Would YOU Like Me If.....

Would you like Me?

Would you like me if I weighed less? Would you like me if I weighed more or if I were younger or how about being older? Would you like me if I were a certain color or had less gray in my hair? Would you like me if I were taller or spoke like you? Would you like me if I was more  like you?

1 Samuel 1:1-12 This man went from his city year by year to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were the Lord's priests. 4 When the day came that Elkanah sacrifice, he would give to Peninnah his wife and all her sons and daughters portions [of the sacrificial meat]. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion, for he loved Hannah, but the Lord had given her no children. 6[ This embarrassed and grieved Hanna] & her rival provoked her greatly to vex her, because the Lord had left her childless. 7 So it was year after year; whenever Hannah went up to the Lord's house, Peninnnah provoked her, so she wept and did not eat.  8 Then Elkanah her husband said to her, "Hannah, why do you cry? And why do you not eat? And why are you grieving? am I not more to you than ten sons?" 9 So Hannah rose after they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his seat beside a post of the temple [tent] of the Lord. 10 And [Hannah] was in distress of soul, praying to the Lord and weeping bitterly. 11 She vowed, saying O Lord of hosts, of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your handmaid and [earnestly ] remember, and not forget Your handmaid but will give me a son, I will give him to the Lord all his life; no razor shall touch his head. 12 And she continued praying before the Lord.....


For Hannah, she lived within a household that held two women! Then factor in she Hannah was favored by her husband Elkanah yet, she Hannah had no children with him. And Peninnah chose to grieve Hannah about it. In verse 7 we find that Peninnah provoked Hannah that she wept and she did not eat.
Now that is serious ....!


In all that is reported to this in scripture, Hannah did not carry a negative thought. Her desire she made mention of it to the Lord and on a regular basis she pursued the Lord for an answer of a son for her and Elkanah.

In all that is reported in scripture on  Hannah, there was nothing found in a negative way about her. Today's culture is really different from what was allowed at that time. Although you do hear from time to time of men having more than one wife. I believe some Muslims have more than one wife at a time. Yet, that would be hard for any woman, and then to have no children with your husband would make life difficult indeed!

Yes, Hannah prayed for years. She had painful experiences and Peninnah chose to aggravate the circumstances within Hannah's life. But Hannah chose prayer. She knew her answer could come and she chose to keep that prayer of supplication going out to the Lord who answers.

Hannah came to a monumental moment when speaking: "I will give him to the Lord all his life."

She chose not to be paralyzed by the fear the other woman imposed upon her. Hannah chose to pray!

   

Yes the culture dictates something different. People write things to be liked. People will do anything to have a following and yet we find in this woman of so many years ago took the road of prayer.'

In this day and time, God still answers with I sent My Son for you. In this hour, He reminds us that it does not matter the skin color, the weight issue or even how tall or short we might be.

For Hannah prayed out of a heart breaking for "a son" and God even knew then the Son He would be giving for the world to be saved.

It should not matter if someone likes us or not. It should matter when we have committed our all to God!

At some point we must be sane about life. At some point we must choose life and the life giving words that come from God alone.

In the strength of prayer time, our communication with Him, we reject the world's chatter and the world's abuse. In choosing the Lord we are under His protection...........and our expectancy is the answer from Him that will bring much light, much love, and deliver us into a restored life we were meant to have from the start!

SAD but true, cruelty appears to be on the rise today. And it appears even among those who lead others. Today as you and I take inventory of our lives, will we see the familiar anguish and pain or has our hope been set in the Lord?

We too, can be like Hannah who received a son. Within the love of God and for His glory, Hannah had a son and he became a prophet, Samuel who ministered unto the LORD!

It is more important to be found with God. Hannah's identity was found in Him, and she secured a son. Her security did not depend on any man. She kept her voice vocal about the goodness of God and prayed. Within that prayer time, she became free to become what God had planned for her.

May we choose to take our identity within God! Set your course with those who will see potential in you. Pursue people who will see where you are going and not from where you came from.

