What is Justice?

In working on a teaching on the Justice of God.....I have been pouring over scripture passages from the Old Testament to the New Testament. In essence, knowing His Justice, that which is of God comes through knowing Him!
It is in communion that we know someone! Simple!
When viewing over those passages, one thing was certain and very clear to read. Most had turned from their following God. They had chosen their justice outside of God and were in the path of wrath.
Now you can hear, most of the time, that God is merciful. Yes, He certainly is merciful and He showed that mercy by the giving of His son.
Our identity then is in Christ Jesus. We, who have repented and received HIM as Lord, are covered by that perpetual Blood that was shed for man's sinful nature. (Remember Adam?)
In truth, in all our dealings with others is to be done in the justice that God is pleased with. He desires us to do what is right and just in every situation, no matter what! ( See Proverbs 21:3)

Doing the honorable thing starts within the family. It is the wife with the husband. It is the parent with the child/children. The honorable is to be done in the workplace and at play, say at the ball game or football game. Doing the honorable toward others, but how highly active has it been in recent times? If "selfishness" shows up, then whatever is built on that will not last. It will have no life for the one on the giving end or for the one on the receiving end.
Take a look at the news, and see those who desire to be "heard". So honor is the husband giving time to the wife as she to him. They in turn give real time to their children, (our kids and grandkids should not be experiencing mom and dad with their own screen time neglecting the child or children)

Matthew 12:18-21   NIV  18 "Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. 19 He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. 20 A bruised reed will not break, and a smoldering which he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory. 21 In his name the nations will put their hope."

Yes, the optimum word is He leads justice to victory. The nations are to put their hope in Him and not in themselves.
Jesus gave them truth. And in that manifested presence of God, people were healed and people were really experiencing what life really was like in that day. Jesus came to set captives free, not bind them up more in themselves, and their selfish desires.

Photo by R. Twiner

Jesus said to love our neighbor as we love our selves. We are to love God and love our neighbor.
If we do not read the Bible, then we totally know not what the Lord spoke in the New Testament that has the given word on retributive justice.
The Son of Man "shall render unto every man according to his deeds."
Yes outside of God one will certainly encounter wrath who is the one not "found" in God, not with God, not on God's side!
Let's take a look!

Matthew 16:24-27   NKJV   ...Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." 25 "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, shall find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gain the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

27 "For the So of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

Any commitment we give to Christ, calls for disciple and the forsaking of our lives. It is a submitting of "our own interests"

If one knows not God, has not yet received Jesus as their Lord, then where lies their commitment? Jesus gave us a new kingdom, one that is by spirit and truth. It is taken by faith in Him, and our trust in Him should never waiver. Our experience in God's justice, is that we practice justice with others everyday. We give that which is honorable. It is not by name calling, and lying to others. It is not by running someone off the road, giving them a finger sign, or a swerve at their vehicle just to let the other know that (you or we) are angry and driving with rage in the heart.
In following Jesus, one is not apt to be slamming a new leader, a new president, a new pastor at church, a new prayer leader within the body of believer's.
We are all ultimately one Blood. And under the Blood of Jesus, we stay in the justice that is of God.

No matter what the circumstance, and whether we trust, our only trust should be in God and not in man. Jesus surely showed that in prayer we read from John 17. I cannot find where He whined, but He certainly took what was on His heart for His disciples, declaring and praying for them and those who would come to know Jesus through the Apostles work in the field. (see John 17)

We must not be ignorant to God's Word. What He promised He will do. And whether for the good or for those who reside in evil, still the same God will bring His justice.
God is not mocked, what a man sows, he will reap!
In Jesus, we have the Redemptive Grace. God is faithful and He is just. He will listen, but will anyone heed? And God never, never changes.

In thinking on our own lives today, have we been honorable to others? As the born again believer, our lives are to imitate, yes bear the image of our Lord. That faith if God is understanding righteousness. He is knowing that in God's own terms, equity is being fair  ( again in honesty and not based on lies). Then too, we will see those level paths for our feet. We see God move things into our lives for our benefit and good. My husband and I have certainly seen that of late. God's justice is and will always be based on His Word. God has not changed His Word, and anyone trying to change it to fit their own life will be subject to be out of His will and purpose for them. And finally we must know that we are to humble ourselves before Him, and to serve others.

