Steadfast in planting

All children of God have the potential within us to be a seed that grows on good soil!

We intercede for those we love to stay in the good soil! That is where Gods’ plan grows!

For our destiny and those we love, Lord God sift our lives of the weeds of sin, pour out Your refreshing, healing Living Water. Bring us to a great harvest of abundant joy, peace, love. Break every stronghold that binds our potential. Show us where we need to let God of those who are not Your ambassadors.

Psalm 27:4,14 TPT
Here’s the one thing I crave from YAHWEH, the one thing I seek above all else: I want to live with him every moment in his house, beholding the marvelous beauty of YAHWEH, filled with awe, delighting in his glory and grace. I want to contemplate in his temple. [14] Here’s what I’ve learned through it all: Don’t give up; don’t be impatient; be entwined as one with the Lord. Be brave and courageous, and never lose hope. Yes, keep on waiting—for he will never disappoint you!

Our hope and compass daily must be You, Lord!

Lost

Jesus is the One thing we all need. Be desperate for a relationship with Him. The triune God: the Creator God, Jesus, His Son and the Holy Spirit, knows how to bring hope and you will be found in Him.

Do you feel lost? Is the busyness of life causing waves of anxiety? The Creator God who placed the heavens and earth, the sun in place and the stars in space, who created the waters and land ( Genesis 1) said “it is good”!

The Lord made you and said “He/ She is my child created in my Image”. He placed the spark of life at conception and our life was formed. He said “you are good” and have a purpose, You are His Masterpiece!! Has anyone ever told you this!!!! ?

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Citipointe Worship released a powerful song “Breathe / Just Give Me Jesus”!! Listen to the lyrics. Bask in the knowledge of His breath in your lungs, His unconditional love for you and for your destiny . You are seen and known by the One who made you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLkV-NPCrNw

“But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬-‭6‬, ‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Just as Jesus knows you, He hears you when you call to Him. Amazing love!

I have heard Jeremiah 33:3, a scripture verse described as an emergency call for wisdom. Since the Lord formed all things He is the place for healing and wisdom.

““This is what the Lord says—the Lord who made the earth, who formed and established it, whose name is the Lord: Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭33‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

If you’re feeling lost, don’t look for wisdom in social media or on the web, or in any other person on this planet, instead seek wisdom from the Lord. Ask Him any question and He will reveal the answers to you.

Growing up you may have been told, God doesn’t care about you! Whoever said this to you is a liar! Believe in the One who made you!

Taking time to be still, unplug from media, music, television, social media. Distractions and noise must cease so you can hear the voice of your Creator God.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Changing your mindset may take practice but God is patient! Renew your mind in Christ and find peace!

Wisdom over fear

Freedom

Today’s post is going to include scriptures that will encourage and remind all of us the importance of trusting God‘s Word.

“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.”
‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Despite what we see in the natural, the Creator God of the heavens and earth has been with His people since the beginning of time. And His Word is alive like a two-edged sword.

“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Word of God is truth and cannot be denied. All of God’s creation, the children of God will come and worship the King of Kings. We cannot understand what’s going on in the world, perhaps what’s going on in our families, perhaps what’s going on in culture, however, we have to trust God. We have to believe in Him above all things.

Distractions abound, and that is the plan of the enemy, the devil. To keep our eyes bouncing from side to side, kind of like a squirrel looking for a nut. But God wants us to fix our eyes on Jesus, and put our eyes on the Word of God, spending time learning the wisdom that comes from above. We can worship Jesus in music that honors Him.

One of my favorite musicians, The Project of Love has many song-lists on Spotify that combine scripture and melody. “Deuteronomy 32, How Glorious is our God” is one of my favorites.

https://youtu.be/DF8u4a8T5DI?is=Q8G4DFk-HTOXRsb4

The purpose of being in God‘s Word is so that we are preparing ourselves to stand against the spiritual warfare for the devil will toss it at each one of us.

