Time to Go Further! Come see! The Pathway of Life Continues...

The prodigal did not remain a prodigal at some point he made the journey back home to his father and began a new season of his life.

I often wish we had heard a continuation of the story - hopefully the prodigal learned from the lessons of his journey, reflected upon all he had been through and grew.  Hopefully he went on to use what he had experienced to help someone else contemplating making the same mistakes he had made.  I don't know what happened in his case, but I can tell you what happened in mine.

I grew.

I have been an ex-prodigal for four years now, and I can truly tell you that God in His forgiveness, love, grace and mercy allowed me to grow in ways I never imagined I would... Although honestly, I never thought I would EVER go through a prodigal experience in the first place!

All of the posts you read on this site (over 8 years worth) are posts of growth, realization and inspiration.  THIS Ex-Prodigal's Daughter is being called to her next season of writing and I hope you will not only gain by what has been written here, but that you will also go forward with me onto the new website that the LORD has inspired me to go forward.  As a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly it is time for me to move on to a higher calling in my writing, God has helped me move forward and to my amazement and amusement, helped me to build a new website  entitled, "The Called Remnant" which can be found at:  http://www.the-called-remnant.com

My prayer is that if you are a prodigal - one who has just found this page, that God will direct you towards the posts listed on the right side of what you are currently reading, and He will minister to you (as He ministered to me) and inspired me to write ALL of the words that you find here.   God's Word never comes back null and void and I know He will continue directing people to this page so that they will (hopefully) repent, grow, forgive themselves and move forward in ALL that God has for them!  I believe that will be the case...  I have brought forward into my new website some of the posts, but also kept everything here.  I pray God will use the words of whatever He has given me to write to bless you, encourage you, minister to you, lead you to repentance (should you still be in a prodigal time in your life) and help make you aware of the fact that YOU are NOT alone.  God loves you so very much, He has called you and has a purpose for your life - I pray that you realize that more and more each day and allow Him to do a mighty work of restoration and healing in your life so that you in turn can share and extend the right hand of fellowship behind you to help someone else.

There is SO much more in store than what you are currently going through... Come find out where God is taking me!  A new journey upon the pathway of life has begun!  To Him be ALL the glory, honor and praise!

God's Blessings to You in Your Own Journey,

Kelly

Listen Prodigal, He is Calling You Home...

Your Father is calling You Home...

It has been a while since I have written, a lot has been going on...  The Lord is beginning to bring me into the next chapter of my life and with that He has been helping me to grow spiritually.

I have a word for all of you who are prodigals who have been reading my blog...  LISTEN CAREFULLY...  GOD LOVES YOU.    I do not know what it is you are currently going through or what it is that has brought you to the point of becoming a prodigal.  But God has directed you to this blog for a reason.  You are reading these words for a reason, not by chance... He wants your attention, and I want you to know, because I have been there - that God REALLY does love you and He hasn't given up on you. 

Maybe you are at the point of giving up on yourself.
Maybe all those around you have given up on you.
Maybe you are at the beginning of your prodigal time and are having a grand ol' time and think that God doesn't see what you are doing or know what you are going through. 
HE DOES.
Oh yes!  You cannot hide from Him. 
He sees it ALL. 
You are NOT fooling Him.

Listen, I am not saying this to condemn you.  I am saying this because I once was where you are now, I opened up a door that I had no business opening up and with that came my prodigal journey, what I was doing was running away from reality, numbing myself because I was unhappy with my life, but here is the thing - God refused to let go of me, He refused to give up on me.  He hasn't given up on you.

"What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?" (Matthew 18:12)

That is exactly what God will do (or maybe even IS doing even as you read these words for you right now.  God is no respecter of persons.  He does not have favorites.  But HE LOVES YOU.  He DIED on the cross for forgiveness of your sins.  He is leaving the rest to come after you.  If you are not at a point of heading back home from your prodigal time - you soon will be.  Know that God is calling you home, and even if you aren't aware of it right now or haven't been told this - He has your best interest at heart, heck - He CREATED your heart, don't you think He knows even better than you just what that best is????   HE TRULY LOVES YOU.

I know it is not easy...  I know that there are times when the devil is telling you that you cannot get right with God.  Well, it's true, you can't.  But here is the thing - you neer could!  The Bible tells us:

"All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away." (Isaiah 64:7). 

But it also says:

"Come now, let us settle the matter," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." (Isaiah 1:18).

We NEVER could be "good enough" to earn Heaven.  That is WHY Jesus came.  God came down in the form of Man - Jesus -  and died on the cross for forgiveness of our sins.  He has Risen and even as you read these words - right now is sitting on the right hand of the Father interceding on your behalf.  He's got your back!
 
So when ol' slewfoot comes before you and accuses you - you can agree with him.  YES.  We CANNOT come before the Father UNLESS we are covered with the blood of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  BUT because of Jesus' shed blood - once we repent and turn our lives around His blood washes ALL our sins away.

I went through a prodigal time, I am not speaking as one who doesn't know what it is like,  I know how hard it is to come back home.  I know what it is like to "beat myself up."  But the Bible says that once we confess our sins.  Once we repent He FORGIVES Us.  The Bible says:

 "He throws our transgressions as far as the East is to the West." (Psalm 103:12).

