So, Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 

  John 8:31-32 (ESV)

When a decision of importance is placed upon your head and heart, what do you do with it? Do you turn to God for His Wisdom and direction? Or do you call a friend? Perhaps make the decision unilaterally without any consultation?

I can say from personal experience that all the moves, decisions, or choices I’ve made with God, and praying about it, have all worked out exceedingly well.

Consequently, the ones I made in a moment or without thinking through it, most importantly, “praying” about it, have all been futile, and hapless overall.

Stay.  Staying with God, and being a follower of His ways, commandments, and accepting His love, is a gift. When He knocks on our heart and calls us ever so softly to come and “stay,” through His Words, and His Spirit guides us to steadily follow Him, we are assured the rewards of Eternal Life. The Comforter is here to stay, and how joyous is that declaration?  (John 16:7)

Don’t stray.  Be on board with God’s Word, and trust in Him with all of your heart and soul, acknowledge Him fully, and He will direct your paths. That’s one of many promises He makes, and He never disappoints or lets us down.  (Proverbs 3:5)

Pray.  Taking everything to God in prayer, is popular in songs, and in theory. But how many of us can honestly say, we in fact take “everything” to Him? Bringing our burdens and issues, and laying them down by the river, or at His feet, will strengthen our Christianity, and our unity in the Spirit. He hears our prayers, He sees our tears, and He heals our broken hearts. Taking everything to Him prayer is our inherent blessings as Children of God. And it solidifies and declares we believe in Him and surrender fully to Him in all we do and say. (Philippians 4:6-7)

I can honestly say, “I never want to stray, I want to stay with the LORD, and I enjoy when I pray. Amen.”

“Father, thank You for sending the Comforter to us, for guiding us, for loving us, and for bringing truth, light, love and LIFE to us, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

Luke 10:27 (NKJV)

There have been references uttered in my circle of friends about my being overly “religious.”  Even some family members refer to me about being “pious,” and having no tolerance for contrary issues outside my religious parameters of acceptance.

Let me just say, although I don’t agree with the description of my character, I do agree with my “loving God,” to heights in which a lot of people may not relate. I am speaking about those who have a “luke-warm” or “mediocre” love for God.

Now, hang on. I’m not saying I’m “better” than anyone else, I’m just saying I don’t ascribe to their comments. I do say, and openly admit that I am “on fire” for God, and His Word, and His love.

Ostensibly, I don’t think I’m “religious,” because that word conjures up pictures of fire and brimstone. That is kind of what that word connotes for me, and probably the majority of individuals.

I am a woman of faith, and believe in God’s Omnipotence, Sovereign power, and His Holy Word.  And I choose to follow Him unconditionally, and acknowledge Him in all that I do, say, and believe.

I also feel very blessed when others refer to me as such, because in a way some individuals mock my belief, and faith.  So, I refer to Jesus saying, “be exceedingly glad when others mock you for my sake.”  So, I am in fact joyful and thrilled being known as a “Bible Thumper” or “Religious” one of the group. No problems here.

The facts are pure and simple.

I love Jesus!

I love Jehovah!

And I love how He loves me!

Do you know how much Jesus loves you? 

Do you smile if others refer to you as a “Religious” fanatic for Jesus? 

If you do, “be glad, be exceedingly glad.”

“Father, thank You for loving me, may I always be in awe of Your Omnipotence, Your Sovereign Power, and know You are always in control, may I do all for You today and forever, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Matthew 5:11-12

Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. ¹² Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

 Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2 (NIV)

I notice in my personal experience that when my thoughts are “cloudy” or not focused it stems from “overload” of worldly contents. In other words all of the goings on in the world that are “going on.”

Let me get to that plainly.  When I get an “overload” of evil images on the news, or horrific breaking news stories that pour into my line of vision and hearing, I get a vibe, and my thoughts become crowded with such deeds/actions.

What do I do? What works for me?  I open the Bible, and start downloading the Word and fill my senses, heart mind and soul with scripture, and I feel the “veil of doubt and obscurity” fall away opening my mind to clarity and peace.

God’s Word and His Spirit is my “go to” for all aspects of my life, and most particularly when my mind is being filled with the “world.”

Some people do different things to bring a vision of peace. Some go for their morning runs, some exercise at gyms, and both are great!  However, for me, exercising my spirit in His soothing Word is balm to my soul and the remedy for peace of mind.  That is the best exercise I could ever do for my whole being.

