of God, His presence comes in...............AND BLIND EYES SEE, THE LAME WALK,...........THINGS CHANGE INSTANTLY. There is no virtue leaving our bodies as we lay hands on the sick or pray ..........but when the glory, His Presence comes in............it is in His undeniable power and strength.


Father, in Jesus name, our consolation is in Christ, and that comfort of love, fellowship of the Spirit is in the joy when we are like-minded, and having the same love, and of one accord.(Philippians 2:1-11)
Father, we desire to be those who are like-minded, having that lowliness of mind to esteem others better than ourselves. Help us Holy Spirit to put others first.
Help us to put our families first, and those of the body of Christ. Holy Spirit show us those who we should esteem and have found favor in Your sight.
May our lives reflect those days of summer of bright sunshine and warm temps. May our lives look like a soft gentle moving butterfly in motion that is of the power of God and not be the display of the rainy, cold, wind swept day of gloomy darkness. When we arrive at a certain time of year, may we be on time for that next season You have for us Lord to do. When we get to the beginning of a new year, may our focus be on how more deeply may we move into You our Lord and may we see more clearly YOUR plan for our lives.  Have people stop talking about weight loss, and talk more about the weightiness of God and of His glory in our lives.
Help us Holy Spirit today, to lay aside any apathy we may have toward our spouse. Help us to be demonstrative in how much we value each other. We desire to not be that "grumpy" person, the rude, cold, undemonstrative, and hidden in the remote cubicle of our past hurts and feelings.
Bring a balance into our lives for change and help us touch our spouse's heart with love to let them know we care. Our trust is in You and we lean not to our own understanding but in all our ways today of living in that place of joy, we will see Your glory and reside where no gloomy Gus, no remote Ramona can touch us, no past hurts or losses can change the atmosphere we choose to keep ...........and that is with a song in our heart and joy on our lips..........may praise go forth to YOU our Father and Creator forever. Amen.




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

Legacy

What legacy could we leave for our children and our children's children? In my early years I always thought of money or property, but ask me today and I will tell you that it is far more than that!
Leaving a legacy to me is your children knowing you have walked with God. They will know that you knew the Lord intimately and trusted Him every step of the way through every possible trial and tribulation. They will know without a doubt that our trust is in Him and Him alone.

Proverbs 3:35.....35 The wise shall inherit glory,
But shame shall be the legacy of fools.  NKJV

Of all the things that one might pursue in this world, the lasting one for all eternity is knowing God. In hearing some teaching this morning, I was challenged with the question of legacy. But my days of recent reflect my strong trust in Him Whom created this earth and the heavens. Our focus daily is to always come and ask to be shown the mysteries of the unknown.

Daniel 2:47.......47 The king said to Daniel, "Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery." NIV

Daniel 2:47........47 "Truly, O Daniel," the king said, "your God is the God of gods, Ruler of kings, the Revealer of mysteries, because he has told you this secret." 

TLB

Would you not want God to tell you secrets? I like hearing secrets. Our grand-daughter likes telling her grandparents secrets. She loves to whisper in our ears. Then she smiles and silently tries to bring her pointer finger to her lips meaning "don't tell anyone our secret"......then she follows with ........sh.sh..sh..sh..sh.. all the while trying not to laugh!

I believe our Father in Heaven desires to tell us secrets. I know Him to pursue us as we pursue Him, for He has much to tell those willing patiently to hear Him. Yes, God is the Revealer of mysteries. 

Luke 8:9-10............9 Then His disciples asked Him, saying, "What does this parable mean?" 10 And He said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that 

'Seeing they may not see,

And hearing they may not understand.'    NKJV

Mysteries are surely given to those who are ready and willing to see and hear Him. What a great thing in those days to have Jesus to teach you. Today we have the Holy Spirit sent to abide with us. He is dwelling in our hearts for those who have received Jesus.

The Jews who walked according to the Law accomplished their daily walk with the Law. But God came to set them free from that which continually created more bondage to them as men bent on legalism.  

Jesus told them of the "kingdom of God"!

Luke 8:11-15.......11 "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. 14 And the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15 But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. 

Luke 8:16-18

16 "No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. 17 For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. 18 Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him." NKJV

John the Baptist came and told the Pharisees to repent…..Matthew 3:1-12.....3:1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:"The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.' " 

4 And John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."    NKJV

Then Jesus preached the "kingdom of heaven" after John was imprisoned.

