Made the Grade

Blessed (happy) day to you, precious family!!! I smile in the peace of Father’s love for me today that rises me up above all cares of life!!! Oh when our Father smiles upon us, you just feel like you are on top of the world and we are!!! Our Father tells us this:

“No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loves us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow–not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below–indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:37-39 NLT

As I reflect upon my own past memories of being a school girl, I recall the pressure or anxiety I used to feel when I was about to receive my report card at the end of the year that told me if I had passed for the year and would be given the opportunity to enter the next grade and not have to remain where I was. It was always such a relief to know that I had qualified or was accepted into the next class. It gave me peace and relief. Today, my Father gives me that same kind of peace for which I am thankful to Him for when He tells us that through our faith in Christ that we are “qualified” or fitted for sharing in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. We have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness. We have made the highest grade!!! To that I say “Wooohooo!!!” That feels so good!!! My Father tells me that He desires that we all have that good feeling and peace and that is why He gave the Apostle Paul and now each of us the request to open the eyes of others, to school them and turn them from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Jesus. We have been sanctified, meaning we have been passed on from the kingdom of darkness, have been freed from sin and death and are now set apart as a holy saint destined to inherit all of the riches of the Kingdom of Christ. Now that thought just makes my day!!! Isn’t it a great feeling to know we are qualified by the best?!! Celebrating with ya with His peace of mind as I step out into the day!!!

If you would like to know more about God’s freedom for you or someone you know, here is more information to help you:

discovertruefreedom.org

I close with this song of peace here that we are no longer slaves to fear in Christ Jesus!!! I praise His name with you today who has forever seated us in His heavenly kingdom as royal kingdom family!!! Oh that feels good to my soul to have that blessed assurance!!! It just makes me smile!!!

Col 1:12-14; Ac 26:12-18; Mt 28:19; Eph 2:4-9; Romans 8:37-39

Filled to the Brim

Idaho greetings, family!!! Today I want to share the second in the series of comparisons of a physical athlete running a race to a spiritual athlete running a race. It is this:                  

Physical Athlete

Needs hydration or water for proper body function.

Spiritual Athlete

“On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thristy, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him. By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive.”

                    John 7:37-39                     

When we believe in Jesus as our Savior from personal sin, the Father will send the Holy Spirit (to live in us) to teach us all things and remind us of everything Jesus has said. (John 14:26) John 16:13 says “When He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth.” We could say that He is our coach!!! When Jesus’ work on earth was finished, He did not want to leave us helpless and thirsty for Him. He tells us in Matthew 28:20 “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Although He is always with us and never leaves us, choosing to sin will grieve the Holy Spirit within us (Ephesians 4:30).

 

You may be saying “YIKES!!! What happens then?” The Good News is Father still loves us, does not condemn us and here is what we need to know:

To be filled “fully” with the Holy Spirit requires our submission to the will of God. When we do not allow the Holy Spirit to be seen in our actions, or do what is wrong (sin) and grieve the Holy Spirit who lives in us, we create leaks that drain out His living water from within us! (1 Thessalonians 5:19)

We are forever saved by God’s grace to us thru our faith in Christ’s perfect performance on the cross; however, a sinful lifestyle hinders a godly lifestyle and affects our power and our witness of Christ’s truths into the world thru us. While the world needs to understand grace, it also needs to realize Christ’s truths lead to the best life!!! Oh Jesus is so smart!!!

To remedy the grieving or quenching of the Holy Spirit in us over our sin, it is important to confess our sins to ourselves and to God. To “confess” means to agree with God about sin. Upon agreeing that sin is sin, it is important to “repent” which means to change one’s mind; to reverse the effects of the previous state of mind. This change of mind involves turning from sin and turning to God, looking to Him to refill us up fully as we move forward. Once we place our faith in Christ Jesus, we are forgiven for all sins, past, present and future. A one-time confession of our need for Christ saves us from the wages of sin forever and gives us eternal life as a child of faith in God’s kingdom of heaven!!! Our Father likes us to talk with Him about our sin struggles though to help us move forward the wiser, with correct perspective of what is right, accompanied by the reassurance of grace and strengthened by the support of our Father in heaven – just as a father with his child does here on earth. This act of confession or agreement with God should not be seen as a legalistic act of performance for acceptance, but rather relationally healthy – a step to staying close in relationship in our minds to our Father who loves us and forgives us, even when we fall short of what is doing right. We have probably all experienced that when we know we have someone who is upset with us, even though they may still love us, our upsetting action affects our relationship mindset with that person and talking it thru brings healing and improved relationship!!!  Oh I always love seeing relationship healing and restoration thru truth, love and grace!!!