Want peace and strength and wisdom?  Seek God daily and open to His ways, His Word, and His love, and you will be overflowing with all these things and more!

“LORD, thank You for Your love, Your Word, and Your guidance in all I do, see and say, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Romans 12:2 (KJV)

No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:31:39 (NLT)

Troubles, financial debts, illness, chaos—these things are all “weak” and are small in the eyes of the LORD.  Meaning, nothing is too small for our Big God, who can handle any, and all infirmities, discrepancies, medical maladies, financial strongholds, etc., etc., etc.

It is through His Son, Christ Jesus, that renders endless answers, and who guides our choices, and sustains our souls.

He is the reinforcer of our mainstream called life, and He is the sole defender against our worst enemies.

And no matter what, we know without any doubt, that His love is invincible, and unsurpassed by anyone, or anything else in our world, or lives.

As Christians it is our love and trust for HIM, that gets us through each scenario, and pulls us from the “web of decay,” which is to say the world, and its glaring monstrosities.  He lifts us onto higher ground, while protecting us under His mighty wings, and it is there where we will find our sanctuary, and our peace.

So, for me, and all Christians alike…nothing, and no one will ever pull us from the love of God, or His Word, and His promises, and His Son, Jesus Christ.

“Father, thank You for the provisions that never cease to astound me, sustain me, amaze me, and protect me, You are my first, last and everything, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Ephesians 6:7-8 (NKJV)

“…with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.”

At times there are things we won’t particularly want to do, and we may put off doing it given the tedious aspects of the task, or the monotonous ordeal we may have to endure, to get it done.

What gets me through such times is realizing we are “serving God” in all capacities, no matter how big or small.  When we alter our “attitudes” and adjust to the realization that ultimately the LORD is our “boss,” and we are “serving under Him,” in everything we do and say, and that eases my ability to get through it, knowing it is Him, my LORD and King that I serve.

If we do things haphazardly, and with a rushed “oh let’s get this over with” mind-set, it dims the vitality of being Christians, and it may allow access into other areas that are not pleasing to Him.

Taking care to do all things within the best of our ability, and not murmur or complain, although we want to, it solidifies our connection to His Spirit, and enables us to do things that we ordinarily wouldn’t be able to accomplish.

The path of righteousness is a convoluted one, and yet simplistic, if we observe His commandments, and adhere to His will and purpose for our lives. It’s so easy to love Him! Because He loves us back a gazillion times more!

No matter how mundane the issue, the important thing is to remember who we are serving when we endeavor to take on anything we do.

And when we reconcile to that ideology, we can go forth deeply and firmly entrenched in truth, prosperity, strength, and love of the LORD.

“Dear LORD, may I always realize who I am serving all the days of my life, may all I do be a reflection of Your love and my love for You, may I never waver from this mind-set and belief, today tomorrow and always, in Jesus’ name, Amen”

Luke 4:8
 
Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’” (NASB)

 And above all this put-on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.   

Colossians 3:14 (ESV)

Reflecting on God’s love and truth for us is a “call for us to love” one another.  Meditating on His Word helps to reinforce and allows us to fully comprehend the power of that love, through His light.  It helps to support so many facets of our lives. Such as our marriages, our relationships of our family, friends, neighbors, and our enemies.

The Holy Bible states emphatically that the LORD is love, which makes the Word a perfect source to know just what that love means, and how we in turn might demonstrate His love towards others.

Reading the Word enables us to grow closer to the LORD while solidifying our love for Him. Along with our reading the scriptures and putting them into practice as we go about living our lives, we as well as others, begin to see the changes emerging in our hearts and mind, which is to encapsulate and emulate, selfless love.

He made us in love, and His love is what makes us who we are.  So, walking in His light, and obeying His Word allows us to fully develop as Christians.

Love is what we are made from, and Love from the LORD is the very “air we breathe” that is to say, LIFE.

We live because of Him, now and forever, Amen.

“Father, thank You for breathing life into my soul and creating me because of Your love, I pray I do all to please You today and always, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

“I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.”

                                                           Revelation 1:8 (NLT)

Jesus in the last book of the Bible, reveals Himself as the “Alpha  & the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

The “Revelation” becomes an “Epiphany” to our souls, and still, our minds at times struggle with the reality of its meaning. It’s an incomprehensible aspect that our human minds cannot fully grasp.

