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Growing faith during a crisis~Shout the walls down!

8/5/2020

Psalm 31:14
“But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD, I say, “You are my God.”
Psalm 33:21
“For our heart rejoices in Him, because we trust in His holy name.”
Psalm 56:3
“When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.”
Psalm 56:11
“In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid.

Faith does not wait for the walls to fall down.
Faith shouts them down.

ACTION STEP: The people marched around, blew the trumpets, and raised a great shout. (Joshua 6) What happened then? The walls came down. Was it because there was an earthquake? No, it was their faith in believing what the Lord said to do. They put action with their faith and were obedient. At the right moment, they SHOUTED.

Shout down your walls today. Don't let obstacles keep you from doing what God has called you to do.

When we least feel like proclaiming a shout of praise and victory about our trials and circumstances, that is the time to do it. We must say what God has said and speak to that wall or mountain in our lives and watch it crumble. SPEAKING and SHOUTING are the actions we need to do. It is our response to what we believe in our hearts to be true. This is the key to seeing the walls fall.

God told Joshua that he had given him the city and how long it would take to possess it. Do we give up too soon when we are waiting on a situation to change? We need to remember to keep on believing. When God reveals the time for your victory, you can shout. His timing is perfect.

Give Him your first.

8/4/2020

Psalm 63:1a, NKJV
“O GOD, You are my God; Early will I seek You”

In this scripture, the psalmist David proclaims, “Early will I seek You,” and we can apply his declaration to our own lives on several different levels. First of all, we should remember to seek the Lord early each day.

I have been developing a new discipline for the last several months. It is the discipline of giving God my first. I give God my first words, my first reading and my first listening. Today however, I missed it! Wonder why? It was because two little men age six and four tackled me awake with a loud, "Nonna." They don't know the slightest thing about Proverbs 27:14.

Just as I was getting ready to condemn myself I heard the Father so lovingly say, "I love it when my children shout my name and rush into my presence." Condemnation over! I could just imagine for a moment my loving Father opening His arms to embrace me, His child. I remembered how my earthly fathers arms would hold me close. How my father always smelled so good. I remembered how safe I always felt in my Daddy's arms. God our Father wants us to run to Him. He loves us no matter how we enter His presence, He welcomes us.

So, today He didn't get my first words, my first reading or my first listening; but I got His presence and love anyway. There is no magic steps or words to get His presence. There is no formula for hearing Him speak, but this I know--He comes where He is wanted, welcomed and worshipped.

ACTION STEP: Take an inventory of your life. Do you want Him, I mean really want Him in your life? Is He welcomed into your presence? Is your life open at all times for Him to just run in, shout your name, and jump into your current situation day or night? Are you a worshipper?

John 4:23-24
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and truth.”

Click here if the You Tube Video 10,000 Reasons doesn't show up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXDGE_lRI0E
Turn this on and spend some time worshipping the Lord. Give Him your first words, reading and listening everyday...and when that doesn't happen? Worship Him anyway!

We are called to love the way He loves with the loves He gives.

8/3/2020

Ephesians 5:1-2 TPTBe imitators of God in everything you do, for then you will represent your Father as his beloved sons and daughters. 2And continue to walk surrendered to the extravagant love of Christ, for he surrendered his life as a sacrifice for us. His great love for us was pleasing to God, like an aroma of adoration—a sweet healing fragrance.

Yesterday, I shared a message on loving the way God loves. God loves with unlimitless love. In order to love the way God loves, we must have the love of God in us--so it can flow out of us. I used a pitcher of water to illustrate God's love. Then, I used a cup to represent us, and a cup to represent others. When you pour water from the pitcher into the cup, and then, into the next cup it is effortless. There is also, residue in the cup that poured it's contents into the second cup. This is the way it is with the love of God. He is the pitcher, and He pours His love into us; the first cup. Then, we pour that same love into the second cup. We, (the first cup) still have the residue of the love (the water) in us. We never run dry, as long as we keep getting filled with the love of God and then keep pouring into other vessels.

In my message from yesterday, I used another illustration of taking the person on your right's wallet; opening the wallet and taking whatever you need, to give to the person on your left, to meet their need. This is a picture of us going to Daddy God and taking what we need from His limitless wallet, (resources) and letting it flow through us to others in need. It cost us nothing but trust and obedience and then, an intimate relationship with Him. We can't reach into someone's wallet that we have no relationship--that would be stealing. But, when we are in an intimate relationship with someone, they would gladly allow us to take their wallet to meet a need of others and or ourselves.