It is a true gift to be heard by God, to hear the voice of God and experience His power working through us!!! It is good to be fully hydrated or “filled to the brim” with the living water of the Holy Spirit and not just have “a drop in the bucket, so to speak!!!”  

We need this anointing to run God’s road for our lives with His power in us. We would dry up spiritually without Him.

 We can  each ponder these thoughts:

• In what ways am I grieving the Holy Spirit by choosing sin over God? 
• Am I praying for strength to overcome the sin?
• What other steps can I take to keep from committing this sin in my life moving forward?
• Have I rebuked the devil verbally, claiming the power and authority of Christ?
• Is there someone that Father would have me talk to about holding me accountable to help me have victory over the sin?  

The sinful nature within us is strong, but praise be to God for His forgiveness and power over sin to help us have victory!!! He is super sweet, powerful and full of grace for us!!!

He tells us in 1 John 1:8-10 “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His Word has no place in our lives.” When we confess, it is saying we agree with God about what is sin and to repent is to turn and go the other way – away from sin. Unless we acknowledge to ourselves we have a sin issue, our mind will not see a need to go in a different direction. This is why it is healthy to confess (agree) with our Father. But all the time, our Father loves us and His grace not only covers us, but also can give us strength to live the Christian life as we look to Him!!!

Oh, Jesus life – it’s the divine life, the best life!!! Let us go for that, dear ones of faith!!! I’m trusting Jesus’ with you for victory in Him working in us to will and act according to His purpose!!! His grace always finds us wherever we are to restore us in the fullness of His Spirit as we look to Him as this song says here. Blessed are we to have our Father’s grace – never will He leave us (Hebrews 13:5) and nothing can snatch us from His hand as His kids of faith!!!

 

YAY!!! Oh that just makes me smile to know grace is always with us!!! 🙂 Divine sisterly love to ya’s wherever you are in life!!! Smiling to the brim for overflowing with joy about Father’s grace with ya’s!!!

 

Inexpensive Medicine

Oh I’m just a smiling today family of faith because of the kind words that Jesus has spoken into my life!!! Everyday He is the medicine that my soul needs to have good spiritual health that also leads to physical, mental and emotional good health too just as His Word tells us:

“Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”

Proverbs 16:24NASB

Oh choosing good words are worth much and cost us little. Jesus laid down His whole life for each of us and we can bless His name in loving His people around us!!! He tells us this:

“God is not unjust; He will not forget your hard work to show Him love by helping His people and continuing to help them.”

Hebrews 6:10

“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.”

Revelation 22:12

Our Father has taken great strides to make sure that we have the victory in this life and so as long as it is day (life here on earth), His heart is for us as our Father’s kids of faith is:

“…to encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Jesus guides us thru His Holy Spirit in how to do that and He will bless us for it!!! I’m a gal seeking to do so with you in the world for Jesus!!! I am proud of you for seeking Father’s heart for the right words to help those He has placed around you, too!!! He calls us to speak truth in love and when we take the time to seek Him and reflect on His heart for us, we can go forth as Moses did in speaking to Pharaoh to be our Father’s voice in this world knowing Father who created our mouths will help us!!! Moses did not go to Pharaoh and just flatter him – He spoke truth, but to our Father’s glory!!! Our Father loved Pharaoh and if Pharaoh would have chosen to turn to the Lord, his life would’ve lived out a whole lot different!!! He could have lived out life forever divinely healthy with God’s kingdom family, but He chose otherwise. Truth spoken to deliver a soul is always sweet when it is received with repentance and changed life!!! Speak the sweetness of truth and love wherever Father calls you to do so, dear ones!!! Moses gave Pharaoh the opportunity to respond to truth!!! Our Father’s guidance is free and the best medicine for a person’s soul that exists!!! Where do you need our Father’s voice of healing in your life and how can you help bring healing and well being to someone around you, dear one of faith???

Bless you for your willing heart to love for Jesus!!! He loves and delights in you as His forever kingdom child and He has given us His Word to sustain us and bring us victory in all of our lives!!! Let us stay focused on Him and His Word as this song says here!!! His spoken Word will never fade away; it stands forever true and victorious and gives us all we need for living life well!!!

