There are many passages in the Bible where the Lord declares that He wants us to enjoy His presence. “God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight.”  (Ecclesiastes 2:26 ) Makes one wonder why, despite God’s declarations, that many of His children fail to enjoy His presence.

First, one of the reasons may be they think that God is not approachable and therefore untouchable. However, nothing could be further from the truth.  God wants a relationship with you, He desires a close and abiding one with all of His children. When people fail to recognize the depths of His love, they’ll miss out on great blessings.

He has an everlasting love, He says to all of us today as He has through the ages,  that He wants us to come to Him, and have an intimate relationship.  The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. ( Jeremiah 3:13 KJV)  His heart is pure and open, as it so clearly demonstrates in the entire Bible.  He is our Father and much like our earthly fathers, longs for a close and honest relationship with His children.  The relationship we share with our Father is an individualized as our DNA. So, although the relationships will be different in how we relate and speak with Him, the connection should be one and the same. We are all HIS and He created us. We belong to Him.  We all share that common denominator.

Second, they may view God as a legalistic God.  He is not a legalistic God.  He doesn’t sit around looking at us, thinking “hmm, let’s see who can I condemn today?”  Nor does he sit and scrutinize our actions while investigating our motives. He knows our hearts, and He sees our very soul.  The very soul He held in His hands as He created it. He wants to instead, “set us free” and that is what He did when He sent Jesus. He loved/loves us enough to have sent His Son for us. Embrace that love…hold it firmly and shine your light from within to all those in your path.

Third, they may be afraid of Him. God calls us in reverence of His holiness, but not to be afraid. He has said so many times in His Word, “Do not be afraid!”    The following are just a few of the more familiar scriptures that show clearly that the Lord does not want us to be afraid:

After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. (Genesis 15:1 KJV) 

And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land:  (Joshua 8:1 KJV)

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. (Luke 1:30 KJV)

God loves us the way we are, and accepts us fully without any qualms or motives. There really isn’t anything we can do that’ll  make us more acceptable, He loves us just the way we are.  He doesn’t like sin  but…He loves us, fully and completely just as we are. He forgives us our sins, when we call them to mind and repent of them, thereby allowing us to fellowship with Him further, and opens us up to blessings in abundance. God is a God of forgiveness and love and acceptance.  He also promises restoration.

How can one not enjoy that? Love, acceptance, restoration…and fellowship with your creator, does it get any better than that?

He enjoys being with us. Spend time with Him, and begin to trust Him to meet all of your needs.  He’ll never let you down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gorgeous view created by God–picture captured by Scott Birge~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While waiting for the traffic light to turn green we heard sirens. They got louder as they approached…our dog, howled with his head out the window, giving perfect accompaniment to the orchestrated screeching.  Within minutes it was out of our range, but Max continued to howl. His sensitive ears picking up the sounds long after our human ears had failed to hear them.  It took awhile, but finally things got back to normal as we made out way into town.

The world is full of sounds.  Some are life saving sounds –such as an ambulance, fire engines, police cars–some are sour and add to the noise pollution.  Ostensibly, someone screaming obscenities within ear shot, cussing, or loud obnoxious music with offensive lyrics are anything but sweet. Or,  someone spinning and shifting their gears for the sake of noise, the list is endless. To those who are hearing impaired, there is no sound (which I’ll come back to later on.)  John 6:63 – It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life

I ‘ve learned to block out the “sounds of the world” in order to “hear the voice of God.” It can be a challenge at times, because the “noise of the world” tries to “choke the word of God” and tries to silence “HiS VOICE.  His voice is sweet, calming and exhilirating for ones soul. His voice alerts us to hazards of the world, His voice gives us conviction as to what is right or wrong.  His voice is the barometer of morality and truth in a corrupt and immoral world. Hebrews 4:12 – For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  His voice is the sweet sound compared to the “sour” of the world. He is the provider, and nurturer, and embodies the recompense of which we strive. He is the flag of peace and the refuge of which we seek. He is the house that is indesctrutable and the infinite life affirming God.

We listen intently and meditate upon His sweet voice, as we do things of which He wills. Our purpose and our sanctifying His ways are the steafast ground in which we walk. His sound, His voice beckon to His children. He calls…we hear.
John 10:27 – My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

Our faith comes by hearing His voice, His very word…blocking out the “ugly sounds of the world” as it were, as I’ve mentioned earlier, is difficult…but it can be done with the weapons of our faith—HIS WORD.

His voice, His word…wearing the gospel armor, and bearing the truth.  It wipes out the “sour sounds’ and brings “sweetness” that will bring peace and joy into our lives. Romans 10:17 – So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Now, going back to the “hearing impaired.”  They may not be able to “physically hear and listen to the “sirens” and  “engines” but they HEAR HIS VOICE…and they follow. They embrace His voice and follow, and are protected within the realm of His love, and thereby protected from the world. Be blessed and listen for His voice. Luke 11:28 – But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.  Like Max, who had the ears to hear the sirens long after they were out of “human ear-shot” –so too are the children of God. We have the “sensitive” ears to “hear” His voice. We pick up that which others who do not hear His voice are lacking. We get to Hear the sweet and welcome sound of His voice. We have the ability to HEAR HIM.

