Month: December 2023

DEAR GOD: You Are My Perfect Peace~

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And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Colossians 3:15 (KJV)

My pastor did a play on words while speaking of “Peace” of God.  He equated it to a puzzle.  You know, the type of puzzle put together on the table, a former family favorite of days gone by of which some of you may recall.

Well, many a time having worked so diligently on the puzzle only to find there is “one piece missing.”  Did that ever happen to you?   Well, it’s like our presence, it’s not complete without that final piece of the puzzle.  That would be GOD.

He is the missing piece of the puzzle which ostensibly brings about PEACE.

Throughout the Bible there are references relating to knowing “peace” and having secured it only through the “Spiritual” aligning of His word and His Spirit.  Without it there is no peace. It’s simple and complex.  Simple to those who know and have an intimate relationship with Christ. Yet complex to those who haven’t yet accepted Him into their lives.

You’ll recall the famous sign that many churches display: NO GOD – NO PEACE.  KNOW GOD–KNOW PEACE.   Well, that is precisely what He is all about.  That is what His Presence, His light, His love, and His word accomplish within us.  We know perfect peace when we’re one with Him.

The world can literally tumble and fall around us (which these days it seems it is happening as such) …but knowing God will keep us free from anxiety and worry.

As Jesus said in Matthew 7:31 :34 (KJV)— “Therefore take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? or, what shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek :) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of
God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow:  for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof…”

God loves us and He creates us with that love and there is no fear in love.

As stated in 1 John 4:18 (KJV) – There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

And by knowing He loves us…we have peace.  In peace, there is no fear. So, it goes…

When we exhibit and therefore take on the behavior of Christ in what we do… we eventually lose sight of “the world” and take up the Spiritual aspect of living. Things that mattered before, no longer have a place in our life. When people push us to the limits the Spirit will guide and give us the wisdom as to the handling of such circumstances. At times, we might not even be aware of such folly. It’s difficult to describe walking in the Spirit and wearing the gospel armor other than to say, it brings peace.

The pastor also gave another good example of “love and peace.”  It was like describing a certain food to someone who’s never had it.  You can describe it, but you cannot really know until you’ve tasted of it.  Such is the love and the peace and the rewards of knowing God and participating in His banquet which all of us can partake of.

Stop, drink and eat of His presence and His love.  I promise, but most especially and most important—HE promises the rewards are boundless.  Amen.

“Father, God, thank You for Your peace and Your protection and providence over my life, today, tomorrow and always, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7 (KJV)

 

“The pastures of His love go beyond explanation. It is to graze endlessly and be fulfilled, refreshed, and thirsty no more. The peace and the love that lives within is the ultimate freedom and expression of eternal rewards…”
My response in an article I was interviewed for in 2015 when asked about God’s love…

Dear GOD: I Give All To You~

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We can turn to God in prayers for peace whenever overwhelmed by the chaos and difficulty of life. As Philippians 4:6 tells us,

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

When we look to God and turn to Him in earnest and seek Him daily in all that we do, we can be assured that we will be able to live life with purpose and meaning. When we acknowledge Him as a constant source and the empirical force in our lives, we are able to navigate life seemingly with an ease that those without God in their lives cannot be capable of doing.  We as followers are given opportunities to delve into His mind by His Word that will enlighten our paths, by giving us the Wisdom we need in order to gain perspective on any of life’s challenging highways along the way.

Finding time to sit and meditate and operate on a godly outlet will enable us to fully engage His positive Light and love that will be a reflection in all we do. It will be a sign to all we encounter in our lives. We will be a representative and a willing servant for the LORD to all around us. We may often hear along the way, “How do you find the answers? How do you stay so calm? How can you be so sure?”  And the response each and every time will be a resounding, “GOD.”

The Bible is a tool for life. It is a guide to understanding life. It is an impactful statement, and it is His love letter to us, His children. Showing all sides of life. The good. The bad. The ugly. The beautiful. The bloody battles. The consummate peace. The light. The dark.  All of it as it was then, and as it is today, a guide for what to do. What to expect if you don’t do it. And what happens when you do according to His will.

