Benefits and Blessings

Benefits and blessings
abound
We receive
when our days,
moment by moment,
are filled
with God-given thought
rather than
dark areas infiltrating
to negative
selfish
worldly thinking

Difficulties always
present
by why be ruled by
have nots

Thankfulness
and praise
comes when
the benefits and blessings
are seen
when we are grateful
for what is given
in the spirit of His Love
without complaint
without expecting payment

Remorse takes us backward
Sunshiny skies forward
Doom and gloom backward
Joy and laughter forward

Wouldn't we rather be
making forward-moving strides

We all have occasions
when backward glances
sadden our faces
but joy
is in
the morning.

Let us be glad,
stay in tune, in time
with His step.
He will never
lead us astray.

Keep me near you Lord.
All the time.

(c) September 23, 2014

All we are is less than He

All we are
is
always
less than
He --
God the Father
who created us

less than
He --
God the Son
who died for us

less than
He --
God the Holy Spirit
who lives within us

He --
I AM
Truth --
Perfection --
Love

There is
none
greater.
No
not
one.

(c) September 22, 2014

Listen ....

He's not in the noise
around us,
but afterward ....

Listen
for His still small voice
weaving
its way deeper
into
our
hearts.

We must
stop!
bogging
our mind down
with
painful
clutter
that
circulates
and
recirculates
distracting us
from Him
and
His perfect voice
that
calls
to us
continually.

Bring it all
every big
every little
all to
to Him
and
wait!
in
anticipation
of
His reply.

Listen! 

(c) September 21, 2014

God is the answer ... every time

I want to be
and do and act
whatever ways God desires
yet I seem to fail
day in, day out

Is He ever pleased with me?

Where is my kindness
My gentleness
My patience
My love
Where did it go
Did I ever possess those attributes
Do I now

Am I really on a road God designed

I do not know.

Jesus tells me to look up
Keep my focus steady on Him
I do.
I try.
I am not very successful.

I make errors.
I am accused of things
that are not true.

So did Jesus --
He didn’t error,
but there were many,
and still are,
who accuse Him
of things that are false.

Yet,
He was kind
and gentle
and patient …

There were times too
for His anger
and condemnation
and judgment.
He knew what and when
to say what was needed.

Where is my discernment?

I am at a loss --
for words and action
I am tied in knots
So,
I become silent
and even then,
silence is not golden
but wrought with tears
and dismay.

I cry out to God
I cry within

God hears my pain
He knows my heart
And,
He points me to Himself.

I AM
the answer,
All you need
is found in Me.
Do not lose hope, courage.
Do not stop
what has begun.
Carry on.
Step out
on the faith
you have in Me.
I will help you
be effective.
Rely on Me,
not on yourself.
Rely on Me.
Remember,
I am with you Always.

(c) September 16, 2014

Who is leading your life?

Are you constantly in a game
with yourself
 of choosing
between
What you want to do
and
What you should do?

Who is leading your life?

If you accepted the Lord as your Savior,
He is
or
He should be,
BUT
if you refuse to be obedient
to His leadership,
then  you are still directing
your life’s paths.

Are you listening to suggestions
or refusing?
Are you obedient to instructions
or disobedient?

If God is the true leader of your life,
you will not fall prey
to the evils lurking around you
in every form,
including your thoughts.

IF WE WALK IN THE SPIRIT -- 
if we read – study – meditate - pray
to our Father in Heaven,
worship His holiness,
give Him the honor and glory due Him,

we will not get caught up
in the desires of our flesh – our sinful nature,
which includes
sexual immorality
impurity
lustful pleasures
hostility
quarreling
jealousy
outbursts of anger
selfish ambition
envy
drunkenness
wild parties
division
sorcery
idolatry
(Galatians 5:19-21)

The Lord lives within you
But what are you doing --

Do you open His Holy Book?

Do you study His passages?

Do you consider what He says to you?

Do you thank Him daily?

Do you give Him honor and glory?

Do you come to Him in worship?

Do you sing of His greatness?

Are you grateful?

Are you obedient?

Are you trusting and believing Him?

Are you loving?

The Lord lives within you. Are you abiding in Him?