It is not in a once a month, or once a week things, but an on-going 24-7 life on how can we honor each other. It is not slamming with foul mouths, name--calling or in lying, burning someone's property, or destroying their lives by dishonest means. Truly God knows the hearts of men.

Who will you honor today?
Will it be for the one who can do nothing for you, or will it be someone you demand they drive you to the next gathering at a restaurant for a meal, or do one who you desire that someone (anyone) to take you to church when in truth you already have two vehicles still in driveable condition in the garage?  Will we honor those who we may never see again but do something for them, that will last them a life time and remember the good put upon them?


In closing: The Message Bible says this in James 2.
My dear friends, don't let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith. If man enters your church wearing an expensive suit, and a street person wearing rags comes right after him, and you say to the man in the suit, "Sit here, sir; this is the best seat in the house!" and either ignore the street person or say, "Better sit here in the back row, " haven't you segregated God's children and proved that you are judges who can't be trusted? Listen, dear friends. Isn't it clear by now that God operates quite differently? He chose the worlds' down and out as the kingdom's first citizens , with full rights and privileges. This kingdom is promised to anyone who loves God. And here you abusing the same citizens! Isn't it the high and mighty who exploit you, who use the courts to rob you blind? Aren't they the same ones who scorn the name-----"Christian"------used in your baptisms? You do well when you complete the Royal Rule of the Scriptures: "Love others as you love yourself." But if you play up to those so-called important people, you go against the Rule and stand convicted by it. You can't pick and choose in these things, specializing in keeping one or two things in God's law and ignoring others. The same God who said, "don't commit adultery" also said, "do not murder." If you don't commit adultery but go ahead and murder, do you think your non-adultery will cancel out your murder? NO, you're a murderer, period.

 Talk and act like a person expecting to be judged by the rule that sets us free. For if you refuse to act kindly, you can hardly expect to be treated kindly. Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time.

Notice: 

The Voice of Prayer  has a new teaching:
Are We Missing In Action? Justice of God Equals Victory!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMzITC7FRb8



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

Seal of Approval and No Delays

John 6:27-33
27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."

28 Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"

29 Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."

30 So they asked him, "What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'"

32 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."    NIV

For the work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent.

The Bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.

Romans 1:17     For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith]. As it is written, The man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith. Amplified Bible

Luke 16:16-17

16 Until John the Baptist began to preach, the laws of Moses and the messages of the prophets were your guides. But John introduced the Good News that the Kingdom of God would come soon. And now eager multitudes are pressing in. 17 But that doesn't mean that the Law has lost its force in even the smallest point. It is as strong and unshakable as heaven and earth.    TLB

Hebrew 12:7-13

7 Let God train you, for he is doing what any loving father does for his children. Whoever heard of a son who was never corrected? 8 If God doesn't punish you when you need it, as other fathers punish their sons, then it means that you aren't really God's son at all-that you don't really belong in his family. 9 Since we respect our fathers here on earth, though they punish us, should we not all the more cheerfully submit to God's training so that we can begin really to live? 

10 Our earthly fathers trained us for a few brief years, doing the best for us that they knew how, but God's correction is always right and for our best good, that we may share his holiness. 11 Being punished isn't enjoyable while it is happening-it hurts! But afterwards we can see the result, a quiet growth in grace and character. 

12 So take a new grip with your tired hands, stand firm on your shaky legs, 13 and mark out a straight, smooth path for your feet so that those who follow you, though weak and lame, will not fall and hurt themselves but become strong.  TLB

2 Timothy 1:13-14

13 Hold tightly to the pattern of truth I taught you, especially concerning the faith and love Christ Jesus offers you.  

14 Guard well the splendid, God-given ability you received as a gift from the Holy Spirit who lives within you.    TLB

Mark 14:38

38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." NIV

Hebrews 10:35-39

35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For in just a very little while, 

"He who is coming will come and will not delay. 

38 But my righteous one will live by faith. 

And if he shrinks back, 

I will not be pleased with him."  

39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.    NIV

Revelation 22:17-21

17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. 