The Freedom Road

Hi, sweet family of faith!!! We are very blessed as children of faith in life with Jesus because in that, we each one have our own personal caretaker – Jesus with us individually. He gives us choice in life to follow Him and His heart for us is to live free in Him, not controlled by another person nor in bondage to sin and its destruction. That doesn’t mean that He doesn’t give us leaders to lead us in life, but in that following of a leader and in being the leader, we must always respect that each person is free as an individual to choose for oneself. In those choices, however, we as people need to realize that there are consequences to our choices. Hence, one must weight the consequences of their personal choices. For example, if we grab the hot handle of a frying pan, it is our choice, but we must realize it’s gonna hurt and we will be burned!!! YIKES!!! WATCH OUT!!! IT’S HHHOOOTTT!!! OUCH!!! OOOCCCHHH!!! SIZZLE THE SKIN!!! PAIN DANCING IMMEDIATE BECAUSE YOU’VE GOT NERVES!!! LEARN ABOUT HOT PADS QUICKLY!!! 🙂

Just as we can choose with knowledge not to hurt ourselves by our choice of grabbing onto something that can hurt us such as a hot frying pan, here are some examples of how we can help people to realize they have choices in our conversations when it is important to protect ourselves from harm from the choices of others. Not forcing others is in keeping with Christ’s giving of free will choice to us in choosing Him in life.

Forced choice says: “Stop yelling at me as you are. You have got to be nicer to me.”

Allowed choice says: “You can choose to yell all you want to, but I will not be in your presence while you are doing so.”

Forced choice says: “You have got to stop drinking because you are ruining our family. Please listen “You are wrecking our lives.”

Allowed choice says: “You may choose not to deal with your drinking, if you want. But I will not continue to expose me and the kids to the chaos it creates. The next time you are drunk, we will leave the house and go to the Does house and we will tell them why we are there. Your drinking is your choice. What I will put up with is my choice.

Forced choice says: “You are a pervert to look at pornography. That is so degrading to God’s original intended creation. What kind of person are you anyway?”

Allowed choice says: “I will not continue to share you sexually with others naked in magazines, online or in person. I will only be with a spouse who is interested in me. Make up your mind and choose.”

YIKES!!! These things may sound harsh in some ways, but they bring out the point that setting boundaries are not a way of controlling others, it is a way of protecting you from the sin of others and letting our Father guide your individual life choices. These are examples of taking divine power over what you have power over -yourself- and giving up seeking to control and have power over someone else.

I hope these thoughts help bring clarity about why boundaries are important in your life as it has done mine. Jesus has revealed Himself to me as the divine choices in life always!!! Jesus is my choice!!! Do you have a choice to make before you??? I encourage you to consider what Jesus says about it for the divine life!!! I love you tons as your sister in Him and desire the best for you!!! I love this song of freedom here.

You Are Loved by the Highest

Confidence in the love of our Father is crucial to standing for Him!!! It is what enabled Christ to succeed in His life on earth “dream/divine work” on the cross and when He needed divine help, our Father gave Him the help and the strength that He needed to persevere in His purpose!!!

I think about Jesus in His faith in His Father today as I think about Pastor Saeed Abedini who went to Iran to start an orphanage and found himself imprisoned for his faith in Christ. Not only was he imprisoned, but he was also beaten and abused by the enemy of Christ in many ways. Jesus speaks loudly to me today that if we as saints are looking for confirmation from the people around us where He places us in life to keep going in our faith in Christ, it may or may not be there!!! Pastor Saeed probably would have been pretty discouraged many days over the three-year term of imprisonment and if his faith would have been shaky, he may have chosen to give in to the people abusing him, forgoing his faith in Christ and what it was that Christ wanted him to stand for and carry out in his life. YIKES!!! I am sooo thankful that he stood on his faith in our Father’s love for him!!! Because he was faithful to his faith in Jesus and prayed to His Lord, as did his family and others that loved him from afar who knew of his circumstances, his deliverance from the enemy’s prison of torture came and he has now been released from his prison.  WOOOHOOO!!! PRAISE JESUS FOR HIS DELIVERANCE!!! He is presently being treated for his injuries in Germany before heading home to be with his family. He is from my home state and I am sure there will be great celebration for him when he gets here and in heaven when all of our lives on earth are thru here as our Father’s kids of faith!!! Ruh, ruh, ruh!!! Jesus is always worth the stand!!!