 “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.” – Galatians 5:24-26 New Living Translation

(c) September 13, 2014

Quietness and trust

Quietness and trust
accomplish so much
yet instead of meditating
on the power of the Almighty God
we contemplate
on our own next plan
of action or course of attack
against perceived foes

We replace quietness
with anxiety and worry
and trust
with falsehoods and lies

How can we be there for another
How can we build another up
How can we share the light of Jesus
when we find ourselves
being torn down,
torn apart
pushed and pulled on every side

It is God
who builds us up,
encourages us
to boldly go onward and upward
being His messenger to all

God’s desire
is not
to seek and destroy,
but to
save and redeem

We are
to hear,
to listen intently
when the Holy Spirit
speaks to us
We are
to be obedient
to Him
who guides us
in the way
we are to go

We are to seek the quietness
of the Lord
surroundng us
and trust in Him

(c) September 12, 2014

Acceptance

Acceptance
God tells us to accept
each day
exactly
as it comes to us

The circumstances of our day
The condition of our body

God gives us
each
assignments --

To be
the best
wherever we are

giving glory and honor and praise
to Him
in Everything

To trust Him
in the circumstances
of our day
everyday
always

To believe His promises
to hold tightly
to His wisdom
and His strength
and His love

To rely on His Presence
within us
rather than our selves
for His provisions
protection
comfort
guidance

Accept all that comes
to your day
even those times
of frustration
discouragement
anger

Come to Him
Trust in Him
Believe in Him
Rely on Him

(c) September 8, 2014

The appointed time

These are my feelings upon hearing news that the ministry we are currently serving may soon end. I am happy and excited for the congregation as they look to God for their new pastoral leadership. I wouldn't dream of dampening their enthusiasm, but I am saddened by the thought of leaving this place and the people God has brought us to.  

The time would come
The appointed time
He said it would

It's not yet good-bye
but it seems
the end of this chapter
is near

Another chapter may open
That is up to God
for us
is the choice
to go on

Sadness comes
But
it's not my wants
nor my desires
but God's ultimate purpose

I should not be
selfish

We here in the interim
between a former time
turned to mourning
and a new time
of rejoicing

We here
to encourage
and rebuild
as God desires

Yet still
sadness comes

Friendships formed
will they remain
or fall away

Remove my sadness Lord
and bring me
to the place You prefer --

a place
of fulfillment
wherever we are
wherever we go

a place
of faithfulness
and obedience

a place
of love
and hope
and truth

a place
where
You
may always
be found

a place
where
You
are
always near
always present.

(c) September 7, 2014

Who made you?!

God does not condemn those who are clothed in His righteousness. Our righteousness only comes to us through the death, burial and resurrection of His Son, Jesus. God abhors, sourly distastes the use of guilt as a means of motivation among Christians.

I am free
sin removed and given righteousness
through the Lord Jesus Christ

Who made you judge
Who placed the gavel
of sentencing another
in your hand

I am free
I am not perfect
and neither are you

Who made you more righteous
than another

Who instructed you
to tear down
to destroy another
who deserves My love
as much as you

Who made you more important,
more noble, more pure

Who made you less guiltless

You
All of you are sinners
Saved yes
but sinners nonetheless

Don't use your freedom in Me
to motivate your brother and your sister
through their guilt.

They, as you, are sinners saved by grace
My grace

Be loving
Be kind
Be gentle
Be helpful
Be teachers

Be no more
no less

Just be
You are My Child
You and you and you
My Children

Show by example
as My Son
showed you.

(c) September 7, 2014

A message to you from God

I am amiss
Hearing
but listening?
No.
For if I was
would not action follow?

Of course
I hear
some things
but not all
Important things
for me
to pay attention to
often skipped over
I saying repeatedly,
“Another time.”


Another time Lord
I will hear
I will listen
I will obey

But when another time comes …
When the Lord comes
again and again
what have I heard
what do I do?

“My child, My child
Come to Me
Hear My Voice
Listen to My Instruction
Respond Willingly
Do not turn away.”

Let your yeses be yes
and your no’s be no
but do not say yes
when  your response
should be no
Do not give in
because of your weakness


Remember,
I AM with you
I will help you
Reach out for Me --
I am a breath, a fingertip away

You think you can hide
from those around you
But I see
what you do
and don’t do
and you know
what you do
that you should not.