18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. 

20 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." 

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. 

21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen.                  NIV

Father, thank You for Jesus. You have placed honor on Him who deserves it. YOUR Son, is righteous and true, faithful to the Cross, guaranteed a place for us in Your kingdom. We give thanks and give much honor to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Truly He shines in the dark places and reveals in the hearts those set to be with You forever eternally. We keep watch for He is returning soon. The Bright Morning Star.........will make His appearance. We do well to pay attention to it. As to a light shining in a dark place. Yes that morning star has risen in our hearts.( 2 Peter 1:19-21) May we continue to be carried along by the Holy Spirit. Oh it is in His Holy Name we pray......yes Jesus, Lord of All. Come Lord Jesus Come.

Our thoughts turn toward His return. He is Coming Soon........and our praise should be going out. May we lift our voices.........and be in Unity for the body of believer's should stand as one in HIM!

Notice:
The Voice of Prayer  has a new teaching published: 
Prompted By Faith-Contenting Our Faith must Speak
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD90sBKMLlM

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

RIGHT NOW ..........What is in YOUR HEART & What will it BRING TO YOU?

Deuteronomy 31:1-6...............31:1 Then Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel. 2 And he said to them: "I am one hundred and twenty years old today. I can no longer go out and come in. Also the LORD has said to me, 'You shall not cross over this Jordan.' 3 "The LORD your God Himself crosses over before you; He will destroy these nations from before you, and you shall dispossess them. Joshua himself crosses over before you, just as the LORD has said. 4 And the LORD will do to them as He did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites and their land, when He destroyed them. 5 The LORD will give them over to you, that you may do to them according to every commandment which I have commanded you. 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

Know anyone who is 120 years old? I have never met anyone who has lived to be that age. I have seen a few men and women on the news who have made the mark well over 100 years of age and many were in wheel chairs. That is not the way I would like to live my life in the latter years in or from a wheel chair.

Moses knew he was about to die. He could not cross over the Jordan River into the Promised Land. In the passage above, he gives encouragement and instruction to those who would go into the new land. He tells them that the LORD your God will pass over before you. He will do to those who stand in the Promised Land to be like Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites. He tells Israel to be strong and of good courage. Do not fear nor be afraid of them for the LORD your God, is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.

CONFRONTATION! Interesting that the instruction Moses gives is that the Lord is with us, and the LORD will do to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites and their land. We are told that the LORD will give them over to us, that we may do to them according to every commandment. Sounds like somebody has to have someone close up time with those who we disagree with and need out of the land we are possessing. Is that not right?

Well that is a lot to take in. Okay, the land has kings who "occupy" and we have a God who goes with us. But we are to do to those kings according to every commandment which God has commanded us to do!

Ever try to go into the new land to "occupy" and the "king" who occupies will not go willingly? Yikes! Problem on the horizon!

Deuteronomy 32:45-47................45 Moses finished speaking all these words to all Israel, 46 and He said to them: "Set your hearts on all the words which I testify among you today, which you shall command your children to be careful to observe--all the words of this law. 47 For it is not a futile thing for you, because it is your life, and by this word you shall prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess."  NKJV

AND BY THIS WORD YOU SHALL PROLONG YOUR DAYS IN THE LAND......TO POSSESS!!!

Moses told the people to "set their hearts on all the words which was testified by himself and he commanded that the children of the people were to observe----all the words of this law. (the Word of God) By this word, our days are to be prolonged " in the land we are to possess."
Our days are to be prolonged:

to be unceasing
to be expanded
to be continued

Deuteronomy 6:6-9...............6 "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. NKJV

Setting that Word on our hearts and our children's heart is mentioned here in Deuteronomy 6.  We are to talk "the Word of God".

1. we do this in sitting in the house

2. walking outside or on our way

3. right before bed, when we are going to lie down to sleep

4. rising up, like at breakfast time

5. a sign on your hand

6. as frontlets, to keep before our eyes

7. written on the doorpost of our house and gates

It appears we need to be active in seeing that Word being spoken all day and into the night!

Reading the Word to our children is paramount. We have the opportunity to read it to our grand-child. She is ready to read it and has the help of some awesome aids today like her Kindle tablet. 