Are there any associations we must eliminate from our lives?

Find those who will encourage you in the Word of God. They will be those who will always send you fed with His life in you. 

Today, leave the dead behind and seek the land of the living. Seeks those who live for God and will encourage you to do the same!

Notice: 

New teaching at: Voice of Prayer  

Take Heed No One Deceives You: Growing Cold

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZReVJymmyLo

New teaching at: Life Giving Wells

Holy Spirit: Was Given......and Reveals

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYcLj0xy8-c&t=663s

You can also visit my You Tube channel Voice of Prayer 

for more teaching at:  http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV

Also visit Life Giving Wells You Tube Channel for more teaching:

http://bit.ly/2wgu1kw

Is it Life You Seek?

John 1:35-42
35 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. 36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!" 37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, "What do you seek?" They said to Him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), "where are You staying?" 39 He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour). 40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas" (which is translated, A Stone).
NKJV

Seek: zeteo....2212.........in Hebraism........to worship God.........in the bad sense......to plot against

Interesting meaning of seek: as to worship or to plot against...........

Jesus was asking them, "What do you seek?" And they responded, "where are You staying?"

Jesus told them to ...."Come and see."

Are we seeking life? Are we coming to see what He will say to us?  For real life is only found in Jesus! You will not find it anywhere else!
What culture dictates is not the truth of what God has given us.

Are we really looking for His peace or our way into our peace.........that is: which is comfortable for us in this day and time? What boundary lines do we have in place? Are we keeping God's Word out and letting everything else in to our hearts?

What amount of time do we give Him? And when we do spend time with Him, are we plotting against what He is speaking to us? Wow, that is a bad place to be!

In asking this, I go back and look at Jesus and his conversation toward Peter. "You are Simon the son of Jonah and You shall be called Cephas (which is translated, A Stone.

Now Simon Peter has just met Jesus. And Jesus is calling him the hollow stone. Yes, I know the teachings on Peter the Rock, but Peter was not the Rock yet and had some way to go in his walk with the Lord!

In looking this up I have read it and it is literally the stumbling stone. 4074......petros....but that takes you to.....2786...that takes you to............OT 3721....hollow.....
So "hello, hollow stone"...............!

Now let's consider the walk Peter had with Jesus. He spent time with Him everyday after that first initial meeting. And Peter had to be drawn to the life in Jesus.

Was watching one of the movies over the holiday weekend and of how Jesus was portrayed by the one actor, Bruce Marchiano...."The Gospel According to Matthew", but the movie we saw was the one, "Emmaus".  And all the while, I thought how I believed Jesus is just like what the man Marchiano portrays Him to be. In that I considered the joyful expression on this man's face that would be the face of Jesus and the joy that radiated from His heart. He seemed to effervesce with life giving water.
That joy had to be in Jesus, and ever effervescing into life speech for others. Day after day, Peter had to see some form of light.
In truth, the man heard the Word given By THE WORD OF GOD! AND yet we saw him fail. Ah, yes, failure.
In taking the Word of God, we take our place as the righteous man and through Jesus we have that name. His Name places us in His kingdom that has come. It is always our fearless confession before the world. It is through grace that we are saved and not of ourselves; it is the gift of God. It is not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we (each of us who walk this earth ...ST) should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:7-10)

Again, seeing Peter waffle in some areas and who does not do that? It is not a good thing to do and some can fall into " a big pit" when the Word of God is not their focus.  Peter's was knee deep into his own thinking and believing how Jesus would not die. Peter spoke this in Mark 14.....verse...31  But Peter insisted emphatically, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the others said the same. NIV

Mark 14:17-31

17 In the evening He came with the twelve. 18 Now as they sat and ate, Jesus said, "Assuredly, I say to you, one of you who eats with Me will betray Me." 19 And they began to be sorrowful, and to say to Him one by one, "Is it I?" And another said, "Is it I?" 20 He answered and said to them, "It is one of the twelve, who dips with Me in the dish. 21 The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had never been born." 