Matthew 4:12-17……….12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:

15 "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,

Galilee of the Gentiles:  16 The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death  Light has dawned."  17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."    NKJV

Galatians 4:3-7......... 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. 4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.   NKJV

A lasting legacy came through Jesus: a new covenant that brought to us righteousness .....Romans 3:21-24.....21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. , 
brought to us life (Romans 8:2), brought to us liberty (James 1:25), makes us free ..John 8:31-32...31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Galatians 5:1), .....was the human sacrifice (Hebrews 10:12)....... and saves to the uttermost....Hebrews 7:25..... 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.    NKJV

Mysteries of the world should not be as important as finding out the mysteries that God desires to speak to us through His Holy Spirit. What Jesus did for us gave us the promise of a great legacy to leave to our children and their children. 

What secrets, those mysteries does He want to tell you?

Father, we have our salvation through Your Son Jesus Christ. Through His shed blood, He made a way for the new in Him and to life everlasting. We pray in His name today to be those to come with open ears to hear the mysteries, those secrets You desire to speak to us. We know that giving thanks to You will throw open a door and keep it wide open for us. For this we are truly thankful. We desire and ask for fellowship with You that is far and beyond of what we know for You desire to tell us the mysteries, those secrets of Your kingdom. We pray to be diligent in seeking that secret place to hear secrets from YOU!

We praise You our Lord, our trust is in You

            Lord we give thanks and dwell in the land and feed on Your faithfulness

            We delight in YOU O Lord and YOU give the desires of our hearts

            Lord thank YOU for showing us the way, and we commit to YOUR way

            Our trust is in YOU and YOU bring it to pass

            You have brought forth our righteousness as the light, and our justice as the noonday.

            We rest in YOU and sing praise as we wait patiently for YOU

Gracious Father, it is YOU who knows the days of the upright and our inheritance shall be forever.

We shall not be ashamed in the evil time, and in the days of famine we shall be satisfied.

Lord it is YOU who upholds us with Your hand and we are thankful.

We have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread, our descendants are blessed of the Lord.(Psalm 37:1-40)  Father, we pray for our families today and plead the blood of Jesus over them. We plead that blood over the portals of their minds, their wills and their emotions. We pray for Your watch over them as we confess and profess Your goodness to us all in the land of the living. Thank You for hearing our plea, we set ourselves to obey YOUR commands and be mindful to keep our watch to pray for them. Amen.

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

High Risk!

It is late afternoon, and a white-tailed deer moves from the wooded area into the thicket. It is overflowing with high green grass and foliage to feast on. Yet, the deer peers around the surrounding open field, and steadily makes one step forward at a time into the inviting environment of beauty and food. As the deer raises it's head again to look around all the while sniffing for danger as he goes, he finds it safe to make another step into the center of the overgrown field to find his meal waiting. High risk!

A mother duck moves her young little ducklings in behind her and she walks to shore line of the river, but stopping abruptly, she raises her head and does a 180 degree check of the water and shoreline. Sensing danger, she quickly backs up her ducklings and heads them across the dry land as quickly as she can. High risk!

In another region of the world, a husky white polar bear comes over the dry land to look for fresh eggs and hatched young birds to feast on. He is very hungry and has not eaten in some time. The little birds, and owls are so small, so vulnerable,  and are in plain sight for the bear to see. The bear moves closer and closer to the round mounds of medium sized rocks that hold the nests for the little bird's babies, all the while the mama birds fly above and make a dive at the polar bear's nose to bring blood. After a two minute warning, and the bear's nose bleeding, he moves from the area filled with baby birds and fledglings. Yes, the babies are safe for now. High risk!

What in our lives do we consider high risk? Is there in any part of day of our lives that we would see as "high risk" and have a desire to try to avoid?
Of recent, I had to have blood drawn and I knew there was a possibility of some things going on with my blood. The blood I had, was known as having warm antibodies. But getting to the answer for the problem seemed clear. Blood is drawn, and the diagnosis is made clear. It was a diagnosis of severe anemia and no matching blood anywhere. High risk!
High risk became apparent because of the warm antibodies my blood carried!

