That Wedding Day!

Was captured by the wedding day of Rachel Lamb and Joshua Brown! Now if you watch Daystar Television.......then you know they were married in the last few months. And the leaders/hosts of Daystar Marcus and Joanie Lamb produced the wedding event for their family. Now in truth I saw it about three weeks ago and had seen it listed for this date. I did not watch it all, but waited for the part, you know, where the Bride makes her entrance. I was captured by the tears that flowed from that Joshua Brown and how he was touched by the entrance of his bride. The tears gently pushed aside, a smile enveloped his whole being.
I was captured that in the same respect as to seeing Jesus awaiting His Bride (the church), yes the one without spot or wrinkle appear before Him. Yes, I was moved in a way I had never thought of about a wedding scene.
I do not remember my groom having wept as I walked toward him on our wedding day. I cannot state what he experienced, but I can imagine what Jesus would experience on that eventful day.


Ephesians 5:26-33  KJV

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

I was always capture by verse 28-32 in that the groom, the husband to be would want to nourish his wife as he would his own body. The man was to leave his mother, his family and go make a new life with the Bride of his choosing. In becoming one flesh with her, would desire to nurture, care for and see she is safe.

Again, only speaking from what I have seen and experienced in my life, the wedding is surely the most festive event of one's life, whether you are the bride or the groom. And in concerning the Church and Christ Jesus, one thing remains, it will happen!
In knowing Jesus the Christ, we know Him as wisdom for us. He makes us so wise. Knowing Him and His wisdom is number one priority. It is not how much you make, it is not how much you owe, it is not if you were abandoned as a child, or how many millions you have in an account. It is not in accordance with how many degrees you might hold. For knowing Him, we count His knowledge as value to us (His bride). Those who discount Jesus also discount His knowledge. Being with Him, helps us to discern the important things in life. Maintaining His wisdom is foremost to us!

In regard to the one who has the bright mind, what good is it if the priority is not in God and for His glory? What will having a lot of degrees gain for you, if you should lose your soul?
In 2 Timothy 3:7....."they are forever inquiring and getting information, but are never able to arrive at a recognition and knowledge of the Truth." (Amplified Bible)

 Wise people seek Jesus first, then use their gifts to glorify Him.

At the end of this year 2016, look into the eyes of Jesus. Realign if you need to, and encounter God. Encounter Him as the priority not for a new direction or new walk. For we are to walk with Him and be led out into His peace. Encounter the Lord. Then and only then, will the time cultivate the openness with Him. In worship and time of prayer, we find the given instructions and then we move forward.

Be obedient to Him and His call to move you in a specific place and direction. Feed on His faithfulness and look for the meat of the Word. Find the fresh revelation of His Word. And then walk it out. In His presence there is the fullness of joy. In that future, we may speak as the "unknown" but the destination God knows really well.

Even as the groom and bride must let go of the familiar to embrace their future together, so too, we must allow some things to be removed from our lives. Dare to believe God has you and will keep you safe and secure. Stepping into that place as the believer, we trust no matter what. Surrendering our lives to Jesus, then everything, including our own wills, our own bodies and lives must be on that altar. There self is denied. For us to be anxious about saving any part of our past lives or security will only cause us to lose our spiritual lives.

As the Groom, Jesus is set on keeping us. John 17:9-10 Amplified Bible  9 I am praying for them, I am not praying (requesting) for the world, but for those You have given Me, for they belong to You. 10 Yours belong to Me, and I am glorified in (through) them. [They have done Me honor, in them My glory is achieved.]

Isaiah 61:10-11    KJV

10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

John wrote this in John 3:29-31,33    Amplified Bible   29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the groomsman who stands by and listens to him rejoices greatly and heartily on account of the bridegroom's voice. This then is my pleasure and joy, and it is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease. [He must grow more prominent; I must grow less so]. 31 He Who comes from heaven is [far] above all [others]; he who comes from the earth belongs to the earth, and talks the language of the earth. [his words are from an earthly standpoint]. He Who comes from heaven is [far] above all others [far superior to all others in prominence and in excellence].

33 Whoever receives His testimony has set his seal of approval to this: God is true. [That man has definitely certified, acknowledged, declared once and for all, and is himself assured that it is divine truth that God cannot lie]. 

Yes, Marriage takes work. It is two people coming together to live as one unit, one mind, one heart and one love. In God. we can have that. And it is in hearing His voice that speaks truth to us, we stay in His presence, His love and safety.

That wedding day, when Christ returns for His Bride, I am certain there will be tears especially sorrow for those who never gave Him a thought.