Listen to His voice and block out the sounds of the world.  The Lord promises He will protect His own, and the “ugliness and sour sounds” of the world will be muted…but, the sound of His voice shall be amplified and will resonate throughout the land… John 8:47 – He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

Turn up the volume of HIS WORD, what are you waiting for?

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 John 1:1 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Galatians 6:6 – Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

John 10:16 – And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, [and] one shepherd.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Landscape by God.  

The Master’s art captured by Scott Birge…Thanks for bringing His beauty for others to share~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the 1 book of Samuel the children of Israel pushed for a “king” to rule them. They wanted to be like the other lands who had kings residing over their land. They no longer wanted “GOD” or His choice of “Judges.” Samuel was then instructed to go forward and anoint a king to rule over them.  Saul was chosen and anointed but not without a “stern warning” from God.  He warned that the king would do horrendous acts and they would suffer the consequences thereof. He warned that the king would take their fields, their vineyards, and give them to “his servants” and that he would take a tenth of their seed, and give to “his officers and his servants.” Also that he would take a tenth of their sheep, and that they’d be “his servant.”  And he warned, “and when you cry out because of your king which ye have chosen, that he wouldn’t hear them.”  (1 Samuel 8:10-18)

 

God allows things to happen due to foolish choices of His children. Sometimes He will step back and allow things to transpire. Some will say, what’s that to do with “TODAY?”  The Bible goes down through the ages. Although there have been different ways of “clothing ourselves” throughout each decade, be it different hairstyles, advancements in technology or a progessive overturn in industry, the words of GOD live on.  The words in the old testament and the new testament  connect one to the other, to this very day.  

 

Christ, our redeemer came looking for us to offer us eternal salavation, and His blood covered us as it washed us white as snow.  The sacrifices, blood riturals in the old testament no longer apply, but the laws–commandments, and the warnings of heeding to them still apply.  There is no “sugar coating” that part of it. No politically correct way of ushering in the truth.  And, when God gave his children their “king”–he warned them what would happen.  That the “king would take from them” would “tax them” and “overstep their rights” — that applies to this day.

 

The world is in chaos and we are seeing many predictions of the Bible unfold before our eyes.  There is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes) everything old is new again.  Situations repeat themselves, just look around…turn on the news, see what’s happening.  When we take GOD out of the equation, and push Him out of our schools, our buildings, our lives…chaos and discord ensue.

 

He is watching us…He loves us, and He wants our love.  He is hurting more than we are hurting during these hectic days, because He loves us so intensely. So the transformation and pyramids of opposition toward Him is glaringly apparent as are the consequences.

 

We’ve made decisions and we’ve been a part of a “growing trend” of politically correct facades of discord.  We are facing trials of ill gotten choices. But, the good news is…His hand is still extended to us.  He is waiting for our voice of reason and love….for our hearts to turn back to HIM.  He is our faithful God, our loving Abba Father.  He is our refuge our soaring eagle of rightousness.  He is our defender against our enemy, and our eternal salvation.

 

His hand is out, His heart is exposed, and His love is  infused into our being.  Reach out to Him and accept His love and His Son, Jesus Christ who died for us, and who took away the sin of the world…for us.  

 

The world may change in erradic and unpredictable fashion, but God never changes. He is the same as He was from the beginning of time.

 

 

He’s waiting patiently. It’s never too late.  Accept Him, know peace and know the meaning of a true and deep enduring  love.  A love that transcends time and will never die.  Reach out…His hand is extended toward you right this moment…

 

 

 

“Thank You Lord, for all You are and all You continue to do for Your children, and thank You for Your love.  May those who don’t know You, seek Your presence and Your face, and may those who are in the dark come into the light of Your love.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

 

 

 

 

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⁷ And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

⁸ According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.

⁹ Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

¹⁰ And Samuel told all the words of the Lord unto the people that asked of him a king.

¹¹ And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.

¹² And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.

¹³ And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.

¹⁴ And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.

¹⁵ And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.

¹⁶ And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.

¹⁷ He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.

¹⁸ And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the Lord will not hear you in that day.

(1 Samuel 8:7-18 King James Version)

 

 

 

¹⁵ That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life

(John 3:15-16 King James Version)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Gorgeous magnificent landscape-by GOD~       

Picture of the Master’s work by Scott Birge~                                            

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As in all my devotionals, I praise God and His name. This post won’t be any different…I live to praise and worship Him.  However, it will be different as it will further solidfy His magnificence and sovereign power.  This post shall exalt His name with news from a moving testimony concerning a dear friend…”Dannie.” 

