Last Words

What will be our last words? The moment our last breath is taken, what will be the last thing we speak out of our mouths? I like to talk, just ask my husband. I like to visit and talk about things we did with our granddaughter, with our daughter and son-in-law and what new scriptures brought light into something I was dealing with. Yes, I like to speak and like to share with others God's goodness!

I have someone though who speaks all the time, even while I sleep and He is the Holy Spirit. He is always telling me things to come and am I listening? There are times I think I left the T.V. on or the C.D. player is still going when I finally realize, that it is the Holy Spirit Who is speaking & wants me to hear what He is saying at that moment.
There are times I only hear when I get really quiet. Of late, I am always telling my husband that there is too much noise and chaos. I sense in my spirit man that we must get quiet before God and Hear HIM speak the things we need to know for today and tomorrow.

Psalm 1
Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.

4 The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish. NKJV

Psalm 1 gives us detail of the man (or woman) who is blessed. They are the ones who walk not in the counsel of the ungodly, or stand in the path of sinners nor sit in the seat of scornful!
The blessed are like the tree planted by the rivers of living water. They bring forth fruit. They are like trees that are always green and they never wither away to die.
The Lord knows the way of the righteous, those who follow closely to His Word and to His plan for life.
Ultimately our walk with God is to be one on the path of the godly, the righteous, the obedient to be the blessed of the Lord.
We can look up the word scorn to find it means one who is thinks himself to be superior, one who mocks others, always sneering toward others and looking down on someone. Sounds like the modern day bully to me! The ungodly is the one who is immoral, blasphemous, profane and one who has no reverence towards God or the things of God. They are those who curse a lot! There is nothing good that comes from their mouths!

 I think of Pharaoh when standing toe to toe with Moses. Let's look at Exodus 5:2 and it is a verse in scripture that gives Pharaoh's heart on the matter towards God. Exodus 5:2...Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel go."
When we read the written word on the confrontation between Moses and Pharaoh. we discover that Pharaoh had all his idols. He was found to worship  the Nile..........it was the first place he would go in the early morning hours. It was the first to be turned to blood! It bore the blood of those babies the Pharaoh had ordered to death as soon as they were born. But Pharaoh liked being number 1! He had continually hardened his heart towards God and God's people. Pharaoh considered himself divine, and he felt he did not have to answer to anyone else.

Yes, what is in our heart will be made known by what we speak through our mouth. We will either speak the words of God that bring life. Or we will speak the words of the world that bring death to us and to all that we know! The human heart is the "one thing" we must check every day! It is the human heart that always wants more. It is not satisfied, but always relishes in the more and the extravagant desires to be entertained for enjoyment's sake. Yes, the human heart can devise many things! (for more on this see the address below to view my Youtube channel on the teaching of "The Practice of Prayer).

If our life is taken suddenly, where would we find ourselves? What would be the last thing out of our mouths?
In our diagnosis: will God be found in our heart or will the world?
In our diagnosis: will God be treasured or will it be that new multi-million dollar home?
What we treasure here is what we will be found to treasure later!

God does not mind us having things, but do things have us, or own us? Is who we are synonymous with WHAT is in our heart? WOULD your friends describe who you are by what is in your mouth?

In scripture, we find Jesus who had a heart for the things of God!

Even at the age of 12 years old, Jesus' heart was in the temple. He was found, as we see here, that he was sitting in the midst of teachers, both listening and asking questions.
Luke 2:41-52...........41 His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. 43 When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; 44 but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day's journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. 46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously." 49 And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" 50 But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.

51 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. NKJV

Jesus still had to be subject to His mother and father. But He KNEW WHO HIS HEAVENLY FATHER WAS! He desired to be found looking into the perfect law of liberty.

Where can we be found?

Yes, if our life comes to an abrupt end, what will proceed from our mouths? Will we be elated to say, "I am going home to be with the Lord!" or will we speak words of blasphemy toward the "one true" God?

If today, is our last day, how will we spend it? What will be the last thing someone remembers about us? It speaks in scripture that Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men. He spent time to fill His heart with God's word and He increased. He had favor with God and man!

In His last minutes on the Cross, Jesus spoke in Luke 23 and verse 46, "Father, into Your  hands I commit My spirit."

Luke 23:44-47
 45 Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. 46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit.' " Having said this, He breathed His last. 47 So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, "Certainly this was a righteous Man!"NKJV
Even in all the injustice, Jesus was seen by the centurion as a righteous Man!

On some headstones in cemeteries, there is a dash between the years of one's birth and one's death. What would that "dash mark" say about us? Did we live for God or did we live to buy another expensive home we did not need? Would that "dash mark" hold the secrets of our life lived for more money, fun times, and maybe drugs or alcohol? Or would that "dash mark" hold many stories of a person who laid down their life to get the Gospel message out for others to hear? Would that "dash mark" tell of our lives in missionary work or work in teaching Sunday School for small children each week? Would that "dash mark" hold the secrets of all the food you gave to the homeless and hungry and never told anyone you did it?
For me, I like to write of the goodness and the love of God and how His word increases us with His wisdom for us to make the right answers at the right time so we can continue to move forward in His perfect plan for our lives.
I choose to speak about HIM and tell all of what He has done for me!

Father, if my life is called up today and it is time to go and leave this world, I pray that I would be counted with the righteous. I pray Lord, in Jesus' name, that like Psalm 1, I will find my place with the godly who treasure YOU. I pray that I will keep my heart from sin and scorn. I pray that I would continue to find YOUR word as life to me.  According to Proverbs 1:2-10, I desire to know YOUR wisdom and instruction. I desire to perceive words of understanding. That as I receive Your instruction of wisdom, I will know justice, judgment and equity.

I desire to be the man who receives Your knowledge and discretion, to attain Your wise counsel for every decision I must make in this lifetime.
The fruit of such learning of Your wisdom is a graceful ornament on my head and chains about my neck.
I pray for an adventurous of life with YOU. Today I pray for all who read this that their lives will make a turn to the righteous and be found with You. Those who have been on the fence will now be turned on to the fire of the Lord. I desire that all would not perish but have everlasting life and that is through Your Son Jesus Christ. I thank You for salvation through Your Son and I have believed and confessed Jesus is Lord of my life.Today, I stand with the righteous and expect Your return to take us home! Lord, we love YOU and give YOU all our praise and thanks. Amen

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

Never Alone

When the seasons change, and the darkness creeps in earlier in the Fall and Winter, of course, all the lights are on in our house. Inside and outside there are lights to light up the darkest of rainy, cold days and nights.  Even the wind seems to take on that howling type of sound you mainly hear only in the late winter.

But in years earlier, I experienced the darkest of the dark and the coldest of many days. For a period of time our marriage seemed more like a one-sided affair so to speak. Sometimes people have to make decisions to work more hours to have something set aside for retirement. But I sensed there was more to my husband's behavior than just some financial situations that had to be adjusted.

