Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence. (Psalm 140:13 KJV)

During a gathering to celebrate a couple’s engagement I couldn’t help but note people sitting in “groups of five.”   WIthin these groups were disparaging ages and backgrounds.  There were ten of these groups, and it wasn’t designed as such, it just happened that way.  You know how it is while attending such gatherings, people will invariably drift off and “self-group” with those in which they could relate.

I couldn’t help but think about the “eternal presence” of God.  When we are called home, we will not be broken into “groups” –instead we will be gathered around the the Light of the world.  We will all share a purpose as we worship our Lord and Savior…our King.  There will be no groups of five…only a common thread bound by the cord of Christ. Our Father will be our reason and purpose and we will all have our things to do, but it will be a cohesive and peaceful gathering.

All those who surrender their lives to Christ will be rewarded.  We can still be blessed during our time on earth, while in our “flesh bodies.”  We can come to the Lord and He will sustain and provide for us here and now…and eventually lead the way into eternity.  Doing His Will as we go through life will be the key to pleasing God, and He will bless us accordingly.  A good man obtaineth favour of the Lord: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn. (Proverbs 12:2 KJV)

Our Lord is wise and powerful. He loves us and wants us to follow His ways so we might share eternity with Him. If He didn’t want us with Him, He wouldn’t have sent His Son, Yeshua the Messiah to save us from sin. (John 3:16)

He created us and all things f for His pleasure. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:11 KJV)

When we are called home and see His magnificence, we will be worshipping and bowing and proclaiming His  Glory in unison, as we live in accordance to His promise and His will forever. “Saying in a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory , and blessing.” (Reveleation 4:12 )

What a beautiful and peaceful assurance, to know that we will all live on forever in His love, and His glory.  What an awesome God we serve!

Amen and Amen~

And every creature which is in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heart I saying, Blessing, and honour and glory and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. (Revelation 4:13 KJV)

Magnificent and Glorious picture created by God….Scott Birge allowed to capture the moment~

  “Whoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.But whoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”

                                                   Matthew 10:32-33 KJV~

Be tolerant of your brothers and sisters in this troubled world. Be a peace maker and deliver the “good news” of Christ and what He has done for us to live forever in the Paradise of God, of His kingdom. Endeavor to keep His Spirit in this world which is filled with iniquity and a perverse generation, and strive to do righteous acts and bring as many “sheep home” as we can – so the Head Shepherd will be glad and rejoice at a job well done. Overcome and be rewarded, there is no shadow in His presence and it is there we long to be.

Don’t be politically correct in terms of Jesus. Don’t be fearful in speaking about Him and His glory, and what He has done for ALL of us. Shout it from the mountain tops if necessary, but whatever you do, don’t deny Him…for if you do, so shall he deny you to His Father in heaven. There are so many who are not aware of Jesus or His works. Even just one of Jesus Christ’s parables may be enough to plant a seed, and then perhaps it shall take root to grow, that’s up to the Father. So, today, go out and spread “seeds of love” in His name and glory, while proclaiming the Word of God…

As for me,  I will serve God and choose to be Morally Correct, Amen.

Sky created by our Sovereign Father– picture taken by Scott Birge~

And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of
like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these
vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all
things that are therein: (Acts 14:15 KJV)

Just looking at that magnificent majestic sunset you know “GOD LIVES” and is the Creator of all things.

God is a professor/teacher/Rabbi and a scholar who has taught and continues to “teach” us as we live and grow.  He is the cultivator of all things big and small.  You’ve heard me say that before, and it bears repeating. He is amazing in all that He has done and continues to do.

In this whirlwind called “life” we can get blown away by so many insignificant things, and become involved in areas in which we shouldn’t be.  Or, perhaps…we’re simply overtasking our lives to the point of “exhaustion” and seemingly too tired to do anything at the end of day but “collapse” into our beds. Although we have vast responsiblities, some more than others, we need to be “dilligent” in our quest to find time alone with our Father.

Jesus was asked in Mark 12:30, “teacher which is the firstcommandment of all?”  Jesus responded, ” And, thou shalt love the Lord thy God wth all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”  So…finding time for God seems to fall in line with Jesus’ answer, however, it falls short of completion.

Somewhere in the span of twenty-four hours there should be time for God. He loves it when we speak from our heart directly to His.  Speaking with Him is prayer, it’s connecting to His heart while gaining an inner growth of spiritual understanding. It is a gradual increase of grasping things with a “spiritual mind-set” and allowing the “wordly aspects” fall by the wayside thereby gaining insight into what truly in important.  God, His love, His ways, His Kingdom.  We need to “decrease” so He can INCREASE in us.

