Fasting 4 Real-HERE AM I! – Isaiah 58

My worship song for this morning was:

 

 

Isaiah 58 KJV

Isaiah 58 NIV

Good evening beloved! After my morning prayer the Lord did say to me “Shelia, Here AM  I”… I immediately thought about Samuel. After hearing that I began studying Isaiah 58, Day 5 of my church’s Fall Prayer Consecration. I want to share something the Holy Spirit showed me about Fasting 4 Real and the words “Here Am I.”

I was reminded of this inspirational saying:

First and most importantly shown to me were the words “Here Am I” or “Here I Am” (vs. 9) said by none other that God Himself. Those words worked my spirit into tears, shouts, and a whole lot of praise earlier this morn. Don’t you just love it when the Holy Spirit of God cleanses and refreshes the soul when He speaks directly to you? I must share with you my beloved comrades and readers in prayer,  a real sad personal moment.  The Holy Spirit is prompting me to share this.  I have been battling the devil working in my sister for over a month over heir property /inherited shared property from our Grandparents (many more years over other things) that she thinks she is “controlling” and “taking to my grave” she said – claiming it to be “mine only.” She  yelled at me last week “I am Christ” and “you are not a part of this family…what is it you don’t get after all this time?” In the presence of our mother, who just lowered her head.  Is that the sign of Christ working in others? NO.  Lord have mercy!

 

Have you ever been face to face with the devil? I have more times than I care to have been. I rebuked that quickly in her face and the devil is riding high now within her that she does not communicate and is always leaving my mom’s house to avoid seeing me now. I will not back down in Jesus name and that passage reminded me this morning that God is with me through this battle. PRAY for her to be released from the many devils controlling her since our earthly father’s death….a long time, please. It is not just me in the family who sees she is “out there without God claiming to be Christ“…And PRAY for me, the Lord’s will be done.  To-Day, I’ve finally decided to stop feeling sorry for her, that was the damnation cloud hanging over me.

Too many people walk around believing and are taught that Satan is not real. A lot of  people believe that he “wears PRADA”.   I beg to differ. The devil wears and conceals himself within any scented spirit well open to him.

 

Now on to the REAL I discovered this morning:(TYHS!) This chapter showed me how God views humanity with their false sense of fasting… Pure Hypocrisy! In Isaiah 58 he showed me the real.. we cannot continue to fast as we do today and think that he hears us. Every  one of us need to pray together for God’s guidance in All matters. ( now I get why the Holy Spirit led me to share my issue. An army is needed to break this stronghold of  many devils “Legion”- TYHS again) PRAY.   

Isaiah 58:3-5

‘Why have we fasted,’ they say,
    ‘and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled ourselves,
    and you have not noticed?’

“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please
    and exploit all your workers.
Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,
    and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
    and expect your voice to be heard on high.

 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
    only a day for people to humble themselves?
Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed
    and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
    a day acceptable to the Lord?

Guidance to Fasting 4 Real per the Lord, Our God

• loose the chains of injustice
• untie the cords of the yoke
• set the oppressed free
• break every yoke
• share your food with the hungry
• provide the poor wanderer with shelter
• when you see the naked, to clothe them
• not to turn away from your own flesh and blood ( I hear you Lord)

After you DO these things beloved…Hear what the Lord hath said :”Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.  Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.”

In Fasting 4 Real, again we are reminded that we must:

• do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk
• spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed

Note of Light -“Then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.”

And Fasting 4 real doesn’t end there:

• keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day
• call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord’s holy day honorable
• honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words

Are you ready for this? Guess what else will take place after Fasting 4 Real?