We can sense when someone is upset or even mad, right? But it seemed deeper and more dramatic and the hours together were harder than when he had to be away from me.
In this period of time, my husband had lost first his step-father and then his mother. Even though their deaths were three years apart, he seemed deeper in darkness than what I had thought he should be experiencing.
With the death of his parents, old things cropped up from his childhood that were anything but good. He had faced many beatings by a strap or belt. As the man no longer lived, my husband faced those times alone, he thought.
While he was working through many challenging things he had experienced of his childhood, I faced something I had not expected. In the course of only a few months, my body became very fatigued and needed more than the nine hours sleep I usually got. I would force myself out of bed and into work clothes, only to return several hours later and resort to the bed for the needed rest.
Finally making the appointment, the G.P. could not help and sent me to a specialist, who then sent me to another specialist. After three months, they found the mass growing on my ovary. Surgery would be needed to remove it and have a hysterectomy, but I sensed that God was close by my side.

Yes, it was the end of August and darkness seemed to creep in earlier, even though it was summer time by the calendar, it seemed more like the middle of winter time. The day finally came in September and that ugly thing was removed and I was whole 100 percent.
What helped me, when my husband was away so much of the time? I had no other family within a four hour drive from where I lived. I seemed invariably alone with no outlet.......But............

I had God! I had Jesus the Healer! I had the Holy Spirit who was my Comfort through those long, and darkest of days. I chose to hear God speak. I would speak His word daily, so I could hear it and the neighbors as well. I would put healing CD's and teaching tapes on healing. I kept the Word of God flowing. I added praise and worship music and pray in the spirit. (your prayer language in Tongues)

He was all I needed to make it through a dark place in my life!

No, we are never alone! We must know that He is there and cares so much for us.

Visit those passages of scripture should you need some lifting today..........whatever I experienced I gave thanks, no not for the ugly mass but for the goodness and love of God and to know He watched over me. It is not easy to do some days, but if you keep it up, you will come out of that "deep hole" and know that God has a way for you.

Remind yourself of these things:
Lamentations 3:22-23....the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Psalm 107:20...he sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions

Isaiah 43:2....when you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and though the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

Psalm 34:15...........the eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.

Psalm 34:18...The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

God has a plan for you and He is not through with you yet!
You are saved by His grace...Ephesians 2:5
You are a new creation....Ephesians 2:15
You are a partaker of His promises in Christ...2 Peter 1:4
You are strengthened with might by His Spirit.......Ephesians 3:16
You allow Christ to dwell in your heart by faith...Ephesians 3:17
You are more than a conqueror...Romans 8:37
You are the healed....1 Peter 2:24
You are free....John 8:36
You are victorious....1 John 5:4

When I prayed for me, I continued to pray for my husband and others as well. It was not just about me and what I was experiencing. I chose to let the Light of God shine on the situation and came out of the darkness and the cold. I experienced the love of God!

Sometimes, we may think we are the "only ones" who go through things, but we are not. Those who stand the closest to us all face something either daily or monthly. What we choose should be life in God and His ways!

It took almost 10 years for my husband to come through that pain and anguish, but he is stronger in the Lord. My husband and I walk side by side to minister God's Word to others. I pray that you will know that you are not alone and God, alone has the answer you need!

Five years earlier I had put this prayer together and I send to you today:
Father, this is the day the Lord has made. I rejoice and I am glad in it! I rejoice in You always. And again I say, I rejoice. I delight myself in You, Lord. Happy am I because God is my Lord! Lord, I pray that my countenance radiates joy of the Lord. My joy I pray is overflowing so it may be full, complete for the joy of the Lord is my strength. Father, today I have the victory in the name of Jesus. Satan is under my feet.
I pray also for my husband for I know YOU intended that the greatest most rewarding human relationship in my life would be my marriage. Help us to resolve any differences that we have had. Rekindle in our hearts the love, joy and passion we had for each other when we were married. Help us to forgive the mistakes we have made and start fresh again. Help me as his help-mate be sensitive toward him. Reveal to me areas I need to change in order for our relationship to improve. Help us to guard our mouths so we not criticize each other. Show us how to love and give love to our spouse. Let our lives be an example of Your love and grace. Lord restore our marriage completely and I give you much thanks. It is in the mighty name of Jesus I pray. Amen




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

Tomorrow

Exodus 8:8-15............8 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, "Entreat the LORD that He may take away the frogs from me and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to the LORD." 9 And Moses said to Pharaoh, "Accept the honor of saying when I shall intercede for you, for your servants, and for your people, to destroy the frogs from you and your houses, that they may remain in the river only." 10 So he said, "Tomorrow." And he said, "Let it be according to your word, that you may know that there is no one like the LORD our God. 11 And the frogs shall depart from you, from your houses, from your servants, and from your people. They shall remain in the river only." 12 Then Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh. And Moses cried out to the LORD concerning the frogs which He had brought against Pharaoh. 13 So the LORD did according to the word of Moses. And the frogs died out of the houses, out of the courtyards, and out of the fields. 14 They gathered them together in heaps, and the land stank. 15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not heed them, as the LORD had said.
NKJV

Tomorrow? What? Frogs everywhere, and Pharaoh said, "Tomorrow".

Then Moses speaks....."Let it be according to your word..........tomorrow........." yikes"!

Moses took it to prayer! He cried out to the LORD and the LORD answered to what Moses had prayed. Yes, frogs out of the houses, courtyards and out of the fields. They were all gathered together in heaps and those dead frogs had a terrific smell. Even though Pharaoh saw the relief of "no frogs" in the bedroom, or in the house, he continued to harden his heart and would not allow the people to go!

Right in the middle of something like a trial, or tribulation,  could we act like Pharaoh did?

We know that Moses was sent by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. But Pharaoh did not know or accept the God of the Israelites. When we read in Exodus of the plagues, each only hardened Pharaoh's heart even more! (Exodus 7:8-13,22, 8:15,32.) Each plague was carried out to show God was the "only true God" and the Egyptian gods and their pharaoh were powerless before Him.

Yes, sin played a super-sized role in the plagues being displayed across the horizon of Egypt and within homes, courtyards, and fields. We know that "hardness of heart" played the biggest role in the death of Pharaoh's own son. The firstborn was taken in the last plague.

After the son's death, Pharaoh agreed to submit to God's power and let the people go. (Exodus 12:29-33)

Even though the people were allowed to go, Pharaoh later relented and chased them, but he, like his army, drowned in the Red Sea.

Yes, there is a lesson in all this. Every day there may be trials and tribulations. If we have not encountered one here on planet earth, we are either dead or we live alone on a deserted island.

Seriously, we can see how people want their own way and things done a certain way, just by driving the Interstate. Try it across the country, say from the west coast to the east coast and see how many desire their way on the roadway. I speak especially of those who "hog" the passing lane. You know the ones, they will not drive faster or move to the right for the faster traffic. Nope, not going to happen, they pay their taxes, and they own that "lane".

I believe Pharaoh came from a long of men who got their own way for a long time. And men today can experience the same. But one day, we find, we are not alone. Tomorrow I will do it. Tomorrow I will see about that being done. Tomorrow, since I am boss, will be the right time to do what I want to do it! The thing is, tomorrow always comes, and it always involves other people.