Have you read a chapter today? Have you read the Bible at all? Do you know His voice? He is here today as He was then, and always will be. Go to Him, open His book that was written for us, and tell Him how much you love Him.  After all, He sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to redeem us, isn’t that one of the biggest reasons to open your Bible?  (John 3:16)

“Father, thank You for Your love, Your peace, Your Word, Your will, and Your Presence in my life, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

 

 

DEAR GOD: Shine Your Light~

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Isaiah 60:1 KJV- Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.

 

LORD, shine Your light from high above in the world that seems to be under darkness as of late. Help those in anguish, and those in ill health, help those trapped in situations that seem hopeless, help those who are experiencing loss of a loved one, or those who are trapped in a bad marriage, or those who are tempted to ignore God’s Word and commandments, help those who haven’t yet come to You, or those who have turned their backs on You, help these individuals, help those who are addicted by something in their lives that are keeping them from experiencing life through You and Your Word, help those who go against Your Word, and help the World that is in such disarray my LORD, only YOU can change things with a wave of Your hand, or by Your Word, all those reading this right now, may their prayers be heard, and if it is Your will, may it be done, in Jesus’ precious name, Amen.”

I felt it in my heart, God laid it upon me to write that prayer, someone out there is in need of prayers this very moment, so turn to the One who can help You, never give up, or lose faith, cause God’s timing and Will is perfect. Hang in there, hold on, and know that He hears You, and is there with You.

God is like oxygen. You can’t see it, but we NEED IT TO BREATHE. So, breathe!  Take in the LORD, follow Him and His Word, and know that He will never leave or forsake You.

Accept Him as LORD and Savior. Jesus said, “no one goes to the Father, but through Me”(John 14:6) — He also says, “Whatever you ask in my name to the Father, it shall be done” (John 14:13) Those two verses meditate upon them, realize the depth of what that means, and accept Him as LORD.

  • Jesus is LORD, and LORD above all.
  • Praise His name, Amen!

“Father, may I do all I can to please You, may I always walk in obedience to You, may I turn from all temptations, and may I share You Word and be Your servant all the days of my life, and I pray for all those reading this message, I pray for all issues to be resolved in their lives, and that they are obedient to You and Your Son, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

 

John 8:12 KJV- Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

 

Ephesians 5:8- KJV For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

 

John 3:16 KJV -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.

DEAR GOD: Thank You For Your Comfort & Word~

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Isaiah 40:1 (ESV)
“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.”

One thing we all need at times is comfort. We all need comfort at one time or another. We can expect comfort from the LORD in His Word and in His promises. That is a considerable amount of comfort to all those who follow Him.

We can have intense sadness at any given point in our lives, in many ways. Death, financial ruins, sickness, loss of family, friends due to misunderstandings, etc.  Then there is the elderly that seems to be a population that gets lost in the crevices of life. As those who are aging, they sense the loss of “youth” as it slips by in a subtle manner, yet reality adds up and we start to realize our limitations. We have to recognize that certain aspects of our functioning start waning.

But we adapt to our circumstances and go according to what we can accept for what our body and condition allows us at each passing point in time. We need to realize that time cannot work in “reverse” nor can the “aging process.” Those who are aging are aging no doubt about it. But we of faith have something “new” each day…the promises and His Word that brings life to our spirit and soul. The spirit remains young, and it is that spirit we need to hold onto as we navigate the world from whatever our age is.

All human life is temporary. All flesh is grass and flowers of the field. The grass will wither and the flower fades, but the Word of God stands forever (Isaiah 40:8). 

Again, successfully aging is fully accepting limitations, not giving up on life and doing what we can to keep our spiritual connection with the LORD and His Word. Following Him in obedience and compliance. And honoring Him all the days of our lives.

God comforts us through the good news of His Gospel and His saving Grace of our LORD Jesus Christ.  And that is this is the best kind of comfort that we could every received. His grace and His love are boundless and a veritable treasure that goes beyond anything we sustain or obtain here on earth. Amen!

Psalms 119:76: (KJV)
“Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.”

“LORD, may I always find comfort in Your Word, in Your love and in Your grace that sustain and maintains me all the days of my life, and beyond, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

 

DEAR GOD: YOUR WORD IS BALM TO MY SOUL~

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For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there. But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater. So shall My word not return to Me void, But, it shall accomplish what I please, And, it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it .”
Isaiah 55:10-11 (NKJV)

God and His promises are many, throughout the Bible, since the beginning of the earth age, and before the earth age…He is, and always was…and will always be.