Oh but for those who think daily on Him and delight to give Him praise, they will be dancing with joy. Come today and see the beauty He holds for you. Come today and abide in His security of love and peace. Come today and see yourself as His Bride and how He will gently keep you and cherish you forever. He will give you only truth of life and a love that is lasting!

John 17:3  Amplified Bible

And this is eternal life: [it means] to know ( to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with and understand) You, the only true and real God and [likewise] to know Him, Jesus [as the] Christ ( the Anointed one, the Messiah,) whom You have sent.

The [Holy] Spirit and the bride (the church, the true Christians) say Come! And let him who is listening say, Come! And let everyone come who is thirsty [who is painfully conscious of his need of those things by which the souls is refreshed, supported, and strengthened]; and whoever [earnestly] desires to do it, let him come, take appropriate and drink the water of Life without cost. Revelations 22:17  Amplified Bible


Notice: 

The Voice of Prayer  has two new teaching published:
The GAURANTEE of the Holy Spirit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfhqpP2MhFc


Christmas Story
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKXnnlvjAVA


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

Holding Our Feet to the Fire!

Proverbs 27:17
17 As iron sharpens iron,
So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
NKJV

Proverbs 27:17 tells us that iron sharpens iron.........so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

Who is the true "friend"? 

John 15:13

 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.  NIV

The only greater love I have seen of late, is that of Jesus! For He laid down His life for you, me, for man-kind.

Then Jesus goes on to say, "you are my friends if you do what I command". "That you lay down your life for your friends." "I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. (verse 15) And it is Jesus Who chose us, He appointed us to go and bear-fruit that will last. And when we do, the Father will give us whatever we ask in His name. His command to us was to love each other. (John 15:12-17)

Isaiah 54:16-17

16 "Behold, I have created the blacksmith 

Who blows the coals in the fire,

Who brings forth an instrument for his work;

And I have created the spoiler to destroy. 

17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper,

And every tongue which rises against you in judgment 

You shall condemn.

This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,

And their righteousness is from Me,"

Says the LORD. 

NKJV

The Amplified reads like this: Isaiah 54:14-17..You shall establish yourself in righteousness (rightness, in conformity with God's will and order): you shall be far from even the thought of oppression or destruction, for you shall not fear, and from terror, for it shall not come near you. 15 Behold, they may gather together and stir up strife, but it is not from Me. Whoever stirs up strife against you shall fall and surrender to you. 16 Behold, I have created the smith who blows on the fire of coals and who produces a weapon for its purpose; and I have created the devastator to destroy. 17 But no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall show to be in the wrong. This [peace, righteousness, security, triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord [those in whom the ideal Servant of the Lord is reproduced]; this is the righteousness or vindication which they obtain from Me [this is that which I impart to them as their justification], says the Lord.

When people are in unity with the Lord, they will be in unity with one another.  Those to sharpen us should be that which waters us. In Proverbs 20:5, it reads, Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.(NKJV) By discernment will those who live for God, carry His presences are those who will discern that which is another who is in unity. We  are to draw on that which will encourage and bring strength by God's word.

Our mentors should be those who walk the walk of faith in God everyday. A wise man will draw out of you that which is as fine wine. Our discipleship is that we should hold onto in Jesus. Allowing Him to bring those who will encourage in the path of life that is anything of life and goodness and never boring.

When we abide with those who live for God, those who continually seek the Lord are the wise and they can continue to give us that which the Father has given them, in the Word and through prayer.

Yes, they look like the Meek, but the also sound like the Prophet Who went  into the Temple of God and turned over the tables of money changers. His Voice is one that is the powerful, the holy, the Righteous, and full of majesty.

Psalm 29:3-4

3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters;

The God of glory thunders;

The LORD is over many waters. 

4 The voice of the LORD is powerful;

The voice of the LORD is full of majesty. 

NKJV

Holding our feet to the fire, is holding in that place where God is a consuming fire. It is that place as seen In Hebrews 12 and verse 27 indicating the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Our kingdom is that which cannot be shaken.......it is the kingdom of God. He presented us with grace by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. (verse 28)

When choosing the Lord to lead us, we find the mentors who He would  allow to mentor us. And it is His plan, not ours. They will be those who live the Beatitudes. They are those who abide in peace, righteousness, security, triumph over opposition that is the heritage of the servants of the Lord.

Benjamin Franklin was once quoted as saying: "Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn."