22 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." 23 Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And He said to them, "This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many. 25 Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God." 26 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 

27 Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: 

'I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep will be scattered.'  

28 "But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee." 29 Peter said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be." 30 Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times." 31 But he spoke more vehemently, "If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" And they all said likewise. NKJV

Even in all this of Jesus' speaking to Peter, the man Peter was still disputing what He, Jesus had told him. And Peter had the rest agreeing with him in this matter. Jesus told them that His sheep were going to be scattered. And Peter remarks, :"Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be."(Mark 14:29)

Yeah Peter............you stumbled! And what will make us stumble if we do not adhere to The Word of God? What will cause us to make some really bad decisions?

Today, many are taking the stance that some things are okay. They mention word to co-exist!  In the body of Christ, many are speaking and writing that it is okay to endorse a gay and lesbian lifestyle. Yet we know from Scripture and it is made clear that kind of perverted life style brings one to death. And any who endorse it will face judgement. It is like they are inviting that judgment into their lives by promoting it publicly. And judgment will come to them and their house.

There is a very sad story given us in the book of Judges. In chapter 19 we are told of a man traveling with his daughter and a concubine. They are heading back to Jerusalem, but evening was drawing to a close, and it began to be dark outside, so the man looked for a place for the night, But nothing was available. An elderly man came by and told them not to stay outdoors, but get inside. So the old man gave them sanctuary. 

Judges 19:22 As they were enjoying themselves, suddenly certain men of the city, perverted (literally, sons of Belial) surrounded the house and beat on the door. They spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, "Bring out the man who came to your house, that we may know him carnally!"

The concubine is given to the perverted men so the man would not be touched or defiled by such debauchery. What was seen was violence with the sign of being of the aggressive (angry) nature. It was "not the natural" of what God had created and planned. The perverted men wanted the man.  The Levite gave them his concubine so that they would not sin against God. And they attacked. For when you read on in chapter 19, the concubine is beaten and left for dead on the threshold of the door of the old man's house.

Pressure can come with many different looks and sounds!
In both of these examples we are the reminded of the "pressure" that is placed on others in situations that are of chaos. They represent anything but the order that God set forth for those He created to live and be. In those instances, where is their trust residing?

Pressure showed itself in the Garden of Gethsemane and Peter bowed to it. He took the stance of protecting himself. And how many will continue to do that today and this hour? People need prayer and even the body of Christ needs prayer, that there is no co-exist in the Bible. It is not found anywhere in the Bible.  God disdains the perverted lifestyle! He created Adam and Eve. Simple! It was man with woman, to have children and raise them with father, mother and have siblings.

No, no hate here just a reminder of the love that God sent forth by His Son Jesus and that through Him we will have life eternally with Him. Away from Him and apart from His plan, His Word, people perish!

 Peter had to turn away from the " me, myself and I mentality" and truly embrace the Lord Jesus. He had to let go of tradition and titles and other people's perspectives. Peter had to learn to have a place at Jesus' feet and really see and hear Him speak. Peter had to learn that the voice speaking loudly to us, should be the Lord's voice and not the world's. For in giving regard to other men who walk not in truth of God's Word will only bring one back into slavery and into a place of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of a calm and well balanced mind and discipline and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7)Amplified Bible

We are to abide in Jesus, and the word He gave us. In that self-discipline toward really capturing all He told them and tells us as we make our way through the pages of the Gospels, we find we gain self-control and His love in us that will protect us from that "spirit of fear".

In closing: Jesus is asking: "What do you seek?"

And what will we tell Him today..........? Is it unto life everlasting with Him................or the perverted that will perish? 

What will be our answer?
Will we be found seated at His feet heeding His teachings and warnings or will we cast it away?

2 Corinthians 5:10
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.  NIV

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

WHEN MERCY PLEADS

Psalm 55:2-7.........2 Attend to me, and hear me;
I am restless in my complaint, and moan noisily,
3 Because of the voice of the enemy,
Because of the oppression of the wicked;
For they bring down trouble upon me,
And in wrath they hate me.