His word in the beginning, in the book of Genesis, which means; “origin” or “generation” or “beginning” — God SPOKE the Word and it happened.  His Word went forth from His mouth and accomplished that which He wanted.

God defined the Word, bringing things into existence, by naming things, and giving them a purpose, finally God established and blessed that which He had made, sealing the truth of His creation, through His very Word.  “Let there be light;” and there was light”- Genesis 1:3.

Nothing has changed today.  All things remain the same. God’s Word and promises and His peace still reigns and always shall.  His Word is His Word to this day, He is on the throne and still in control.  So, when we “speak His Word” it doesn’t return to Him void, He listens, and blesses those who believe, those who trust, and those who depend on Him for all of our provisions.  Amen.

In His amazing Word is TRUTH, and LOVE and PEACE, and we have access to Him anytime we wish…we walk boldly into His presence, thanks to His Son, Jesus Christ who sacrificed for us.  Through His death and resurrection, the “veil was rent/ripped” from top to bottom, allowing us full entry into the presence of the LORD (Matt 27:50-51). Amen.

Speak the Word and believe the Word and trust the Word, for it is the very voice of God and His Character.  He loves us, every single one of us, no matter what, where, how or why.  He loves us unconditionally.  Amen.

  • Speak the Word.
  • Learn the Word.
  • Love the Word.
  • Love the truth.
  • Love the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY. 
  • Amen.

The closer we grow to Him the more positive our lives and existence become.  When we’re here on earth, we have things to accomplish and do.  Speak His Word, truth and promises, and follow Him without fail, and watch the impact it will have on your life here.  But, more important, the impact it will have on your “eternity.”

“Father, thank You for Your Word and for Your love, truth, peace and compassion, may we always speak the truth and absorb Your Word, and share it with others so they might see the light, and share in eternity, with those who believe, in Jesus Christ name, Amen.”

DEAR GOD: You Lift Me Over The Fires & Bring Beauty~

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Beauty for Ashes | Prophetic Light

 

To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.” 
Isaiah 61:3 (NKJV)

I began walking through the doors God was opening for me, so many years ago.  And as anyone who is a follower, or filled with unwavering faith, it makes a difference in every single scenario during our lifetime.

When we are well acquainted with the LORD’s promises, and His voice, we can endeavor to overtake and undertake, all kinds of circumstances.  That obviously pertains to both good and bad times and all of those in between times.

Life brings a series of gains, along with the losses.  In the progression of life, we lose loved ones along the way.  There are those we expect to “die before us” and it’s usually our grandparents, or parents, which hits full force in the pit of the stomach.  But those are expected, albeit sad and gut wrenching no less.

Some who are reading this at this moment have recently lost their spouses, and are finding themselves in a “new kind of reality.” Life is not the way it was any longer, and they are hurting.

Then there are the unexpected, and totally out of the realm of reality situations, like the loss of a precious child.  Or a young friend, that lost their life by a fatal error in an operating room, and yet another individual being killed by a driver that was under the influence.

All of these situations are horrific, some more shocking than others. I’m sure there are so many others, who have had their hearts slashed to ribbons. No matter the circumstances—Grief is real, it hurts, and it’s exhausting to the mind, heart, body and soul.

This morning when I woke up, and thanked God for another day, I felt that “someone visiting my site” needed to read, and hear this today.

The Spirit within led me to write this, and whomever you are right now, I pray it blessed you. I pray God’s light and comfort wash over you and bring you a semblance of peace and guidance from above.

Through so many “dark times” in which I’ve lost my grandparents, parents, my very best friend, acquaintances and the loss of our fur baby, whom we adored…There was one common denominator in all of the sad times…God had been there non-stop.

Just as I know He’s there for you right this moment. He has been with us all along. His promises are real, secure, and never ending. Especially His love.

He has given me bouquet upon bouquet of beauty,  for my clenched fists full of ashes.  And He will do the same for you.

Thank God, for the majority of individuals, life overall can be filled with joy.  However, on the same hand, it can be blistering painful.

But how we manage to get through it, is what it’s all about.