And do we not know that by experience with children? When allowing children into our daily lives like washing dishes, doing laundry or maybe taking out the trash, they learn! I remember when my mother taught me to do laundry. I was probably 14 but was folding clothes long before 14.
When we marry, we allow another into our life. We learn how to live with another person. But it must be on that which is in God and His Word.  When the thrill of marriage begins to fade, then we must know that God is to be involved. We must humble ourselves and submit to God in how do I put aside any anger, any unforgiveness as the days move into months of being in a hard place. When the excitement of being married seemed to leave unexpectedly, we each as individuals have to choose to speak and do the best for the other person. It is subduing any pride issues we may hold. And then hold God's light on the situation. It is done not in the flesh, but by the Spirit of God.

When we get involved in other's lives we learn. Allowing Jesus into our hearts will sharpen us so that we might go out and sharpen others. That kind of sharpening comes from spending time together around the Word of God, not at a bar, or at the movies, or even in a park, unless you have gone there to minister to another, to sharpen them in things of God.

Hold your feet to the fire of His Word and expect..........see those inner motives change for others and you will be out there sharpening others as well. When we get involve into other's lives, we learn.  We learn to participate in the things of God that makes for a family, the body of believer's for His glory. Sharpening another is finding that which is the treasure in them, that which shines likes a diamond, and all other is just debris and should fall away.

Father, today we pray in Jesus' name for that walk in sharpening others. Father, we know it to be that which is holding our feet to the fire of Your Word. We pray Jeremiah 23:28-29....that those who have Your Word, let him speak YOUR Word faithfully. "What is the chaff to the wheat?" "Is not MY word like fire" says the LORD. "And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?"

For some it may be a new thing but may it still be to Your glory. Today we also pray for the discipline and self-control needed to carry out this plan. Lord, enable each to flow in that which is a gift of discernment to draw out of others what is of value and to let the other which is like chaff to go.

Teach us to clearly understand Your leading in ministry to people. Help bring them into our lives and enable us to continue to communicate with each other in the body of believer's  as we do with the new ones who come to us.

 We pray that they always communicate YOUR love for those YOU have put on our pathway. Lord, we pray we never grow weary while doing good, for in due season we will reap if we “do not lose heart”. (Galatians 6:9)

 Amen.

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

TREMBLE!

Jeremiah 33:9

9 And [Jerusalem] shall be to Me a name of joy, praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth that hear of all the good I do for it, and they shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the peace, prosperity, security and stability I provide for it.

 Psalm 105:1-4

Oh, give thanks to the LORD!

Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples!

2 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;

Talk of all His wondrous works!

3 Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD!

4 Seek the LORD and His strength;

Seek His face evermore!  NKJV

Jesus spoke of His desire that we would all be in unity. And what does the scripture say that He prayed? 

John 17:20-26

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. 25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."  NKJV

Unity….Faith……Glory…..Jesus said, “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word (message) 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in M, and I in YOU; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent. 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.

I take you back to the moment when Jesus rode into Jerusalem. People were laying palm leaves and their outer garments or tunics on the pathway……….and was being laid down toward Antonia Fortress. But Jesus had to have gotten off the donkey………pushed through and broke the line right in front of the temple and went in to do some things.

Matthew 21:6-17

6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

"Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"

"Hosanna in the highest!"

10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?"

11 The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."

12 Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 "It is written," he said to them, "'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a 'den of robbers.'"

14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant.

16 "Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him.

"Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read, "'From the lips of children and infants

you have ordained praise'?"

17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night. NIV

What will we recognize in another person? Will jealousy reveal its ugly head or will people see Jesus in us? Over the weekend we had were invited out to this new restaurant we had not been to before. It was great food, a really awesome atmosphere and the time flew by so quickly. In the upstairs dining area there was one wall of all different kinds and styles of mirrors. Some had gold frames, some were of black frames, and some were antique-like frames. It was done so well and the decorating style had a wonderful appeal for the eyes to take in for that size of wall. With all the different sized mirrors, the arrangement of them certainly made the room look bigger. And I thought of Jesus and how He reflected God to those around Him.

In the amount of time of Jesus’ life and His ministry to those around Him, the children certainly had praise in their mouths. I could see those money-changers being driven out. Jesus was re-directing them from the money venture that they had imposed in that place. In Jesus, we saw how zealous He was that the temple would become what it was always to be……….a House of Prayer and a place where even the children would raise their voices in praise to God. The children had to have danced around Jesus when He was disturbing those upright tables and bringing all that money to the floor of the Temple. Jesus was there to show the way. As Jesus was spoken of by the prophets, Jesus was now speaking His language toward that which revered God, lifted His Holy Name, and brought glory to HIM.