Wherever you are at in life, dear family, I want to tell you that you are loved as a child of faith by the greatest One in all the world!!! That is important for each one of us to remember and rely upon!!! There is no other love like the love of Jesus and when we learn that His love is sufficient for us, we can remain strong in His love alone and keep going in His will, His plan, His purpose for us in life!!! We are forever held dear to Jesus and His promise to us as His kids is “Never will I leave you nor forsake you.”(Hebrews 13:5)

Jesus said to seek first His kingdom and then other things will be added to us. Pastor Saeed Abedini has now been blessed with other things in life because of his faithfulness to let Christ be enough to sustain him thru the tough times. He didn’t rest in the confirmation of the love from other people he could see around him to keep him going because there were great lapses in time when he didn’t have it where he could see any one other than those who wanted to belittle him!!! He had a lot of support from his family of faith beyond his prison cells always though!!! That support prayed our Father’s victory for him!!! Where is our Father calling you to pray support for someone going through a tough time of spiritual warfare right now for the cause of Jesus??? Jesus is interceding for each one of us in heaven, too!!!

Jesus calls us as His children of faith to love one another and because the saints who knew Pastor Saeed prayed for him from a distance, he was set free by their prayers of love and faithfulness to Jesus to support their royal family member. Pastor Saeed Abedini was a leader for Christ and because of his faithfulness to go where Christ had for him to go and keep his faith, Christ has been lifted up and glorified all over the world of how he as a man was willing to hold true to Christ despite the work of the enemy in this world!!! I praise Jesus for Pastor Saeed’s bravery and faithfulness to Jesus!!! Where is Jesus calling you to take a stand as a leader in this world, saint??? I want to encourage you to do so, even if it is not the popular amongst the people where Jesus places you!!! The Apostle Paul got this and so did Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. whose birthday is celebrated today. They are in paradise today for their stand for their highest love – Jesus!!!  It will always have a divine outcome for us as children of faith when we hold to the plans and faith in our Father who loves us with forever unfailing, unconditional love!!! YOU are loved with the highest love – the love of the Most High and there is standing power in that love as this song says here.

Freedom in Relationships

My Father lays it upon my heart today the importance of relationships and the influence that they can have on our lives. Our Father made us to be in close personal relationship with Him as a priority in our lives and when we draw close to Him and love Him with all of our heart, with all of our soul and with all of our mind and with all of our strength as He tells us is the greatest Word in all the Bible, we find the unfailing, unconditional love that gives us the strength, the love, the courage and the wisdom to deal rightly in all other relationships in life!!! Oh our Father is sooo smart and that is why He tells us:

“…do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Romans 12:2NASB

The Apostle Paul then goes on to share with us in Father’s Word:

“For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of yourself that you ought to think; but think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.”

Romans 12:3NASB

When we see ourselves as our Father sees us in the close intimacy (in-t0-me-see) perfect love relationship we have with Him, we see ourselves as His beloved children of faith in whom He delights!!! We also see that thru our faith in His finished work on the cross for the sins of each one of us, we know that He sees us as saved sinners that have the issue of the enemy Satan to contend with as long as we do life here on this earth!!! Our Father sees us as holy, without blemish and without accusation and with no condemnation in Him thru our faith in His sacrifice for us to set us free from the wages of sin!!! He also gives us choice in life and His Word (the Bible) to help us make the best divine choices in how we live life here on earth. When we have made mistakes, our Father desires that we realize it, accept it, learn from it and move on into life making better choices in the future, being the wiser from what we learn. There are natural consequences for our choices and our sweet Father wants us to have the best life possible in choosing His ways for ourselves. We are already saved from the wages of sin thru His work on the cross, so we will never be cast away from our Father’s love and acceptance, nor will we ever be cast away from being part of His royal family in His paradise kingdom coming soon. YAY!!!

Having said that, our Father desires that we love and help each other as His kids in this life though and when we are choosing to walk in ways that are contrary to our Father, it is good when we are open to listening to others who love us enough to warn us and help us to see our Father’s heart for us!!! Our Father tells us:

“As iron sharpens iron, so one a person sharpens another.”

Proverbs 27:17

Oh I sooo love it when my family of saints help me in life to see clearly the divine life!!! Sometimes it can be hard to hear when we have messed up at first, but if we can see it as their love for us, we can take it before our Father and ask Him His view of it and if it is valid criticism before Him, we should seek to turn from the wrong and walk in the best life!!! I sooo love that thought of living life best!!! Our Father tells us that wounds from a friend can be trusted in Proverbs 27:6. If we turn a friend away that speaks our Father’s truth to us in love for us, we may lose one of the best friends we could have!!! YIKES!!! WATCH OUT!!!