I like the part about sitting in the house. Imagine with the T.V. off,  and talking the Word of God with your children or grand-children!  What if we as adults, talked with our own parents or grand-parents if they are alive today, about the Word of God?

That sitting in the house might be as a family around the dinner table and enjoying some good food from the produce brought in from the store and good food from the Lord, that God-breathed word to fill us with His supernatural power!

 That walking outside or on our way could be driving somewhere or even taking a walk out-of-doors. Right before bed is always a good time to reflect on the goodness of God for that day and find the scripture passages or verses that line up with what we just experienced in seeing God that day in our lives. Reflection of what we are believing for in God always take first place at our house in the evening hours right before bed-time. 
That breakfast one is a serious one when you might send your child or grand-child off to school or vacation Bible school. They need a good breakfast..not just an instant drink mixture in milk.....to break the fast from overnight sleep and then be given some Word of life that will add to them and their day. That sign in the hand to me could be the Bible in your hand in either the actual book Bible or on your I-Pad or I-phone. I also like leaving notes from a sticky note pad on my desk or sometimes on the refrigerator the scripture verse I am believing for at the time. That doorpost and gates is one we have had. We had been given a wall-hanging from Numbers 6 and the blessing:

Numbers 6:24-26...........24 "'"The LORD bless you
and keep you;
25 the LORD make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
26 the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace." '  NIV

Some coming out or going in, we see the scripture written for our benefit.

Our days can be those like the people of Israel. Each of us may be moving into some new territory. We may be going to another level in the music industry, or sending a small child off to school for the first time. We may be taking on a new promotion in the workplace that requires different dressing and different kind of schedule. The leaders in the business place may be different than those of our family or previous work place.
We may be leaving a job after many years of work and service for a company or we may be taking over a new ministry, but one thing remains the same. We each have been given the Word of God to know that life comes from it and it alone. Jesus came to set captives from this world and see His kingdom come! Jesus fulfilled the Law and Prophets. 

JESUS WAS THE WORD MANIFESTED! EVEN MORE SO, SHOULD WE NOT CELEBRATE AND DANCE BEFORE THE  KING WHO  WAS, IS, AND IS TO COME!
He is the Word and He backs up His Word every time I speak it, declare it, sing it, announce it, and yell it out! I then see it manifested in my life! (Just take a look at the blog titled "High Risk")

WE stand, believing for a long life in the land promised to us. But we get there by believing, and having a trust that God is for us just as what has been given, written for our benefit, that we hold onto the commands of God. We speak in truth, and deal in truth. We look out for others in love, but we also know God has His plan for us as well. We take that Word and speak. We take that Word and believe, move and take the place we are to stand. And we continue to use that Word till we see it come to pass in our lives.

We may not have children yet, and may not even be married, but we have the future before us. It is one that hold life or death for us. That future is a choice of living for God or dying to the world.  

We take the Word and tread on the "enemy"! We keep that Word morning, noon and night. We keep that Word for ourselves, for our children, grand-children and even for aging parents who may be moving pass the 80 year old mark. We look on in faith in the Word that delivers us to peace!

Wherever we walk today, wherever we stand, we take the Word of God and speak it like never before. We speak and say what the Lord has said about us and we expect to have our days prolonged and live in the land promised to our fathers and to us. Today, let us take up the Word and truly live for God.............looking like Him, ............sounding like Him,............and seeing the supernatural performed in our lives. Amen!

Was spending time with our grand-child over the weekend and one thing I noticed was we could do the Kindle thing and watch one of the Bible stories, with the reading parts or just the action parts. We could talk about it and either laugh or just take a serious moment on what we had just seen, heard and watched before our eyes. After a couple hours of reading some different books together, our grand-daughter wanted to pull up a story line on the Kindle. It was something about these three young ladies turning into mermaids when their feet touched the water. I asked her, "Why would you want to live out someone else's life that is probably not real, when you can take an active part in your own life."  Well, her dad was listening to what I asked her, and he agreed. I had continued to think about that today.  Why should we not want to take that an "active part in our lives" to see that long life that brings many years to us? Why would we not want to participate with God and see His best for us in the land of the living? So again I ask, "What is your life( your heart) right now and what will it bring to you? Will you live long and prosper or will you die suddenly at a young age and never see God's plan He has just for you? What will it bring to you today? Are you believing for long life with a healthy body or are you just expecting the sick one will get you through? Are we believing to be of an influence to other's or are we just wanting to catch that next episode of our favorite show on Tuesday nights?