Every time Pharaoh spoke, he spoke from his heart. What is the condition of our heart?

Do we need a transplant immediately?

We are to watch over our heart with all diligence. 

Proverbs 4:23-27...................23 Keep your heart with all diligence,

For out of it spring the issues of life. 

24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth,

And put perverse lips far from you. 

25 Let your eyes look straight ahead,

And your eyelids look right before you. 

26 Ponder the path of your feet,

And let all your ways be established. 

27 Do not turn to the right or the left;

Remove your foot from evil. NKJV

I think of Pharaoh who died such a violent death, as well as his men, and those fine Arabian horses. Pharaoh's decisions always involved others, just as ours does!

Put away from us a deceitful mouth...........yes lies!

Keep the perverse lips far..............away........yes cussing!

Let our eyes look forward, straight ahead and ponder our steps toward "tomorrow".

When our ways are established in the Lord, our future looks bright. Nope, no looking to our right or to our left.........never mind Janie Sue, or Johnny Rhodes, for we need to keep a watch over our heart.............lets move away from evil and to be "on the alert'!

Father, You tell us in Your word to be diligent. That our hearts are to be watched over with all diligence. For life will spring forth when we stay away from those that would harm our heart. Today we seek to fill our heart with Your Words so we become determined to not miss the mark. Lord, I pray that we would be men and women, unwearied as we take our stand to "watch" over our hearts. It is our prayer of thanksgiving that speak here declaring that we flex our muscles to keep a healthful heart. Like the words of Proverbs 10 and verse 8, we will be the wise in heart to receive your commands. We desire to be those who walk with integrity to walk securely. And we pray that wisdom would be found on our lips who has understanding that You are God. We thank You for all the tomorrows that YOU have planned for us and may they be to YOUR glory. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

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

LIVING LOUD FOR GOD

Living loud for God looks like David facing the Philistine giant Goliath!
Living loud for God brings us out of mediocrity and the position of the back row to the front and center to speak and proclaim the goodness of God!
This living loud for God cost some time with Him. It is more than attending a conference which connects us with others. This adventure looks like having some alone time with God. There is a price to pray to have that intimate time with God and hear Him speak.

Living loud for God means that we do not dismiss God when we leave a worship service on Saturday evening or Sunday morning.


Romans 5:5-11.......................5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.   6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 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

Even the scripture above declares to us that God demonstrated His own love toward us allowing Christ to die for us. Being justified by His blood, we were saved from wrath.

To me that sounds like rejoicing time. We being saved by His grace in His Son Jesus, are now reconciled to God and are joint-heirs with Jesus!

God demonstrated: He established it in Jesus.

He manifested it through the Cross and testified of it through His apostles.

He did not conceal it, hide it, or misrepresent it.

Romans  3:24-26.................24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. NKJV

Ephesians  2:19-22...........19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. NKJV

John 1:14-18..........14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.' " 16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. NKJV

Romans 1:16-17...........16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."  

NKJV

It was recorded for our benefit. It was the God of glory who demonstrated His righteousness through His acts of love in the gift of His Son Jesus! Jesus established the Cornerstone becoming the Chief in whom joins us together in Him for this dwelling place of God. In truth and grace, we have been added to the family of God. If we know that we are in Him, do we dismiss Him when through with a worship service or prayer meeting? Do we act like the world as soon as we leave a service, where we knew without a doubt God Himself showed up to be with us and to show He cares? Do we make for the door in a full run out of a service or building and act like we do not know Him?  Much like Peter, when Jesus asked them to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane, do we fall asleep during what is important time for prayer and word for us, and then find ourselves like "Peter" running from something that made us frightful, yes afraid?

 Are we trying to gather around others we do not know and warm ourselves with that which the world can relate to, but is far from us?  Peter was taken by John into the house area and when challenged by the maid,Peter showed his lack of compassion for Jesus. Even though Jesus was somewhere upstairs in front of  the High Priest, Peter did not want those who wanted to put Jesus to death to know that he, Peter, was counted as one of the Lord's disciples.  He now was with those who wanted to put Jesus on the Cross. Yes, there was a fire to warm them, but those who gathered around forgot the fire and just gathered to speak blasphemies against the Lord. ( you know birds of a feather will flock together) It was Peter who stood with those who denied the Christ. He stood with those servants who wanted to crucify Jesus!

 Are we found denying Jesus, just when we probably need Him the most in our lives?

The scriptures above are to show how Jesus was the Word manifested. It was His glory that they beheld. He was the only begotten of the Father who was full of grace and truth. Jesus came to establish Heaven on Earth...........Our Father, who in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven!

Righteousness came in the son of love! His name is:Isaiah 9:6-7.......................6 For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called 

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

7 Of the increase of His government and peace 

There will be no end,

Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,

To order it and establish it with judgment and justice 

From that time forward, even forever.

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. NKJV

He came with judgment and justice! Matthew 6:33-34......................33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. NKJV

Seek first the kingdom of God that Jesus came to establish. Seek His ways and thoughts and seek His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you. God knows what we need and it is His desire for us to put Him first before all things! 

Living loud for God is a step of faith. It says, "my trust  is in the Lord". We can be like David and run to face those giants and speak out loud, " I come to you in the name of the Lord."

God spoke loud and clear about His son and left many details for us to see in His word. Today, I have come to you in the name of the Lord to declare He is for you. When we show the enemy we do not fear, but trust the Lord to keep our backs, He is faithful to lead us through any trial or tribulation. God is faithful to His Word. Remember Peter got back on the right path and was found with the 120 praying in the upper room waiting for the gift of the Holy Spirit.

I pray for each and every one who reads this that they will be the bold.

Father, today I pray in Jesus' name for those who read this will be as bold as lions to declare truth that Jesus has come. His name is Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, the Everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace. Today Lord God, I pray for any man, woman or child who reads this to stay faithful to the Lord, for You are the Faithful One. We understand that we are to be righteous as You are righteous. Jesus thank You for the public demonstration of God's righteousness. As we are those who put our trust in You, we are not the righteous because of our inherent goodness, BUT we are righteous because of our identification by faith with You Jesus! Lord helps us to recognize and know that Your righteousness was imputed into us when we received You, Jesus as Lord of our lives. But we also must know that we are to be obedient just as Christ was to the Cross! Lord help us to be faithful to Your Word. Help us to be those who proclaim Your goodness to others. 

Lord, I also pray for those who have been silenced by the enemy either in their work place, home, or school. May they Lord know they hear YOU speak and tell them things that are to come by the Holy Spirit. Help those YOU love know that You are with them to declare God's peace, God's justice in a bad situation. And I ask that dreams be given to those who have been assailed by the enemy. When they dream Lord, show them that it is truth and "it will be fulfilled in their lifetime." Lord, You are are for us and YOU never let go! Help us that are in unbelief, and show us the path that grows brighter into the full light of day. Today I pray that each here will rejoice in hope, patient in tribulation and that they continue to be steadfast in prayer. You are the "Great I am" in our midst. Thank YOU Lord for the Word of God that prevails in our lives today in Jesus' mighty name. Amen.