It is never easy to speak hard things of godly correction to people we love and while seeking to help those we love, sometimes it can go well if they listen to what our Father lays on our heart to speak to them and they seek our Father, perhaps godly counsel about it, too, repent or turn the other way and do what is right in life.  While our Father tells us iron sharpens iron and a person sharpens another, He also warns us:

“Do not be deceived.” “Bad company corrupts good morals.”

1 Corinthians 15:33NASB

When the effect of a friend upon us is negative, we must be careful the negative influence does not change us from what is of our Father. Consider that to not speak Truth in love and to continually just go along without helping godly change to happen, we may be actually condoning ungodliness to continue!!! YIKES!!! LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER BEST AND DIVINE!!!  Ungodly influence may make it necessary to even separate ourselves from a relationship if godly change doesn’t happen. Often we can enter a relationship thinking that perhaps we can influence them or help them change, but the reality is that we cannot make people change. We can speak Truth in love and faithfulness, but only the work of the Holy Spirit can help a person and help them to see the Truth and even with that, He still gives them choice to choose His Truth or not. A good example of this is in the story of Joseph and Mary when Joseph was wanting to secretly divorce Mary because she ended up with the Christ child before they were married. The Lord was able to help Joseph see the divine in the situation and He changed Joseph’s heart. Hence, Joseph was open to choosing to continue in the relationship with Mary. YAY!!! WAY TO CHOOSE JESUS, JOSEPH!!! I BE BLESSED BY THAT RIGHTEOUS CHOICE!!! I’VE GOT MY DIVINE VICTORY DANCING SHOES ON AND WHOOPING IT UP WITH GRATEFULNESS!!! THAT CHOICE MADE A FOREVER DIFFERENCE TO ME AND MANY!!! 🙂 Another example to consider is the example of King Herod who had the light of the three wise men present him Truth about Christ born into the world and he chose in his heart to reject and destroy Christ’s partnership with him, hence, the Lord advised the three wise men not to return to King Herod, but to go a different direction.

Our Father gives us His heart and His Spirit’s power at work in us for our best life, forever set free in Him from sins bondage control upon us. His loving heart for us is to choose His heart:

“You shall not follow the masses in doing evil.”

Exodus 23:2NASB

We have freedom of choice and power to overcome bondage to sin!!! There is a day coming when our Father will also separate those who are His from those who choose to reject Him rather than trust in Him as their Savior. Our Father does not partner with those bent on evil intent to destroy His kingdom and His kids, nor does He expect us to partner with evil as His kids of faith.

If you should find yourself in a questionable relationship, here are some thoughts to consider about whether or not it is appropriate to end a relationship:

• Don’t end a relationship just because someone speaks Godly Truth to you. We may lose one of the best friends we could have. We must realize that everyone misbehaves sometimes, even ourselves. Our Father says to deny our personal sin is to be a liar. (1 John 1:8)
• Don’t tell a friend Truth and walk away all mad never to relate with them again. Give them time to respond. If a friend acknowledges the problem and tries to change, be there for them to encourage them and support them in their efforts to live in godliness!!! This is not a good time to end a relationship.
• If someone is continually or habitually intent on working against our Father (not just slipping up and making an occasional mistake) gradually separate yourself from them and widen your circle of friends to include those that are healthy for you.  If immediate severing of a relationship is necessary, tell the person you wish them well, but want to spend time with others in your life. Seek to end relationships without being unfriendly in the process. If paths cross again, be friendly instead of being an enemy. This is in keeping with our Father’s heart:

“If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people.”

Romans 12:18NASB

• Find courage to end friendships when you must and tact to do it peacefully as possible. Ending with bitterness, anger and confusion is not the best way!!! Clarity in what the problem issues are helps both sides to have possible successful repentance, resolution and reconciliation.
• If someone chooses not to change or do life with you in the future, don’t force them to, but rather rest in Father’s love and grace for you as sufficient, pray, move on in life and find joy and the blessings of being with people who love and care for you and desire the divine contributions of love and godliness that you have to add to their lives as Father guides you in loving them. He has made us to be in relationship with people and when two people look to Christ as the center of their relationships, it always brings the divine blessings into each of our lives that our Father intended when He said:

“…love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” Secondly… “love your neighbor as yourself.”