Note of God’s Promise- “Then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.”
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

“HERE AM I”

 I Love You

Love Covers A Multitude of Sins

 

 

D-I-V-I-S-I-O-N – Satan’s Operation In the Home

I believe the most vital verses in the bible that warns us about the devil’s division skills are in Ephesians 6:10-12- Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

 Vocabulary Moment

Divide- v: to separate (something) into two or more parts or pieces: to separate (something) into classes or categories: to give (something) out in usually equal amounts

division (÷) (/) is an arithmetic OPERATION

Division – n: the act or process of dividing something into parts : the way that something is divided: something that physically divides or separates something else ;mathematics : the process of finding out how many times one number is contained in another

Ironic… the symbols (÷) (/) used for division.  Satan is one of the greatest mathematicians when it involves division. Even renowned mathematicians such as Pythagoras, Leonhard Euler, and Isaac Newton’s skills are lacking in comparison to Satan’s math skills. Satan is also resourceful in using addition, subtraction, and multiplication in his favor. Who would have thought…Satan… a great mathematician? It is a fathomable thought. We must remember that Satan has been around since the beginning watching God, the Master Mathematician and The Creator of Math.  I know from experience that if one has a great teacher and dependent upon the student, he or she works to become even greater in a subject that is taught, once the mind and heart is put into it. (TYHS) If you go into deep thought mode, you will discover that math is also a major means of communication. There are four (4) major places that Satan spends his time computing how to divide every second walking to and fro in high places within the Earth’s atmosphere. They are the church, home, workplace and the land of God. The first of these subjects to be discussed is the home, for it is said “Home is where the heart is.”

In the Home

Luke 11 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth. 18 If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. 19 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. 20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. 21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: 22 but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. 23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. 24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. 25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. 26 Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. 27 And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. 28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

There are many lessons I’ve learned while spending time with the Spirit of God from the above verses. I’ve been led to share three of these lessons with you pertaining to the home. Even though the lessons may be clear as daylight to some, it is something we don’t keep in our minds and hearts as a remembrance of Satan’s division power. Some may not believe so, but the arithmetic operation by Satan is a leading source of divorce. It is a leading source of disobedient and abused children, cunning, weak, and difficult spouses.

One thing I’ve noticed, even as a child is that in many Baptist churches, married couples that are members attend together.  In other denominations, I’ve seen married couples whose spouse is a member of another denomination. It’s not my business, but it just seems odd, knowing that couples are worshipping the same God in a household, that are obviously divided on beliefs concerning bible doctrine. Just makes one think, why else would a married couple be attending separate churches? I think too much.  Moving on…When facing issues within the home, we need to be reminded:

• Satan does not know our thoughts. My belief is based on the fact that there is only one God and He alone is omnipresent and all-knowing. It is proven throughout the Holy Bible and proven daily in my life. I did not find anywhere in scriptures stating that he has that ability. Satan operates according to our actions because he has the advantage of seeing how the human behavior arithmetically operate. (TYHS) He has thousands upon thousands upon thousands years of experience observing the human race. You may also read the book of Job.
• Satan can be divided against himself. Prayer and fasting adds to our God-given ability and authority in Jesus name to divide Satan against himself. Mark 9:29
• Satan once divided against himself, will call upon more unclean spirits to help him divide our households. In verse 28 we discover how to stop his operation of division within the home. Also read James 4. Be attentive to verses 7-8.

In knowing these three things, we must remember that Satan’s division tactics will come to pass. My beloved flowers…don’t let the devil think that it can’t be done. Let your actions show that you are hearing the word of God and show that you are keeping it. You can make a bold commitment to the Lord as Joshua did for his household (Joshua 24:15). We can, must, and will overcome Satan’s limited power of division. Even when our grown children and elderly parents are being divided and attacked in their own households, we need to be adding their burdens to our prayers. Our families are an extension of us. We are an extension of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. A house divided cannot stand regardless of the house’s location.

Let me leave you with a chuckle from another one of my favorite movies from my 70’s era, Smokey and the Bandit:

Snowman: “Hey, Bandit, me and Fred have a little question for you.”

Bandit: “What’s that?”

Snowman: “Why are we doing this?”

Bandit: “Why not?”

Snowman: “They said it couldn’t be done.”

Bandit: “That’s why we’re doing it.”

And “That’s why we’re doing it.”…because the devil thinks and says it can’t be done once we stray, BUT his division tactics fail when we SHOW that we love the Lord our God with All of our mind and heart.

 I LOVE YOU

At One’s Wits’ End? “Seek the Lord and Live.” Amos 5-6

A Dictionary Moment
At one’s wits’ end- to be very worried or upset because you have tried every possible way to solve a problem but cannot do it; at the end of one’s ideas or mental resources; perplexed; utterly confused

Most are familiar with the idiom. Dare I say that most of us have been at our wits’ end? With God as your RESOURCE, you will never be at wits’ end. Let’s take a journey.