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

We Must Always Know our Position

Have you ever heard those say, " the baby turned one year old today and everyone is ecstatic about her birthday and everyone is coming to see her take those steps around the room?"
I had heard that recently, and wondered if we ever give thought to those around us, and if they are still growing and changing. You know the adults we have known for years, are they still growing?
My thoughts of course are on those who have the Lord as Savior.
We are to be committed to life long change and that is by seeing we grow in the Word of God and in prayer.

Change will always come, and are we equipped to take the next step into tomorrow?

Back to the baby issue now. People are excited to see the baby's first step and to hear their first verbal sound. Although both parents would quip that the baby just said "mommy" or "daddy"and they speak at the same time. A laughable moment maybe, but do we as the disciples of Jesus continue to grow up.

1 Samuel 2:18-21………..18 But Samuel ministered before the LORD, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod. 19 Moreover his mother used to make him a little robe, and bring it to him year by year when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20 And Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, "The LORD give you descendants from this woman for the loan that was lent to the LORD." Then they would go to their own home. 21 And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile the child Samuel grew before the LORD. NKJV

You remember Hannah, right? She was the woman who shared her husband with another woman. Elkanah had two wives. But he was very loving and caring toward Hannah. In all this tribulation that only a man could invite into his home, surely Hannah stood by the grace of God to see the victory.

She was the woman who had no children as her womb was closed. Now for whatever reason, certainly Hannah did not linger on the abusive words that Peninnah had probably spoken to her about her inability to have children. Yet, Hannah kept her focus on the Lord in prayer. It was in 1 Samuel 1:10 that Hannah prayed to the Lord.

Moving on in the scripture we find that Samuel ministered before the LORD. Even as a child, he came to learn the life of a priest before the Lord.  His mother Hannah continued to make robes for him to wear. Year after year, she would make a new robe for him to wear. She gave her first child to the Lord, and she continued to show her love and compassion as the caring mother.

Each time Hannah made the trip to Shiloh, Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife Hannah. "The LORD give you descendants from this woman for the loan that was lent to the LORD." That loan was of course Samuel. And the scripture tells us he grew before the LORD.

Are we like Hannah and ready to keep "our cool" when abusive words come to us? What if someone does not like you at school or work?  In studying this scripture, I always wonder how Hannah kept "her cool" when knowing her husband invited another woman into their home. I wonder how she slept at night and worked throughout the day to see this "other woman and her children thriving" and Hannah had only her husband. Did Hannah have a "dream" for the future? Did she see her life different and a life filled with children and laughter? Yet, Hannah kept her focus on the Lord! Do we do as much in situations that arise? Do we keep our eyes on the Lord of glory and expect a victory when all hell seems to break loose against us?

Do we continue to make a commitment to the Lord for His goodness and His word of power for our lives or do we retreat to compete for that recliner in the family room that we regard as "our comfort zone"?

Do we seek out our own plan, and keep the T.V. in eye view so we do not make any decisions for change that we must make?

I write to say, you are not the only one who must make changes. We all have to keep to the right course to end up where we are going on this journey.

I think of those who fly planes. They must make a flight plan and set the right course. While in the air they must be periodically keeping eye on the planes course and continually adjust the course to keep going in the same direction. We too must keep our course set. We must keep the course the Lord has set before us. We just need to ask Him about keeping us on the course of life and not that of destruction.

It will always come back to our abiding to His will for us. WE MUST ALWAYS KNOW OUR POSITION!

GOD, WHAT IS THE RIGHT COURSE ADJUSTMENT FOR US TODAY? WE DESIRE TO BE POSITIONED IN YOU!

SET YOUR COURSE WITH THOSE WHO WILL SEE THE POTENTIAL IN YOU.

PURSUE PEOPLE WHO SEE WHERE YOU ARE GOING AND NOT FROM WHERE YOU CAME FROM.

WHAT ASSOCIATIONS DO WE NEED TO CHANGE?

FIND THOSE WHO WILL ENCOURAGE YOU ALONG THE WAY! THEY WILL BE THOSE WHO ALWAYS SEND YOU ON YOUR WAY WITH WORDS THAT PRODUCE LIFE IN YOU. 

LEAVE THE DEAD BEHIND, SEEK THE LAND OF THE LIVING AND RUN WITH THE "DREAM" THAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU!

Father, today I pray for those who read this to have the purpose right before their eyes. I pray that they will see and know without a doubt YOU are in their midst. I pray these will have the right people surround them and speak encouragement and life. I pray that YOU our Father God will send intercessors into their lives. I ask for helpers for each of these people, those who will willingly come alongside them and walk this life journey with them.

Father, You are the strategic God and I ask YOU to strategically align each one praying this with the right people so they might move fully into the right thing YOU have planned for them from the foundation of the world.

Today, Lord, I believe each of these are those willing to continue to grow and become those world changers and history makers. I come against any plan of the enemy to distract and deter them from YOUR plan for them. I plead the Blood of Jesus over the portals of their minds, their wills and their emotions. I plead the Blood of Jesus over their walk with YOU and that they hear YOU guide them by the still small voice. Lord show them the great books, the great songs, the great sermons that are in them even now. And we give YOU glory and praise on this journey of life as we grow beginning those who YOU meant us to be in Jesus' name. Amen.

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

I'm Always Going to Love You Like the First Time I Thought of You

God says, " I'm always going to love you like the first time I thought of you."
Never going to change, I am always the same. Still going to look over you, cherish you, spend every moment thinking of MY Plans for you. No, I'm never going to stop My loving you, never stop My caring for you till I come, you are always on My mind.


Hebrews 13:6-8........
"The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?"

7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. NIV

The Son of God, who came with a mission to set captives free, to bring healing to the brokenhearted, to open the prison doors of those who are bound, to comfort, to console, to give beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. (Isaiah 62:1-3)

He loves us with an everlasting love.....

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17, 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5......  13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. 16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work. 

2 Thessalonians 3:1....3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, 2 and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you. 5 Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ. NKJV

Whatever the trial or tribulation, He is always loving, always caring, and always remembering His thoughts towards us. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Hold fast to that which is taught you and give you the hope by His Word. May the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our Father God, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace comfort your heart and establish you in every good word and work. May His word run swiftly and be glorified with you and in you. Today, you are delivered from the unreasonable and wicked man. You have faithful by your side. Yes, the Lord Who is Faithful, will establish you and guard you from the evil one. May the Lord direct your heart today into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.

For it was in the  intricate delicacy that our God created us to be, it is He who did it in secret. According to Psalm 139:13-16....it is the Lord our God who knitted us together in our mother's wombs. Our frame was not hidden from God when He made us in that secret place. God was the great weaver who weaved a delicate design together so we would look like He desired for each of us to look. In His image we were made to live in this day and time!  In all of this wonderful secret time of creating each of us, it was then that God ordained all the days for you, for me, for everyone ever born....yes, ...........it was written in His book before one of them came to be about you or me.

As He looks over His plan for you or me, ................famous, maybe only to God our Father. Known by many, maybe not, but it is He Who planned for you and for me.

Vital to His plan for this day and hour, yes!