But living in the kingdom of God is one that causes us to live by faith and not on the world's standards. My faith is in a God who is Alive and is for me!
With some tests out of the way, the one admitting Dr. comes into the hospital room at 3 a. m. to tell me the dangerous high risk of submitting to a blood transfusion. "There is no match" , he said. He used words like dangerous, detrimental, and HIGH RISK!

 I told him that he offered no other solutions and I needed the blood and I replied, " the paper was signed hours ago." He left the room and I praised God for His goodness to me in the darkness of the night, and I knew the sun was going to shine and bring a miracle to me!
Overnight and as hours and hours went by while men at the blood bank worked on building a blood from two different donors to get a blood to work for me, a nurse came in to say they were ready with a slow transfusion about 9 a.m.  Yes, it was truly a slow transfusion, as they had to run it for about 30 minutes at first, then take another blood draw to make sure I could take the new blood. They then started the transfusion again. And later that day I had been given both sets of blood without any side affects and problems to my body or my life!

Just one week ago, I experienced a miracle and continue to give God glory for His goodness to me in the land of the living. People would keep coming in to check on me and "see how I was doing'! They asked if I had any pain or side affects. I would respond "NO", "I feel wonderful" and "refreshed". I got up and walked and walked. I praised God everywhere I went and ministered to those in the hospital. The nurses, the blood technicians and even the CNA'S would come in and just watch me. It was an exciting time to show God in all His glory!
Just two days later and all tests out of the way, I am a healthy woman and looking forward to a long life. Just a walk through now with some meds, but it will end shortly and I know I will just become stronger and healthier each day because of God's guidance in His Word and His love for me!


Acts 4:7-12...................7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, "By what power or by what name have you done this?" 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 9 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.'  12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." NKJV

When Jesus saved us, He saved our bodies............He sent His healing to us!
The Cross is the power of God for those who are being saved......1 Corinthians 1:18.

In receiving Jesus, we are regenerated into life and out of death. As we put on the "New Man" and being renewed in our minds to God's Word and His ways and thoughts, we come out of the grave of death, and defeat and move into the realm of Victory and are people who live by faith with trust in our God!
It is taking God's Word on healing, and raise the standard of our health. When we have sought out His word on healing as for salvation, our condition changes. WE reach forward by faith to receive what we are expecting!
It is a daily walk and receiving that Word that will build us up to receive that which we are expecting.

David said of the Lord; “My times are in Your hand;” (Psalm 31: 15). “Times” here means in the Hebrew; event, experiences, fortunes, occurrences, occasions, permanency, continuing future, ancient (used of past time), forever (used of future time; used of continuous existence)..forever (used of God's existence)

We are a mist, a moment in time, and all of our times are in His hand. All of my future and all of your future conditions, any occurrences are known to Him. It is so vital to stay close to the Creator, the one true God!

Psalm 62:5 ............    Find rest, O my soul, in God alone ;

my hope comes from him. 6 He alone is my rock and my salvation

he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. 7 he is my mighty rock, my refuge. 8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

11 One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, 12 and that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done. 

Psalms 66........................Shout with joy to God, all the earth!

2 Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious!

3 Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds!

So great is your power

that your enemies cringe before you.

4 All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you,

they sing praise to your name." Selah 

5 Come and see what God has done

how awesome his works in man's behalf!

6 He turned the sea into dry land,

they passed through the waters on foot--

come, let us rejoice in him.

Whatever the situation, the circumstance is under our feet! We can cross on dry land and continue to rejoice in Him!

Nothing escapes His watchful eye. (Hebrews 4:13) God is familiar with all of our ways. Before a word is on our tongue He knows it. (Psalm 139:4) Our past, our current and our future, God holds it all in His capable, eternal  hands. He holds it all in His healing capable hands. 

Being reminded of the coming time of Passover and Good Friday, I think on His nail scared hands, and body shredded by blows to wound and to kill, that clearly displayed to us His inexpressible love, grace and forgiveness when we have gone our own way!  Truly our times are in His hand.
We cannot glorify God in a sick body, but we certainly can glorify Him walking through to victory and keep an expectant heart for "THE MIRACLE". 

I am thankful and give Him my praise for truly He has saved me, delivered me and healed my body!