I do not know about you, but I want to take an "active part" and say, meditate, know and share that Word of God that brings life so I can live long!
A CONFRONTATION WILL COME! Does not matter if it is with your son or daughter's teacher at school in regard to their six week assessment, the report on the medical test the Dr. just took, wanting to sale some property, a person wanting to cancel the contract you have with a company, that yearly job review and you have a new supervisor, or you are up for promotion, but the job is two thousand miles away in Podunck, Nowhere! Yes, confrontation will come. How will we possess that already occupied land?

Father, today we pray in Jesus' name. He was the Word manifested! We know the land YOU have promised to us has kings who "occupy" and we have a God who goes with us. Today help us to do to those kings according to every commandment which God has commanded us to do!

No problem is too big for YOU Father!
We desire to take an "active part" in confessing that powerful Word into our lives so that we have prolonged lives. Today,  like the prophets before us, we speak the words of God. We declare to others the words given to us in the "secret place". We pray for the love walk toward family members, associates at work, for our neighbors and those we pray for as we take possession in the new land YOU have given to us!

In the name of Jesus we withstand the enemy; firm in the faith. Today we thank You that YOU have empowered us through our union with YOU. We draw on that strength from YOU [a strength which Your boundless might provides], Your strength causes us to be steadfast and trustworthy.
 May our walk be dominated by our love for You. Father, we bless and pray for those who persecute us....those who are cruel in their attitude toward us. We bless and do not curse. Therefore our love abounds yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment. We approve things that are excellent. We are sincere without offense till the day of Christ. We are filled with the fruits of righteousness.

We ask help in seeing and knowing that gain of the world's treasures (Matt. 6:19-21) will lose the Father's spiritual treasures. And all of this world's treasures are not enough to purchase one's eternal life.

We surrender everything to YOU today. We deny self today so that we can keep our spiritual man growing, and to keep hearing YOU in the Word THAT YOU speak to us.

Thank You for hearing us as we pray.......we choose an active role in YOUR plan for our lives. Amen!

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

Puddle Jumpers

Psalm 44:3......3 For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword,
Nor did their own arm save them;
But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance,
Because You favored them. NKJV

There are giants in the land! Yes, this was probably heard throughout the camp for days when the spies returned from checking out the Promised Land. But according to this scripture above, they gained possession of the land, not by their own sword nor by their own arm! They gained the land through the right hand of God, by the light of His countenance because God favored them! Amen.

Psalm 5:11-12................11 But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;

Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them;

Let those also who love Your name 

Be joyful in You. 

12 For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous;

With favor You will surround him as with a shield.  NKJV

Was listening to some teaching early this morning, and when I heard the Psalm 44, I thought also of Psalm 5 and verse 12.............and this picture like a motion picture movie came spiritually to my heart to see. It was like seeing this new vehicle, like a new pickup truck, all washed and waxed, go through this tremendous mud puddle. As I watched the truck go through this really deep, almost pond sized-body filled with mixture of watery mud with the consistency of thick, sticky, and pasty mud, the truck rolled through the muddy mess, and this thick paste splashed in slow motion over this new truck. It looked like a real muddy mess. As I looked closely, I could this impenetrable thick shield over the paint of the vehicle. Then instantly, rain came from heaven and washed the mud away. The truck was as new and shiny as before with no trace of mud anywhere to be seen on the body! The paint on the truck was not marred in anyway by the sudden insult of mud on the shiny coat.

I then thought of people and walking through their daily lives. They need their bills paid, their children schooled, their taxes paid, money to help out their elderly parents, a new place to live or to sell some property they no longer need. They just need some favor where they are walking that day! They desire to have a lower bill on their utilities, a lower bill on their property taxes or favor just getting to work that morning.