HE LOVES YOU.  He wants you to turn back to Him.  To come home.
If you are going through a prodigal time - COME HOME.  You were not meant to stay there forever.  God gives us free will.  But if you are a born-again believer I know the Holy Spirit has been kicking your butt big time.  And if you were to be honest with yourself, you'd admit that it is true and that you are tired. 

It's time to come home.

I want to encourage you to make that journey back home to the Father.  He's waiting...  He loves you, He wants you, He DIED for you.  Do not listen to any other voices telling you otherwise and it doesn't matter WHAT you have done.  There is NO degree of sin with the Father.  Sin is Sin. 

Come Home.

God CAN and will restore you.  You just have to be willing.  Willing to turn around and change direction.  He's calling your name.  I know, because He called mine.

Now if you are a prodigal who has come home (an ex-prodigal) there may be healing that the Lord has to do in your life. 

LET HIM. 

Maybe He will help you examine WHY you became a prodigal in the first place.  It's not to excuse it, but to help you grow.  Were you running away from reality? What was your reason?  At some point in your return the Lord will have you privately examine what happened and why you chose what you did.  This is not to condemn you but to help you grow in Him.  Maybe to reveal some things about yourself that need to be exposed so that God can heal you.  There may be things about yourself that you were unaware of.  Things from your childhood.  Doors that you opened up that should never have been opened.  There may be wounds deep within you that need deep Holy Spirit cleansing and suturing up, in allowing God to do this, it can be very painful, but it is necessary in order to grow in Him.  
 Let God do it...Withstand the pain. 

For in the long run God will use your prodigal time to help someone else who is going through what you went through, and when that happens, God will get all the glory for it which means that what the devil meant for evil God WILL use for good.

My blog came about because I allowed myself to enter in to a prodigal time in my life.  It is not easy to be transparent about our mistakes but when we know that God can use our mistakes to help someone else (learn from your experience so that they in turn won't go down that same "prodigal pathway" or perhaps help someone to know that they are not  alone, not the only one to face temptations or situations, He uses what we went through for His good.  Throughout our walk with the Lord we are constantly growing.  I believe that will be the way it is for as long as we have breath in our bodies we are growing in Him (if we allow the Holy Spirit to move in our lives).  Otherwise we become like stagnant water and God has so MUCH more in mind for you.  He has plans for your life.  Really!  Life is filled with a bunch of lessons that are meant to draw us nearer to the Father.  We choose by our own free will whether or not we will stay stunted or  whether or not we will grow.  The choice is always up to us.

By beginning this blog seven years ago, I chose to be there for other prodigals.  To encourage and let them know that they were not alone.  I chose to be transparent with my walk with the Lord and in those seven years, so much has happened!  I am at a point where the Lord is telling me it is time to trust Him more.  Trust is not something that comes easy for me, digging deep within myself can bring up painful moments that I would rather run from and not face, but I have come to realize that in order to go forward (which is my deepest desire) in the Lord, I have to face things that cause me pain - not run from them.  Not deny them.  Because I know that until I face them, I can't heal from them or grow.  As I grow in Christ I realize that truly:

"It is NOT by power, NOT by might but BY HIS SPIRIT." (Zechariah 4:6) 

I cannot do ANYTHING of my own accord and sometimes that is difficult for me to accept because I am a planner, I am a fixer and right now in my walk, currently - God has brought me to the end of my rope.  He is saying to me. "Kelly, as Moses stood before the red sea with the Israelites and Pharaoh and his men were coming towards them.  There was NOTHING in the natural that they could do.  They were at a point where they had to choose to trust me.  And because they did - I parted the sea.  Do YOU trust Me like that?"  and even though everything in the natural would indicate that I SHOULD feel defeated.  That I DO NOT in the natural see a way - I know I serve a Heavenly Father WHO makes a way where there IS no way.  What you see in the natural is NOT what is really going on.  If God gave you special vision to see the supernatural you would see the combat going around you.  The Bible says:

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:12).

Once again we get to choose what are we going to believe... What our eyes see or what our Father says?  He wants us to trust Him.  I choose to trust Him.  He is not a Father that He would lie.

He desires YOUR TRUST.

TRUST HIM.  DO IT.  "Taste and see that the Lord is good." (Psalms 34:8).

My prayer for you dear prodigal, or ex-prodigal, is that YOU will by faith trust Him more and more.  God has blessed me so much since my prodigal time.  I can tell you that I have gone through a great deal of pain, but with that pain has come spiritual growth.  There are regrets I have of course.  I can't go back, but I can allow the Lord to bring me forward.  And because I am willing He is.

Dear prodigal (or fellow ex-prodigal)  there is NO greater place to be than in the center of God's will.  It is sweet and fulfilling and satisfying and like nothing I can adequately describe.  I pray that for you.