For people were all watching and saw what might have seemed like a great disturbance at the same time many were trying to direct Jesus to Antonio Fortress. The city was full of people for the Passover that was about to begin.  Jesus was pointing the way to God and how God was to be given all the praise for who He was. He was pointing to JUSTICE AND GOVERNMENT THAT was of God Himself! Jesus was pointing to prayer/relationship.........not taking over a government that was representing man. 

Our assignment is to recognize and know Jesus has come, tell others about Him, give them the salvation message and show them His love. We are to direct them, not to the hurts from the world but the power of God that supersedes every name in the earth, (on it and in it)

Ministry is that which points every person back to Jesus, the plan of Redemption, and once obtaining Salvation, to walk as He, Jesus, Who was, is, and is to come and always will be Holy!

Jesus did not command people by rules or regulations. He came to set people free from religiosity. You know that which is, children hidden in the back rooms, dim lights, slow music to begin worship……….okay, enough worship, let’s talk money………announcements. Message and done. Oh, did we have time for prayer tonight?

We were told in Jeremiah 33:3 amp…that we are to call to God and He would answer us and show us great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which we do not know or recognize, have knowledge of and understand.

In my estimation of the passage, it is for us to call to God……Jeremiah 33:2-9

2 "The Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth-Jehovah is his name-says this: 3'Ask me and I will tell you some remarkable secrets about what is going to happen here. 4 For though you have torn down the houses of this city, and the king's palace too, for materials to strengthen the walls against the siege weapons of the enemy, 5 yet the Babylonians will enter, and the men of this city are already as good as dead, for I have determined to destroy them in my furious anger. I have abandoned them because of all their wickedness, and I will not pity them when they cry for help.'

6 "Nevertheless, the time will come when I will heal Jerusalem's damage and give her prosperity and peace. 7 I will rebuild the cities of both Judah and Israel and restore their fortunes. 8 And I will cleanse away all their sins against me and pardon them. 9 Then this city will be an honor to me, and it will give me joy and be a source of praise and glory to me before all the nations of the earth! The people of the world will see the good I do for my people and will tremble with awe! TLB

In spending time over this passage……one thing was evident and that was that God Himself wanted to show the people what trouble they were in and how the whole of what they had done to themselves would play out.

In the course of this reading, we know the prophet Jeremiah was to call upon God in prayer as we all are called to pray!  In this we have the Holy God, His character, we have His covenant, and we have His glory. In the crucifixion of Jesus we saw the crown of thorns that surrounded His head…..His whole thinking process that represented man in his sickness, his disease, his lack of strength because of hurtful experiences or painful memories of things past.

I do not know about you, but I want to know my future. And I can declare all those promises but they will not supersede my prayer time with God.
2 Peter 1:3-4
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. NIV

 It is that abide word again. It is that declaring those promises to Him, but also communicating….”Father, this is my heart today!”

So when we ask God……our Father will show us what things we have gotten ourselves into that will probably one day be a message to others……”Don’t do what I did”……”but seek God with all your hearts”.

In the Amplified, verse 6 and following reads this way: (Jeremiah 33:6) Behold, [in the future restored Jerusalem] I will lay upon it health and healing, and I will cure them and will reveal to them the abundance of peace (prosperity, security, stability) and truth. 7 And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to be reverse and will rebuild them as they were at the first. 8 And I will cleanse them from all the guilt and iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will forgive all their guilt and iniquities by which they have sinned and rebelled against Me. 9 And [Jerusalem] shall be to Me a name of joy, praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth that hear of all the good I do for it, and they shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the peace, prosperity, security and stability I provide for it.

In short, yes a timely word indeed to what was about to transpire in the seeing of those who had fallen away. For those who had come from the “old man” to become the new man in Christ experience this. For calling on God and His holiness (righteousness) we take hold of that new covenant man, and experience health and healing. In each of our lives, our serving becomes that when we partake of His broken body and shed Blood. In that we experience His prosperity, His security and the truth (revelation knowledge). From verse 7 the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to be reversed. We as individuals will praise God for His goodness, no longer held in captivity.

“JUDAH”- was considered the noble one. What occurred before Joseph in Egypt, Judah was the one that truth would be revealed. Judah did not desire harm on another as we look back at Genesis 37:26-28

26 So Judah said to his brothers, "What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh." And his brothers listened. 28 Then Midianite traders passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt. NKJV

As we read throughout Genesis and of Jacob’s family, who had become Israel…….yes that name change, remember?