Listen to Me
My child.
I know what is best for you.
You may think otherwise.
All of My children
have at one time or another
thought themselves
smart

True smartness
comes from knowing Me
body, soul, mind and heart

Don’t put off
what you need to come to grips with now
It will catch up with you

The consequences
of your action or non-action
will be upon you
and you will pay dearly
for the error of your ways

Hear Me, My Child
Listen to Me
Obey Me

Do not continue to wait …
you are playing with fire.

You know who you are.

Hurry.

Do not presume
there is still time.

I AM the Father of time
I created the universe
I created you

Time is of the essence
There is no time to wait
Time is racing away

Do not put off till tomorrow
what you should do today
Tomorrow is too late
Tomorrow may not come for you.

(c) September 6, 2014

The Hope, The Love, The Peace -- Jesus Is

The darkness prevails upon us
It comes at evening time
when the sun has set
and the afterglow is gone
Cloudy gray skies
of daylight time
dissipate
and
there are no bright shining stars
to take its place.

 The vast blackness

intrudes
into our blank stares
and mindless thinking
leaving so many
wondering, questioning
if there is more
and if there is,
where … what? 

God is there.
Here.
Everywhere.
Ever present. 

If you are one with Him,
He is always with you.
Wherever you go,
wherever you are,
wherever you choices (good and bad) take you
and wherever life’s events lead you

When you abide with The Almighty One
of the whole universe,
He abides with you.
He lives as the Holy Spirit
within your heart.

Whatever is, He knows
Whatever was, He was there
Whatever will be, He watches and waits
His time is coming

Jesus waited.
Waited for the timing to be right.

We will know too when
we hear from God,
our Holy Father in Heaven
who will lead us ever closer to Him 

The emptiness we endure
will break wide open
We will be face to face
in the Lord’s Almighty Presence
There will be peace
Everlasting Peace

The Hope we have trusted in
The Love we have been shown
Jesus Is.

“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” ~ John 8:12

(c) September 4, 2014

Be still ... and know

The Lord tells us to be still
and to know I AM GOD

                           
The Lord says when we focus
our attention on Him
we become revitalized,
refreshed

He enables us to sort out
the important from the unimportant,
the good from the bad,
the best, the excellence from the mediocre

Those things which are unimportant
will take a backseat
and those which are important
will become a priority

As our focus is more and more on Jesus,
His desires for us
become also our own desires

What is trivial?
and what is important?
But much more to consider is
to whom are we focusing our attention?

Is it all about you
what you want, your perceived needs

or have you turned to the Lord,
spoken to Him
of what is and what isn’t
of  how you wish things were different
of how confined you feel
of how to turn things around

Each of us individually
need a relationship
with God, the creator of our being
with  Jesus, the Savior of our souls
with the Holy Spirit, the helper within our hearts
sent by God through His Son
to convict us, prompt us, enable us

Without this relationship,
we only trudge along,
getting caught up
in the messes of everyday life
never seeing
the miracles and blessings
God has prepared for us.

We see what is presently evident,
but not the complete story, what is beyond.
God sees into the future
and desires to guide us there.

Will we trust Him
more than we trust ourselves?

We are not of much use alone.
We need His enlightenment
His encouragement
His instruction
His love
to get beyond the mediocre
and into the most excellent

God is the most excellent.
Be still in Him.
Let Him bring you through
the stresses and distresses,
past the confusion and
distractions
and give you a calmness and peace
only He can provide.

Be still.
and know…
He has our every side
Our best
For He is God.

(c) September 3, 2014

If you ...

If you

Trust in God

If you
Lean on Him

If you
Always Acknowledge Him

The Lord God Almighty, who is always with you -- He will direct your steps. He will guide you throughout your life.
(See Proverbs 3:5-6)

If you
Honor the Lord with all you possess
and give Him His due

He will enable you to have what you need -- not more, not less.
(See Proverbs 3: 9-10)

If you
Depend on the Lord

If you
Believe and Seek the righteousness of God
through Faith in Jesus Christ
(See Romans 3:22)

If you
Learn from His discipline

He will strengthen your weaknesses.
See Proverbs 3:11)

If you
Hope in His promises

If you
Love Him and others through action and word

If you
Obey His Commandments, His Truths

If you
Gain wisdom and understanding of God’s Truths and remember

He will protect us. He will enable us to travel safely wherever we go, to not be afraid, to not stumble. He will show us how to remove ourselves from sticky situations.
(See Galatians 5:7; Proverbs 3:7-8)

If you
Give encouragement, are gentle and kind and patient
with all of His children

If you
continue on, not lose heart, and not become weary while doing good.
(See Galatians 6:9)

He will bless us with joy and peace and exceedingly abundant love. 