Living water (Hebrew: מַֽיִם־חַיִּ֖ים‎ mayim-ḥayyîm; Greek: ὕδωρ ζῶν, hydōr zōn) is a biblical term which appears in both the Old and New Testaments. In Jeremiah 2:13 and 17:13, the prophet describes God as "the spring of living water", who has been forsaken by his chosen people Israel. As a nation we may be forsaken of God, but God has always had a remnant and His remnant, is praying and fasting and seeking His face. We are crying out for mercy. God hears our cry and He will answer our prayers (Matthew 7:7-8) Here is a link about water and dreams; http://globe-views.com/dreams/water.html This is just an article not the Word of God.

Below is the service from Sunday on "We are called to love the way He loves with the loves He gives." I hope you enjoy the word because the Word of God empowers us to live a life that brings Glory to God and to transform us into His presence.

If it does not show up here view in your Browser or click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZf_u2x2yXw&feature=em-lbcastemail

ACTION STEP: Pour yourself out. Get filled with the love of God. God’s love has no favorite and no condition. It is radical and sacrificial.

It is not just loving others above self, but loving others beyond self.

• It is unconditional. But how can this be possible?
• It is possible because God has made us partakers of His divine nature.

(2 Pet 1:4 TPT) "As a result of this, he has given you magnificent promises that are beyond all price, so that through the power of these tremendous promises you can experience partnership with the (His) divine nature, by which you have escaped the corrupt desires that are of the world."

We are not of this world. We are sojourners. We are just passing through. While we are here we are to work the works of Him who sent us. We are to re-present Him. We are His ambassadors. While here we are about His business and He is about ours. Fear nothing! Have faith in God! Until tomorrow continue to be who God has called you to be! Be a lover of God's people--our brothers and sisters.

Rainy Days

7/31/2020

2 Chronicles 7:12-20
"And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice. If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments; Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel. But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them; Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations."

Rain is referred to as a blessing after a drought, a symbol of God's love and teachings to spread over the world, and even as a flood to wash away the sins of a corrupt world! The world was once destroyed by rain and all the creatures of the earth, including all but one family. Nevertheless, without rain we would all die. It's interesting that a little of a thing is good, but too much can be deadly.

From this we can see, that what God made as a blessing can become a curse to us. Food is a blessing to us and yet, when we eat too much of a good thing it becomes a curse to us. The same is true for medicines, TV, recreation, and even conversation. The Bible even shows us if we spend too much time in our neighbors house it can be a curse. (Proverbs 25:17)

Zechariah 10:1
"Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime; it is the LORD who sends the thunderstorms. He gives showers of rain to all people, and plants of the field to everyone.

ACTION STEP: Take just a minute and assess your life. Do you see any areas of excess? What are somethings that you need to cut back on, so that it does not become a curse to you? Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Your neighbors are part of that Body. Your time is a gift from God and what we do with it, is a gift back to Him. God wants us to live long and live strong. Many of us get on the treadmill of life and don't take time to think. We just jump out of bed onto the hamster wheel and start running. During this pandemic we have had to slow down. Today, as you see the rain fall, imagine that excess running off of you because with God's grace all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26)

Today, I plan to take a few minutes to walk in the rain. I want to remind myself that the blessings I enjoy can be a curse to me if disobey God and want what I want, more than I want to please God my father.

The forecast

7/30/2020

Definition of forecast: a prediction or estimate of future events, especially coming weather or a financial trend.

I don't know about you but when I wake up to a dark and dismal day, I am not nearly as excited about my day? God didn't all of the sudden fall from heaven. The world did not end. No one is in any immediate danger, but I want to pull the covers back over my head. Why? Because the sun is not shining. Then, when I hear a forecast like the one that's been hitting the news lately because of El Niño and La Niña, I begin to groan and have this conversation in my head that it's going to be hot. How will we all stay cool and not get agitated and irritable during this pandemic?

The human mind needs peace. We need to learn to silence the voice of the enemy. The voice of human reasoning and dread and gloom is part of our fallen nature. It will always forecast the worst. The Holy Spirit will always forecast the best scenario.