Jacob’s oldest son Reuben gave up his birthright to lead the family by engaging in incest. (Remember what we had read on Esau and Jacob? The birthright was to be given Esau, but he lost it because his need for a bowl of lentil soup. (Genesis 25:31-34)  31 Jacob replied, "First sell me your birthright." 32 "Look, I am about to die," Esau said. "What good is the birthright to me?" 33 But Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left.  So Esau despised his birthright.  NIV

Genesis 27:36

36 Esau said, "Isn't he rightly named Jacob? He has deceived me these two times: He took my birthright, and now he's taken my blessing!" Then he asked, "Haven't you reserved any blessing for me?" NIV

Simeon and Levi committed murder. So it was in Judah to receive that blessing from the father. Judah was one who was seen as the “lion”…..and the image of that was painted for us in……Revelation 5:5

5 Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."NIV

In Moses' dying blessing (Deuteronomy 33:7) he prays: "Hear Lord the voice of Judah (in prayer) and bring him (marching at the head of the tribes back again victorious) unto his people."

As do each of us have a place in the body of Christ, those of the spiritual reside in the place of praise to our God, we have the place of authority and royal priesthood. As that of Israel…….we are those united as one family in God. When we recognize His voice, obey His commands, we know He is delighted that we are following in the way we are to go. (Psalm 37:23) God does not kill, steal or destroy. Anything or anyone declaring these things are not of God, but of the devil. It is in our recognizing Him, and telling others about Him, that they hear that spiritual joy in our voices. We dance like David danced, and we will never back down when giving truth of Jesus Christ the Lord of glory. We have the opportunity to have a birthright in God through Jesus………and have the blessing too!

When we are in unity…….that harmony……..we co-operate with God and receive His instructions for our lives. And as we keep leaning on…….our trust growing in Him, we grow in faith!

9 And [Jerusalem] shall be to Me a name of joy, praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth that hear of all the good I do for it, and they shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the peace, prosperity, security and stability I provide for it.

And that holy house……that noble sanctuary is to God a name of joy, praise and glory before all the nations of the earth that hear of all the good that God does for it………..and we His people shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the peace, prosperity, security and stability God our Father provides for it.  Amen.

And this he [Moses] said of Judah: “hear O Lord, the voice of Judah (prayer), and bring him to his people! With his hands he contended for himself; but may You be a help against his enemies.”

Father, may our voices be heard as one in unity……..not of noise, or of confusion. But no matter whether we are yellow, black, white, red……..we all matter in Your sight. We desire to be that one with Jesus…..abiding in that place of “fearing You in all Your glory and holiness” and trembling because of Your great good to us. May our eyes always be opened to see You in our lives and may we never act like the “lost”. May we hold You in high esteem because You are God. That we hold our gaze upon You who is awesome in splendor,  power and might. We desire to be prayer warriors who tremble in Your presence………and seek Your plan, seeing our place and stand to defend with the Word of God that prevails. May we ever be mindful, if God be for us, who can (possibly) stand against us? He Who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all---how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? God, You are our JUSTICE. In Jesus name we stand as One. Amen.

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

In a TESTIMONY of FAITH

I had written earlier this year HIGH RISK! In it was the choice of choosing God's plan for my healing or man's. And in all that, my husband worked with me in reciting, and confessing of what I have in God's Word that pertains to my healing (and yours)!
It was always a step, with another test, with another report and separating fact from the truth of God's Word. In seeing my hemoglobin go from a 4.6 to almost 15 and then fall back to below 10 in late summer was a blow indeed. But I did not take it lying down. No, I pulled those military boots on, and kept the Word flowing, speaking to the symptoms. There were some days I called out faith from bed again, but I stayed the course. Then a word came of a specific infusion that could and would cure the "ill". It was 4 infusions to be exact and a sitting in one chair from 3 up to 7 hours. Questioning my own ability, and not being able to sit still for more than thirty minutes, I gave it again to God. I like being up and doing, studying the Word, cleaning, or putting some new meal for dinner in the Crock Pot!
I sent out emails to those prayer warriors and those who have stood with me in the past. And off we went for the infusions in September. There were no side-effects!
In all this, I am cured today. My hemoglobin is 15.4. Yes, God is good and my belief is that my times are in His Hands. (You know that when the hemoglobin goes anywhere below the 4 and hits zero, that is it, life done, game over!)
My testimony of faith is that I am alive today because God loves me, and because I have faith that He will come through for me. I have that kind of rallying family and friends who care to pray for me and to see what God has planned. I have true love and mercy that comes from those who will pray no matter what, and believe with me for the best God has.