Mark 12:30-31NASB

“As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

John 13:34NASB

Much love to you all wherever you are today, dear family!!! May our Father guide you in His wisdom, give you peace, strength and courage to carry out His will, His plan and His purpose for you in all the relationships He places around us!!! Always hold close to the power of God’s love for you above all as this song says here.

The Sickness of Sin

Warm greetings to you wherever you are today, precious family of saints!!! While it is cold outside in Idaho, I am thankful for the blessing of a warm home amongst many other blessings our Father has bestowed upon us!!! Just the fact that we are breathing is of our Father’s grace and gift of life to  us!!! I am thankful to have good health and have been pondering the topic of sickness in life. With the winter months upon us, there are colds and flu viruses around us, so I am a gal seeking to stay warm and avoid stressing so my immune system isn’t weakened and keeping my hands as clean as possible as I am out in the public.

As we look into our Father’s Word, there are examples of people who have been sick and healed by our Father thru prayer and seeking Him. There are stories that talk about people who had illness come upon them as they opened their lives up to the enemy Satan’s way of lifestyle for them, choosing to walk in his ways rather than our Father’s best.  The Pharoah’s hardness of heart and hard headedness towards the Lord and His people brought many plagues upon the Egyptians!!! Our Father does not take lightly the hate and oppression of His people!!! (Deuteronomy 7:15) If there is chronic sickness lingering in a person,  examining one’s heart and lifestyle habits and circumstances is certainly something that should be considered, however, there are many examples in the Bible of people who had sickness come upon them that were righteous in their heart and lifestyle!!! One such example was Job whom the enemy tested to see if he would denounce his faith in our Father if his health was struck. Job kept the faith and sought our Father in the midst of it, surrendering his life to the God of all creation who is all wise, all powerful and love!!! Because Job kept His faith and continued in what was right in the midst of his illness brought on by Satan, “the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning.” (Job 42:12) There was also a man born blind that the disciples asked Jesus why he was blind, if it was because his parents or he had sinned. Jesus replied neither, but that “this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” (John 9:3) In deed his life did bring glory to the Lord into the world as he shared his testimony of how Jesus gave him eyesight!!!

Jesus has already won victory over the sickness of all people of faith and we know that in our Father’s kingdom coming soon, our Father says this:

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

Revelation 21:4

Meanwhile, our Father’s Word offers this about being sick in this life:

“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

James 5:13-16

“Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”

“My son (daughters, too), pay attention to what I say, listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart, for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s (woman’s) whole body.”

Proverbs 4:20-22

“Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear (reverence) the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.”

Proverbs 3:7-8

Our Father works healing through modern-day medicine to help many for sure, but our spiritual heart condition plays a big role in our health as well!!!

My prayer over you dear ones is in agreement with the heart of the Apostle John when he wrote:

“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.”

3 John 1:2

Jesus understands illness and he is compassionate towards the sick. He wept over one named Lazarus in the Bible whom Jesus raised up from the grave!!! I have been healed many times over the years as I have sought the Lord in prayer and sometimes it has been with prayer and medicine and sometimes just prayer!!! This we can know – Jesus understands suffering!!! He suffered great pain on the cross for each one of us as children of faith to have forever victory over the enemy of us!!!

In this world we at times share in our Lord’s suffering and we shall also share in the bliss of our forever home in His eternal kingdom where we will share in all His glory and glorious riches that are ours thru faith in Christ Jesus and His unfailing, unconditional love for us!!! Let us keep our lives free from the ways of the flesh and influence of Satan as we await our homecoming because it will make for the best and healthiest lives for us in more ways than one!!! Father’s love to you wherever you are and hold dear in heart that our Father delights in us as His children of faith. Thru Christ, Father sees us as holy, without blemish, without accusation and with no condemnation and as a good, good Father as this song says here, He is always working for our best in life!!! He is never tempted to do evil. All the time God is good, God is good all the time!!!

Bacon Saved

Hee, hee, hee!!! I chuckle this day as our Father speaks to my heart about a group of brothers that found themselves in a bit of a predicament!!! It all started with a little brother named Joseph who had been given our Father’s grace in a very special unique way that was different from his brothers, his father’s other sons. Young Joseph was also said to be more loved by his earthly father than the other brothers because Joseph was his son of his old age and his father made him a colored tunic.