4 My heart is severely pained within me,

And the terrors of death have fallen upon me. 

5 Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me,

And horror has overwhelmed me. 

6 So I said, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove!

I would fly away and be at rest. 

7 Indeed, I would wander far off,

And remain in the wilderness.  NKJV

Is anyone speaking negative against you? Words can do as much harm to us as those "sticks and stones" might do! Some may disagree, but when having the many opportunities to minister to women and teens, I have seen so many wounded by the words  of death spoken over them by a spouse, another sibling or grand-parent!  When we see a teen not care about their safety, it is because the one of authority, that parent figure is either out of the picture or just does their own thing with no regard for the child in their care! Today we are a society that has cast away children. It did not start today but long ago.
The most important thing to remember is that everyone has some kind of past. Everyone has experiences of what a parent did or did not to do in regards to their care in bringing said child up to adulthood. But we should always know we can "choose" to move away from those things and find life. For my family, I have seen so many choose life in God.

I know from my own experience, that when my husband prays over me everyday (generally at night as we read and pray the Word) I hear words that strengthen my spirit man.  When he gives the prayer the focus of his thoughts, it is those words that plant the Word and builds into my spirit man, a mighty fortress,  that which he is believing for me for today and for my future days!

In the scripture above, David is restless in his complaint. He mentions the voice of the enemy and how the wicked have brought trouble to him. The wrath he mentions is that wrath that is of the devil and the devil will use anyone who stays on the side of wrath, jealousy, contentions, selfish ambitions, and envy. As we see in Galatians 5 that the works of the sinful man are evident.

Galatians 5:19-25..............19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. NKJV

David goes on to say that those who hate him have caused pain within him. That which kills by the word had come to him, and pinned his heart into pain, into a dismal existence, into a desolate and fearful place where he wanted to fly away like the dove and remain in the wilderness.

Psalm 55........4My heart is severely pained within me,

And the terrors of death have fallen upon me. 

5 Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me,

And horror has overwhelmed me. 

6 So I said, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove!

I would fly away and be at rest. 

7 Indeed, I would wander far off,

And remain in the wilderness. 

David wanted to remain in the place where there were no people, so he would not have to hear the complaints of others against him. Hearing wrath and contentions had made him come to a dismal place. Sometimes those sickening words of death make you feel "ill".  But by verse 16 of the same Psalm, we see David doing something.

Psalm 55:16, 17, 19, 22, 23.................16 As for me, I will call upon God,

And the LORD shall save me. 

17 Evening and morning and at noon 

I will pray, and cry aloud,

And He shall hear my voice. 

18 He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me,

For there were many against me. 

19 God will hear, and afflict them,

Even He who abides from of old.

Selah 

Because they do not change,

Therefore they do not fear God. 

22 Cast your burden on the LORD,

And He shall sustain you;

He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. 

23 But You, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction;

Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days;

But I will trust in You. NKJV

We are to be kind to ourselves and to those around us. But many people today have had no one to speak kindness in any manner to them. If you were called "brat", then someone belittled you and called you something that God the Father never intended. If someone called you "stupid' " or "you will not amount to anything" then you have no strength in your inner man to help you walk out your daily life. Words can kill or they can bring life!
Proverbs 18:21..............21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit. NKJV

God's Word gives us life....and speaking right words brings us to health,  brings us to have a vigor for life!......Proverbs 16:24..................24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,

Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones. NKJV


In our prayer time, my husband chooses the scriptures the Lord shows him. In directing that prayer over me, he is holding on in faith that Word which he speaks goes forth and will be performed in my life.
When two people come together in marriage and both brought some baggage from their past, it is certain if God does not have HIS way, the ole' flesh creature will have his way! And either one or both parties can revert into the world. Someone has to have mercy and to let go of the past "hurts" even when it still hurts! Even though one party may be on the outside of life, we should still be those who look to God and His faithfulness and BELIEVE THAT HE CAN DO THE IMPOSSIBLE, and then look out devil!
If we continually seek the other's good, would we see a change, not only in our homes, but in our communities and the nation as well?