In this time of THANKSGIVING, I am the thankful. I am soaring as our daughter would confess for her mother. I am not the "snoring" and hoping God will come through, but am the one who shouts, "Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world."
Where we stand right now and what we experience is what we believed for yesterday and confessed. We must quiet those voices from the outside that represents the world and the five senses. We should readily receive and accept what we have today in Jesus. We are to be the free! Battle scars, probably, tear stained pillows, likely, but putting one foot in front of the others is a choice I make ( and you make every day). Today, I celebrate those men and women who have kept the faith, and walked to see another day of life in Jesus Christ. Today, I rise and speak out that the Lord lives, and is mighty. He is mighty to save. He is in our midst whether we make our bed in hell or not. The Holy Spirit is loosed into our lives, and may He truly have His way in our lives for today and for all our tomorrows.

Ephesians 1:17-23

 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give me  the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that I may know him better. 18 I pray also that the eyes of my heart may be enlightened in order that I may know the hope to which he has called us, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. NIV

All things are under His feet and He lives in me (and you). To Him Who has given us life in abundance I say Amen. To Him Who created us with a plan and purpose for our lives I say Amen. So be it, Lord, so let it be established. Father, the possessor of the heavens and earth, You are the Everlasting God, the Faithful God and the Merciful God. You are truly truth, justice, righteousness and perfection. Ahh, yes, You are perfection. YOU FATHER HAVE A PERFECTED LOVE FOR US!

Father, I pray for those who have come through trials, tribulations, fires and overflowing waters that might have seemed impossible to pass, but God You are more than enough. You are our sufficiency. Where we are weak YOU are strong. It is You Who have put gladness in our hearts. It is YOU Who lead us into straight paths and surrounded us with favor as with a shield.
We are ever thankful for Jesus and His work at the Cross. Today we expect to prosper in Your Word. Because we have Jesus, the precious Lamb sacrificed for our sins, we rise out of mediocrity and give praise to the King forever. He is the Radiant Light leading us ever forward to the full light of day. He is ever leading us toward eternity where Jesus rules over all! It is Your Love enduring, awesome in splendor, Cornerstone, First and Last, Son of God, King of Kings, the Great "I am" in our midst.

I vow to give You praise and ask that everyone who reads this might come to the place of knowing they are not alone. That YOU care for them deeply and want to be apart of their lives. I pray they would be willing to give YOU all the glory for all that You do in and through them. I pray that as we start the new year of 2016, that we would desire that nothing would inhibit our praise to YOU: not circumstances, not finances, nor troubles, nor even successes or things, but that we would be willing to give You all the praise. May we be thankful everyday of the year and not just Thanksgiving Day. For if it had not been for You O'Lord, where would I be now? Today our gladness is being alive, being able to reach others with the love of God. Please interrupt our lives when You must, and keep us ever awake to Your voice. and may Your Word be the light that ever leads us by Wisdom that comes only from God. We desire not to abide in confusion where a "terror" grips the soul. Thank You for new eyes to see and hearing ears to move forward. For we are forever grateful of the mercy You have extended to us.

When our soul melts from heaviness, strengthen us according to Your Word. ( Psalm 119:28) Our soul is comprised of our mind, will and emotions. That  "living" and "breathing" part of us is that which is born as a man, woman or child. Any heaviness is that which is of a closed off heart, that inward part of us. But God delights to clothe us in a garment of praise for all the heaviness of our soul.

Isaiah 61:3.... to grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion----to give them an ornament ( a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit----that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord that He may be glorified.


God desires to upset the devil. He desires to show the devil His family and how He cares for His family.
God wants to interrupt our lives and bring us out of confusion and torment. He does not want us ruled by the FIVE! That is, He does not want us to be ruled by what we feel, what we can touch, what we can see, what we can taste, what we can hear like in sound and what we smell.

Our making decisions should not be a "spur" of the moment? Basing any decision, any judgment on anything like that on our senses is pure folly. True knowledge comes from the Father of Lights where that is no shifting shadows.

James 1:17-20, 22
Every good gift and every perfect (free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all [ that gives] light, in [shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [as in an eclipse]. 18 And it was of His own [free] will that He gave us birth [as His sons] by [His] Word of truth, so that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures [ a sample of what He created to be consecrated to Himself. ] 19 Understand [this], my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear [ a ready listener,] slow to speak, slow to take offense and to get angry. 20 For man's anger does not promote the righteousness of God [wishes and requires].

22 But be doers of the Word [ obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [ into deception by reasoning contrary to the TRUTH]
Amplified Bible

If we are reasoning, then we are using the FIVE, senses that is! We are to have freedom moving at His Word and not throwing a blanket of confusion over ourselves so to speak as in being gripped with some "terror". When we will not rely on God's Word, we become the driver of any situation.