Continuing on this Lent journey through the book of Amos I was a bit confused of the message received. I prayed before the study and was ready to hear what words the Lord had for ME. This is MY journey, my heart rending time. But the Spirit of God put someone else on my heart and mind. I asked not why. I was reminded once again that I am not God; I cannot do everything for everyone and that the choices and mistakes that others make are not my boundaries. I hear you Lord. I finally HEAR you I shouted out. I’m not sure if this can be labeled as a lesson learned for me, therefore I’ll just pass on the message received.
The reason most of humanity end up at one’s wits’ end is due in part to a lack of individual preparation and complacency. Yep! C-o-m-p-l-a-c-e-n-c-y!
As you may recall, in Amos 4:12, God warns the house of Israel to “prepare to meet thy God.”
I’ve noticed that when one is at one’s wits’ end, it happens when one is NOT hearing the advice of others that are very close to them. One is stuck in the moment(s) of their doings and fails to recognize crouching sin. Remember what God said to Cain (Genesis 4:6-7) “…sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”  How many times has God said “Hear” in the Holy Bible? How many times has God said to you “Hear”?  Catch these my sweethearts!!!!!  Did you hear (syn. – perceive, receive, get) or did you listen (syn.-eavesdrop, snoop, attend)? ((((((TYHS))))))
So then I ask God, while reading Amos 5 and 6, what do you do when you know someone very dear to you is at their wits’ end? What do you do when you are so spiritually bonded to them, feeling and knowing their every ache without them saying a word? What do you do Lord, please tell me, when they are so broken, words and deeds of others go unnoticed by them? What do you do when that person feels like they have been a burden on those who help them? ((((((JESUS)))))) I looked up from writing my questions down and in the right hand corner of my closet, Tigger was staring at me.  I burst out with laughter.  

In the Winnie the Pooh stories, you know Tigger just bounces everywhere on his tail. Occasionally, you would see him walking through the 100 acre woods. Bouncing on his tail was his signature move. Bounce~~~ bounce~~~bounce!  In bounces the message from the Holy Spirit.

(Read Amos 6)

Yep! C-o-m-p-l-a-c-e-n-c-y! Tigger … a great messaging tool! (TYHS)
Dear readers, whatever situation you have fallen into or when you are at one’s wits’ end, hear this!

You

• Must Prepare yourself to meet thy God
• Must Seek Him and Live
• Must Rend your heart and Repent
• Must Reform self
• Must Put ALL Faith in God for His will to be done in your life

One cannot “HEAR this word” when the Lord is speaking, when one is always bouncing around like Tigger, or never standing still long enough on one’s own two feet to prepare one’s self to live as God intended. I tell ya! Lifesight (my new word) is nothing like hindsight.

 Here’s one of my favorite Tigger quotes.

“Excuse me a moment, but there’s something climbing up your table,” and with one loud Worraworraworraworraworra he jumped at the end of the tablecloth, pulled it to the ground, wrapped himself up in it three times, rolled to the other end of the room, and, after a terrible struggle, got his head into the daylight again, and said cheerfully: “Have I won?”

(With God, you can win, just say YES to Him)

Let this song minister to you- (parts 1 & 2) I love singing this song, very powerful.

Share this:

The Home- Psalm 127

I must share a sermon with you that I just listened to by Adrian Rogers.  It’s a message that both father’s and mother’s should heed. Please take a listen. It’s a strong message for the family. Children are indeed a heritage from the Lord.

“People who treat sex lightly, always treat other human beings lightly.”

“….The home has become little more than a restaurant and a garage.”

“Some people look upon marriage like a tick looks upon a dog. That tick is on that dog for what he can get out of that dog. The only difference in marriage is, there are two ticks and no dog.”

I Love You ♥

Father’s- There Are Too Many Children Crying

A Father’s role never changes regardless of the times. We have become so modernized with the role of being a man and a father. Children need to be fed, clothed, and trained/instructed. This seems to be what some men forget after they participate in seeding a child. I pray that many blessings are upon all fathers who have put into action the role of being a father by using God as their role model. Happy Father’s Day 2014 to You! When he made Adam and Eve, in His image, did he not feed, clothe, and train/instruct them?