I had prayed for others to be comforted when I needed comfort and had none but God's. Praise the Lord! He is our saving strength. He carries us if we need carrying and He will surely walk beside us when we can walk again! My prayer was not making a deal with God. My prayer was that He would have His way in my husband's life, my life, and our daughter's as well. My prayer was the kind of prayer for everybody involved in my family, and because of sins, any fallout as such, would affect everybody in the entire "family"! I was also praying for our family to be spared. 
Romans 8:31-39........................If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 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? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died-more than that, who was raised to life-is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: 
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. NIV
We thank YOU for upholding us with YOUR hand and that our steps are ordered by YOU. 

He calls me the priest of the Lord, as a  minister of God and that I will eat the wealth of the nations. He also prays that we believe together that no weapon formed against me shall prosper and that any tongue that rises against me in judgment shall be shown to be in the wrong.
He also prays that we both together hold onto the pattern of sound teaching in faith and in love which is in us in Christ Jesus. He prays that I will be consistently opening my mouth boldly to declare courageously as I ought to do to get the Gospel to the people. And then my husband declares he stands and under girds me in prayer. He also states he will speak only the words that will edify me.

I always think of this scripture when my husband prays over me..............Proverbs 18:22...22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing,  And obtains favor from the LORD. NKJV

Now was it easy for me to hear him pray............that for me at the beginning?  No! It was not easy. It is how we look at ourselves and how we believe of what we deserve. It is all those things that which can mount on top of us when things go terribly wrong and we know not why things changed on us so abruptly. It is those very things that can pull families apart by divorce or just by miscommunication on every side. It can amount to "he said" and "she said".......and we must communicate. I cannot stress that enough.........that we must be men and women who communicate, not with a tongue lashing but with a coming in mercy and respect for the other person whom we are wanting mercy with at the time. 

By staying with God and His Word, I have found life and strength to say NO! to a lot of things I carried with me especially those things of the last ten years or so. When when things look like abandonment, and things that would bother me or even to try tempt me to be the "wounded party" at some time off and on, I have them no more. Two people in any situation are the wounded no matter the circumstance or trouble. I have words spoken over me everyday, and not only by me only, but by my husband who speaks as the prophet of our home and declares good things for his wife!

James 2:12-13...........12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.  NKJV

In giving mercy to myself, I receive that which another would speak as good in favor for me. Just as in the salvation plan, justice demands the sinner condemned, but mercy pleads for salvation and mercy prevails. Mercy is that which pleads, prays, and seeks another's good.

Several years ago, we were living in the Seattle metro area, and it was a busy winter time season. For some reason people were shopping EARLY IN THE SEASON, not only for groceries, but for things that seemed out of season to me at the time. But it was the city and it was busy, so you look for the longest line and hope it moves quickly! (Have to remember most of those long lines held the one and only checker working in that huge store and usually the other three open were for 12 items and less )

So I finally get to be the third in line. Hooray, I can see the whites of the cashier's eyes. I AM almost through and on my way home! 

The lady#1 moves through with all her Christmas stuff she wanted on sale. Hooray!

Then the lady#2 ahead of me moves through, and yes has some Christmas but summer stuff as well!  aaaah...............alas! 
First lady#1 will not leave and then she speaks.................""oh, no don't speak, please"............but she does........and she has a complaint...............she wanted the items on sale...........well, some ticket items did not show the sale mark on them, because it was only The one item to be had...........and she took two of the same thing, with only sale on first item...! There were no second's on any she had picked out to purchase.  She had avoided the "limit" on those items she wanted. Then # 1 lady speaks...................."oh no, she is talking again, only louder"! Yes, much louder this #1 speaks.........!  Cashier responds, "ticketed sale items says to limit one per customer", "so if you bought two and you did, the second is full price"!