Take your stand, put on the full armor of God! In the evil day, stand your ground. Stand firm with the belt of His truth buckled around your waist and with the breastplate of righteousness in place, have your feet shod with the Gospel of peace. You take your shield of faith and extinguish those flaming arrows of the evil one. Put on that helmet and pray! (Eph 6:13-20)

You are mighty, and you stand with Faithful by your side. Run the course set for you and know He spoke these words this day October 26, 2014.............I'm always going to love you like the first time I thought of you!

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

Unbuckled?

On a trip recently to the East Coast, I saw this sign in one state that stated, "Unbuckled? Seriously?
All I could think was the importance of being buckled up, not only in your vehicle but also in the Word of God!
I love belts, and keep a few on hand to wear. Of late though, I wear maybe one a year. I like having those to match my shoes. But I dress up a lot and have no need for a belt.
But on that trip, it was important that even our grand-daughter be buckled in her car seat.

In scripture we find it talks of putting on or girding ourselves with the belt of truth.
Ephesians 6:14-18
14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
NIV

It was prophesied in Isaiah 11:5, of Christ, that righteousness should be the girdle of His loins and faithfulness would be the girdle of His reins. It is God our Father who requires and desires us to have truth in the inward parts. 

Psalm 51:5-6

5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,

And in sin my mother conceived me. 

6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,

And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. 

NKJV

In God's word is wisdom, that keeps us safe and guards our bodies. It is His truth that causes us to deal in the sincerity of truth. On one occasion of the trip out to the East Coast, I told our grand-daughter the importance of telling the truth and that the Lord desires us to be truthful in all things, and all matters concerning others.
At one point, she had spoken something, and I asked her if she spoke the truth. I told her to remember  that Jesus is always watching us. She changed her statement and revealed her intent. No matter the age, we all know the "lie".

Paul describes to us in Ephesians 6:14 of the belt. And why does he start with "a belt"? From the the early days of the Roman rule, we were taught of their preparedness in having on the right armor. Paul depicts the importance of the effectiveness of the Roman soldiers armor. The soldier's belt held a place for the trusted sword. The scabbard would hold the sword in place till needed in battle. In earlier reading of the armor of the Roman soldier, we were told of the leather strips that would cover the lower body.
That truth of God should cover us much like a belt. It is to hold everything in place.

Like the seat-belt for our grand-daughter's car seat, it has to be one continuous length of belt.

God's truth we are told is His word. In John 17:17, it states, "sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth."
That word should cleave to our bodies like a belt does. And as Christians we are to test all things. We are to discard the false and keep the true.

In this day and age, if prayer does not bring an immediate answer to a problem or situation, people are ready to call the 1. 800. psychic or seek out the horoscope or some good-luck charm.

If we truly desire the supernatural, then it should be in the Word of God. The word is spirit and truth. It has everything to do with God WHO is high above anything this earth or world could throw at us.
Our daughter was born in the month of October. And whatever may appall us as we watch a little T.V. together, she always announces, "It's October!" For each commercial or advertisement that flashes upon the big screen T.V. has to do with witches, the walking dead, the "horror' if you will, on the most simple of things like chocolate candy. WOW!

The dangers of not wearing a "seat-belt" are well documented. Even on this trip, we heard on the news of those who had died at the scene of an accident as they did not wear a "seat-belt". If I cut myself, I will definitely bleed. If I do not wear a seat-belt, then I am in danger of dying a terrible death.
In living with faith in God and His Word, my trust comes, by believing what He has written to me and bring to me life abundantly. If I keep to the Word of truth, and that truth girds me, it is like the belt that keeps me in place to keep to or adhere to that truth, and I tell the world system to  take a hike. God's speaks to us of peace, restoration, healing, life in abundance of what we need and having a relationship with Him through His Holy Spirit.  My trust in keeping truth, is binding that word continually around my neck and to see that word is written on my heart so that I find favor with God and man. (Proverbs 3:3-4)

It is to practice the word, speak the word, and declare every good thing God has planned for us through His word in the Bible!

You and I can stand firm, with belt of truth buckled around our waist. When we do, then with  the breastplate of righteousness in place, our feet shod with the gospel of peace. and we raise the shield of faith to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 

This may not be the look on the pre-fall runway shows, or be the "look" that makes the season's top designer's list, but this will certainly make your walk with God absolute. You will know truth and gird your belt around to keep the sword handy in the event of the devil throwing flaming arrows at you.

This is your front row seat to the latest move of God on your behalf! Dressed with the armor and making certain the belt is girded, fastened and positioned to hold you in place when temptations, sickness or bad reports of any kind come, you will see the supernatural occur in your life!


Father, we thank You that we have been empowered from on high. You have given us the Word of truth, the Gospel to proclaim freedom to the captives. Lord help us to see that we are no longer captives. We have a front row seat to see YOU prevail in our lives. You have robed us in clothes of the kingdom of Light. We do NOT need the tarot cards, or the psychic, Today, Lord, we ask that as we seek to put on this belt, we want to have the longing desire to keep looking into the perfect law of liberty. Lord, we are those who desire to be girded with truth, and to be able to charge the enemy when he rears his ugly head on our land. We pray to rise above frustrations and to be patient that Your word will prevail in our lives. Lord, we pray to turn away from the superstitious and pagan. That we will be those to turn away from tricks, routines, or even bad habits. Help us to see that it is YOU who formed us with a plan for our lives and that we should be seeking YOU whole-heartedly. You are the only supernatural we desire. Lord, have YOUR way in our lives today. Thank You for hearing us pray. We expect we will have Your power from on high to move through any stinking situations and frustrations that are just distractions to us. We want to be on the "walk" with You and know You more intimately. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen!

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

Launching Pad

When our daughter was about five years of age, she had this favorite thing she liked to do. She would find something to represent a cape and then fasten it around her neck. Her next step was to make her way to the backyard to where our picnic table stood. She would proceed to climb on top of the table, back up to the edge and then run as fast as she could to the other end of table. She would then leap off with the cape flapping in the wind behind her.
It was her delight to do this hour after hour for about a year. It did not matter if snow covered the ground and there was a nice ice shine on the top surface of picnic table, again and again, she would continue to make her run to the edge and leap off the table.
She would remark out loud, "I am wonder-woman!"
She was a child, playing a child's game she had made up to do. But now she has grown up, and has put away her games!

As children, we have either had both parents or maybe only one parent. We may have had some church attendance or none. But as for me, I had a mother who made sure I was in church on Sunday, patent leather shoes or not, I was present and ready!

As that child that was raised in church, I learned that most never choose to take the Word of God with them. They choose to leave it behind in the building they attended to hear and I guess dismiss the Word of God!
As a rule my mother, nurtured us with good food, and warm clothes, but she also saw to our growing spiritually. Although they did not call it that when I was young, still, I grew some.

One scripture that has stayed with me has always been Psalm 23. Now I never could figure why people would use it at funerals........I mean even those westerns I watched as a child, like Maverick or Bonanza..........really.......Psalm 23 is for the living and not the dead!
I believe that because my mother invested in my life with the Word and prayer, my life was on a course that God Himself would see that I met head on and complete with His hand and faithful eye guiding me.
I can still remember us praying at night, kneeling by our bed and praying Psalm 23......that the Lord would be our Shepherd.