God is still healing me and showing me why I allowed myself to go through a prodigal time.  In bits and pieces for sure, but in love not in condemnation.  It is giving me a better understanding of myself.  He is also showing me what the next steps are.  Because this chapter in my life is closing and God is preparing a new one.  You see, the prodigal did NOT remain a prodigal for the rest of his life, oh no!  That is not the end of his story.  He moved forward.  He was warmly welcome back into his Father's house.  The Bible doesn't go on to say much more about what happened to him after that, maybe because each prodigals ending is different - but once again that is where free will comes in.... I cannot tell you what plans the Father has for you - but I can tell you that for me - He is calling me to a higher level.  And I intend to answer that calling and move forward.  He is saying, "There is MORE."  So in the upcoming weeks I shall reveal to the followers of my blog what that "more" is.  Because it is time to move forward into the next phase of my life.  Heed His call.  I hope you will do the same... 

HE LOVES YOU. COME HOME.

Do You Have a "Green Eggs and Ham" Kind of Faith?

There is so much that the Lord has been saying to me of late - the main thing that I have been hearing is, "Kelly, do you trust Me?"  Ouch... That has been a difficult word.  I thought I trusted Him.  I have believed I have trusted Him... But looking deeper at myself, I have discovered that I need to trust Him more.  How about you?  What is God saying to you as you read the words of this post?  Are YOU trusting Him?  How are you trusting Him?  How do you check yourself to make sure that you are trusting Him?  If you feel led to share, feel free to respond to this post and share with me the ways that you try to trust in our Father.



One of the things I have started to do is to make sure that I give the Lord the first fruits of my day.  As I drive my son to school we pray together and put on our spiritual armor as depicted in Ephesians chapter 6.  The armor makes sure we are girded up just as putting on our earthly clothes every morning keeps us from being naked, as my son and I speak out the different pieces of the armor we go through the physical motions of putting each piece on.

The helmet of salvation
The breast plate of righteousness
Around our waist we put the belt of truth
We shod our feet with the preparation of the gospel
We pick up our shield of faith and our sword of the Spirit
praying in the spirit on all occasions all kinds of prayers and request.
(Ephesians 6:10-20)

When you give the Father the first fruits of your day, you are essentially telling Him that you are giving the day to Him.  "Kingdom of God come, will of God be done."   After dropping my son off at school, I continue on to my office and anyone who would look at me through the window of my car would wonder what I am doing as I probably appear to be very animated, because this is my fruit fruits of the day - and it is the time when I am alone and able to spend quality time talking to my Father.  I pray out loud as I drive.  I focus solely on my conversation with Him.  I bring to the throne of God praise and thanksgiving - as a breast cancer survivor of 7 years I still praise God and thank Him for every day that He gives me.  We live and act like God "owes us" tomorrow... But He doesn't.  EACH day is a gift.  A fresh start!  A new sheet of life to write on.  I try my hardest to make every moment that I can count.  To praise God and thank Him for the little things that we tend to overlook most of the time... For instance, have you ever gotten up early and taken a look at the sky?  My goodness!  What a "Good Morning" greeting God gives us!  The sunrises that I have seen pretty much go hidden by those of us who are not morning people.  We miss out.  God awakens the sky with such vivid beauty.  The proof of His Presence is ALL around us.  Most of the time we are too distracted by life's business that we often miss out on such a symphony of Him...  Often it takes my breath away and I have to ask Him for forgiveness for "ignoring" or "overlooking" the greeting He gives.... Or the times when I have sat in the backyard of my childhood home and listened to the chirping of various birds conversing back and forth to each other.... Or perhaps they are singing praises to God.  I never realized how many different types of birds or chirps there are!  It has made me chuckle to see the wild life go about their day - and my childhood home is in a suburb, I can't even imagine the beauty of each day in the country.  God's witness is ALL around us.  It will bless you if you take a moment to notice it. 

Sometimes life has so much noise in it that it drowns out what God is saying to us.  I know I often have a lot of noise in my head... I have to shush it and try to open up my ears to hear what God is saying to me.  He desires to spend time with you - the Bible says:

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me." (Revelations 3:20)

Determine in the plan of your day to spend time with your Father.  He longs to spend time with you - He is just waiting for you to want to spend time with Him.... And here is the thing - it is for YOUR good!  When I am obedient and I spend time with my Father it is ME who is blessed.  It is ME who is encouraged.  It is ME who is filled with the most incredible joy.  That peace that passes ALL earthly understanding is real and the only way to go about experiencing it is to be obedient and make time for the Father.  He is asking you to do it because He knows it will benefit YOU.  There is a place inside each one of us that was created just for fellowship with Him.  NOTHING else can take the place that hungers for the Creator.  We are called to choose for ourselves whether or not we will have a personal relationship with God through His Son, our Savior Jesus Christ.  He has made the way already, we just need to walk in it.  The choice is ours.  When we do - we are blessed and encouraged and set free and living as God would want us to live - experiencing His love and His blessings.  It is not something you can experience or do for someone else - they must choose to do it themselves.  We have THIS day a choice.  My challenge to you is to try it... TRY IT.

There is a book that I use to love reading as a child, it is one that I'm quite sure most of my readers are familiar with (if not - I suggest you read it for yourself) it is by Dr. Seuss and the Title is, "Green Eggs and Ham."  The story is all about Sam.  Sam is offered green eggs and ham and at every turn he sticks up his nose and refuses to try it.  He has already determined in his mind that he does NOT like "green eggs and ham."  Although his good friend continues to insist that he try it, Sam refuses.  Over and over and over again Sam refuses to try "green eggs and ham."  Yet finally, in complete aggravation over the constant insistence of his friend (probably to get him to shut up) Sam tries it - and what does he discover???? He LIKES "green eggs and ham."  He not only likes it - He loves it!  I say this to you because the Bible itself says:

"Taste and see that the Lord is good!" (Psalms 34:8) 

It even continues on to say:
"Blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him." (Second sentence of Psalm 34:8).