If you
abide in Him, with Him -- He will abide in you. He will always be with you. He will always be near.

(c) August 31/September 1, 2014

He is there

He is there.
Always.
He does not step away.

We are the ones
We seek places
we think could be better

God placed us here
where we are
He will guide us
if there are other places
we are to go

When we pray
When we seek His will
for our lives
He will enable us
to know
and to go

No matter the circumstance
We cannot outrun God

He is there
Always.

On the highest mountaintops
of joy
In the deepest valleys
of loneliness and desolateness

He is there
Always

We cannot hide
We think we can
We may succeed
and withdraw into ourselves
away from others
But never from God.

He surrounds us
He holds forth His hand
offering Love, Peace, Joy, Hope

We cannot stay on the mountaintops
and we should not stay in the valleys

Stay near to God

Trust in Him
Believe in Him
Look to Him for your every need.

He is there.
Always.

“I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:20b

(c) August 30, 2014

Have you met Him? ... Have you met with Him this day?

I AM God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit

I AM with you always

I AM within your heart.
     When you accepted My Son, Jesus Christ, as your personal Savior, I sent the Holy Spirit to live within you and guide you on your new life journey.

I AM He who calms your fears, your troubled brow

I AM He who guides you, directs your path to one of betterment and not destruction

I AM He who is remorseful when you choose to go against Me and follow your own ideas, your own plans, your own way of thinking

I AM He who rejoices when you are joyful
        and saddened when you mourn

I AM He who brings others around you to strengthen you and encourage you and to also show you the error of your ways.

I AM the wind you cannot see,
       The sun that rises in the morning and sets in the evening

I AM storm clouds that gather, rain and hail and snow that falls

I AM the rainbow you see after a storm – a sign from the heavens of a new beginning

I AM The Creator of all that walks and crawls and swims and flies

I AM everywhere – in the valleys deep and wide and on the mountaintops

I AM waiting --
     waiting for you to come into My Presence
     to meet with ME
to talk and to listen
to study and to learn
to worship and to rest
to find fulfillment and purpose

I AM waiting
 I AM here
I AM all around you

Open My Word – The Holy Bible
 Take My Word with you
 Meet with Me
 Here Now. This moment.
Every day.

 (c) August 29, 2014

God is the key to brightening up your day

Make meals
Wash dishes
Do laundry
Change diapers
Sweep floors
Make beds

Work Work Work

Never a dull moment
yet the same old stuff
day in
day out
makes the monotony of it all
dull your thinking
and your mind goes into neutral.

It is then
you fall prey
to the events of the world
Your thinking deteriorates,
Is more confused
more directionless
Is no longer focused
on the Lord
but on yourself --
You have a woe is me attitude.

Must get out of that mode
Must refocus your mind
and your heart
on The One
whose presence
is always
with you.

"Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." _ Psalm 119:105

(c) August 27-28, 2014

God is Able

God is able.
Much more than we,
and above all
that we ask or think
He is.

Where is your faith?

God does, will fulfill
His promises.

 Do not think
He will not
and you will deem it necessary
to move ahead
under your own steam
your own plans.

 Your goals may be worthy
but God desires
obedience
not willful disobedience
because of our failure
to Trust
The Very One
who Is trustworthy.

His presence
goes with us
His Spirit
resides in our heart.

Do not presume
you are all-knowingYou know very little
in retrospect
God knows all
you think and feel and do
He is The Great I AM.

Do not succumb to the pitfalls
of your mind, of the world
for even Satan will bow
at the feet of Jesus.

God is able.

Trust Him.
Believe in Him completely
Be obedient to His commands.

(c) August 23, 2014

I AM He

I AM He
He who forgives you
of your sins
He who heals you
of your diseases
He who redeems you
of your life from destructive
He who crowns you
with loving kindness and mercy
He who satisfies you
with good things

I AM He
He who renews your strength
He who enables you to run and not be weary
To soar like eagles

I AM He
I AM with you always.