Those of you who read my devotionals reguarly will realize the pattern in my posts. All of them reflect love for the Father along with moving moments that glorify Him in the highest.  In some of the posts, I’ve recorded personal testimonies and witness to His love and power.

With the above being said. I received an email from Dannie…who is a missionary medic in Africa… last evening that made me literally shout with joy!  She had received news from her doctor pertaining to her heart valve, and it was nothing short of miraculous.  This lady is so filled with the Spirit and anointed. She accepted her calling to be a missionary in Africa and hasn’t turned back nor regretted listening to His voice. This lady on top of being loving, kind and selfless,  manages to do all  this in the jungle, “sightless.” She lost her vision years ago.

          I will share most of the email with you to honor His name and His glory..She wrote the following, speaking of her diagnosis from her Cardiologist…            

“In 2004 he diagnosed me with damage to my mitral valve as a result of one too many tropical illnesses while living in the jungle. In 2007, he said that the damage had moved from mild to moderate and I should be thinking along the lines of valve replacement surgery as a “when it will need to happen,” rather than “If it will need to happen.” He increased the dosage of the medicines he’d been prescribing and I’ve checked back with him as often as I could… Due to the expense, he usually just did the EKG, but today he said I needed to have the echocardiogram, too, because it’d been six years.   After the technician finished the echo, I sat in the exam room…. 

Dr.” U” entered the room, laid his laptop down on the desk, and began, “Well, there have been some significant changes in this echo from the one six years ago.” I gulped, waiting for the bad news. “The valve is now closing normally, with insignificant leakage at this point.” My throat tightened; I couldn’t believe what he’d said. “In fact, the other very significant finding is that the chambers of the heart are now all the normal size. It seems, Dannie that your heart is healing itself. I’ve been in cardiology many years and I’ve rarely seen such a thing happen. I’m aware it is possible for the heart to heal itself, because it’s a living organ, but I’ve just seen it so extremely rarely. Remember I told you six years ago that the progression of the damage meant you’d need to keep in mind surgery would be happening at one point?” I nodded, unable to speak. “Well, I can safely say that we will not be considering surgery for this heart unless something else happens to it. The valve is normal again.”

“Praise You Lord, and thank you God.  Miracles still happen to this very day. People need to know how magnificent You are!  You healed my friend, Dannie.  She is Your obedient servant, and Your loving Child…Thank you for taking care of her and touching her with Your infinite and unmerited grace.  You are the One and only true God, our Creator, Abba Father, and loving Lord of lords and King of kings.  Thank You.  Nothing is impossible with YOU my God. With men it’s impossible, with YOU all things are possible. Amen”

 

I’ve written about it so many times in the past. That God is the same as He was since the beginning of time, He hasn’t changed, nor has His love or promises in His holy Word, the Bible.  He is the same outstanding and omnipotent God He always was.  It’s times like Dannie’s healing, that make it POP out and allow us to stand back as we bow our heads in thanks.  It is times like these, that allow us to realize that You have kept Your word throughout the ages, and will never leave us, nor forsake us.  It’s times like these, that lead us to further sanctification of Your endless glory, and Your perpetual light that shines throughout the Universe and ages.  It is times like these that make us cry with joy as we rejoice in Your magnificence, and stand in witness of Your love and mercy which endureth forever.  Thank you Lord, for all You are…and all You do.

To those who are going through some kind of crisis, be it emotional, or physical, or financial…hang in there and cry out to your Abba Father.  He hears our cries. He is right there with You.

Moses in Exodus 17 was experiencing trouble with the people as they murmured against him and God.  They were angry and thirsty and tired. Moses never gave up, as he cried to the Lord:

And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.

⁵ And the Lord said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go.

⁶ Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.  (Exodus 17:4-6 KJV)

The lord came through for him and His children.  He hears our cries, He hears our prayers…He hears and feels our torment or anguish, as well as our joy and happiness.  He is the forebearer for all such things that we seek and for all such things that we attain, through Him and in Him, because of all that He is…we are what and who we are only because of Him.

When we seek God in an urgent cry, it’s different from regular pray. It is a cry of desperation as we run to Him for help. He hears the difference and knows the difference. He will respond, and He does hear.

When we’re drowing in a sea of sorrow, or despair, He will hear us. He will take care of His children. When we’re thirsting for His living water, it will flow. He will give and He will bless us with His love . When we call upon Him, remember He is listening. He certainly was in the case of Dannie, and her “big beautiful loving heart.”  He blessed her with a miracle and rewarded her diligence and dedication as she walks the narrow path while doing HIS work.  Praise His name!

Keep your faith and confidence in God, and remember He always is with you, and will always hear His children’s prayers and cries…

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. (Psalm 91:15 KJV)

 

 

 

A special note to Dannie:  “God has taken care of your heart…He knows how special it is, and to those you touch and tend to, whether near or far, we feel your compassion that fills your heart.  So my friend…God bless you, and may the Lord continue to guide you and keep you safe…”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gorgeous landscape created by God–picture captured by Scott Birge~