ACTION STEP: We need to prophecy into our future "forecasts" what the Word of God says about our future. The Word of God tells us that God has plans for good future for us. Here is another definition of forecast from Merriam Webster: Definition of forecast (Entry 2 of 2)
1: a prophecy, estimate, or prediction of a future happening or condition
The very first word is prophecy. This is the Hebrew year of Pey. Pey means to say. It is the year of the mouth. So, let's put a watch guard over our mouth. Proverbs 13:3; “Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin." Ephesians 4:29; "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."

Today, say what you want. Refuse to allow the enemy to use your mouth to speak contrary to the Word of God for your life. Only say what you want, that lines up with the Word of God. Proverbs 11:17 “Your own soul is nourished when you are kind, but you destroy yourself when you are cruel.” Proverbs 15: 1 “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but hard words stir up anger.” Proverbs 15:4 “Gentle words bring life and health; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.”

The door is open.

7/29/2020

Matthew 24:33

"so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door."

Source: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Doors

For Mother's Day my husband bought me a Hibiscus tree. We both love watching it bloom. My hubby usually wakes up before me. So, as he comes downstairs he opens the front door to let the sunshine come through and see if we have any new blooms. Sometimes he waits for me to find them on my own; other times he shows me as soon as I come downstairs. This morning, he was already busy with his "To Do List", and so I found them on my own. Yesterday, there had been three blooms. This morning, the old blooms had withered, but still clung to the branches. A new bloom stood tall and proud like a trumpet or a finely trained fully dressed soldier.

The thought occurred to me that we Christians are so simular. We meet Jesus as our Savior. He comes and cleanses us. We stand before Him brand new--a new creation. We go strong and then wither without the watering of the word, without fellowshipping with the saints, without praise and worship--but we hang on thinking no one will notice; until we fall. The plant (the Church) needs to pluck off the dead blooms so that the plant will keep producing. Instead we want to count them as one of us, they are not one of us if they are no longer alive. If they become dead to Christ not dead in Christ then, they are lost. When we are full of Christ and the life He gives, it can be seen in us. We stand out. We refuse to blend in, that Christ in us may be seen, may drive out darkness and may cause the world to thirst for Him. We are salt, we are the light, we are witnesses to Him on this earth.

2 Timothy 2:4

"No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier"

Source: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Being-A-Soldier

ACTION STEP: Here is the link to see the above video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mifA45mjgaQ. We've all heard the song but sometimes a song will jar us back into reality. The life we live is not our own. We have been bought with a price. We are the Lords. We are in His army and as a good soldier we obey His commands. Stand tall today. Stand out today. Be who God has called you to be. Do what God says you can do. The world, is beginning to open the door to their heart, and they are looking for you. Show them who you are and lead them to the one who opens the door.

Turn, Turn, Turn...

7/28/2020

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 KJV
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Pete Seeger has thirty years on me, but everyday I am learning to turn. I am not endorsing Pete, I do not even know him, or his beliefs and truthfully did not have time to research him. The point today, is not the writer of the song, but the words to the song. It's amazing how many song writers use scripture (their own version of course), to write their songs--songs we get in our head and can't get out.

I cry at births and I cry at deaths. I am learning I cry a lot. Someone said to me yesterday, "You feel deep, it's okay." So, I am still turning. I am accepting me for who God made me and not trying to be someone I'm not. I joke, and share, that I am like Jeremiah the weeping Prophet. In reality this is not a joke. So...here's to "TODAY", let's learn to turn into God and all that this day holds for us. There are many things that are out of our grasp and power to change. When this happens--turn to prayer. There are many world affairs that even though God may speak to us about--we can not change without His intervention, so turn to Him.

Here is the link to the song posted below, listen while you ask the Father to help you turn to Him in all things, in all ways and at all times.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7pzic4mf7o

ACTION STEP: At 93 years old Pete Seeger is living the song he wrote and still using his gift to bless others. Perhaps, the secret to his long life is the secret he knew and shared in this song. We have to learn that times change and so must we. God never changes, but we spend our lives pivoting in the direction that God leads us as the seasons in our lives change. Praying for you today. Turn in to the day, and whatever it brings. He wrote this song in 1954, two years before I was born. There will be people that come before you, and people that come after you. As these peoples books, songs, paintings, words, movies...come into your life enjoy them but, turn to the word of God more than any other voices or objects. Listen to the above video and let it speak to you in your season. Here is the link if it does not show up here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7pzic4mf7o

Waking up to the goodness of God.