You can see small children needing that "security" blanket when going anywhere. I remember seeing it with our grandchild. She had to have it when going to bed, going to the table, going for a ride and even at church. She had to have her "security", something she could see, touch, smell.........yeah she had fulfilled her sense knowledge.
But being led by our senses, that shifting our own gears to go forward, we are moving out of control, steered by emotions (the big FIVE). Yes, it is the place called FALSE EVIDENCE AVENUE. We do not want to do that. We are to turn from wrong sources for answers and success. We should not want to be a "driver" who will forcefully drive further into darkness and confusion making any decision. Our confidence is to be in God Who will preserve you and me and deliver us from the way of evil, from the man who speaks the perverse things.

Psalm 46:1
God is our Refuge and Strength [mighty and impenetrable to temptation], a very present and well-proved help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains be shaken into the midst of the seas, 3 Though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling and tumult. Selah [pause and calmly think of that!]

Any trouble is anxiety of the heart. In it, one finds if their trust is truly in God or in themselves. When trouble comes to trouble, we have the "force" of God's word and praise that will fight the good fight of faith.  It is what we hold in our heart today and dominates that will bring to life and light of where we walk tomorrow!

Oh Father, may we not be those who look for the quick way out, that microwave religion, but truly look for the abiding that comes in and through having a relationship with You. We desire not to live by our five sense but live in the wisdom of God and revelation knowledge of Your Word. Today we desire to have strength which is of vigor, and it is substantial and it is wealth to us. Help us to see the importance of abiding and revering You. Help us to know that by seeking You daily, we are seeking Your strength that brings us to another vantage point. It is not remaining in the 'pit', but remaining close to You that no harm will befall us. All things have come under the feet of Jesus. Whatever can be named is named here:_______________________ and it cannot rise up against us. Lord, thank You for commanding Your angels concerning us to guard us in all our ways of obedience and service to You. There will be no sudden death or destruction that will surprise us, a thousand can fall at our side and then thousand at our right hand, but is shall not come near us. Only a spectator shall we be ourselves...... inaccessible in the secret place of the most High as we witness the reward of the wicked. Lord today we set our love upon You, and set You on high. We are thankful for Your love, mercy and kindness to us. We know that You will answers us when trouble appears, for You shall deliver us and honor us, and it is with long life that You will satisfy us and show our Your salvation. Be glorified and magnified for You are good to us Lord. You are our Light and our Salvation, whom shall we fear. Amen and Amen.

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

So Many Keys

If you have lived for the amount of time that I have, you will have this abundance of keys that are a mystery. Of all the properties we have owned, bought or sold, including various vehicles, houses and cars, we have collected so many colorful keys of which I know not where they belong. We always seemed to take note of each collected key and to what it was used for in regards to the house or vehicle, but then came the need for security box keys, the mail box keys, the baggage keys, and then the safety box keys! Yikes! So many keys! So how did we get such a collection at this time of life?
When I was growing up, I remember the crystal door knobs with the skeleton keys! That is something that can take you back to another era! Yes, they are something of the past. They are of the ancient and sometimes overly decorative according to the tastes of today. The other thing is that they came as in my parent's first home, with the brassy back plates. And that same "skeleton key" could open just about every door in that house!
In the journey of our family and those involved, we probably have the biggest and best collection of odd keys!

Yes, so many keys, yet the one that counts is the key of faith for salvation into the promises of God!

Hebrew 11:32-40...............32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again. And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented-- 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
NKJV

Faith was, is and will always be that which salvation is received. It is in true faith that confidence is shown toward God the Author and Finisher of our faith. Our salvation is by grace, but it is by faith that trust is shown that we have obedience, a trust in the promises of God that He will do what He has spoken in His promises to us. Our salvation, or Redemption came through faith in Jesus Christ. We are saved from the penalty of sin. Daily we are sanctified as the Holy Spirit sanctifies us. God rescued us (John 3:17)in Jesus His Son, through His resurrection achieved our salvation.
Romans 5:8-11....................8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. NKJV

Ephesians 1:7-9.............. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, NKJV

We understand and know that salvation is the gracious and undeserved gift of God...............Ephesians 2:5-8................5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, NKJV

Our salvation came through faith in Jesus Christ........Acts 4:12..... 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

I like what John wrote:  1 John 5:9-13... 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. 10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. NKJV

By grace we have been given salvation, and through belief in the Son of God...........we have eternal life.

And like those who walked by faith but did not receive the promise but looked forward to the day Jesus would come. Although Jesus had not been made flesh to walk with us, yet, these men and women of old certainly walked to subdue kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises given them and certainly shut the mouths of lions. Men and women put their trust in God to obtain a good testimony through faith. Some lived in the mountains and the caves. Some were beaten, others were tormented and others became strong to fight many battles.