(c) August 20, 2014

“He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
He keeps me from the grave
and blesses me with love and mercy.
He fills my life with good things,
so that I stay young and strong like an eagle.” – Psalm 103:3-5 Today’s English Version

“But those who trust in the Lord for help will find their strength renewed. They will rise on wings like eagles; they will run and not get weary; they will walk and not grow weak.” – Isaiah 40:31 Today’s English Version

Come ... Trust ... Hold Fast to ME

Come to ME
Bring your every thought, wish and desire to ME
Forget the world
You are no longer part of the world
You have given yourself to ME
A daughter
A son
of the Most High

I know your innermost thoughts
I know you are often discontent
where you are
and you consider somewhere else
is or would be better

Many of MY children think that same way
The best way … the best place for you
is where I have put you – where you currently are

Accept each day as it comes

Different circumstances
will not give you what is best

Trust ME
Hold fast to ME
I will provide for your every need

Sometimes you will undoubtedly think you should be able
to do for yourself
That thinking unfortunately doesn't always work well

I put people in your lives to help you
all along the way

All of MY children need help
None are immune from trouble

Do not think you are alone
There are many around you,
some whom you know,
who struggle.

Yet, when MY children
look to ME, rely on ME,
seek guidance from ME,
they  discover
although the hardships remain,
the burden is lessened,
because it is shared with ME.

 “Israel, the Lord who created you says, Do not be afraid—I will save you. I have called you by name—you are mine. When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you; your troubles will not overwhelm you. When you pass through fire, you will not be burned; the hard trials that come will not hurt you. For I am the Lord your God, the holy God of Israel, who saves you.” – Isaiah 43”:1-3 Today’s English Version

“Come to Me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke and put it on you, and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest. For the yoke I will give you is easy, and the load I will put on you is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30 Today’s English Version

(c) August 18-19, 2014

Forward -- one step at a time

Finding fault not so good
Giving up not either
Trudging onward one step at a time
will bring you fulfillment
once only dreamed

See the blessings.
It begins with you.
You,
A Child of The King.

Forget making a diagnosis
when  you don’t have all the facts
Forget listening only to yourself
Forget distractions that come
and spoil your spiritual meeting
with the Lord.
Forget reacting negatively
to distractions and problems

Look to God
Talk to God
He will listen

See the blessings

You will learn
in your head
and in your heart
what is true
and what is false

See the good
in any situation
vs.
only and always
what is bad or wrong

Believe God’s truths
vs.
only and always
what you feel or think

Forget all that is evil
Refrain from every form
… adultery
idolatry
hatred
contentions
jealousies
heresies
envy

“It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions.” – Galatians 5:19-21a The Message

“…hold fast what is good”
love
joy
peace
patience
kindness
goodness
faithfulness
gentleness
self-control

 “But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard – things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.” – Galatians 5:22-23 The Message

“…Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. …Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on each other’s nerves you don’t snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out. Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. Don’t suppress the Spirit, and don’t stifle those who have a word from the Mater. On the other hand, don’t be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what’s good. Throw out anything tainted with evil.” -- I Thessalonians 5:13-22 The Message

A change has taken place
Do not stifle the Spirit from
directing your steps

You are a new creation,
cleansed by the blood
of the lamb that was slain
for your sins

Forget staying enclosed
in the prison cell of your mind

Forget reminding yourself
where you have been
and what you have done.
God forgave you
as He has forgiven me
for all I have done.

Do not short change Jesus

Forget judging others
Forget judging yourself
None of us will ever be perfect

There is only One who is
Jesus

Where is the newness, the freshness?
Have you begun anew
or have you only continued
where you left off?

Remembering and reminding
yourself and another
where you've been
or all that is wrong
does not equal a new start.
Turn around -- 
Turn away from your sins
(bad feelings, bad attitude, wrong thinking, bad actions)
Turn to The Lord
who will walk with you
through the trials you face
today and tomorrow
and the next day.

Open His book.

You accepted Jesus
You opened the door of your heart
and invited Him in when He knocked.
That is the first step.
A wonderful step.
The next step
and the ones after it
is your life journey
with Jesus at the helm. 

He, as the Holy Spirit within you,
will guide you through your life.

“Trust in Him at all times … Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.” – Psalm 62:8 New King James version

God has awakened you
You are alive in Him!
Be awakened every moment
of every day.
Enjoy life
as has been His purpose.

“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious – the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from Me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into His most excellent harmonies.” – Philippians 4:8-9 The Message

(c) August 13-16, 2014

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