Some of the things we may encounter each day, may look like this grand new truck driving through a tremendous sized mud puddle. Having to get from point A to point B certainly can take some effort and work when dealing with other people.  But anyone knows that some people just create mud puddles, and are known as puddle jumpers. They like making things hard, difficult, and sometimes just hard to understand. But truly having God and His favor causes us to have a shield of favor. That when God our Father favors us, He surrounds with a shield where the mud from those puddle jumpers just rolls off us. When God our Father is for us, then all other things must bow to the name of Jesus.

A good example of this I desire to share with you all is this, and again I think of our children, C. and K.  It was five years ago when our grand-daughter was just months old and C. and K.  were requiring a larger home. They had seen a couple of places to check out and I happened to be visiting in their home at the time. So I went with them, and we all prayed for God our Father's perfect plan for them in the process in finding a new place to live!

Well, we arrived early and had to wait for the property manager to arrive. This gave us time to continue to pray to the Father about this specific home. This was a new home and not lived in, but the owner's wanted it rented to the right people.

When we went in, and walked each room downstairs, I immediately in the spirit, saw my son-in-law donned with his chef's hat on, perfectly white apron,  and was serving food to guests in this perfect kitchen. I could see him laughing and enjoying himself as he served others!

Again, I tell you this place was new, and even the information brochures on each appliance were still taped to the inside of the oven, the microwave oven, and the refrigerator. There was still plastic coverings all over the carpets! It was awesome. It had the new home smell of fresh lumber and paint! As we walked through, I told C. and K. what I saw about seeing our son-in-law preparing food in this kitchen and they were excited.

So, they talked with the property management and found out there was already two other families ahead of them on the list for occupying this particular property. C. and K. then filled out the proper forms and waited. Together, we all thanked the Lord for His goodness to His children and they were giving thanks for their new home. One week went by and then two weeks went by and nothing. Then along about the third week a call was made. One family had been disqualified and the lady was to give it to the 2nd on list who qualified, but she said she could not do it! She said somehow she knew this property should go to C. and K. and our grand-child!

They moved in May of that year and have been there ever since! They have always had favor there with this woman and the management company, plus with the actually owner of said property!

We can go through our life's journey and know God our Father is with us. He loves us and wants to bless us. We may come across puddle jumpers sometimes, but God makes all that muddy mess to wash away and restore to us the beauty He has for His children and their children! We truly have seen this circumstance unfold in the lives of  C., K. and our grand-child!

Some things make look like obstacles, road-blocks or hindrances, but we should ask the Lord for His plan and when He gives us vision, then we must hold on and keep Him ever before our eyes knowing that He has given us a shield of favor and whatever the world may throw at us, the Lord will wash it away and cause us to win!
If you are searching out new things, like buying a new home, renting a new place, just moving across town, helping your elderly parents, or just needing lower taxes, ask the Lord to show you  how to walk through the circumstance. He may or may not give you a vision of it, but you will have this knowing within your heart that things are about to change. Seek the Lord in His guidance for your life and you will experience the favor of God as a SHIELD!

Father, thank You for the shield of favor that You have surrounded us with. May we always know that You are looking out for our best interest. The world may speak or do something against Your plan for us, but it is You Who have given us the Land of Promise.  Help us to know that we do not gain this possession by sword or our own arm, but know that it is by Your right hand, Your arm and the Light of Your Countenance because You favor us!

Father, in Jesus' name, thank You for favor upon those whose hearts follow after You.
Today, Your children diligently seek good among those they work with, with those they live with, with those they gather with to worship You and  with those Who are dedicated to serving You no matter what the circumstance! I thank You for all who have received this Word today, and know that the favor of God is flowing to them right now. It is YOU who has placed on them the spirit of favor. They are a success today! These, Your children, seekers of good, are filled today with Your fullness and rooted and grounded in love. Father, today, I ask You to give to Your children abundantly above all that they may ask or think as YOUR mighty power takes over in them. 

Father, I attest that out of the abundance of their hearts, they shall continually speak, "Let the Lord be magnified, Who takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servant. And their tongue shall talk of Your righteousness, rightness, and justice and [his/her reason for] Your praise all the day long. Amen.

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

"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