When we embrace, and realize that God is ever faithful, the same today, as He was yesterday, or tomorrow—and realize His promises are true—We can certainly get through life as He holds us up with His right hand of righteousness.

He promises us “beauty for our ashes,” as He did with Joseph.  He did so with Ruth, and for Job, and a host of others throughout the ages in the Bible and to this very day in time.

There is always an “open door” that God will guide us through.  Or an open window, to let the fresh air in, when we recognize that the LORD’s promises, and His unrelenting love are there for us all the time.  We then are able to see potential in every situation we face, because we are facing it alone. Nope, we are NOT ALONE.

Because no matter how we are suffering, He hears and sees us. He counts our tears, and He always has a plan for us…for our betterment, and for our peace.

When we know Him, it gets easier to face our adversities, no one said it’s easy, but it is so much better when the LORD is in the center of our lives, and we understand that He is in control.

 

“Father, thank You for always providing the path and the door for me to walk through, for opening a window for those moments in my life I couldn’t breathe from so much pain and grief, and for always loving me, may I always be mindful of Your grace, and Your gifts from above,  I pray for those who are in need of Your touch, and  for those who are suffering, may they find comfort in You, and seek Your face in all they do, in Jesus name, Amen.”

 

DEAR GOD: LOVE & THANKS FOR YOUR HELP~

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Praise ye the LORD, and keep His way, and He shall exhalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. (Psalm 112:1 KJV)

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And, if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.  (Romans 8:16-17 KJV)

 

I realize that God is with us through all kinds of scenarios and have discovered that to be true too numerous to count and today I had a moment where I was exceedingly frustrated.   My computer wasn’t recognizing my password and therefore wasn’t allowing me to get in. After several attempts “login failed…password unknown” I took a deep breath. I shut down and tried to get by safe mode and go into recovery, but my keyboard wasn’t allowing me to choose! This went on for about an hour.  I asked God for help, and His wisdom.  I called a “geek” squad, and they told me to bring in the computer and for about one hundred dollars they’d try to recover and make an attempt to get in.  However, if that failed, they’d have to install windows from scratch, and I’d lose all of my info.  I knew that myself-that is why I wanted to see if there was a way to get in without the process of reinstalling a new window.

Anyhow, to make a long story short, I remembered I had another keyboard in my garage.  I went to retrieve it, connected the old keyboard, shut down the computer and lo and behold, I was able to choose safe mode and go into recovery default!!!  Hallelujah, and praise GOD!  He helped me again.

I felt His presence with me the entire time very strongly in fact. It was His wisdom that led me to all of the circumstances to figure this out.  And behold, it was done. So, Thank You God for fixing my computer!

Which brings me to the message for this post, “no matter the circumstances, God is with us.”  He is with us and will never desert us. No matter how big or how small. Nothing is too big or too small for our God.

“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” (Joshua 1:9 KJV)

The significance of His Spirit and His wisdom is what keeps us “going” in all that we undertake and oversee on a daily basis.  We should never believe “we do it on our own”–He empowers us with His presence from within and guides us through all aspects thereof.

So thank You Lord for once again being there…how absolutely amazing You are! I love you so much.

Computer giving you trouble? –No problem, call God, after all who do you think taught that computer geek?

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And, if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.  (Romans 8:16-17 KJV)

“Father, thank You for all You are and do, and thank You for Your guidance and strength, and Your wisdom and love that pours over me like a warm soothing balm, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

DEAR GOD: You Are The One & Only Leader~

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John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Jesus Christ needs no introduction. He is the most famous person ever to live in this world. And arguably to this day, not one person has ever usurped His story, which is the ‘Greatest Love Story Ever Told” and accomplished by One Amazing Entity, Jesus Christ Almighty! He came to live and be crucified, face death and conquer the grave, and then He was resurrected. Now my brothers and sisters, that is some love story.

To think that the Father, gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16) FOR US!  This sacrifice is something that the average human mind cannot grasp or comprehend. The act in which He gladly took on to save us is mind blowing. To think that someone could love us that much?

Thank about it for a minute. Imagine we were alive at that time and witness to the Greatest Person ever to walk this earth, didn’t commit any crimes, wasn’t guilty of sin, was blameless, performed miracles, helped and healed countless individuals of maladies. Including, blindness, deafness, leprosy, exorcisms, raising Lazarus and others from death…and went to the worst death possible for us!