You see?  When we take refuge in Him - we are blessed!!! WE ARE BLESSED.  Our Father knows what we need.  We NEED HIM.  And when we taste and see that He is good - WE are blessed!
Kind of makes me think of a parent trying to give a child medicine that will make him/her well and the child adamantly shaking his head and pushing the medicine away.  God is the medicine that will heal us.  TRY HIM.  Taste HIM.  SEE that the LORD is GOOD.  You will be blessed once you do.

Trust is hard... Especially when and if you have been hurt by people in your life.  It is hard to trust God won't do the same.  God wants us to trust Him.  He does not love as we love.  If you have been hurt by people in your life - you need to go to the foot of His cross and bring that pain to Him.  Remember, Jesus understands your pain.  He was betrayed by those who loved Him.  He knows what it is to hurt.  Turn to Him.  Let Him heal you.  He is there.  He is an "ever present help in time of trouble" (Psalm 46:1).

I am going to continue to find ways to show God I trust Him - why don't we both continue to find ways to "taste and see that the Lord is good?"  And I am sure as was the case with Sam I am, We will be proclaiming to all of the world  -

(Taken from "Green Eggs and Ham," by Dr. Seuss)

Say!
I like green eggs and ham!
I do! I like them, Sam-I-am!
And I would eat them in a boat!
And I would eat them with a goat...
And I will eat them in the rain.
And in the dark. And on a train.
And in a car. And in a tree.
They are so good  so good  you see!
So I will eat them in a box.
And I will eat them with a fox.
And I will eat them in a house.
And I will eat them with a mouse.
And I will eat them here and there.
Say! I will eat them anhywhere!
I do so like
Green eggs and ham!
Thank you!
Thank you,
Sam-I-am

Only - let's personalize it for the Lord.  In doing so we have done what David did - made our own "psalm" :) 

"Saaaaaaay.... I see how good You are!
I've finally tasted and seen - exactly what this scripture means!
I love You Lord - I do! And I decide to spend more time with You!
So I will come to You in prayer because I know You'll meet me there.
And I will worship You with song I recognize to You I belong.
You are So Good So Good for me - I truly now can see!
I will proclaim Your name so others will learn to do the same.
And I will praise You in my car
And I will love You near and far
And I will read Your Word it's true!
There is so much I long to do!
I do so love You  Thank You So for bringing me into the Know!
Be glorified this very day! Thank You
Thank You
God I say!"

Dance a Dance of Faith - as David Danced!

Walking by faith and not by sight is often hard - BUT if we look back at our testimonies it should encourage us as we walk forward in Him. 

I woke up this morning not allowing my worries get the best of me. Decide that every time a worry enters my mind I will NOT worry but I will WORSHIP.   Oh how I love the Lord with ALL my heart and soul. The steps of the righteous are ordained by God - so WHY do we worry? Nothing can happen us today that He does not permit. He ...is the lifter of our heads. He is our Provider. He is our strength - an ever present help in time of trouble. For all who get annoyed with me for my faith - I have to tell you I REFUSE to let a rock cry out louder than I. I LOVE YOU LORD! Thank You for being MY GOD. Thank You that MY REALITY is Realer than what can be seen in the earthly realm... MY REALITY IS YOU. YOU JESUS, YOU FATHER, YOU HOLY SPIRIT. I SEE YOU! I PRAISE YOU! I LOVE YOU!!!!!! I pray that you remove the scales off EVERY eye from those who see and read my words this morning on my page. HELP THEM Father to come to know YOU as Lord of their lives. There is NO greater joy than knowing YOU Father! My heart rejoices in God my Savior. I will sing your praises EVERY DAY of my life. 

Thank You this day for YOUR provision!
Thank You Lord this day for bringing into the earthly realm the blessings You have stored up for me THIS day into the earthly realm! 
Thank You for my prayer warrior sisters/brothers/tribe who I stand linked arm and arm with! 
I SEE YOU FATHER! I know YOU! I acknowledge YOU!
Hallelujah this season is FILLED with rejoicing in Our Savior! 
My Lord! 
 KING OF KINGS
LORD OF LORDS!
Glory to God in the Highest!!!!!

God Loves YOU Special!

Where are you in your walk with the Father this day?  There is a question for you to really think about.  Be honest with yourself... You are only accountable to Him.  Examine your heart.  What motives do you have for what you are doing at this point in your life?  Does it line up with the Word of God?  Is it something that glorifies Him?  Are you asking Him what is it He would have you do or are you just going about your own merry way?
God has given us His Holy Word for a reason.  It is the living, moving word of God.  It is real... It's funny, because I have really been giving that a lot of thought.  God's Word is His living Word.  I have developed a deep new hunger for it and an aggravation that I have responsibilities that keep me from being able to just bask in it.  Read it, hear from God, reflect on it.  Chew on it.  Digest it....
It IS His living Word.  In fact the Bible says:

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17). 