When Jesus was in the wilderness 40 days, He was the example of how to use Gods’ Word in the battle, Jesus spoke the Word of God to the devil’s requests. Jesus died as the intercessor for each of His children to be the bridge with our Creator God.

Mediation Scriptures:

“Then Hannah prayed: “My heart rejoices in the Lord! The Lord has made me strong. Now I have an answer for my enemies; I rejoice because you rescued me. No one is holy like the Lord! There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.”
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“O Lord, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to no one but you. Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭42‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭116‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It’s important to repent of any sins against God; pride, bitterness, unforgiveness, jealousy, shame, lies…. Everyone needs to bend your knees and seek Jesus first, repent (turn from sin) and ask Him to guide your steps.

“Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people. Riches won’t help on the day of judgment, but right living can save you from death. Godly people find life; evil people find death. The Lord detests people with crooked hearts, but he delights in those with integrity.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭11‬:‭2‬-‭4‬, ‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭51‬:‭1‬-‭2‬, ‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We must realize God loves us, He sent His Son, Jesus because of His love for His children. He is our Good Father, our God disciplines those He loves because He believes in our purpose and our destiny.

“To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction. Wise words bring many benefits, and hard work brings rewards. Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others. A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬, ‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

He sanctifies; Jesus washes us clean as snow when we come to Him with pure intentions, and we can get a new start.

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬-‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

He is the Lord God Almighty, His ways are just and true. He is Holy! He is life. Choose the best life of abundance with Him. Put on the Spiritual Armor found in Ephesians 6.

“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭10‬-‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Our God is marvelous and holy! We must worship Him alone.

“And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: “Great and marvelous are your works, O Lord God, the Almighty. Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations. Who will not fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous deeds have been revealed.””
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭15‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Worship the One true King, Jesus! No other idols will satisfy. Spend time in His Word ( use a Bible app like Youversion) or a hard copy Bible. Start in the book of John if you are new to this journey. It shares meaningful steps of Jesus and His chosen broken disciples who loved Him. Go with God! You will not regret the time spent preparing for His return.

Photo credit by pexels.com

Trust Him

We all have a journey, every step we take can lead us to good things or every impulsive choice can lead to consequences.

However, every choice can remind us that we don’t have to walk alone. When we fall short of the best steps, we still have a Creator God to seek for wisdom. The Lord wants to help not shame us.

“Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. And I know that I will not be put to shame.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭50‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

One of my favorite scriptures is Proverbs 3:5-6! Trusting in God as a child, teen, young adult, newly married couple, senior adult is the only answer to all lives questions.

Trust Him

When we ask for His wisdom first and step in His ways, life can be a more peaceful existence. However, even when we choose to obey His commands, we will have trials. He promises to never leave or forsake us.

“And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There is a comfort in knowing we grow in our faith with Him each time we reach for His answers.

Our willingness to trust in Him before we see the end result is hard for our human need to control. But we can feel Him in the wind, we can see His hand in nature, we can take a breath and His life flows into ours.

Just like Elijah when we take a moment in stillness, God will reveal Himself in a gentle whisper.

““Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.”
‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭19‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Fearing the Lord isn’t about terror it’s about fear and reverent awe that our Creator God is near.

As my husband and I were returning home from our nieces wedding in Salt Lake City, I was pondering a situation that required my trust in God. We were traveling on a two lane highway, when out of the corner of my eye, I saw a bald eagle perched on a fence in the prairie field. He was facing the highway. It reminded me that God is with me. The Lord knows an eagle is my favorite.

“Who among you fears the Lord and obeys his servant? If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the Lord and rely on your God.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭50‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Trust in the Lord! Be still and He will remind you in a personal way that He is with you!

It Takes Work

Sunrise on the plains by MM

1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT
So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

Webster’s definition of work: to exert one’s self for a purpose; to put forth effort for the attainment of an object; to labor; to be engagaed in a performance or task.

