Do I know you?

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27)

My sheep
You are My sheep
You My children
All of you are like sheep
Some are guided by the shepherd
Others are scattered

Those guided hear My voice and are comforted
willing to listen, willing to obey

but those scattered hear nothing.
The wind blows and you are fearful
The wolves prowl in the night, silently
but you are not aware
With vengeance they strike
Your life ebbs out.

My children
I hear you
But unless you hear Me
and follow Me
I will never know you.

(c) July 26, 2014

He made us alive!!

(based on readings in Ephesians 2: 1-5)

He made us alive!!
We who were dead in our sins
We who once sought after our own pleasure – in mind and body.

Jesus!
Our Savior
He who died,
hung on a cross
His blood shed for mine.
He bore the pain
and the shame
of my sins – and yours
He brought life

A fresh new life!

God so loved us
loves us still
Awaken! Awaken!
O soul do not linger
He desires you
to come
Come to Him

Accept the gift
of freedom from sin
of new life in Christ

Be alive!
Full of wonder
Full of love
Full of peace
Full of Hope

Come into His presence
Be united
as one, with the Lord
My Lord,
Jesus Christ

Come now, do not delay.
Your life has purpose and meaning
and it can be fulfilled in Christ.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”  (Jeremiah 29:11)

(c) July 25, 2014

Who do you follow?

Called by God
Led by the Spirit of God
Son(s) of God you be

Do not let the spirit of Satan
reignite the fear disposed of
when you answered
God’s first call to salvation
nor His call again
to preach – to go and proclaim His word

Follow the Light of Jesus
formed in His image we are
Focus on Him
and His teachings
His commandments
His promises
His blessings
His judgments
Be the bearer of His eternal flame

Do not give in to events and circumstances
around you that become distractions
and deter you from
entering doors He has opened

Do not shut a door
Do not let another shut a door
You never know when or if a new door will open

Do not listen to your own thinking
Do not let your fears become bigger
than your love for Jesus Christ
Do not believe what people say
is of more importance than God’s Truths

Open your Bible
The best reference book

Focus
Pray
Meditate
Study

Follow the Light of Jesus
It’s not about you
It’s not about the world
It’s not about your every neighbor
It’s not about anyone, Except Jesus

Focus on Him
and His lead
Be obedient to His instructions
at all times
Let every thought, word and deed
bring glory to His name
Thank Him
Many blessings come in the midst
of every trial we face
Seek Him above all

We He calls
All to salvation
All to Him.

Who do you follow?

(based on readings in Romans 8:14-15)

(c) July 24, 2014

You... chosen by Me

You are My servant
Chosen by Me
to do and go and be
faithful and trusting
obedient to My commands
bringing fruitfulness
into your life
glory unto Me
blessings to yourself
and those around you.

Not always
trusting
have you been
Listening instead
to others
even within the church.
Actions taken
resulted in a closed door
Not meant for you.

Do not fall away from
My path
Stay true to Me
and Me alone
Do not give in
to feelings
of dismay
and discouragement
but be built up
by what you know
in your heart
to be true
and right.

I have not cast you away
I AM right here beside you
I will strengthen you
I will help you.

Wait
when the answer you seek
is slow in coming
for you know
your thoughts are not My thoughts
and your ways are not My ways.
My thoughts, My ways
are best.
Wait on Me.
Your weaknesses
will be strengthened
by My power.

Dwell with Me
Spend time throughout your day
with Me
Do not fear
Do not let your mind
wander down paths that cause
irritation, sadness, worry, anger,
disgust, jealousy.
Be fruitful
Fill yourself
with kindness, gentleness, goodness,
faithfulness, self-control, patience, joy,
peace, love
and multiply.
Share with another

Show your love for Me
in all you do
in all you say
in all you are.

Remember …
I AM with you always.

(based on readings in Isaiah 41)

(c) July 22, 2014

The Lord can

The Lord can
IF His will
deliver me
save me
from all my fears

He hears
my cry
my desperation

I seek Him
and His will
that that which strives
to control me
will be beaten down,
destroyed
no more to be
my daily companion

Be obedient
Trust
Do not speak badly
Do not do evil
Seek peace
and pursue it
He says to me
In His word.

(based on readings in Psalm 34)

(c) July 20, 2014

Bring to Me

(based on readings in 1 John 1: 5-7) 

Bring Me
ALL your feelings
Do not let them
become your ruination
Share them with Me
You who are My child
and you
whose feelings
keep you straddled
on the fence,
unsure of what to do.

I AM the Light
Do not let the darkness control you
I know.
I see.
I AM aware of all that is around Me
I AM aware of everything
I see your anxiety
money issues
relationship issues
health issues
I see it all.

Come to Me.
Trust Me.
Trust Me More.

Do not pretend
Bring all your feelings
to Me …
into the Light.
Be cleansed.

and together,
we will conquer.