7/27/2020

Psalm 31:19–20
"How great is Your goodness, Which You have stored up for those who fear You, Which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You, Before the sons of men!

The thing I can't walk away from is that the Bible doesn't just say that God does good things. It says that God IS good. It's not just what he does; it's who he is — and who he is never changes. In Psalm 46, the psalmist says, “God is our refuge and strength, a present help in times of trouble. Notice it doesn't say He will be.

“Goodness is the only investment that never fails.” ~Henry David Thoreau
We are all born sinners but we don't have to stay there. We can become a new creature in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV)
When I met Jesus, I decided to shift my perspective and see what my life would be like if I stopped beating myself up over “not being good enough” and accepted who I was--who the Bible tells me I am.
I made a decision that I am good and committed to testing this theory out. And it worked!
I also began wondering what the world would look like if we all had an opportunity to accept, embrace, and live out the goodness of God in us. Can we all get there? The answer is a resounding yes! And here are some steps to do it.
1. Choose goodness.Make a decision that you are only good when you are in Christ. In and of ourselves no one is good. Good is an attribute of God--God is good. Get God by repenting and asking Him into your heart; then daily commit your life to Him. This sounds hard, especially if you spent most of your life feeing bad and that God is mad at you. Start by saying several times out loud, “God is good." Therefore, because of Jesus and what He did for me, I am good. God lives in me through the Holy Spirit."
The voice inside your head may disagree, but remember, the voice you hear is not you it is the devil if it disagrees with the word of God. The being that hears the voice is you. So, quiet the voice by asking, “Why not?” Then, play a movie of your life and see if you can find a single example of the goodness of God, where God stepped in and saved you or spared you? Remind yourself that Jesus justified you. So now it is (just-as-if=justified) that you never sinned. You are forgiven.
Even if your emotions don’t agree, use your spirit man not intellect, and then practice this exercise daily. Your emotions will catch up. Just like with building muscles, it takes time, but this exercise does work. Start renewing your mind to what God says about you.
2. Understand goodness.Being good does not mean we won’t make mistakes. I make plenty, all the time. Being good means that we understand God wants to bring good things into our life, and that He is love, and He loves us. We are to love others as we love ourselves. With self-love, anything is possible. Love never fails.
If you have a hard time with this, think of your younger, innocent self. Does that being deserve love? Or, think about yourself through the lens of someone who loves you. Why would they love you so?
3. Practice, practice, practice.Deciding that you are good is hard, but acting on that awareness is even harder. Commit to practice your goodness every single day. Catch yourself when you think negatively about yourself. Make a plan to get yourself out of unhealthy relationships or break bad habits. Treat yourself well, and demand that others do the same. Start each day off with talking, listening and reading the Word of God. Then keep going by drinking water and exercising, and renewing your mind to what God is teaching you.
4. Develop rituals.Take the time to journal, meditate, read inspirational books, pray, paint, volunteer, recite poetry, run, bike, bake, or regularly engage in any activity that will remind you and reinforce your goodness. Do something for others. Love loudly.
5. Set up reminders.Soon after I gave my life to Jesus I started wearing WWJD bracelets. Then, someone purchased me the earrings. I got a Bible with my name on it. I started a reading through the Bible in a year. I had set times to spend with God. I would see it at least twice a day and be reminded of my newfound truth. Even on those extraordinarily busy days when you miss your rituals, these small reminders will keep you on track. Now, I wake up and do three things before my feet hit the floor, I talk to God, I listen for God and I read His word. He is my firsts of every day.
6. Talk to people.Tell people about the concept of the goodness of God. They will reaffirm its truth, or you will change their life too. In either case, the right people will support you in your quest for the goodness of God. Live a God filled day in front of others. Talk about how good He is.
7. Live boldly.Give generously, love unconditionally, laugh loudly, and communicate openly. Whatever you do, give it your all. Living in such a way will reinforce your goodness.
The paradox is that you cannot really live fully unless you believe God is good and through His strength you can be good too. If you don’t believe in your fundamental goodness, you will constantly question your decisions, your worthiness, the quality of your contribution, and other people too. You are also likely to live with a lot of anxiety, which will consume you from time to time. By actually doing more of giving, loving, laughing, communicating, and so on, you will be reinforcing your own goodness and growing your belief in God's goodness toward you and others.
8. Dream big and dare greatly.When we focus on our struggles, we lose sight of the truly important things in life. On the other hand, when we dream big and dare greatly, we have no choice but to trust God's goodness as we find ways to achieve our dreams and take risks. The soon to be King David knew his God was bigger than the Goliath he was facing.
Now, keep in mind that taking risks and daring greatly does not mean we pursue things that might gain us approval of others; it means we seek out those things that matter the most to us according to the Word of God.
A lot of traditionally successful people are miserable and full of self-loathing. On the other hand, a lot of obscure people are fully content and accomplished. Dreaming big means we dream our own dreams, not those imposed by the society, our family, or someone else.
9. Stop questioning and get busy.I love asking a “why” questions. But don’t ask a “why” that is harmful; ask a “why” that is helpful. Don’t ask, “Why would I be good?” Ask, “Why wouldn’t I be?” And if you can’t stop questioning, make a decision and move on. Stop revisiting it.
We’ve been conditioned to doubt ourselves. Doubt something else, but not your goodness purchased through the Blood of Jesus.
10. Be mindful.People often ask “How are you?” without waiting for a reply. Regardless, I love responding: “I am good!” It’s not so much for their benefit as it is for my own. The more I repeat it, the more I believe in it.
Additionally, how I respond to this question is a good indicator of how I feel that day. My response gives me a chance to catch myself. If I say, “I’m okay” or “Not too bad,” that’s a sign something isn’t quite right and I need to evaluate what’s really happening.