IT IS ALIVE!!!!!!!

What are you going through? What are you thinking of? What are the desires of your heart? What is God saying to you? Want to know? Turn to the Word of God.  I won't tell you that sometimes reading it doesn't smart and make me go, "ouch!"  Because sometimes it does... But I will tell you that there are times when I cling to it.  That as I read it the Holy Spirit holds it in my heart and brings it back to my remembrance when I need it.  I may not always be able to tell you where it is in the Bible but a certain scripture will come flowing out of my mouth - be it a promise or word of encouragement.  It is ALL there, written in the Father's Love book for US.  Very relevant for THIS day.

It is a love story.  It is a guidebook.  It is the book of life.  God used people to write it - because God often works through people.  And thank GOD He did.  How it must hurt His heart to see Bibles that He meant to instruct us and help us sitting collecting dust on some shelf or drawer in our houses.  He wants to speak to us, teach us, show us, love us but He has given us free will.  We can choose to allow Him to minister to us through His Word, or we can choose to continue to try other things to fill up inside of us what was only meant to be filled by God.

What Do YOU choose this day??? 

I'm going to challenge you.... It's up to you if you accept the challenge... But here it is:

Find yourself a Bible.  Come on there has to be one some where near you.  If not send me a private message and I will send one to you.  (See the side of my blog? There is a place for your to message or email me).  If you need a Bible message me your address and I will send you one.  REALLY I WILL!

Then, once you have found a Bible - pray this prayer:

"Father God, I long to know You better.  I want you to reveal yourself to me.  Make Yourself real to me Lord!  Show me what You have to say to me in this - Your living Word!  Holy Spirit minister to me! I ask You this in Jesus' name! AMEN!"    And watch and see what the Father does.  And then if you feel astonished by it all - send me a message and comment what God did!  Because the Bible also says:

"So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11)

Believe it or not - GOD LOVES YOU!  He longs to hear from you!  He longs to converse with you!  A conversation consists of TWO WILLING PEOPLE!  He is willing - are you????  

Honestly there is nothing sweeter in this life than loving the Father and knowing that you are loved by Him in return.... Oh yes!!! That's right! GOD LOVES YOU.  He really does.

Test Him on this and see.  Find a Bible, Pray, open it up and discover what God would say to you THIS day.

I am praying for you dear reader... God is already speaking to you.  Do you think He brought you to my page by coincidence or in error?  Nooooooooooo.  He wants you to know Him.  He brought you to this page for a reason.  The reason? To tell you that He loves you and He wants to encourage you to grow in Him and find out MORE.  And the way to find out more is to open up His Word and get to know Him better.

"Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him." (Psalm 34:8)

When God has You Surrounded By Other Members of the Body of Christ Who Share the Same Gift as You!

What's in Your Cup?

I woke up this morning with a revelation, one that is worth sharing with you... 

We can do NOTHING in and of our own accord, we are vessels.  What are you filled with?  What have you been allowing yourself to be filled with each day?  Think about it... 

Every morning I like to wake up and make myself a good strong cup of coffee - dark roast.  The darker the coffee the more I find enjoyment in the taste... I open up the kitchen cabinet and get myself a mug, it is up to me what I choose to fill that mug with... What are YOU allowing YOURSELF to be filled with each day?  It is a choice, one that I realized I don't even think about - until today...   I have written about this before, but it is worth saying again - God created us with a tremendous need inside of ourselves for Him.  We were not made to be "self-sufficient"  we are not.  There is an inner part of us that cries out for God.  We were made for HIM and it is only when we realize and succumb to the knowledge of that need - identify it and allow ourselves to be filled up with something even stronger than coffee (yes there is something stronger than dark roast coffee)... It is the Holy Spirit.  When we realize that we were made with a higher calling in mind.  We were made to serve a purpose - God's purpose that we can experience no matter what life throws our way - the peace that passes ALL understanding...

This CANNOT be found with people.
This CANNOT be found with things.
This CANNOT be bought or purchased.
This CANNOT be manufactured.

This CAN ONLY come from God.  And here is the thing - He WANTS you to have it.  He WANTS you to walk in it.  He DELIGHTS in giving MORE of Himself to YOU.  You just have to recognize the need and want it.  Do you want it?  If so, this morning - pray this prayer alongside with me.

Father God, I love you this day!  I decide to FILL MY CUP with YOU.  I need You.  I love You.  I want MORE of You.  Please fill me up Lord.  You created me to be YOUR cup.  Fill me up Father.  If there is anything in my cup that is dirty, that is cracked and needs healing, I ask that You cleanse me.  I ask that You heal me.  I ask that You use me this day as Your vessel.

Father - if I don't know the purpose of why You created me - I pray that You reveal it to me.
If I DO know that purpose, I pray that You would have me walk in it.  I know that my steps are ordained by YOU.  Let my life give off a sweet aroma that draws others to You.  Let them see within me that that my cup is filled with Your Holy Spirit.  Let them desire what I have - and what I have is You.  I pray that You would be glorified THIS day Father.  I thank You for being my Creator.  I thank You that my life belongs to You.  Please be an ever present portion in my life today.  Help me not to miss out on ALL You have for me.  Be glorified. 

