And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away, Likewise ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder.

Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you in due time. 

I Peter 5:4-6

When around others, do people tend to think of you as a “positive influence” and “role model?”  Or do they steer clear of anything you have to say, or do?

Are you one of the “friends” people can count on through thick and thin, irrespective of the circumstances?  Do you offer up sage advice and provide a cloak of humility when sharing the Word or thoughts of life?

Take for example Hezekiah who had a positive influence on the people of Judah.  He fully understood that if things were to improve, then the people had to set things right with the LORD.  It hasn’t changed today my friends.

In fact, we need to set things right with the LORD more than ever due to the turbulent and virulent happenings in the world. All signs of the times as stated in Revelation…it truly is a time to come forward and hold on to our faith.

Today if things aren’t going well for you, or your family, repent, and get right with the Father. Things will get better when you do.

Jesus always encouraged us in the gospel to be a good influence on others, to set examples, spread the Gospel, and to follow the Father in all we do. Exude humility, and let it drape over you in your countenance, and actions…it will become a soothing balm to all you encounter in your daily journeys of life.

Humble yourself and be exalted; exalt yourself, and prepare to be abased, or brought low by our Father above. Humility is the essence of a universal language that transcends time, it uplifts, it encourages and it pleases our Lord Almighty greatly.

When we meditate on His Word, follow His light by example, and obedience, and offer ourselves willingly to fulfill the purpose of His will for our life, we are clothing ourselves with powerful weapons of defense.  And it is a bold statement to the “enemy” that we are following One Master only.

Resist the enemy, embrace your faith, don’t allow the world to influence you, stay within the confines of our Father, and be prepared for a successful life, to be followed by rewards after we are through here on earth, our crown as we enter eternal bliss with our Father in Heaven. Amen.

“Father God, may I always be an example of hope, encouragement, light, and support to those in need, to those hurting, and to those who need love, I humble myself to You Father God, today, tomorrow, always and forever, in Jesus Christ name, Amen.” 

Psalm 86:12 12

I will praise you, LORD my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.

Sitting in my car waiting for my husband to finish an errand, I watched people come and go.  Most of the people had cell phones in their hands, texting and walking, and this was more prevalent among the “younger set” but still it was evident that all ages were guilty of the same “addiction.”

I’m not saying anything “against texting” — except when driving—but it had become somewhat of a serious addiction for many.  My sister is one of the “guilty ones” who seems to send me about 100 texts a day!  And, I have many friends who are in the same category.

As for me…I have no interest in texting beyond the “norm” just to say hello, perhaps inform an individual of something special happening, or ask for a prayer.  I’m really not a fan of social media, in fact, I shy away from it.

It’s amazing how addicted the world is with social platform.  Again…not saying anything about this other than it is an addiction for many.  If only some of those highly addicted with this tendency would turn “this toward the LORD” and in its place give Him Praise Praise and more Praise.

I suppose many do a lot of Praising to the LORD during the day, and ostensibly, many do not.  I pray that these individuals would turn more of their attention toward the One who matters…The LORD Almighty.

God still delivers, He still calms the stormy seas,  He still does it all!

He is our Captain.

He is our Rock.

He is our Everything.

Praise to the LORD, He still does it all.

He still delivers.

Try putting down your cell phones for a moment and spend some of your time with the One who loves you more than anything or anyone in this world.  Go on, make HIS DAY!

“Dear LORD, thank You for being in control at all times, thank You for being my Rock, thank You for doing it all, and thank You for still loving me, no matter what, big or small, You sill do it all, and You still deliver!  Thank You, in Jesus name, Amen.”

Matthew 14:22-23

 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.

After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone,

We all need time to replenish, to recoup, to fill our souls…and that time is well spent with the LORD.

It is when we spend time with Him that we are given all that we need to get through another day, irrespective of the circumstances.

We all need someone, and something in our lives that is super critical and irreplaceable…and that someone…is our Father above.

He is the One that brings all and gives all and provides all, while bathing us with His love and peace.

Sure we have different roles and different people in our life that are important and vitally critical to our ratio of things in which we live.  People like our parents, spouses, children, pets, friends, church, etc.

But it is only God that can fulfill, bring purpose and portion to our lives in which to generate growth, and factor His love into our existence through the people we meet, and the people we love.  It is God who facilitates and orchestrates our capacity in which we live and love.  Only Him.