We cannot be rewarded without working toward a goal. We need to pay bills to eat, pay rent, enjoy life these are gifts of our labor.

Exodus 5:18 Go, therefore now and work for there will be no straw given you.

Another definition of work: to be effective; to have influence. We can be an influencer using our words and actions for good things or in impulse for poor examples.

Romans 8:28 We know all things work together for good to them that love God.

When I think of work, I think of energy spent for a cause. It can be physical; use of muscles, emotional; as when someone does the work of recovery such as in grief, addiction or mental health, or it can be spiritual; as in working through our faith as a child of God, gaining perspective of Jesus.

All types of work require determination, energy drain and a desire for new perspective. We all are born with purpose. Each of us are created uniquely to use our lives for good things in our sphere of influence.

Life may try to chip away our purpose by things done to us, by our own choices, or just plain circumstances beyond our control. We must stand up, push away the garbage of lies, step away from people who block our purpose and believe that the Lord has better connections (if we are patient) on the horizon.

We must work to discover our purpose, however, we can ask Jesus to show us His plan and then together we can carry the load. We must ask Jesus into our lives. We do not have to go it alone.

The Lord has given us a path to take that isn’t about work, it is about accepting the free gift of Jesus. It is our free choice to take the gift of love, grace, mercy, and eternal connection with Him. Jesus died on the cross for all His children to provide a way for our forever connection to God. It is not a forced relationship, it is our choice.

Open your hand, open your heart and let your soul connect to Him ( Jesus) today. Accept the free gift and let Him guide the labor and connections of your life. He wants to help you carry the burdens. All you have to do is ask Him. Jesus said in the book of Matthew to people who were seeking answers:

Matthew 11: 28 – 30 ” Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

I did a eulogy at my Grandmothers funeral and this is the scripture I shared with my Irish family. I said, “Grandma is no longer struggling to breathe or with Dementia confusion, she is dancing through the Pearly Gates to Jesus.” My family needed to be reminded of the free gift, we all need to be reminded. 🙂

Do you want to decrease your burdens and heavy life load? Do you want the free gift? He promises to be with you if you ask. It takes action, a step of faith. It is between you and Jesus, it is a call to a relationship of love. If you are ready to open your heart it is amazing!!

Repeat after me: Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I want a new life with You. Please forgive my sins of __________________________________. I know You created me for a purpose. I repent ( turn away from the sins that blocked me from you). I believe that You are the Son of God and that You died for my sins. I want You to guide my life my life. Thank you for the free gift of love, grace, and mercy. I am a child of God. Amen.

Be in expectancy for a new sunrise; a new day is dawning. If you have prayed this prayer and honestly seek Jesus He is in your heart. Welcome to the family of God, I rejoice with you.

Letting Jesus guide your life is a daily action step. As humans, we can tend to want to take back control. I am grateful for Jesus. He understands our human conditions. Turn to Him and seek His wisdom. He can be trusted.

Next steps: Take time to discover, by opening the Bible, seek the wisdom of your Creator God. It takes forming a habit to make time daily to read and be instructed. Our ( sin patterns) habits can be hard to break but it will be worth the labor.

If you do not have a Bible, you can go online to the Bible gateway website: https://www.biblegateway.com/ or access the Bible through the to take further steps https://youversion.com/the-bible-app/ and access the Word of God.

Expect there to be interruptions when you try to make new habits seeking God. This isn’t about guilt if you miss a day. It is about restarting again. Jesus does not shame He wants a relationship of love. I have heard it said “habits can take 28 days”. You can be transformed to new beginnings or renewed commitments, new life.

The Book of John, found in the New Testament, of the Bible is a great place to start. As you learn about Jesus and his time with the disciples on earth, you will be moved by his love.

May you feel the love of Jesus today.

Endurance

You can do all things with Him!