Fact- A baby gets 23 chromosomes from his mother and 23 from his father.

I wanted to share with you an article I came across, in line with my thoughts.

The Father’s Role in the Family We often hear so much about the importance of mothers in children’s lives and many people even consider it the mother’s exclusive role to raise the children. But is this really true? Surely fathers play a much more important role in the family than this. Through the way they live their lives and treat others, fathers influence the lives of the entire family. They are role models and set examples through their relationships with their children and the children’s mother. From fathers sons learn how to be men and how to treat women. Daughters learn from their fathers what a man is, how to expect to be treated by them and what to look for in a husband. Given this, how well a father performs these roles effects not only his children, but his grandchildren and the generations that continue to follow in his footsteps.   A father shows his sons through their father son relationships and his relationship with their mother how to be a man. He does this through how he handles different situations and circumstances, by setting the example of being honest and responsible as well as how he treats women with love and respect. Every time he shows his son how to get up, dust himself off and keep going, he is teaching him how to keep moving forward in life in spite of setbacks. He helps to raise sons that will exhibit the same character traits and that, through his positive influence, will be much more likely to have healthy relationships with others including women. His influence also increases the likelihood that his sons will be good fathers to their children as well.   The father is the head of the household and this means he is responsible for the physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing of his family. He is responsible for loving and being loyal to his wife and through his respect insuring that she has the respect of the children. This teaches his daughters through their father daughter relationships and his relationship with their mother how to respect themselves, how to expect to be treated by men as well as what makes a good husband and father. He helps his daughter to understand how to test what men tell her against what their actions tell her about them.   It should be obvious that the absence of a father or father figure affects children and the adults that they become. Playing such important roles in the family means that fathers help determine the health of the relationships within and the happiness of the family. In so doing, it can also be argued that fathers have a strong influence on society as a whole. By Velica Galaud

 

Ephesians 6:4 – And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. – A father cannot do this if he is not spending time with his child/children.

1 Timothy 5:8 – But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. – A father who lacks in his responsibilities toward his child/children can in no way claim to know God.

If you know of a man, who is not being a father to his children, pray for him and please share the following scriptures with him from the mouth of Jesus. Remind him that he will be cursed into an everlasting fire for not feeding, clothing, and spending time with his child/children training and instructing them, that the Lord blessed him with.  If you are that man, REPENT. Too many people want to stay away from fire and brimstone Word of God. I choose to believe in His Word.

Men, have you ever looked at a child and saw their heart crying? Father’s, there are too many children crying. If a child exists it is because of your seed. Take care of what the Lord has given you. Be wise like Eve and KNOW that you have gotten a child from God. (Genesis 4:1)

Matthew 25:35-46 (KJV)

 

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

A Father’s Role – Happy Blessed Father’s Day 2013

Our Wiki Answers Encyclopedic Moment  🙂

• A male (♂) organism is the physiological sex which produces sperm. Each spermatozoon can fuse with a larger female gamete, or ovum, in the process of fertilization. A male cannot reproduce sexually without access to at least one ovum from a female.
• A boy is a young male human, usually child or adolescent. When he becomes an adult he’s described as a man.
• A man is an adult human male; the gender role to which men in most human cultures are expected to conform. ( pardonnez-moi!  I’d like to add a comment…. It is also a stage of the male role given by God)
• A father (or dad) is a male parent or Individual progenitor of human offspring.  Fathers determine the gender of their child through a sperm cell which either contains an X chromosome (female), or Y chromosome (male) (note- a blessed position received from God)

More of Wiki Answers: Traditionally, fathers act in a protective, supportive and responsible way towards their children. Involved fathers offer developmentally specific provisions to their sons and daughters throughout the life cycle and are impacted themselves by doing so. Active father figures may play a role in reducing behavior and psychological problems in young men and women. The father figure does not always have to be a child’s biological father and some children will have a biological father as well as a step- or nurturing father. 

Now that our encyclopedic moment is out of the way, let us reflect on Our Heavenly Father in prayer.

Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth,
As it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For Thine is The Kingdom, The Power, and the Glory, For Ever and Ever. Amen.