(c) July 19, 2014

Pray

(based on readings in 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2)

Pray for me
and my brothers and sisters
to share the gospel
swiftly and joyfully
to glorify the Lord
to keep us safe and secure
from peoples everywhere
who are unreasonable and evil-minded
for they know not
and have not.

(c) July 19, 2014

Bound

(based on readings in 2 Thessalonians 2:13-16)

Bound
not by Satan
to do the works of evil
but by God
to give thanks to Him
always
for those He saved and saves still
Chosen in the beginning
Called by the gospel
to obtain glory of the Lord Jesus Christ
from everlasting to everlasting.
Therefore,
Stand firm, Stand fast.
Do not become less
than that which God commands.

(c) July 19, 2014

Jesus is Coming!

Jesus is coming
He is coming again
For His children past
present
and future
Jesus is coming
Our King on High
Reigning in the heavens
We near His side.

Jesus is coming
Are you listening?
“Be still and know that I am God”

Jesus is coming
Are you waiting?
Patient, but eager for His return

Jesus is coming
Are you focused?
Directing your conscious thoughts to Him alone
seeking His thoughts before your own

Jesus is coming
Are you trusting?
Do you believe His promises… and His judgments
Have you given your life to Him
to guide you on the right path

Jesus is coming
Are you committed?
Do you follow Him no matter what
Do you stand up against the world
and proclaim, “I AM A CHRISTIAN”

Jesus is coming
Are you obedient?
Did you answer affirmatively to the call
He placed on your heart?
Do you say, “Here I am Lord”
“Wherever Lord”
“Wherever You send me Lord, I will go.”

Jesus is coming
Are you watching?
Did you miss Him
IF you have – if you do
there is no coming back
to get things square

Jesus is coming
Are you ready?
Have you lived the life He has willed for you
Have you obeyed His commandments
Have you trusted His promises

Jesus is coming
He’s coming again
On a cloud He’ll come
for you and for me
His children – chosen
before time began

O Glorious Day
When He comes
for me.

(c) July 6-7, 2014 

Father knows best

Father knows best
God, the Father, that is.
He knows what is best for us.
Sometimes He sends others
to provide the aid needed.
Other times He desires us
to wait patiently for His answer alone.
Sometimes the answer is not satisfactory
that others provide
Our response is wary
We fear the effects that come,
that bring distress in multiple ways
and we wonder what we should do.

He brings us back to His Word.
He tells us to
Rest in Him
Wait patiently for Him
Trust Him
Commit ourselves to Him

He tells us
Do not fret
He will bring it to pass
He will accomplish what is best

We are to pray
and praise Him
and thank Him.
We are not to concern ourselves
with the what if’s and what now’s
but leave the outcome (s) to Him.

Easy to say, hard to do --
to Focus on Him
to Discipline our minds
to Allow God to work His ways in our lives
to have Complete Confidence in the Almighty
and Believe and Trust in Him above all else.

He will  provide the way to go
in His time.

We must wait.
I must wait.
For God.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

“Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. … Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret – it only causes harm. … Wait on the Lord, and keep His way.”                         (Psalm 37:5, 7a, 8b, 14a)

(c) July 4, 2014

IF

IF I abide in God’s word, I will know the truth and the truth will make me free.  

(See John 8:32)

IF I abide in God at all times, I will be at peace through every circumstance that comes along.

IF I remind myself daily of God’s truths, I will not swerve off the path and trudge down back alleys that bring untold pain and grief.

IF I truly love God as He loves me and am obedient to His commandments to go out into the world and share His Word, I will rejoice – as heaven rejoices, when a lost sinner has been won for Jesus.

IF I say and do all things without complaining and arguing, God sees me as blameless, without fault, in the midst of a world filled with selfishness, a light shining The Way, The Truth and The Life of Jesus, The One True Light who invades the darkness and destroys the evil. 

(See Philippians 2:14-16)

IF I wholeheartedly believe in Jesus and trust in His promises, and wait expectantly for His answers, without wavering, I can ask anything in His name and He will do it.  

(See John 14:12-14)

IF I am thankful in all things, even a severe wind-rain-thunder-lightning storm, I will not be distressed or discouraged because I know the Lord God above is with me. He will protect and guide me.

IF I get into God’s Holy Book every day to read and study and meditate and discover what words of wisdom He has just for me, I will not be overburdened with the cares of the day, for my burdens will be transferred to Him. 

(See Matthew 11:28-30)

IF I profess to be a follower of Christ, I have become a new person. Old things have passed away – I no longer am chained by the works of the flesh (adultery, idolatry, hatred, contention, jealousy, wrath, selfish ambitions, dissension, envy, murder, drunkenness)  and its passions and desires. All things have become new. I now walk in the Spirit, of which its fruits are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. I strive to guard my heart against those things which bring pain and remorse to my Father in heaven. I strive to love others and Christ loves me and abide by His commandments.     

           (See II Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 5:16, Galatians 5:19-26) 

(c) June 30/July 1, 2014