We are born with the selfish attitude of “I can do it myself” but Jesus wants to take our relationship to a higher place to impact our lives and those who intersect us.

I don’t know about you, sometimes in the midst of my daily distractions, I can forget Jesus is for me and wants to direct my life. A question for me and you: what attitude, circumstance, or feeling is an obstacle to my connection to Jesus? Take a moment to ponder this question. Talk to Jesus, admit your sin ( the obstacle). Ask Jesus to be your guide to a clearer future.

“We also have a great cohen over God’s household. Therefore, let us approach the Holiest Place with a sincere heart, in the full assurance that comes from trusting — with our hearts sprinkled clean from a bad conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us continue holding fast to the hope we acknowledge, without wavering; for the One who made the promise is trustworthy.”
‭‭Hebrews 10‬:‭21‬-‭23‬ ‭CJB‬‬

“Cohen” is the Hebrew word for priest, Jesus is the High Priest! we have the wonderful opportunity to access the Highest place for wisdom. We are truly blessed.

Here is another Bible translation of Hebrews 10:22 which reminds us to draw near to God with sincere hearts and in faith we can be washed with His pure water.

“let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Mediation Prayer prompt:

Father God, Jesus, Help me to surrender my whole life and family to you. Lord, guide my heart and attitude to be sincere and humble. Teach me to be an example of Your love especially when I feel weak. You give me the strength and authority to walk in Your ways.

Help me to set boundaries for our lives, our families that will be a benefit to their lives. Help me to speak life and truth of our families’ worth in Jesus plan for their lives. Help us not to seek peace and world culture values over Your ways.

I ask forgiveness for placing obstacles in our relationship Jesus. Sprinkle us clean of words or actions that don’t align with your ways, wash me by the blood of Jesus from : (place your obstacles here.. anxiety, fear, unbelief…)

Your Living Water, Jesus washes away our worries if we let it. I want Your peace, Your Words to flow through me to every person I encounter; family, friend, stranger. In the Mighty Name of Jesus, Amen.

Meditation and time with Jesus needs to be daily, even moment to moment seeking wisdom not as a compulsion but an amazing life altering way of life, with our God who knows us, loves us unconditionally and calls us to Himself.

Here are other powerful scriptures of assurance:

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭145‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Draw near to God and Your faith will expand to a Higher place of peace and purpose. Your endurance is developing strength and character, the hard work in relationship with Jesus will not disappoint. You can speak to Him directly! Lift up your voice, He is listening.

Photo credit by pexels.com

The set up

There is something about being steadfast in the Lord that cannot be expressed in words. The benefit and reward of our obedience to the plans God has for our life is the path for our destiny.

Many scriptures will talk about the enemy who lies and waits for us to choose a different path.

The mind games are exhausting. Remembering the voice of the One who created us in the midst of hearing all these other voices with lies, is no different than Eve listening to the snake in the garden.

You are meant to be set apart as a child of God not to go with the crowd. Set a personal best time not comparing to others. It always boils down to a choice.

Psalm 27:11-14 AMPC
Teach me Your way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain and even path because of my enemies [those who lie in wait for me]. [12] Give me not up to the will of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen up against me; they breathe out cruelty and violence.

I love the scripture in Psalm 27:13-14. Read the scripture slowly and it reminds us that the Lord wants to see us in the land of the living. The other part of this is the Lord wants us to choose the goodness of God. However, our impulsive human tendency wants an immediate sense of gratification. This is where the enemy strikes quick and with repetition.

Verse 14 reminds us we have wait on the Lord and have courage and endure. So what exactly are we enduring?

13] [What, what would have become of me] had I not believed that I would see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living! [14] Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.

Endurance means we are looking to the future with a goal in mind. This is no different than a runner in a race, feeling exhausted, wondering if they’ll be able to run to the finish line.

It takes effort, it takes steps, it takes faith and trust, and hope in the Lord, it takes our eyes off of the people around us, and digging deep into our relationship the One, who lives within us, Jesus!