Today, my daughter and I are much older and would like to say much wiser. We have put away the childish things. It is our goal and one desire to seek the kingdom of God. In Matthew 6:10...Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, is a scripture we pray pertaining to the Lord's prayer. In it, we are asking for the establishment of God's rule in our lives. I have learned that prayer is my personal time with my Father God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth. He spoke them into being and it was so.
As we receive the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, we used our faith to demonstrate that we are trusting in a child-like manner receiving the new birth creation.  When we confessed with our mouths that Jesus was Lord of our lives, we received our salvation. We spoke those words and were launched out of the sin, sickness and disease that once held us captive. We were set free by the blood of Jesus. It is Christ Jesus who has given us authority over the adversary in Luke 10:19...."Behold I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you."
We are more than conquerors over the adversary. We became his masters when we believed God's Word and confessed Jesus as Lord.

Let's recognize that as children of God we can come before His throne knowing that we are no longer bound by sickness or dysfunctional relationships. We have the unfettered freedom Jesus gave us through His shed blood on the cross!
Let's continue to launch out into God's Word and experience the promises He gave us through His word of truth. May we with child-like faith continue to come to God so that we may see and hear more of what He wants to say to us.
Let's be willing to launch out in boldness reaching for that intimacy that comes of knowing Him in the Word.
May that Word live in and through us as we seek the faithful God, the everlasting-Father, the Great "I Am" in our midst. I challenge you to "Launch Out" , as that child of faith, every reaching, ever moving higher into the things of God our Father.

Father, in Jesus' name, Your word is profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience and for the training in righteousness.  We pray that we be those who take hold of instruction from Your Word and that we will not let go. We believe we be those who receive the necessary instruction for our walk with You and in the area of work that brings finances into our home. It is You who have equipped us to do a required work. Today we are thankful for teachers and mentors that You send our way to teach us Your ways and thoughts.
Today, we believe we stand rejoicing in Your Word as the one who finds a great treasure. As we meditate on Your word, we are thankful for the understanding You give us in wisdom, peace and joy and of course the ability to express Your love to others. It is You who has written us excellent things of council and knowledge. Our trust is in You our Lord. Today we receive that instruction and may that Word grow mightily and prevail in our lives. Amen.

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

Who is Speaking into Your Life?

Wherever you go today, you can hear so much music and conversation that the mixture is nothing but noise to the ears! Some malls have the sound of music from the time you enter the front entrance and seems to carry from store to store. But at times, there is so much of it, the noise seems to wrap around you making a simple conversation with your husband or friend impossible. When you have to shout to get the person next to you to hear you speak, then it is not worth having the conversation.

Being bombarded with all that noise is not a welcomed thing. If I find I must go to a mall, I always find the shortest distance from an entrance to the store I desire to shop in when looking for a specific item. Today's society seems to shout to get our attention on anything from buying a new car or pickup to a new washer & dryer. But it does not stop there! It goes on in the drive-through window arena, where they shout at you of the new deals they are offering on the early breakfast deal with coffee added.

But sincerely, who do we allow to speak into our lives?  What carries a weight into our listening when someone speaks? Do we have favor with them or do they really dislike us? What if that which they are speaking is not good, but evil and will hurt you or another person? Who is speaking to you?

In church recently, this young man we have known for a short time brought us this word the Lord had spoken for our pastors. That word was "inspire". I continue to hear that word and looked into its meanings in the Bible and in the dictionary.

to fill with an animating, quickening, or exalting influence, 

to produce or arouse (a feeling, thought, etc.):

to inspire confidence in others

to inspire someone with hope; to breathe in (air); to inhale

I believe when we look into the Word of God that has been given to inspire us, to gather us and strengthen us into God's bosom and His plan, we allow Him to speak and show us the "destiny" if you will and the way to get there.
I emboldened the words above that so remind me of the inspiration of God and His word. That quickening to live again with the life of God will be air in my lungs. That God-breathed word when spoken is life I am inhaling to be renewed and invigorated for His plan. It is His Word that is always producing in us the power to move forward and declare His goodness to others. God gives us hope in our darkest hours. Scripture tells us in Romans 15:13..........13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. NIV
As God fills us with all joy and peace as we trust in Him, we are those who overflow with hope by the power of His Holy Spirit. We have a joy unspeakable.
1 Peter 1:8............8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: KJV

Jeremiah 32:40-41...............40 I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me. 41 I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul.   NIV

What we allow our ears to hear, invades our hearts! Is what we are hearing, truthful, and helpful? Is it an "inspiring" word that will lift us out of the pit of miry clay or is it a vindictive word of harm and hate?

It was said that Augustine had a sign on his wall that read, " He who speaks evil of an absent man or woman is not welcome at this table."

Spending time with God allows us to hear truth and be moved by truth! If what we are hearing is that of violence, gossip and clamor, then our hearts are overtaken to those things.

I pray that we would be people who would continually seek out the Word that inspires us to "the greatness" God placed in us. I pray that we would become the man and woman who God planned to make a difference for the day and time we live it in. If not us, who, and if not now, when?

John 16:12-15................12 "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you. NIV

If you so allow me to speak into your life today, I pray that the God of glory would dwell in your heart by faith. I pray in Jesus' name that you would be inspired by the written word of God that is God-breathed and brings life to your mortal soul. I pray that you would be strengthened to rise out of mediocrity and soar the heights like an eagle and view the world as God our Father does. I pray that your ears are open to hear Him speak and even more than that...........you would see HIM speak............and know that which is life to you. Lord, thank YOU for revelation knowledge that helps us to see HIM who speaks and declares those things to come. May we ever be moving forward in YOUR plan for our lives, consumed by YOUR love and beauty and compelled to tell others of Your truth! Thank You Lord for this word and for Your precious Holy Spirit who tells us the things we must know. We will know all that YOU speak and receive it deep into our hearts and move in power to see Your kingdom on this earth. Amen.

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

       

BUT WHAT IF GOD IS CALLING?

Remember the days of the answering machine.........leave your name and number at the "beep"?

NOW AT THAT TIME IT WAS CALLED "SCREENING YOUR CALLS"!
Now it seems, IT IS EVEN HARDER TO REACH SOMEONE. It seems these days, you have many more steps to take in getting into contact with the person you are seeking.
Now, when I was a teenager, if you did not answer, that was it, I hung up the receiver. If I chose to call depending on the importance of information I wanted to deliver, would definitely determine if I would try dialing that number again.
But today, communication is difficult to say the least about it!  Sometimes it seems no one wants to answer, not by email, the text or the phone..........if you are "important" yes, count me in, I am there, but if not, "blah,blah is not available right now.Please leave your message after the tone.......". B*E*E*P!                That is screening the calls, right? I will talk with you, no I will not talk with you and so on..............

BUT WHAT IF GOD IS CALLING?