Because of this and also the divine revelation given to their little brother thru dreams about the future, Joseph’s brothers were jealous and hated him. One day when the father sent Joseph to go check on his brothers who were pasturing the flock for him, the jealous brothers saw Joseph approaching from afar and schemed to kill him, throw him in a pit and tell their father that a wild beast ate him. One of the older brothers of Joseph spoke against his murder, so they ended up stripping him of the colored tunic that their father had made Joseph, throwing him into a pit and when a group of Ishmaelites were passing by, they sold Joseph to them. The Ishmaelites took him to Egypt and sold him to an Egyptian officer of the Pharaoh.

Because the Lord was with Joseph in his circumstances, he became a successful man, a ruler of Egypt and was ultimately set over all the land of Egypt!!! Shazam!!! Talk about a divine Father at miracle work for His kid of faith thru prayer – well, our Father did one in this story!!! WOOOHOOO!!! GO FATHER!!! 🙂

Now our Father works in mysterious and amazing ways and this new divine God-given position came in quite handy when it came famine time and Joseph was able to be a dream come true to his brothers when they found themselves in a place of need, having to go to Egypt and ask for food. Guess who they had to ask for it from??? Yep, none other than their little brother Joseph whom they had sold out of their hearts and lives moved by jealousy towards him!!! Joseph recognized them, but they did not recognize him, so after dealing with his emotions, having them go thru some divinely discerned steps to test and teach his brothers’ hearts about honesty and at the same time accomplish the needed steps to deal rightly with the situation, he provided for their needs abundantly and moved them to Egypt to be near him and to care for them all well with the glorious riches of the Lord’s provision for them!!! Oh, have you ever heard of God’s grace moving in a heart??? It did thru Joseph!!!

After being reunited together again as family, their father passed away and the brothers out of fear of not knowing how Joseph would act towards them now that their father was dead, the brothers put words into a sent message to Joseph written in the personage of their dead father saying: “Please forgive, I beg you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong.” And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of God of your father.” Joseph wept when he heard those words. His brothers stepped forward and bowed down before him just as the dream given to Joseph as a boy had revealed and they said to Joseph “Behold, we are your servants.” But Joseph seeing their worried hearts over their sin, Joseph spoke words of grace to them again, saying:

“Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

Genesis 50:19-21

Oh our Father’s sweet loving grace is sooo beautiful in life to us as His kids of faith!!! Joseph’s words had to have been much to all their relief in more ways than one to see that the Lord had saved their bacon, so to speak – that means to save someone’s skin or neck or hide!!! Oh now that thought just makes me smile!!! 🙂

Oh they all came out smelling like a divine rose full of the fragrance of our Father’s love, power, grace and purpose!!!

That is what our sweet Jesus does for us as His kids as we look to him to help us in life!!!

What does our Father speak to your hearts as you reflect upon this story, sweet family??? In our life relationships, we are all human and we are in the midst of a spiritual battle between Satan and our Father. Satan is always seeking to destroy families and relationships and our Father is always working to save them and bring into them forgiveness, love, peace, purpose and His forever blessings.

As I reflect upon this story, these questions I reflect upon: Where do we need to trust our Father in difficult circumstances to “save our bacon”??? Where do we need to extend grace to bless others around us??? Where do we need to ask for forgiveness??? Where do we need to work together to bring about our Father’s will, His plan and His purpose??? Much love to you all wherever you are!!! I always say that everyday is like Christmas with Jesus with us as our Savior and this story of sweet reunion and reconciliation sure has a familiar ring to it as I think about how our sweet Father sent His One and only son into the world to save us, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life with Him in His eternal kingdom with us all as His beloved children of faith!!! Now if that don’t just wag the tail on the end of a puppy, I don’t know what will do so!!! 🙂

I love happy endings and all the in between, too – being in our good loving Father’s care always as we experience life together as His kids of faith!!! Father’s grace – it always finds us to save our bacon as this song says here!!! YYYIIIPPPEEE!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS SPIRIT TO YOU DEAR SAINTS!!!

YOU ARE ALL AWESOME AND WITH GOD WITH US, WE ARE ALL POWERFUL BY HIS DESIGN!!!

 

Stand for Jesus

Have you ever had a favorite preacher before??? A church that you choose to attend or partake of because you are able to relate well to the light of our Father by that particular person’s unique style the Holy Spirit manifests through them??? It can be the way the whole church family works together and manifests the light of Christ together that makes a difference in your spiritual walk with Christ.  Perhaps it is their youth group ministry that draws you because you have a heart for ministry to youth and you are in agreement with the style of ministry a particular church puts forth to that particular group of people.