The One who gives us those final pushes, for the breathing required to finish the race, is the One who gave Adam his first breath.

My question for you and maybe myself: do you want to be set apart or set up? Are you willing to take the steps to achieve a God-given purpose or settle for the enemies plan? Are you willing to set the pace for your destiny holding the hand of Jesus or a world culture that fades away?

Colossians 3:1-4,10-11 TPT
Christ’s resurrection is your resurrection too. This is why we are to yearn for all that is above, for that’s where Christ sits enthroned at the place of all power, honor, and authority! [2] Yes, feast on all the treasures of the heavenly realm and fill your thoughts with heavenly realities, and not with the distractions of the natural realm. [3] Your crucifixion with Christ has severed the tie to this life, and now your true life is hidden away in God in Christ. [4] And as Christ himself is seen for who he really is, who you really are will also be revealed, for you are now one with him in his glory! [10] For you have acquired new creation life which is continually being renewed into the likeness of the One who created you; giving you the full revelation of God. [11] In this new creation life, your nationality makes no difference, nor your ethnicity, education, nor economic status—they matter nothing. For it is Christ that means everything as he lives in every one of us!

Gratitude matters! Attitude destroys! Letting the word of Christ dwell in your heart and mind will lead to being trained for honor in God’s ways. Whether we are baby boomers to Gen Z, we must choose wisely.

Colossians 3:15-17 TPT
Let your heart be always guided by the peace of the Anointed One, who called you to peace as part of his one body. And always be thankful. [16] Let the word of Christ live in you richly, flooding you with all wisdom. Apply the Scriptures as you teach and instruct one another with the Psalms, and with festive praises, and with prophetic songs given to you spontaneously by the Spirit, so sing to God with all your hearts! [17] Let every activity of your lives and every word that comes from your lips be drenched with the beauty of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One. And bring your constant praise to God the Father because of what Christ has done for you!

May we reach the finish line and rejoice in the character we have built with the One ( God) who gave us our first breath. We will never be disappointed, and the efforts will be so worth it.

Giving thanks to God for never leaving us in the race for our destiny.

Photo by pexels.com

Remain in Him

Take the steps to your destiny!

The Master Gardener is the One who made all things! The hurts and challenges of life are an opportunity to be pruned of what does not belong. It could be for our lives personally, it could also be the pruning of people from our lives. I am learning to trust in God!

““I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you.”
‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Just as fruit bearing trees need to be pruned to bring more health to the center, we need to be pruned. There is purpose in the trimming.

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!”
‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭4‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Each day we get to choose where we get our wisdom! Will it be from the chaotic world culture of comparison and distraction? Will we seek the wisdom from God that brings our lives and future bearing fruit and promise?

“Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭139‬:‭14‬-‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The way of life may be sandy and slanted at times but remaining in God will always bring the best guidance. Our Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit are the compass in our life when we surrender to His direction.

One step at a time, your footprint His destiny!

The One who created you, awaits your communication. Talk to Him! You don’t need a human intercession, you need a heart, mind and soul that surrenders to His plan. It really is that simple!

Jesus chose disciples who were broken and lost and guided them to a rich life bearing fruit for others to learn about the unconditional love of Jesus!

When we are weak, we are open to His guidance!

We have free will to choose Jesus or not! He will not force a relationship! He is grace, mercy, forgiveness ( when we repent of our mistakes). He is hope, unconditional love, He is wisdom beyond our human understanding.

The world has nothing to offer! Being with Jesus and those who want to be with Him is rich!

He is the Master Gardener and the Compass with a map for our destiny. One step at a time! Jesus extends His hand. Reach to Him! Remain in Him.

Photo credit by Margie Tatos

Heartbroken

Amazing, how the wisdom from our Creator God can feed a weary soul, it brings the Bread of Life to all who hunger for His hope.