Be encouraged today and know God is on your side. Just stay close and He will show you the way in which you are to walk! "A MIRACLE IS ON ITS WAY TO YOU TODAY!" I BELIEVE THAT HONESTLY AND TRULY.

Father, I love You and thank You that You are my Father God. It is Your Word that gives me life! It gives me strength, and builds me up to guide me every day of my life! Your Word is settled in heaven forever. YOUR Word is lamp unto me feet and a light unto my path. It is in Jesus' name that I pray for all who read this and may need a helping hand into victory today. Lead all into Your perfect love and peace as You are our shield and glory, the Lifter of our heads. It is You Who sustains us and Your blessing is upon us. Father, to me the higher risk is not following YOU!

 So right now, we praise with joyful lips and rejoice in YOU! Today in prayer we magnify You with thanksgiving and rejoice at the healing Word of God. For we have truly found a great treasure in Your Word. Thank You for Your unfailing love. A love that is unconditional. Thank You that we might know how vast Your love truly is to us. We are thankful for the shed Blood of our Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ! We are thankful for the Son You sent to us so we could be a part of Your family. For whatever sins we hold, we repent right now and ask Your forgiveness. We come to give You glory and give thanks for all that You are doing in our lives. We pray that we would be men and women who would hold onto You and by faith receive the promise we are believing for right now!

Father, You deserve our praise, and we say Amen to HIM who has given us life in abundance. We say Amen to HIM who created us with a plan and purpose for life and not for death and sickness. Amen to Jehovah Adonai, Who is same yesterday, today and forever. Amen.



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

On a Short Leash?

There are times we see ourselves losing momentum. There are times we seem to go no further than the end our nose can reach forward.
I remember as a child, I was the one that had to be kept on a short leash, so to speak. Yes, I was that child you read about who can be over a fence and down the road in less than five minutes or the child that can somehow turn on the water faucet outside and have a flooded garden in less than 2 minutes. Yes, and the faucet had a child-proof lock my dad had "to invent" to keep me from turning it on. Still, I had the "power" to turn it on with my little hands! Yes, I was the one child that somehow knew the city worker's had been digging a large hole less than a block from our home and were trying to repair a water line that had broken some two days....before.......but.................because of the turbulent rain for a 22 hour period, all that moisture had prevented them from working on it and  there were only three super large saw-horse type barriers that surrounded it. Yes, you guessed it, and a small child of 2 and 1/2 years could get through it quickly. That newly formed hole now held water to the brim and could drown a small child in a very short time. Yes, I was free, no leash on me and I was heading for trouble! My dad thought I was with my mom, and mom thought that I was still in bed napping...................yeah, right???
He had poured himself a cup of coffee by the kitchen sink, looked out the window and saw my short legs running quickly toward danger! He took off running out the front door and down the street just in time to reach me before the fall into the big super size hole that now was filled with a large volume of muddy water and debris. Yes, he spoke for years on that one story alone, but he said he never forgot the way his heart felt when he finally reached me!

But my dad figured out the solution. He had to travel some because of his business and that left my mother on a 24-hour duty to keep two children safe and one of them had this overwhelming desire for "freedom"! So he fashioned this halter that had a clip on the back of my shoulder blades..............fit comfortable under the arms and had this length of cord fastened to the clothes line. Again, you guessed it, I was safe in my backyard while hooked to this clothes line...............so my mother knew where I would be while she worked in the flooded garden or hung clothes on the line to dry. Yes, I was safe from turning their lives into a horror movie before their eyes.

In writing this, I was thinking of the scripture found in the book of Luke.

Luke 9:59-62......59 Then He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." 60 Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God." 61 And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house." 62 But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." NKJV

Being asked by Jesus, to follow HIM, and having some excuse for not doing so seems rather bold and self-involved in what they were doing and not seeing a way out of the mundane. Not following after "life, peace, love and joy" appears as a deficit to me! Taking a look at verse 59, is "let me first go and bury my father." And Jesus, replied, "let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God."

The verse does not mention that this person's father was ill and close to death. It just shows this man had an excuse ready to give about "why I cannot do what you ask". In that day and time.........when someone passed, they were wrapped in linen cloths with spices and placed in a tomb for about 1  year. Then they would take the bones and bury them in the family lot provided. In this, the man could have several years before following Jesus. Again, we have no time-line, but one thing was evident, the person had a reason not to follow. But Jesus told him to let the dead bury their own dead!