When we think of His miracles and His unconditional love, shouldn’t we readily fall into place, and follow Him without falter, and apply His doctrine, and the fundamental foundation of His gospel into every aspect of our lives?

The promises of Jesus are many, but some of them are as follows:

  • Philippians 4:19 – But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
  • 2 Peter 1:4 – Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
  • Matthew 5:3 – “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for Him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”
  • John 6:37 – “All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.”
  • Hebrews 13:5 – “I will never leave you nor forsake you.

These are just some of the promises of the LORD, and enough for me to be humbled by His love. I accept Him as my LORD and Savior.

He is waiting for His children to come to know Him, and accept Him in their lives. Question, if you haven’t accepted Him, what is your reason for ignoring the most famous and most loving altruistic Being that ever existed?

“Dear LORD, thank You for Your Son, and for Your love, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

 

DEAR GOD: I LOVE YOU & TRUST YOU~

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Be still and know that I am God…
Psalm 46:10 (NKJV)

It’s natural for issues to crop up during one’s lifetime, to be fair it wouldn’t be life without spending time in the valley. It’s all part of growing in the Lord and being a faithful follower of Christ. Not that the Lord wants His children to suffer, half the time we are the problem, and we build our OWN circumstances from lack of obedience to the Lord. No, that isn’t what I meant. What I mean to say is…we can grow in adversity and get closer to God in the meantime. It’s how we handle the cards that are in our hand that is key to our optimal health and overall growth.

It’s easy to get up and pull the “woe is me…what will I do? Nobody knows my pain…nobody knows what I’m going through. Oh…nobody understands…” So on and so forth. This is commonplace for many individuals for sure. However, it’s how you get out of it that sets us apart from the world. How do we brace ourselves in the face of a crisis? How do we pull out from the damage all around us? How do we soothe a broken heart? We CANNOT…but GOD CAN. The Lord CAN and DOES all things for all those who believe and ask.

It’s how we purpose our lives in accordance with HIS will NOT ours. It’s how we handle the stresses that crop up that will ultimately decide our fate and course of action. That is through God. We wait upon the Lord.

Don’t think He isn’t doing the same for you?  He is waiting for you too!

He is watching and knowing our situation. Every single one of us, He knows what we are going through. And He is watching and waiting for our growth in Him. He wants us to learn before He brings a solution, sometimes delays are part of God’s overall plan. Part of His agenda on a larger scale. The delays that come about in our lives do not destroy us, they fulfill God’s purpose by making us stronger thereby making us better people, in Christ.

We need GOD. ALL of us do.

When we leave God out of the equation by trying to take matters into our own hands, that’s when we can get into trouble. It can be frustrating for sure.   The Bible maintains in 2 Peter 3:8  “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”

So, remember God is not in a hurry, all things on His timetable, not ours. His timing is perfect, not ours. His way is superior, ours is inferior. Our thoughts are not His thoughts, and His actions are not our actions. We need to be patient and go with His flow and wait. We will gain the insight and the fortitude in which to grow as we listen, wait and heed His ways and timing. We will reap the rewards of such diligence in time. HIS TIME. Don’t lose heart. Trust. Wait. Love Him.

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Galatians 6:9 (KJV)

It is written that those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings, as eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint. God promises this. His promises are real, eternal, and all part of His plan to prosper us and do good things for us. We need to figure Him in the equation of our lives. All things point to Him, and Him. We need to go into conference with HIM for all the answers. For all of our issues. For it all…Nothing is too small or too big for God. Nothing. He knows WHEN and He knows how it will come. But our faith should be relentless and unwavering, as should our trust in God. For with all of that, and with His hands of grace and love…we will get through anything.

We need to keep our eyes on the Lord and absorb His word and His essence. To all things do it by prayer and obedience in the Lord. In supplication, in joyful meditation of the Lord. And wait and trust and know He will provide the answers to your dilemmas. To all things, He will lead us out of the wilderness, and into certainty. He will turn our world upright again…His light thus shines so brightly. Follow His light, turn from the darkness. Absorb His goodness. And, above all be patient and know that He is going to supply You with provisions that will overflow and bring you into eternal rewards, Amen!

For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry-Habakkuk 2:3 (NKJV)