--
Once upon a time, a Native American elder was telling his grandson a story of two wolves that live in each one of us and wage a daily struggle for dominance in our lives.
One wolf is filled with love, joy, hope, peace, gratitude, optimism, generosity, understanding, humility, kindness, truth, faith, and compassion. The other is a reflection of bitterness, envy, anger, sorrow, guilt, greed, arrogance, self-pity, inferiority, lies, ego, selfishness, and judgment.
Their struggle is constant, their determination to win unwavering.
“So, which wolf wins?” asked the grandson.
The grandfather responded, “The one you feed.”
We all have a choice to accept the goodness of God and therefore our ability to live good and nurture that truth every day. We can all embrace the best within us and choose joy over sadness. Which wolf will you feed today?

ACTION STEP: I wake up and talk, listen and read God first. Then, I pour myself my shake, my tea or coffee and head for my porch until it gets too cold. I open the door and check out what flowers bloomed or how my garden has grown. I look at my list of things to do I made the night before (because I am better at night). I put on some praise music and write this Blog. I would love to hear about how you are living the "Good life" because of the goodness of God.

When life is done.

7/24/2020

Hebrews 9:27 NLT
"And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment,"

Today, my husband is to do a funeral. I woke up with my grandsons running into my room yelling, "Nonna." This is one of the joys of my life. When I told them their Daddy was picking them up early they of course wanted to know why? We don't usually do "early home", as we all love snuggles and breakfast on the porch. But, today was different. DeDa and Nonna have a funeral to attend to. Neither of the boys knew what a funeral was. Neither of them knew what bury meant. So, as I brushed my hair and put on my makeup we had a little talk about death. I'm still not sure they understand, but they know it is a place. It seemed to them like a nice place, and as long as "Birdie" the basset hound and "Bossa" the cat, Mommy and Daddy and Gracie of course, could all go to as well--well they were okay with that.

I am sure this will not be our last discussion about death. I am sure they will one day have to say their "Good-byes" to loved ones, and they will both understand so much more about Heaven. For now, our good-byes only last a week or three at most depending on our schedule, but one day....they will be much longer.

ACTION STEP: Talk about death with your loved ones. Make sure that all of them have made their final destination plans. None of us know the moment we will leave this earth for eternity, but we have right now to make our plans. Have you made yours? Do the people that will cry the most at your funeral know how to get to where you pray you will one day meet them? Today, have the talk. Today, hug a little longer. Today, say what needs to be said. Today, there is still time.

Set a day aside to hear God.

7/23/2020

Genesis 3:8
"They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden."

Source: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Hearing-God~s-Voice

ACTION STEP: Set time aside today to hear God. That's what I will be doing.