I thank You this day for ALL You are, ALL You are doing and ALL You are going to do.  I praise Your name.  You alone are the Lord of my life.  Be glorified this day as I keep my eyes on You.  My God, My strength, My portion.  My everything.  I love you this day Father.  Go before me.  In Jesus Name I pray....
AMEN

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

The Fight Rages On - Even Though the Battle Has ALREADY Been Won...

Are you battle weary?  We often forget that we are in the middle of a spiritual battle... Even those that don't believe it are in it.  You are either on one side or the other. You don't have a choice, the choice has already been made.  You DO have free will to choose which side you will fight on.  Who do you choose this day?

Every morning that you have breath in your body you are able to renew your choice.  Who do you choose?  In not making a choice, you still make a choice. 

You think you see the "reality" of life but the real reality is that a battle rages on - and unknowingly or knowingly you are a participant.  The war plan?  God's Word, the Bible.  The days are becoming fiercer, who do you choose?

It is time to allow God to remove the scales from your eyes so that you can clearly see what is all around you.  See the reality of the spiritual realm, but see it in a position of victory.  God has won the battle, although the fighting is fierce - the battle itself has ALREADY been won.  What side are you on?

"I don't want to fight," You say - but this fight began long before you and I did.  It began even before Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.  Open up your eyes and see the reality set before you before your eyes close at the end of your life and what has always been before you becomes revealed - too late.  You are a participant, so be on the winning side!  His name is Jesus!  See His hand? It is extended to you - GRAB IT WHILE YOU CAN.  It is Not God's will that ANY should perish.  The witness of His being is ALL around you, but you haven't taken time to look!  Cry out to Him!  You are a Soldier!  Put on your fatigues! Wake up!  If we are to do what Christ did we are to extend our hand behind us and grab hold of the person and wake them up!

"God so LOVED the world that He gave His ONLY begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall NOT perish but have everlasting life!" (John 3:16) 

The days are numbered, they are getting shorter and your enemy is trying to take as many down to hell with him.  RISE UP!  You have a choice! You just have to believe that you have a choice and can make it!  If you don't make it, you are STILL deciding.  God loves you!  He gave His Son, Jesus to die on the cross for forgiveness of your sins.  We sin daily!  We cannot mend the bridge between us and God without the shed blood of Jesus which is the ONLY thing that wipes our sins away.  What do you need to do?

You need to accept Him as your personal Lord and Savior.  That means having a "personal relationship" with Him.  Talk to Him! Tell Him you WANT to believe.  Tell Him to help you!  Tell Him to reveal Himself to you!  And watch and see Him do it!  He is NOT a God that He would lie.  He loves you!  He cares for you! He died for you! He rose again!  The enemy has been defeated!  You only have to believe...

Romans 10: 9 says that “if you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” 

Dear God, I know that I am a sinner and there is nothing that I can do to save myself. I confess my complete helplessness to forgive my own sin or to work my way to heaven. At this moment I trust Christ alone as the One who bore my sin when He died on the cross. I believe that He did all that will ever be necessary for me to stand in your holy presence. I thank you that Christ was raised from the dead as a guarantee of my own resurrection. As best as I can, I now transfer my trust to Him. I am grateful that He has promised to receive me despite my many sins and failures. Father, I take you at your word. I thank you that I can face death now that you are my Savior. Thank you for the assurance that you will walk with me through the deep valley. Thank you for hearing this prayer. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

God has a plan for your life.  One that only YOU can do.  We need you and your gifts to go forward in Christ.  There are people that need to hear the Word of God and to have the scales removed from their eyes.  To come and know Jesus as Lord and Savior.  The battle is REAL but the victory has ALREADY been won.  Who do YOU choose this day?  I choose Christ.  He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. (Hebrews 12:2)  He is the way, the truth and the life. (John 14:6)

There are not enough words that can describe how wonderful it is to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  Don't believe my words? Believe HIS.  The victory is ours through Him.  Choose this day who you will serve.  Choose LIFE.  Choose Jesus.  Taste and see that the Lord is good. (Psalms 34:8) See for yourself.  He is real.

Praise Him Through The Pain...

Praise Him through the pain, which is what the Holy Spirit whispered to me as I spent quiet time before the Lord this morning. As I prayed, a praise song "on Christ the mighty rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand..." Came into my mind.

I thought about the scripture on how "the tongue is a double edged sword." and from Proverbs 12:18 “Thoughtless speech is like the stabs of a sword, But the tongue of the wise is a healing.” And I also thought about how everything is perception. How we can't get into the head of someone else and sometimes the biggest spiritual warfare occurs with miscommunication, misunderstanding and satan laughs from the sidelines because he is the author of confusion. The great divider and "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy." (John 10:10). That is what he does - and he does it best with the people we love the most. Family, friends - because it is only the ones you care the most about that can hurt you.

Think about it... I think that is also why the Bible says in Proverbs 4:23 "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil." (Proverbs 4:23-27). 

Division does not glorify God - it glorifies the devil. He sits back and watches as the seeds of anger, confusion, back stabbing, gossip causes division. Breaks a part families and friends. We refer to it as drama - but what it REALLY is is spiritual warfare. You choose if you are going to be a part of it. Sometimes we are pulled into it but we choose whether or not we are going to participate or whether or not we are going to pray through it. 