To comply with Jesus’ words in Mark 12:30, we must adjust our priorities accordingly. As we commune with God, we fall in love with Him more deeply, and it compels us to change our ways, and shine our light before others in reflection of His love.  Our behavior will acclimate to His ways, and in time the conviction of the Holy Spirit provides answers to all of our inquiries, needs, desires and decisions.

My soul thirsts/pants for the Living God, my soul desires Him fully and completely.  As it so states in Psalms 42:1– As the hart pants after the water brooks, so pants my soul after you, O God.

As we get to know Him, the intensity of our love becomes the barometer in which we proceed.  The complexity in which we previously struggled, becomes simplistic when we experience the light from within.

Take a deep breath, push aside Facebook, your cell phones, the computer, the ballgame on TV,  shining your car….instead “Shine from the inside” and turn to God, and His word, and His voice, and His love.  I tell you this, no other individual in this entire world loves you more than God. He laid down His life for us, now that is LOVE, that my brothers and sisters is LOVE..

Amen~

( John 15:13 KJV)
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his
life for his friends.

Majestic Sky by God: Picture captured by BCF~

 Prayers and Belief~ 

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. (Matthew 21:22)

I have often heard people say, “I’ve been praying so faithfully, and I haven’t heard anything yet.”  Or – “God doesn’t hear me, He isn’t answering my prayers.”

This has long been a bone of contention with me. However, before I go into the reasons why, I just want to say we are all “flesh” and so, we sometimes struggle with due diligence in terms of patience; and being obedient to the Lord. I know I’ve been guilty of it many times in the past, and who knows maybe I will be guilty of it in the future. But, there’s one thing I’ve never faltered in, and that’s my undying faith in God and His ability to change everything in one second flat.

Faith is about believing that which we cannot see for “we walk by faith and not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7) And, in so doing we are fortifying and living in testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ, and all that He has done for us. His Father, our Lord God gave us the Lamb who was slain for us, who became the Living Word as He walked amongst man/sinners. We’re showing our hearts in unity as we follow and believe in the ministry and works of Jesus Christ, through our works in our righteous deeds/acts.

So, when the Lord, our God sees us, His children approach His Holy of Holies, and stand before His throne in the name of Jesus Christ and pray, He hears us. His will is perfect and His ways Divine and in perfect timing in accordance to all things, however that is what we need to understand. His ways, His time, and His will. Not ours.  So, if we don’t hear an answer right away, be patient, don’t give up, take a leap of faith and hold on. He will respond in His own time.

We will be heard, and if the prayers aren’t answered, we can’t see the future.  He can, and there may be something better waiting for us and He knows that and it’ll become apparent, eventually. Perhaps the dawning of understanding will not be revealed immediately, or ever–just hold on knowing He has better plans for us.  What His purpose is, we may never understand. But, bow to His wisdom, and His ever-knowing.

Most times the prayers will be answered, and the main thing is that we’re never alone. He’s with us always. Isn’t that comforting? Knowing He is with us twenty-four-seven…watching over us even as we sleep?  That’s a sign of joy of His everlasting covenant with us, His every Word, and His very promise to us.

So, to those praying and waiting, and to those is a desperate area right now…hang on and keep praying.  It may be the very next time you pray that’ll open the heavens, and His grace will wash down upon all granting your requests.

Sometimes it takes “one more extra prayer” for the vial to open and be poured out. God is refining us to become more like Him, and doing an inner working on all of us. In trials and tribulations we stand hand-in-hand together as Christians making us strong soldiers in Christ. He is accomplishing a deed within us until we’re shining from the inside out. Each trial and suffering an extra step closer to perfection in His image.

Keep praying, keep believing, and keep walking in faith, not by sight.  Only God knows when your prayers will be answered, until such time, keep looking up for all the answers, and for the direction in your life. And, by all means – keep reading and digesting His every Word, it is truth, and His love letter to His children.

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 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 

( 2 Corinthians 4:17 )  

Landscape created by Our Creator, The Lord our God: picture captured by our good friend, Scott BIrge

“and, lo, I am with you alway, even until the end of the world.”          (Matthew 28:20 KJV)

“This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.

 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” (John 15:12-15 KJV)

JESUS 

His unconditional, and life-altering acts— which were/are for our benefit and our salvation—constitute, a friendship, deep and binding. Along with a love, that goes beyond our depths of imagination. We have a sense of “His love” we speak about it, but the comprehensive level probably cannot be grasped in this lifetime. We know, He loves us, but it’s hard to fathom in this flesh body, just how much.

The eternal rewards of His becoming flesh, and walking amongst us, are infusive, and immeasurable.  The consequences in which His selfless, and altruistic acts were made, is synonymous with eternal salvation, friendship, love and accord.