I refer to scripture found in ......2 Kings 5:1-14....
5:1 Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper. 2 And the Syrians had gone out on raids, and had brought back captive a young girl from the land of Israel. She waited on Naaman's wife. 3 Then she said to her mistress, "If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy." 4 And Naaman went in and told his master, saying, "Thus and thus said the girl who is from the land of Israel."

5 Then the king of Syria said, "Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel." So he departed and took with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. 6 Then he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which said, Now be advised, when this letter comes to you, that I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may heal him of his leprosy. 7 And it happened, when the king of Israel read the letter, that he tore his clothes and said, "Am I God, to kill and make alive, that this man sends a man to me to heal him of his leprosy? Therefore please consider, and see how he seeks a quarrel with me."

8 So it was, when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, "Why have you torn your clothes? Please let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel." 9 Then Naaman went with his horses and chariot, and he stood at the door of Elisha's house. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean." 11 But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, "Indeed, I said to myself, 'He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.' 12 "Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?" So he turned and went away in a rage. 13 And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, 'Wash, and be clean'?" 14 So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.  NKJV


Some of our greatest steps forward in God's plan is for us to obey the instructions.
I love the servant girl in this scripture. She is from the land of Israel. She was taken from her homeland to be a servant to serve Naaman's wife.  She evidently  knew about the prophet Elisha and how he followed closely to God's commands.
We must remember Naaman to be the commander of the army of the king of Syria. From the mentioned above, he was great and honorable in the eyes of his master. In Naaman's leadership, the Lord had given victory over to Syria.
My thought, was Naaman becoming prideful? Was he thoroughly upset to receive a word from the servant girl. It is interesting that she has no name that we can call attention to it.
For whatever moved him to it, to go, he still had some stinky thinking going on. We see when he arrives at the prophet's door, he is expecting, by what scripture states, that " he (the prophet) is to come out, call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the place and heal leprosy."

Elisha's  Instruction: "Go wash in the Jordan seven times and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean."

But Naaman became furious! He probably had some words he had to speak to protest, and he probably said some things that were not nice, BUT he finally got the instruction! How sad that he fell to recognize it was God sending and speaking through the prophet that he,Naaman would be healed. Naaman, had his own thoughts and ideas how it was to be handled in regard to the prophet's instruction of washing in a dirty river! Again, was it pride? Did this mighty commander feel he had been slighted by the young girl or the prophet?

Naaman mentions the rivers of Damascus cleaner, yes better than all the waters of Israel. But God demanded the Jordan. He wanted it done on His terms and in His way and the Jordan was part of God's plan!
Finally persuaded to go to the river, Naaman dips the seven times and he is cleansed of leprosy.

NAAMAN WAS HEALED AND NOT NAAMAN'S WAY, BUT GOD'S WAY!

Now, I love modern technology. I love the internet and all the things the computer can bring into our home. But even BETTER THAN ALL OF these new things that are made available to communicate with others, why is there still the sense of the 16th century castles, with all the draw bridges and moats? Why does it appear harder to communicate with others today?

I think of when I lived in Texas as a young child. I would go out to visit great aunts and uncles who had farms. The only phone service available of the early 60's was with the use of "the Operator"! She was the voice on the line when you picked up the phone receiver. She would say, "Number, P*l*e*a*s*e!" And that was ALL THAT WAS available at that time. As of that time, there were no dial telephones. (dial phones did not appear in our area of Texas till 1961.)

In regard to those who lived in the country, their telephone was on the "party line" and it would be designated as something like............."one long ring and two short rings". Or if you lived at the end of this line of multiple users, you could have the "two long rings". So for about 15 neighbors on the "party line",  you had to contend for the opportunity to use the phone. It also became known to us each time we were out, THAT no one could use THE LINE, when " Gladys the Gossip" was on the line!  It was only in an "emergency" and the dire need to mention blood,  could one gain access to a line to the "outside world".

I would see an aunt or uncle pick up the receiver to call out, but alas Gladys was on "the line" again.

I have asked how to communicate better, and have had many responses to that one question. I have asked other pastors, other leaders, and those who lead in the business arena like management! But one real cut rule is "someone has to answer, either when someone texts, emails, or calls!

Some have mentioned ways like if you send email, follow up with a text! That is a great idea and I love it, but usually do not hear back from the text that was sent. Sometimes it takes days to hear back. Then I wonder, has "the Rapture happened"? and I am still here. Yikes!

I like what the pastor said at church in a Saturday night service about unmasking and not doing the religious thing. He had on his notes for us, that you cannot keep your true self hidden forever according to Luke 12:1-3.......he went on to take from scripture,  that you cannot hide behind the religious mask forever, sooner or later the mask will slip and your true face is known.

Interestingly enough, the Lord had given me some two months before for the Prayer Meeting set for September 25, 2014, my daughter and I lead, that we are to walk in the Spirit. The teaching is called "the Practice of Prayer" and is according to 1 Peter 4:1-10...amplified. Verse 6 of that passage refers that......."we might live in the spirit as God does". Then the Lord took us to John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. (nkjv)

Then we went to Galatians 5:16...I say then: walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

When we stay on the Word of God, and feed our spirit man, we allow God to speak to our spirit man. The greatest thing about that is, we can be led by God when our spirit man IS  ascending to the highest place to hear God, see God and see the unseen! It helps us to HEAR WHEN GOD IS SPEAKING AND MOVING!

Wow!

And the next verses of 7-11 are the example of the crucified love.........it is intense and divine LOVE for others, it is, we ourselves being watchful for time in prayer FOR OURSELVES AND FOR OTHERS!.

In verse 11, the apostle addressed the two steps of service. In a commentary of this scripture it mentions those who utter the oracles of God. It does not say, the pastor, the prophet, who speak BUT ANYONE ADDRESSING WORDS TO OTHERS AS IN REGARD TO EVEN  the school teacher or the hospital worker . IT REFERS THAT those who render that service "uttering oracles" ........

is for and in the regard of the reverence and holiness of who God is, His Word, His Son Jesus Christ, to the Cross of Jesus, to the Blood of Jesus AND to the Holy Spirit Who was given for our benefit. He came to comfort us!

IF our name is left off a list, do we wrestle with others? Do we spend time with the Lord to know WHEN HE SPEAKS AND HOW HE SPEAKS? DO WE KNOW HOW HE LEADS AND WHO HE SENDS TO LEAD IN CERTAIN AREAS?

Has God given the servant girl a word for the Believer............? Has the commander of the army a listening ear in THE case of who God wants to deliver a special thing to do?
I believe God is calling. I believe the word given Saturday night the 27th and the one at the Prayer Meeting (of the 25th) were optimum words. I believe the Lord will cause those to lead who hear Him distinctly and not put be off because the "messenger" has no title, Granted correction is needed from time to time, but are we all willing to be corrected? Where do we see ourselves in this passage that so clearly teaches us that God will speak and answer His way and in His time? Are we receptive to that and active to pursuing those God has placed around us?

I find in my own walk with the Lord, that a child will lead them. In the case of our grand-daughter, I listen to hear of what she mentions WHEN she wants to pray for and who she will generally pray for during those times we are with her. I take note at times that those she names in prayer time. It usually turns out to be THE very people who come up needing our valuable time in prayer for them because of the un-forseen circumstances in their lives.