These were those who put their trust in God and what He spoke!

We have a key to use! We have the promises of God and there are many of them. I like to say them over and over and hold onto to them daily, and as I speak I am reminded of the faith of those who saw Jesus coming one day..........well, He came and He is with us through His Holy Spirit. We have Holy Spirit fire!
Below, I add a testimony that occurred about 10 or so years ago. It is having that "KEY" that gets you to the point of trust in God that He will do what He says He will do for us!
We too can experience some awesome leading of the Holy Spirit when we heed His voice. Like those of "old" who came through with a testimony of faith, I, too, want to be remembered as one who held a testimony of faith!

Our daughter was leading youths on a Mission's trip to Haiti back at the beginning of this new century. She and another leader were in training in the Dallas area before the trip. The youths joined them about the last 10 days and then they as a group were to fly out to Haiti. Because of civil unrest and two or three people being killed in the streets of Haiti on the day they were to travel there, changes were made. So our daughter called us in Washington and asked for prayer for the team, the leaders and God's plan for this ever-changing mission's trip! So my husband and I went to prayer on our knees. It was almost 7 pm our time and we prayed till we got the answer.

Our daughter called back and we told her what the Lord had us to pray! We told her the trip by plane to Miami would be fine, but the Holy Spirit was showing us problems of the plane they were destined to fly overseas. We had asked the Lord to stop the plane from taking off as there were many mechanical things that needed to be gone over before a flight that would go across the Atlantic Ocean. We asked the Lord that a fine tooth comb be used over every mechanical area of that plane. As we spoke with our daughter, she told us that they were now set to fly to Panama and be  the"Panamanian Special Forces".

Together the three of us prayed together and then we hung up. My husband and I continued to cover the plane, the leaders and youths in prayer for the trip overseas. On the morning of next day, our daughter called from Miami and the "plane for Panama was not taking off". They found some "mechanical" things wrong with the plane and that the plane was not in good shape to make the flight over open waters of the Atlantic. So the team was given vouchers for food and a place to sleep till they got a plane that was available that could make the flight to Panama. Yes, they got to Panama and it was all to God's glory! Amen.

So many keys..........so many things that could be opened, yet, one works all the time. It is the Key of faith and trust in the Lord. It is knowing that He is with us and knows the end from the beginning.


I take a quote from Joyce Meyer.........she said, "many people feel so pressured by the expectations of others that it causes them to be frustrated, miserable, and confused about what they should do. But there is a way that to live a simple joy-filled, peaceful life, and the key is learning how to be led by the Holy Spirit, not the traditions of men, or the expectations of men."


Father, thank You for Jesus, the gift of salvation through Your grace and mercy towards us. We thank You for the Holy Spirit who was given to us as the comforter! For we know Your Word teaches us that ...."No eye has seen,   no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"- God has revealed it to us by his Spirit."

Father, we are thankful for the Spirit  that searches all things, even the deep things of God. It is through Him today that we understand what You have given freely to us. Father today we draw near to You....and we ask the Holy Spirit to lead us on the path purposed. We ask You Holy Spirit to talk to us about our specific assignment. (Acts 13:2 as they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, separate Me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.)

Holy Spirit we ask YOU to link us miraculously with those who will celebrate us.(according to Acts chapter 8)

Holy Spirit, we ask You to reveal those who despise us as an enemy. (Acts 13:9-10)

We ask You, Holy Spirit to reveal to us the difference between the essential and nonessential issues. (“For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things.” Acts 15:28)

We ask You Holy Spirit to  talk to us about the place of provision and supply. (“Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook…I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there” 1Kings 17:3-4 (was evident in the life of Elijah)

Holy Spirit, we ask You to talk to us about problems in the lives of other people. ( Samuel experienced this as a child.. God talked to Samuel about Eli, his spiritual mentor.)

Holy Spirit I KNOW  that YOU will become a Source of agitation to unholy men. (Acts 6:10

Acts 6:8-11    8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. 10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.  NKJV)

Today, we expect the fire of the Holy Spirit. We honor You Holy Spirit and we heed Your warnings concerning those things coming on the earth. Help us Holy Spirit, You are a wonderful gift to us. You are our Companion. YOU mentor us and teach us,You are truly our treasured Friend. Thank YOU for taking time to talk with us, converse with us and reveal instructions to us. Please, please, forgives us for the times we have not listened, obeyed, and completed Your word. If we have failed to do any instruction, please speak again to us in such a way we cannot doubt it. Please unclutter our lives of all distractions so that we may hear Your voice and obey You without question.  In Jesus’ holy name. amen and amen!

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