Some seem to think that at some point this person came to serve the Lord. I am not certain of that for the Lord told him to let the dead bury their own dead. So the Lord, in His knowing probably saw some issues that this young person was tied to in the world.  If it were just the matter of an elderly aging father and being the only one to care for them, I believe Jesus would have given the word to go take care of business concerning the father and then come to follow Jesus. I also believe that there was to be an anointing on the young man to preach and teach the word of God and call sinners to salvation for Jesus told him to go and preach the kingdom of God. I believe whatever words this young man spoke at home fell on deaf ears, but I do believe the anointing held the power by the Holy Spirit to see many come to the Lord. The anointing I believe was that which would compel many to be saved and to serve the Lord with gladness in their hearts.

The other scripture verse is 61, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house."  And Jesus, replied, "no one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

Yikes! What was going on at that house and who was always there? It was possibly a place where we got our way, did things our own way, and had a great time everyday! But anyone knows, especially those who have lived on or even near a farm can readily say that man on that tractor is keeping his focus on plowing that field and not looking back. He is intent with staying side by side with each row and as straight as possible for the next planting.

My question to you is this: " are we truly following Him or are we on a short leash"? Do we keep to the word and look straight before us or do we look back to something we ought to just leave behind? Is our way of thinking keeping us chained to the mundane when God wants to do a "new thing" in our lives?

We should have "godly counsel" on this always. We should not seek advice from tarot cards, the horoscope or psychic readings.  If we are to act on God's word then that Word should be that which is leading us. It should be God we hear, and His word that is before us to keep going in the direction of His life, peace, joy and love! 

Here lately, I write and teach on this scripture, for I believe the Lord is asking us to follow Him. I believe His heart is much like what my dad experienced that day in the rain when he ran a race with death and saved me from falling into that enormous mud hole. Is there a slippery slope that the Lord is trying to keep us safe from falling into concerning going back to just say"good-bye to our peeps and pals at home"? Are we using excuses not to serve the Lord because we feel that we would lose something and not really have a good life to look back on.

I had many adventures when I was a child, and then as a youth in middle school and high school. But the greatest adventures I have had are serving the Lord and writing this blog to tell others of the Goodness and Love of God! I believe the Lord speaks to us and gives us that scripture that should "captivate" and keep our attention. That word speaks and brings life to us, directing us on a path of His goodness always. Yes, correction will come at times and sometimes more than we think we need, but it is because He corrects those He loves.

Proverbs... 3:11-12

11 My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,

Nor detest His correction; 

12 For whom the LORD loves He corrects,

Just as a father the son in whom he delights. NKJV

My dad did what he needed and wanted to do, to keep me safe and out of harm's way. What is your Father trying to do to keep you out of that harm that may bring death to you or yours? It is so much better to follow the Lord and learn of Him who gives to us so generously as we saw when He gave us His Son!

Father, You are the Great I Am in our midst! In Jesus' name, I pray for the protection of Your children today that they are covered by the Blood of Jesus. I pray that no evil befalls them and that no weapon formed against them shall prosper. I pray that they have hearing ears, and seeing eyes and will know Your voice when YOU speak to them. Lord today, I thank You for Your correction. May we not despise it for whom You love YOU Lord will correct. We know this because a father corrects the son in whom he delights.

Holy Spirit have Your way in our lives today. We give YOU full  rein here in our lives, our home, ministry and in the work place. Show us where we need to watch our step so that we stay in line with YOU and not venture out in a dangerous place that can cause injury or death to us or our family members. We set our focus right before us and expect to hear YOU speak guiding us into a perfect freedom of Your life, peace, joy and love being strengthened day by day to follow the Lord of glory.

 Lord, continue Your love to those who know you, Your righteousness to the upright in heart. (Psalm 36:10-12) I pray that the foot of proud not come against us nor the hand of wicked shall not drive us away.

I pray today that each who read this will trust in the Lord and do good. That they will dwell in the land You bring them to and to enjoy safe pasture. As each delight in YOU the Lord of glory, may these have their hearts desire. I thank You today, that it is YOU that makes our righteousness shine like the dawn and the justice of Your cause like the noonday sun (Psalm 37:1-6) when we follow YOU and Your ways. Amen.

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