The truth is, that when we believe and pray to the LORD, as the Alpha and the Omega, we are praying to the One who is, who was, and who is to come.

Our LORD, our Provider, our Redeemer, our all-sufficient One and only, who has begun a good work in us, and who will not fail to fulfill His promises, and complete the good work in us, bringing us through this life, and passing on to our Eternal life and home.

“For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God” (Psalm 86:10)…

Only He can perform miraculous deeds and events, and has done so since the beginning of time, and does so to this very day.  Our LORD has not “gone out of the miracle business.”

He is everlasting and constant, no matter the circumstances that prevail around us. He is always working, guiding us, holding us up when we can barely stand, and picking us up when we fall to our knees.

He is the One who wipes away our tears. He is the One who sits by us as we open our hearts to Him in humble adoration.  He is the One who knows how many hairs are on our head, listens to our prayers, keeps watch over us night and day…and who knows us very well, in fact…better than we know ourselves.

The simultaneous events that surround us in this current day, are at once disturbing and daunting. And ostensibly, very rewarding in our base reality knowing He never leaves our side and resides within each of us, bringing comfort and wisdom to scenarios, that would otherwise be alarming to our mortal minds, bodies, hearts and soul.

Living as faithful followers and believers, lends reassurance of the LORD’s strength which in turn bolsters our spirits. T

Trusting and understanding that our LORD is the Beginning, and the End of all things, is a joyful and magnificent Blessings for His children.

While facing times of turbulence, unrest, and uncertainty, trusting and leaning on the LORD, is crucially important for believers.

The LORD our Creator, and Sustainer, our Rock and foundation, has remained firmly in place without wavering. This is a testament that He has been with us throughout, “since always” and a fortress for all generations since, and to come.

Today, as you step outside into “your part of the world” wherever that may be, remember that a Loving, Kind, and Powerful Being, is with us every step of the way.

His Spirit lives in each of us, and no matter what we navigate, or endeavor to take on during our travels, He is with us.  And ultimately remains a part of all we do, and all we see, and all we are.

So, rejoice and have no fear, because “…Greater is He that is in me, that he that is in the world.”  1 John 4:4   AMEN!

“LORD, thank You for being the Living Source for all of my needs & desires, and sustaining me twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, You are my Strength, Light, Rock, Sanctuary, and love of my heart and soul, may I do all to please You today, and always in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

“…he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).

Luke 10:25-28

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

LOVE-–– Without a doubt, we can all honestly state that “love” is the biggest and strongest human emotion we can ever experience. It seemingly impacts and impinges every level of our lives.  It is a continuous process and feeling.

It encompasses so many issues and scenarios. It affects the way we interact with others, and how we may behave accordingly.  Love is sentimental, it can be momentarily fleeting, or it can sustain us for a lifetime. It can break our hearts, it can overflow into rivers of gratitude, and it is a “gift” from the heavens above, from our LORD.

The Bible mentions and illustrates love in the OT to the NT. Strong men and women, in different stories and capacities, and at the center of the stories is love. And naturally leading up to the greatest love story of all time, “John 3:16.”

What does it mean to love God?  How can we show God’s love to those around us? There are so many verses we can meditate upon to reflect and absorb pertaining to His love; 1 John 4:19, John 16:27, Psalm 143:8, Lamentations 3:22-23, Zephaniah 3:17 are just a few of many you might want to meditate upon.

God’s character and His love is unsurpassed by any other love known to humankind. He demonstrated His love over and over with His children, and listened to their cries, prayers along the way. He protected them, guided them, and ultimately saved them by sending His Son, Jesus Christ.

Love is a rewarding and powerfully strong sensation that truly yields to and from a Sovereign and Loving God.

In Galatians 5:22-23, we are informed that the fruit of the Spirit is namely “love.”  With love, all else follows; joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; and when we utilize and fully engage in the acts of love, against such things there is no law.  Love is the biggest emulsifier for all else. It is the quintessential adornment for what we can “life.”  And when we think of “Life” we think of the LORD.  For He is life, and He is our breath, and He is our everything…He is LOVE.

Experience His love for yourself, get to know Him through His Word, and get ready for an experience that is beyond our human grasp of understanding. An awakening of your soul by His love is tantamount to the very structure of our breath and life overall.