It is very common for people to say I want to attend this church or I want to be part of this group or read this person’s writing or I want to listen to this person’s music or I like this person’s cooking, art, photography, unique ministry outreach that is different from anything I have seen before. It blesses you in a good way!!! Finding the right church is something that is spiritually beneficial to you and inspires you in your own heart to reach out for the cause of Christ in the world!!! That’s awesome to find that just right spiritual niche in life where you are spiritually ministered to and where you can also minister to the glory of our King!!! Many people are still searching for it and travel from church to church looking for it!!! Our Father can guide each of us to where the right place for us each is as we seek His wisdom on it!!! Many have found their niche and are happy to be where they are and if you haven’t already, you will find the right place for you as well!!!

People of yesterdays were searching also.  Jesus was a man on this earth filled with the Spirit of our Father in a unique way that made a difference to many!!!  During His mission on earth, He was different from anything the people had ever experienced before. Upon hearing Him and seeing the divine power of our Father working through Him that brought healing and sight to many and set them free from the bondage of the Law in accordance with His love and knowledge of Scripture, many men and women believed in Him and wanted to follow Him to the dismay and jealousy of religious leaders who wanted the people to follow them instead. They ultimately crucified Him on the cross because of His faithfulness to His Father and the love that He had for people to know the Truth and be set free from the Old Testament Law by the Truth.

Jesus told His disciples the same thing would happen to them as His followers, in that there would be people that hated them. He said if they hate you, it is because they hated me first. Whenever there is hate, the question must be asked what is at the heart motive of it. Perhaps there is a truth that when seen, it can make a difference between hating and loving.  That is always a divine hope as our Father doesn’t want any to perish. It can be challenging to be a follower of Jesus where He puts you. Jesus said seeking after Him could even result in split relationships:

“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

Mark 13:12

In this life there are people who either love Jesus or hate Him. I want to encourage you, dear family to never be ashamed in following, speaking out for or seeking Jesus because in the end it will have made an eternal difference and Jesus will keep us forever safe and forever loved with His unfailing, unconditional love. Jesus is always worth it!!! It delights Jesus when those who fear (reverence) Him hope in His unfailing love. (Psalm 147:11) He also tells us that when persecution comes, “not to worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given to you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.”  (Mark 13:11) He also tells us as His children of faith:

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10

“Whose your Daddy?” I’m a gal standing for Jesus as mine as this song says here. Sooo proud of you for standing for the cause of Jesus, too, precious saints!!! Rock on!!! You are awesome in wanting the best for our Father’s people and His kingdom!!! 🙂

The Birth of Jesus

In order for something to have an ending, it has to have a beginning, amen?!! That is the thought Father puts upon my heart today as I look into His Word, specifically about the Christmas story!!! His written Word (the Bible) says:

“This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.” 

Matthew 1:18 NIV

Mary and Joseph were a divine couple that our Father brought together, however, before they were together, it is said that Mary was found to be with Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit. As I reflect upon this, my Father speaks to me today of the importance of the personal relationship with Jesus and the presence of the Holy Spirit at work in each person’s life before they are together in unity with Christ. Apart from each having a personal relationship with Christ Jesus, a couple should not enter into marriage together. To do so is said to be unequally yoked!!! Why is that an issue??? Our Father says it this way:

“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?”

2 Corinthians 6:14

To heed our Father’s advice in life is to set ourselves up with the best possible scenario to have unity in Christ Jesus. Letting Christ and His mind and His Spirit be born first and foremost into our personal lives brings the divine life and divine ending into our world!!! I love that thought!!! Going for a good ending in life circumstances always begins with welcoming Christ into our midst as Father tells us:

“The fear (reverence) of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One of understanding.”

Proverbs 9:10

Jesus says:

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

Revelation 22:13

“I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except thru me.”

John 14:6

“…It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.”

Revelation 21:6

Wherever there is a thirst for divine unity, it begins with the welcoming in of Jesus and the living waters of His Holy Spirit flowing through us each as His kids of faith and it ends with having our thirst quenched divinely by Him!!! Nothing can satisfy our hearts like Jesus!!! I love this song here that welcomes the H0ly Spirit into our lives. Has Jesus been born into your life personally??? If not, just ask Him to be your personal Savior from sin and invite Him to indwell your heart and guide you from the beginning of new life in Him thru all of life to His eternal Kingdom that is coming soon where all of His kids of faith shall be united together as His royal forever family!!! Now that is a beginning with a good-ending promise and oh it just makes me smile!!! 🙂