Consider that Jesus went off to “pray and be alone” with His Father ( Mark 1:35)

Well, I ask you this, if Jesus needed time to replenish and to communicate and pray, and spend alone time with His Father, isn’t that enough for us to do the same?  We who are no where in the same capacity or equation as Jesus, we who are sinners, and sinners that He saved…isn’t it only fitting that we do the same?  Spend time alone with our Father?

When we spend time alone with the LORD, something essentially begins to happen. We grow closer to Him, we become immersed in His Word, and adapt to a totally new and joyful way of living.  We are enveloped in His care and love.

We get  “ears” and “eyes” to fully absorb His ways and thoughts, and commandments, where it takes us to a point of deeper understanding.  We then become able to ascertain quite readily what is “right and wrong”  and stay within the confines of His righteousness.  (Psalm 91) We  become keenly susceptible to His love and His protection.

Have you spent time with Him today?

Have you given yourself to Him?

Have you told Him you love Him?

Have you opened His love letter to us today?

If not, “what are you waiting for?”

As Jesus did, go off somewhere today and spend time with Him…and then pay special attention to the joy that will fill your heart! I tell you this, it is a feeling that is like none that you have ever felt before, or ever will again.

Walk in the spirit and perform in the spirit, and give all the glory and honor to Him, now and always.  For He Reigns Victorious!  Amen!

“Father, I love You, and I love spending time alone with You, I am selfish in that purpose, spending time with You is my joy, my everything, as You are my everything, thank You for loving me, and for guiding me, and being my Rock and Sanctuary,  May others know the joy of loving You and getting to know You, may others who are in the dark come to Your glorious light, thank You Father for all You are and all You do, in Jesus name, Amen.”

Psalm 91:1

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

Mark 1:35-37

 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

1 John 5:14 (KJV)

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

Proverbs 28:9 9 (NIV)

If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable.

God hears us when we call out to Him, and He hears us when we are silent in our heart.  He knows what we need even before we are aware of what we need.

Believing in Him when all else fails, is faith.  No matter what is happening around us, when we believe, and hold justly to our faith, it will sustain us through whatever capacity in which we seek, or need.

Yesterday was a rough day, there were issues and scenarios taking place within my circle of family and friends, it seemed everyone I knew and loved was going through a harsh time.  Prayers were offered up by friends and family, and prayer warriors…and God heard…because almost all of which we were praying for resolved and is now  past the crisis stage.  So, let me just shout and praise Him by saying, “GOD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD!”  Amen.

Conspiring against one another in a world of such extremes is not just, nor right, nor worthy of  our breath or thoughts.  Instead, we must strive toward righteousness in unison, and pray for one another, and faith and prayers with the grace of God, will get us through another minute, hour, day…or moment in time.

And, time here on earth is fleeting, but in Eternity, all we have is time…and plenty of it.  How does forever sound?

So, until then…keep running the race and keep praying and believing, because we are children of the greatest living and loving God, and each moment we are here on earth, He loves and guides us, so let’s give Him thanks and glory, now and forever in Jesus name.

Amen~

Ephesians 4:2-3 

Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.”  “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

1 Peter 4:8:

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

John 15:12:

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”

For me, the definition of love is many, and almost everyone will have a different aspect or view of love, or what love is when asked.  But, for me…the one that stands out above all else is the One Being whom I define as LOVE and that, of course, is the LORD.

We have all kinds of compartments within us that have the capacity in which to love, and various ways in which to love. There is the love between siblings, the love between friends, the love between colleagues, the love between fellow Christians, or those of faith, the love between aunts, uncles, cousins,  or family so to speak, the love of a mother, the love of a father, and the love of being a “fur parent.”

And, then there is the consummate and proverbial all time love that exists between the you and the LORD.  That to me is the definitive and the one LOVE that stands out in my mind.

To love is to be Christ-like.

To love is to be humble.

To love is to be kind.

To love is to be compassionate.

To love is to be filled with light.

To love is to be filled with the Word.

To love is to be multi-tasked in relationships.

To love is to know God.

And LOVE is GOD.

Remember the love of God in all we encounter each and everyday.

And, remember the love of God in the journey of life in which we travel.

And, remember the love of God that is inside of us, the Holy Spirit.

And, remember the Son, who loved us to die for us and save us.

And,most especially,  remember, the LORD who  loved us so much, He gave His Son for us. (John 3:16)

“Father thank You for Your love and Your unending compassion and grace, thank You for being with me and never leaving me ever, I love You now and always, in Jesus name, Amen.”