“My LORD, thank You, for Your inordinate love, it is Your love that created me, and it is Your love that sustains me, it is Your love the reason I love, and it is Your love that gives me LIFE, I love You forever, and always, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 L

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.

1 John 4:16

God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

1 John 4:8

Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19 (ESV)

I was doing a mini review of my life in order to exalt the LORD in all His ways, and to acknowledge and solidify that which I already know, that “He knows me” and all of His children so well and knows what we need before we even know what it is we need.

He knows what we can handle, and never gives us more than we can handle. And always shows us a “way out” of things that might be detrimental to our health, mind and souls.

Just recently I had to undergo a diagnostic procedure, and was trying to find an appointment time, and place to have it done.  An appointment was made, and I showed up for the appointment only to find “someone messed up” big time. It was the wrong date, the wrong place and the wrong person to do the procedure.

Of course, at first, I was a slightly rankled, because it proved to be a major inconvenience.  However shortly thereafter, I realized that things happen for a reason, and so I called to reschedule. The office apologized continuously, and rescheduled.  After three days, they cancelled again!  At least this time before I went to the actual place. I thought, “what the heck is going on?”  Again, feeling that God probably was behind it all, because things happen for a reason, and surely this office couldn’t be so incompetent, could they?

Finally, an appointment was secured again, and it was for a Saturday.  It was to take place in an office just a few minutes from my house, the others were 30 minutes away.

I arrived in an office that was quiet, peaceful, and the two people in there were devout Christians.  I was so calm, and filled with God’s peace and love, that the 30-minute procedure went by so quickly, I could hardly believe it when it was announced, “that’s it, you’re done!”

So, there was the reason for the delays. Thank you, LORD!

God knows me well. I am not one for “huge crowds, or large hospitals, or highway travelling, if I can avoid major expressways I do. I am quite reticent with these types of situations.  So, here was a small quiet office, with two Christians, located 3 miles from my house…and filled with His peace and love!

This is one of countless moments where God delivered a “hug and love” in my direction. One of innumerable times He placed me in the right place, and gave me what I needed, when I needed and how I needed it.

Have you looked back at your life and recognized how many times the LORD has sent you “hugs and love?”

Next time something is delayed, or cancelled, don’t get irritated.  Instead embrace the moment and remember, “God does things for reasons, and always for our betterment and for our personal needs.”

“Father, thank You for always sending what I need, for protecting me in all of my ways, and for loving me endlessly all the days of my life, may I never forget Your love and promises, and honor You, exalt You, worship You and love You, now and forever, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

2 Corinthians 9:8 

During the course of our lifetime, we will encounter warfare; but our struggles will not last always.  Adversities, troubles and sadness are powerfully removed in love.  And who loves us more than our LORD?  No one.  

In the atonement of the crucifixion and death of Christ, the powerful mercy of our LORD and His love, our sin was pardoned. His sacrifice made by his death, was of enormous value that is unsurpassed. But His love as perpetuity, is something that we need to grasp and embrace as we go through this life that we have here on earth, until we are able to “love Him” in our Eternal home.

The verse in Isaiah concerning “His Word” living forever is a reason to rejoice, as it encompasses His unwavering love and truth for His children. It supports the realization that when our journey is complete and we draw our last breath, we come into His Kingdom and receive our eternal rewards for serving Him, all the days of our lives.

Knowing that flowers fade away, and grass will wither, and seasons will come and go is a given, but through this cycle, and all else, His WORD and HIS love will never die.

It is His love that gives us eternal life.

It is His Word that gives us guidance.

It is His grace that surrounds us.

His Word, His love, His strength, His guidance, and His commandments are the tenets of which we survive and which we subscribe to.

It comes down to the only thing that truly matters in this world, is His love and word and living according to His will and purpose. Shine our inner light to those who live in the darkness and spread seeds of love and His word to those who need it, and especially to those who don’t seem to know they do.

In the meantime, as you gaze at the beauty of the flower and the green meadows of emerald grass, try to visualize that although these things of beauty will one day fade, wither, die…be of good cheer, because His Word is iron clad, and will stand forever.  Amen!

“Father, thank You for Your word and for Your promises and unconditional unrelenting love, may I embrace this reality all the days of my life, and may I be pleasing in Your eyes in all I do, in Jesus name, Amen.”