Yes, you guessed it. Lady #1 did not want the extra item if it was not on sale........so through the whole basket, they now took out every bag she purchased.........they NOW had to go through and switch out what she did not want..........!

So I stand and praise the Lord. I pray in tongues. Look happy now girl, smile, because you may be the only example of Jesus' love in this place. Finally I get to the check-out counter. Yes, I look to see if Lady #1 is coming back, for she certainly had not gone out the front door yet, but kept the receipt in her hand as she stood by the Front Desk Customer Service Counter of store.

The sweet cashier, apologized for the long wait and the extra things that had transpired. And the Lord had me to say, "No problem".......... " it is the holiday season, "so we should expect more people out and getting ready for their families holiday time together", "we live in a big city with lots of people and shopping for groceries can take some time" "and you know ....it was all good!"
The cashier stopped, looked at me, and said "thank you". She smiled, she laughed and came into an ease and comfort that it "was all good".


My prayer had been to be like Mary the mother of Jesus who said "yes" with no holding back. That God's word to me would be fulfilled, come to pass and no looking back to the past. I prayed to be an example of faithfulness like Deborah who judged the people of Israel in truth and righteousness. And I had begun some prayers for my husband who had not heard them, but God had!
I had prayed for women who needed resurrection of marriages and resurrection of families because I needed it for myself as well. I had prayed in His holy name for women, who against all odds, would get to the "safe" place to create a place for their families to live and that those still hurting, would receive strength to go forward and find their needed strength in the Lord of Glory!

I was always giving thanks that the Lord of glory would prevail and I would see my family receive and do what God had planned from the start.

I was going to speak words that gave life to something that was dying. I spoke the Life of God into dead things to see them rise again. I spoke and believe and I still speak and I still believe that God is not done with this family and THAT WE will see our greatest days ahead of us and not behind us. If God be for me (US), who can be against me (US)? 

"For your sake we face death all day long;  we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."  

 Start PROPHESYING and continue praying and expect God the Father to release His power over those dry bones. It may look like the darkest hour before the dawn, but we must believe and hold on to His truth!  GO AHEAD AND SPEAK WHAT HE SAYS! 

Father, today we pray for men and women alike who have been cut down by words that harmed their strength and stopped them "dead" in their tracks in life, that today they receive strength to go forward and find their needed strength in You our Lord of glory. Make us strong where we are weak. We pray that YOU help us to rise above anything that erects itself as a stronghold in our lives and show us any words that we speak that are not merciful to another human being.
Remove all that is not of You and help us to take charge over our own spirits and have self-control to resist anything and anyone who becomes a lure. May we abhor what is evil and cling to what is good.  According to Psalm  37:18-20….WE pray and confess that The LORD knows the days of the upright, And their inheritance shall be forever. 19 they  (we) shall not be ashamed in the evil time, and in the day of famine they (we) shall be satisfied. 20 But the wicked shall perish;
And the enemies of the LORD, Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away. 23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD,  And He delights in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand. NKJV

We know that YOU are our source of love, companionship and friendship. It was Your desire to restore man back to YOU, and that includes restoration for families and people to have friends. Father,You know the hearts of people, so we will not be deceived by outward appearances. Father, thank You for quality friends who help us build stronger character and draw closer to You. Help us to walk as a friend to others and to love our friends at all times. Help us to see marriages and relationships restored that were lost and dying to spoken words of death and not to life. Today we will laugh with those who laugh, we will rejoice with those who rejoice and we will weep with those who weep. Teach us how to walk this out with a spouse, a child and even our grown children. Help us to pray and be supportive using merciful words that heal. Help us to relax around people, even our spouse and children, and to be ourselves. Instruct our hearts and mold our character, that we may be faithful, trustworthy and of good report in the restoration of marriages, restoration of families and those that You are sending into our lives as friends. 

We thank You today, that we can entrust ourselves and our need for restoration of marriages and families into YOUR holy Hands! Amen!

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