The void is filled, the chambers overflowing, and the essence of life glaringly apparent, when Jesus enters your heart.

With Him no one will feel lonely any longer; the urgency of finding someone to love is no longer a fervent frenzy of chaos. Instead, a steady and powerful stream of love will encompass your being. Any, and all chaotic paths that we might face, will be cancelled out, and in its place tranquility will flow. The feeling of serenity in Christ is an existence that goes beyond words.

Jesus is our amazing redeemer, our Lord of lords, King of kings, and the only begotten Son of the one true Sovereign God. He’s always there, He never forsakes us, and He will never leave us. “…I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:20 KJV)

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The words written above is from an excerpt in my book shown below.    I expose my heart and love for Jesus repeatedly throughout and it is with a deeper love each time I speak of Him. For He is the most important part of my life. As we put ourselves in remembrance this holy season, remembering His greatest sacrifice for mankind, and how He was crucified, died and was buried….only to resurrect thereby conquering death.  Our author of Salvation, our King of kings and Lord of lords, JESUS CHRIST, Yeshua the Messiah!  Hallelujah!  Praise His precious name forever and always.

Let us give Him thanks, praise, and unconditional love…now and always. 

Amen.

This book and others can be found under the tab, “My Books” in this website…As always, I write for Him and Him alone.  For those of you who are Christians, I know you’ll find joy and peace in reading this book, and for those who don’t know Jesus, I pray you’ll find Him and find peace… God Bless~

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait,
I say, on the LORD.

(Psalm 27:14 KJV)

Whenever I need to sharpen my irons in “waiting on the Lord”  I revert back to this picture taken sometime last spring.   My husband who snapped this adorable “mom” makes me smile as well as think.  Here is a mother waiting for her chicks to hatch, keeping watch, as she patiently anticipates their appearance. Even creatures must be patient and “wait upon the Lord.

Here in the Northeast, Spring is right around the corner.  The change of the season is a time of reflection for “new things,” It’s the time of rebirth, and a time of growth in all things big and small.  Animals and their “babies” come forth, a Robin makes her first appearance as she scampers for her worm, and the ground starts warming up making way for green grass and beautiful flowers.

To wait upon the Lord is a privilege and an honor.  To be able to “bask in His renewal” of Spirit as He washes His grace over us is beyond words.  The patience of following His word while being obedient to His doctrine is a valuable tool that will encompass our countenance if “we surrender” to His will. The road of Life is one in which we can survive any kind of “set-back” or “adversive” scenario when we’re clothed in our garments of faith.

The reasurrance of the “first buds” of Spring and the red Robin gathering her worms is proof of God and His magnificence.  The renewal of fauna, animals and their young,  is all evidence of God and His existence.

As we breathe the air, so do we breathe “His Spirit.”  We LIVE because of Him, and we ARE because of Him.  So Breathe…and enjoy His sweet essence of Love and promises…

 
Galatians
2:20 – I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I,
but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by
the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Isaiah
40:31 – But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their]
strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint.
Psalms
37:34 – Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee
to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see [it].

The Gospel according to John was all about Jesus, love, and evagelizing seeking to reach unbelievers. He emphasized the deity of Jesus from the beginning of the Gospel.  John was referred to as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” –but in fact, Jesus loved all His disciples, and all of His followers, and He loved/loves us…In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1 KJV)

Jesus has a heart for all of us, and that was established a very long time ago through His ministry while on this earth, and solidified through His miraculous deeds, His cricifixion, and ultimately, His resurrection. He defeated death so that we should live forever.  “O Death where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55 KJV)

His ministry goes on today, the many membered body of Christ is actively continuing to this very day with Christians walking in truth keeping to the narrow path, their hearts on the prize…His kingdom, His eternal love.

The prologue in the Gospel of John affirms that Christ was the eternal word (Greek– logos) who was with God and was God.  And, then the word became flesh and walked among us….

Eternal life comes from accepting and knowing Jesus Christ the Son of God, and believing in Him.  “No one can get to the Father but through Christ.”  Our hearts have to be open to Him and His ways. The Holy Spirit gives us conviction  in all of our paths of life. We need to adopt His ways and have the heart to do all things in His name and exemplify Him by our actions towards others.

Which brings me to my story below, about giving to others, and sharing a piece of your heart with them.  An eighty-six year old being treated for a medley of ills was in desperate need of an attentive “ear” and unconditional “love and understanding.” Although running late for many errands, I couldn’t—nor wouldn’t—turn my attention away. Obviously lonely and doing an active “life review,” she cried in the process.