So what will stop us from moving forward? What if that next text, or email is important but seems "unimportant". Will we tarry from answering? What if there is something we need to move immediately ON for God to move immediately in our lives. For truly He knows what is on our pathways and He is not surprised by anything we can say or do. But I do think that He is not pleased when we choose to follow the culture and those we "pal" around with and disregard the "next thing He wants to accomplish in our lives"!

Will we be the "doorway to His presence"? Or will we choose the 16th century castle with the moats and draw bridges when communicating with others?

Are we loving others with the God-kind of love or are we motivated by those with a "title"? Naaman could have lost out, if he would not hear her advice of him to go to see the "prophet". But even more, he needed to heed the instructions given. Are we telling God what it should look like or we saying, "yes Lord, I will do it".

Father, You are the mysterious, the mighty, the Great "I am"! Lord God, it is in Jesus' name, I pray for us to have the ability to move in revelation and understanding of Your ways and purposes. I pray that none of us would be "satisfied with just our peeps, those things on T.V. or at the movies. I pray that we would be those who cry out for the Spirit of Truth.Lord, I pray that we be those who desire to communicate, who seek to touch hearts and lives with Your Word. May we be those who continually go to the Word and stir the fire in us, to pray for others, tells others of our Savior Jesus Christ and commit to make the difference. I not only pray for myself, but any who read this, that the spirit of blindness to be broken off our lives. That together we stand to break through those parental bloodline sides, and receive YOUR light and revelation. Help us to see what we need to see. Open YOUR Word to us continually Lord and may we experience that power everyday of our lives. Help us to see when YOU are moving through a new pathway and that we will be receptive and quick to move to do "that thing YOU ask us to do!"  Lord, today we repent of doing things our way. We seek the path unhindered and unencumbered. We seek to hear YOU as YOU direct through those You send on our pathway. We certainly do not want to be another "Naaman"!
Help us not to get in the pit of confusion, that according to Psalm 40:2 that is a place of "noise, uproar, tumult" as of waters, as of men and of war!
That Lord is the place of the dead who reside in graves and the place of destruction. No Lord, we pray to be out of pits and that of miry clay. We are those who have our feet upon the Rock of firm standing.

Lord, we believe us to be those who walk on solid ground and directed by YOU to the place YOU have prepared for us. As we walk with YOU, our steps are ordered. We stand firm in our trust regarding our safety. You our Redeemer have ended our sorrows and moved of us out of the "danger zone". We pass on today expecting to take firm hold of instruction and to not let go.

According to .....Proverbs 4:13-19.........that we will not choose the path of wicked and will not walk the way of evil.

We avoid it and will not travel on it. Our path is like the shining sun that shines ever brighter to full light of the perfect day. We move to Your light and expect Your peace as we move forward to be communicators for the Kingdom of God that has come. Amen.


You can also visit my Youtube Channel "The Voice of Prayer" for more teaching of God's Word at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV 

Adventures in Praying

I love to pray! I delight to gather with others in prayer meetings and pray that Heaven touch earth!
As women, we seem to be clearly the chosen ones who are to be the prayer warriors and it is other  people who expect us to know how to pray without any doubt! But in the circle of influence where I stand, I see men just as qualified by God to pray Heaven down..........to see the captives set free.
No prayer life is not "just for women" but for men as well!

What about you? Is prayer hard for you or is it a delight?

I believe, that like Jesus, we too can pray. We can go to the Father and ask His will be done according to His word.

Luke 6:12-14
12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles: NKJV

Mark 1:35-37

35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. 36 And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. 3

NKJV

Mark 14:34-39

34 Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch." 35 He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. 36 And He said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will." 37 Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit truly is willing, but the flesh is weak." 

NKJV

Jesus told them to stay here and watch! And He then asked them, "Could you not watch one hour?"
Can we not to stay here in this spot and watch and pray?

Our fellowship with the Father should be just like that Jesus had with the Father. As we gather at the table He has prepared for us, we come and see. We make the choice much like Mary, the mother of Jesus, did! Today I pray that those who have once considered prayer dead to them, will have a "new fire" burn within them. Today, I pray that men and women alike will find their calling in prayer, with hands held high, and tears of joy to find the needed scripture to face the enemy.

Today, I pray that we would be those who do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life. May our hearts be receptive to hear the Father speak His plan and purpose for our lives. It is setting ourselves to obey His voice of command that will bring us to the path of peace, and His wisdom.

If we go out into the world, may we preach and teach the Gospel to every creature. As this mighty supernatural word goes out, may we see the signs and wonders that follow us who believe.

Today, I also pray for those who have no vision for prayer. God does answer and He will hear from heaven. First, I ask, " are you saved"? " Have you received Jesus as Lord of your life? " It is easy to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior. First: Admit your need for a savior...Romans 3:23.
Second: Believe Jesus died and rose again for you.....John 1:12 and Thirdly: Confess Jesus as Lord....Romans 10:9-10.

It is getting to the place of our admitting that we need a Savior. When we believe, our hearts are becoming to receptive to the things of God. In letting Jesus rule our hearts, we become accustomed to Him actually ruling and reigning in our lives!

After receiving Jesus as Lord, all heaven awaits the words you speak from scripture, those promises, and say them, & live them out loud! Ask the Lord from His vantage point of truth what does your comfortable habit or pattern of life with the all cozy, snug and equipped with favorite things look like? Yes, I have been there and have to check to make sure that I am not seeking the recliner chair of life, but truly seeking the One Who gave us life through His Son Jesus Christ. So another question is, " are you and I following the Lord and His plan for our lives or are we comfortable with the snugness and comfort of all our special things, all our special people, and doing the same routine "day in and day out"?"

Father, I pray for all who read this, that each, either man or woman, will hear and run with the vision for prayer. It is YOU Lord who has placed a dream in our hearts. May our days not be lackluster with dullness, but may our horizons glisten with the brightness that draws us ever toward that purpose YOU have for us. For our lives in prayer, may we always be drawing closer to You and hear You speak to our hearts. We thank You for the Holy Spirit and according to John 3:34,35 “for since He Whom God has sent speaks the words of God [proclaims God’s own message], God does not give Him His Spirit sparingly or by measure, but boundless is the gift God makes of His Spirit! The Father loves the Son and has given (entrusted, committed) everything into His hand.” By this Holy Word, You gave to Us Your Holy Spirit without measure. I loose HIM now into the lives of all who read this. Holy Spirit spark our lives with the match of faith. Allow that spark to spread throughout the entire church, community and the world that will cause a revival of change. Help us to fulfill our responsibility to prayer for such a time as this.

How I thank YOU Father in heaven that Your riches and Your dreams are available to us.  In strength we rise up to take our place and receive those dreams to rise higher in YOU and YOUR plan for our lives. May we be women and men of faith that pray and bring those sparks of fire to burn brightly to bring change that bears YOUR GLORY, HONOR AND PRAISE IN JESUS’ NAME.  amen


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