Jesus said 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:31) the problem with that is many of us don't know HOW to love ourselves. You can't pour out from an empty container. Also, there is no degree of pain. Your pain is not greater than my pain, nor is my pain greater than yours. Pain is not a contest. A kind word goes along way. We only see in part, but God sees in full.

1 Corinthians 13:12 says, "Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." There for our trust MUST be in Him. How can we combat the enemy? SHOW LOVE. Christ is to be our example. Every morning we choose who we are going to give the glory of a new day to - the devil or the Lord. I choose the Lord. He has given us free will - so the choice is ours. Instead of being so concerned about the sty in someone else's eye - maybe the finger you point should be pointed inward. Towards ourselves. I don't know about you, but my sins and short comings are ever before me. I don't need someone "judging me" or "pointing their finger at me" because I am my own worst critic. I am too busy judging MYSELF to worry about what YOU need to work on. 

The Bible also says, "The measure you judge someone else is the measure you yourself will be judged." (Matthew 7:2). There is so much "imperfect" in ME that I am not concentrating on the imperfect in you. Quite frankly, I leave the judging to God who looks at the heart and sees the fullness of each one of us. You have no idea what "pain" someone else is going through. Should you add on to it or make a difference by a healing word or gesture? 

One day I was driving through the drive through of Dunkin getting my coffee and as I pulled up to the window to pay for it the cashier said to me, "You are all set, the man ahead of you paid for your order all ready." I was truly touched by his thoughtfulness. I couldn't even THANK him because he had already drove off. You don't KNOW what kindness and thoughtfulness and goodness does in the life of someone else. Shouldn't we be that way? "Paying it forward?" Not doing it so that it can be acknowledge by people. Some people do good works to SAY they have done good works - No - the Bible says "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags." (Isaiah 64:6). We should do them because that is what Jesus would do. I have over the last 29 years of being a Christian, hidden God's Word in my heart. Because when I need it most - it floats right to the surface. The Holy Spirit uses it as a balm to help me through the pathway God has me on in life. I once heard the saying, "Be a fountain, not a drain." What are YOU being? Are YOU building up or tearing down? The choice and the responsibility is yours alone to make. I choose the fountain...

Hurt People = Hurt People



"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh." (Luke 6:45)

Hurt people, hurt people.  We are finding that more and more in this day and age.  We have a choice, we can let the domino affect continue on with us or we can choose to reflect that we have a Savior who went through what we have gone through and even more.  If He was able to say, “Forgive them Father for they know not what they do…” Then we should be willing to do the same.

Now that doesn’t mean it is easy.  That doesn’t mean we don’t feel the sting or the smarting of someone’s meanness or actions – but what it does mean is that we have to be the one to “rise above it.”
Oh that is sooooooo much easier said than done… Everything inside us cries out to hurt back.  Why? Because hurt people HURT people.  Sometimes we have to look beyond the actions at the individual.  I think perhaps that is the example that Jesus has given us.  It is not any easy thing to do.

There have been situations that have occurred in my life where I have wondered HOW Jesus actually stayed focus on His calling.  He was ostracized, judged, critiqued, used, lied to, betrayed, physically beaten and STILL He stayed focus on His mission here on earth. How can ANYONE not see that He is God manifested on earth as man to make a way for us back to the Father?  We simply naturally do not have that ability to love THAT WAY without the Holy Spirit manifested inside of us.
I found myself thinking this week about how the crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest heaven!"(Matthew 21:9)  These were the same crowd who cried out, “Crucify Him!” (Luke 23:21).

I find myself wondering time and time again why Jesus chose to love us.  We are such a stiff necked, hard headed people.  We are willful and prideful and full of ourselves.  Jesus could have called down legions upon legions to assist Him, but no – He chose to go forward and die on the cross for forgiveness of our sins.  A man who had done NOTHING wrong, to know Him and to love Him is to stand in awe of WHO He is… I know I don’t love like that.  Do you?  We need to look to Him as our example.  More of Him - less of us, even during the times when we may have to bite our own tongues until they bleed...

“God have mercy upon us.  Forgive us. Help us.  Indwell your Holy Spirit in us so that when people disappoint and hurt us we respond in the way You did.  Help us to look BEYOND the pain.  Hurt people HURT people.  Healed people HEAL people.  Heal us Father.  Help us to focus on YOU.” 

Maybe it IS Your Circus and Your Monkeys!

In having quiet time with the Lord this morning, I had a little revelation worth sharing...

I was thinking of a picture that I recently had seen of Humpty Dumpty.  In the picture Humpty didn't fall off the wall, he was pushed. It made me think about people who are "drama makers" how they seem to have nothing better to do than try to push buttons to try and make us fall - but here is the thing, when you serve a God who created you and removed the scales from your eyes to know Him, you realize two things - He allows those drama makers to push you in order for you to grow in Him. Also, you grow in awareness that HE is the ONLY One who can "put your pieces" back together (NOT the kings men, although God can use/work through people for that healing to occur)  and when He does (put you back together) - He makes you like the bionic woman - stronger, faster, better! So maybe we ought to not only thank God for being our God, but pray for and thank the drama makers for actually being used by God to be tools to draw you nearer to Him!