Sometimes, it truly is walking one step at a time, looking around your world, seeking the beauty of Gods creation to remember how amazing is His love and provision.

May these nuggets of truth fill your soul with His compassion and love today!

Psalm 33:18-22 MSG
Watch this: God’s eye is on those who respect him, the ones who are looking for his love. He’s ready to come to their rescue in bad times; in lean times he keeps body and soul together. [20-22] We’re depending on God; he’s everything we need. What’s more, our hearts brim with joy since we’ve taken for our own his holy name. Love us, God, with all you’ve got—that’s what we’re depending on.

Psalm 34:18-22 MSG
If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there; if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath. [19] Disciples so often get into trouble; still, God is there every time. [20] He’s your bodyguard, shielding every bone; not even a finger gets broken. [21] The wicked commit slow suicide; they waste their lives hating the good. [22] God pays for each slave’s freedom; no one who runs to him loses out.

Psalm 84:11-12 TPT
For the Lord God is brighter than the brilliance of a sunrise! Wrapping himself around me like a shield, he is so generous with his gifts of grace and glory. Those who walk along his paths with integrity will never lack one thing they need, for he provides it all! [12] O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, what euphoria fills those who forever trust in you!

One moment at a time, one circumstance at a time, one second at a time holding onto our Creator God, the Holy Spirit and Jesus is the only way to place your life into His hands. He will direct your steps when you trust in Him alone.

My beloved is Mine by Evermore Collective soothes the heart and soul. It is a reminder how much we are loved by Our God!!!

https://youtu.be/dKGyu7LEQVI?si=1QUiN9qUmq1ARBr_

Bask in His Love as you listen to the truth in song! You are His!

Wisdom in His Word

The spiritual discipline of fasting and prayer is not a new concept. Pastor Vlad Savchuk is an amazing Holy Spirit filled servant of God. His book, 21 days of fasting and prayer, challenged me.

“Fasting is not about what you are losing. It is about whom you are gaining. When you say no to a plate, you are saying yes to deeper awareness of Gods’ Presence. “ Pastor Vlad Savchuk

As a result of fasting, I felt prompted to share this declaration prayer. Spending time with our Creator is precious! Nothing can compare.

Creator God, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, glory and power are from You alone (Rev.17). Holy is the Lord God, Almighty.

Wonderful Counselor. Mighty God, Prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6), He is Yahweh (Exodus 3:14)!

Creator God, Lord, You are worthy of all praise (Psalm 18:3). All things are possible with you (Matthew 19:26).

Lord, your Word is honey from the comb (Psalm 119:103). Jesus, you are the Bread of Life, Your word is the priceless wisdom for the mind, body and soul.

The Word of the Lord is pure and it is a shield for all who take refuge in Him ( Psalm 18:30). It is rich and wisdom. It is Living Water for the thirsty, it is a Light for our path. It is our destiny written from the beginning of time.

Your Word never changes ( Mark 13:31) Your Word encourages; it brings hope for the weary. Your Word directs the path of Your child. We must be still and spend time in Your Word. Your Word is life for our soul. Your Word is perfect. Your wisdom from the Word comes from heaven, when we must meditate on it. You are the Alpha and the Omega; the beginning in the end. Your Word is a lamp for our feet (119:105). Hallelujah. In Jesus Name, Amen!!

Reread and Declare aloud the prayer above, ask the Lord for more of His Presence. Humble yourself and be still, Jesus wants to give you His wisdom.

Here are more examples of His wisdom, our time spent with Our Creator, God and Jesus is priceless:

“You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
‭‭John‬ ‭6‬:‭35‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus said:
“Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.”
‭‭John‬ ‭17‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭4‬:‭20‬-‭22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus said: “I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Be still with Him daily and He will bring abundant wisdom to you. You are not alone. May God bless you!

“This is what the Lord says—the Lord who made the earth, who formed and established it, whose name is the Lord: Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭33‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