Praise Him!

Praise God From Whom ALL Blessings Flow...

Praise God that he removed the scales from our eyes and made us aware of what we needed - HIM. I am more than ever aware of the fact that I cannot get through this life without Him, that I NEED Him with a passion and a thirst that can only be fulfilled by knowing Him and trusting Him more. Everything around us gives proof to the fact that He exists. 

I have been going outside in the early morning hours for my quiet time with Him - trying to give Him the first fruit of my day and I have been amazed by ALL the nature around me - the different type of birds that are chirping and singing (are they singing praise songs to our Creator?); I noticed how they live so simply, God provides their food, which was so apparent to me as they would fly down from their trees into the grass of the back yard and find grubs and insects and worms - God's provision. All of a sudden I felt a bit jealous and wanted to be a bird, free from worry and cares. I noticed a rabbit coming up from it's borough - hopping around... I even noticed a skunk (which I made sure I kept a wary distance from) moseying about his day. 

The proof of God and His existence is ALL around us, yet how many of us take time to praise Him or notice Him for it??? Take a moment today and be still - and see the proof that He is God... We only need to quiet ourselves from ourselves to do so....

"Father I thank You for ALL You have created and All You do.  I rejoice in You my Creator, My Lord, My God.  Help me not to take You for granted.  All around us is proof of Your existence - my Soul hungers for more of You.  You are my all in all. I love You Father, please be glorified.  In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen"

Walk in the Light

The older I get, the more I realize how dependent upon the Lord I am. I have found myself wondering, “How did Jesus do it?” I think about the Scriptures and I wonder how Jesus kept focused, during the darkest time in His life.  Betrayal from within His inner-circle… Betrayal from someone who was one of His twelve…

I suppose you can say that because Jesus is God manifested in flesh, you would think: “Well, Jesus knew what was going to happen.”  Okay, but even so – betrayal is betrayal and nothing hurts more than it being someone in your inner circle, someone you deeply love -  yet still Jesus continued on.

And He was betrayed by a kiss…  A KISS!

We live in a world that grows darker by the minute but in living in it we need to realize how much brighter light is in darkness.

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said:

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)

Are you walking in the light? Or are you walking in pitch black darkness?   God wants you to know that He has experienced your pain.  The Word of God IS the living Word.  We have it for a reason.  It is a guide to guide us through this life.  There is nothing that Jesus has not experienced that He cannot relate to you about - Walk towards the Light.

When someone betrays you, or lies to you or hurts you more often than not you cannot see past the pain.  There are so many songs that talk about “you always hurt the ones you love” but God didn’t mean life to be that way.  We live in a fallen world that grows darker and darker by the moment.  We cannot give people our faith but we can look to Jesus as our example and we can do what is the total opposite of what we feel like doing… LOVE THEM.  Everything inside of you wants revenge or to hurt them just as deeply as they have hurt you back so they can feel the pain you feel, in fact that is the way of this world.  Evening news is filled with violence, filled with “people hurting people” but that is not what God commands us to do.  He commands us to LOVE THEM.

LOVE THEM

Go against the grain.  Go against the tide of your feelings. Go against the crowd. DO the OPPOSITE of what your feelings are telling you to do – LOVE THEM. Are you feeling annoyed when you read that? It's okay if you are. Keep praying that God will change your heart.  Think about Jesus.  Think about how He felt as He was spat upon and ridiculed and jeered at by those He came to save.  Yet still He continued...  

When you can't love them - PRAY.  "Lord - I don't have it in me, so I need YOU to put it in me.  Help me Father.  Help ME to love them as YOU love me."  Because when you think about it - if you are to be honest and look at yourself you can see that there are times when you sinned.  You did the opposite of what God wanted you to do.  You went your own way.  You broke God's heart and still He loves you.  There are times when YOU may be the person who hurt someone else (either knowingly or unknowingly) and you may not even know how many people are having to do the same thing for YOU.  God wants us to love, and if you ask Him - He will put His love in your heart and show you how to see the person(s) that have betrayed you through His eyes.  That changes everything...

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. ... “(Luke 6:27-36)

“For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?” (Matthew 5:46)
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)

“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.” (Luke 6:32)

“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.” (Luke 6:35)

I’m not saying that type of love is “fake it until you make it” kind of love, I’m talking about asking God to open your heart and fill it with a genuine love for the person(s) who have betrayed you.  When the Holy Spirit has that love come flooding in it will take you by surprise.  It will flood you and in your mind you will be thinking, “How can I possibly be feeling this?” But it is an over pouring of the Holy Spirit filling you with a love that comes ONLY from God.   It may be that all you can do is pray for that person(s), but you will be doing it from a place of love.

That is the example that Jesus has set for us.  He is the One who we are to look to.  What would Jesus do?  What DID Jesus do? 

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

"Father God, there is nothing in this life that You have not experienced, that You do not know about.  I hurt Father.  I was betrayed! I have been "spat" upon by the people in my life that matter most.  Help me to love them.  Help me to live a life worthy of the love YOU have for me.  Help me to turn to You in my raw pain and ask You to help me to love and to forgive."   And He will...

Remember, John 13:35 says:

"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

And they will...