My Thoughts …….Here we go!  🙂  😛

Because of God’s will, a human father has the power to provide a child’s daily bread, forgive a child’s trespasses, teach and show a child how to forgive, and guide them away from evil so that the child may avoid temptations.  Father’s remind yourselves of the power given to you over your child’s earthly life. Use God as your fatherly example.  Be a loving, supportive, protective, responsible, and correcting father. Be an obedient man of God. It is God’s will.  You will feel and see your blessings flow by passing the God-given and guided task on to your son(s). Son(s) who will one day possibly become a father. You are the one that holds the main key to putting procreation in place. For those wonderful, “Individual progenitor’s” i.e. FATHERS, who are doing your part per God’s will and instructions………..

Happy Father’s Day 2 U!

Ephesians 6: 4 – And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 -All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Challenge– For the men that are just out there making babies and taking no part in their child’s life, please mark a spot in your mind and on your heart the meaning of the word PROVISION to stay in line with the will of God. If you feel yourself falling out of line, grab a dictionary and remind yourself of its meaning and pray for the Lord’s guidance. 

PROVISION- (N) – (a) the act or process of providing; (b) the fact or state of being prepared beforehand; (c) a measure taken beforehand to deal with a need or contingency : preparation.

Being a FATHER is a prestigious position to have in a child’s life.  

As my papaw used to tell the young men in church acting up “boy you better straighten up and fly right, earn your wings, and own your flight.” If you find yourself unprepared for fatherhood, take a lesson from Onan, the son of Judah, spill your seed on the ground to avoid having to provide for an offspring. You can read the story in Genesis 38:1-10. If you have a living child or children, there is absolutely NO REASON, NO EXCUSE, whatsoever for you to avoid, nor lack in your fatherly duties.

If you are not going to spill your seed on the ground, in the trash, or wherever and impregnate a female.…The way I see it, the Lord gives you nine months to prepare for your gift He is giving you, unless it is a preemie.  Even then, you have months to prepare. You are to take care of ALL things the Lord gives you.  So……………

(((((Get Your Act Together)))))

In memory of my one and only father figure, my Papaw, Professor J.T. Banks, of whom I miss dearly every day. This is him at the age of 84. He used to brag about having all of his “real teeth” at that age.  Boy was he blessed, and look at that smile. I’ve also included a pic of him and grandma in their younger days. They were such a beautiful loving and caring couple. I was thinking, God puts at least one person in your life, that will forever be your guiding force, even if that person has died. Thank you Lord, for my Papaw, being that one person.

https://talkativeangel.wordpress.com/2012/06/16/fathers-day-a-good-father/

Joseph and Odessa

I Love You

Love Covers A Multitude Of Sins

God Speaks To Things- My Thoughts

A Little Light Shines Through

While reading Ezekiel this morning I felt a lightning bolt aka Holy Spirit. I know we read and read AND read the stories in the bible several times over and receive different enlightening messages via the Holy Spirit. I want to share with you beloved ones, my lightning bolt from Ezekiel 36(NIV).

*****

Fun to know per Wiki:

On Earth, the place where lightning occurs most often is near the small village of Kifuka in the mountains of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the elevation is around 975 m (3,200 ft). On average, this region receives 158 lightning strikes per 1 square kilometer (0.39 sq mi) per year. Other lightning hotspots include Catatumbo lightning in Venezuela, Singapore, Teresina in northern Brazil, and “Lightning Alley” in Central Florida. (Talk about God speaking to things, that’s a lot of talking!    🙂 )

*****

Hmm, I wasn’t in any of those areas, so I know I was struck by the Holy Spirit concerning this message to see His grace and love for His people from an inanimate angle. Let’s ride and read! Let me begin with verses 6-15 in Ezekiel 36, the place I was struck.

  

Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel and say to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys: “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I speak in my jealous wrath because you have suffered the scorn of the nations. Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I swear with uplifted hand that the nations around you will also suffer scorn.”

“But you, mountains of Israel, will produce branches and fruit for my people Israel, for they will soon come home.  I am concerned for you and will look on you with favor; you will be plowed and sown, and I will cause many people to live on you—yes, all of Israel. The towns will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt.  I will increase the number of people and animals living on you, and they will be fruitful and become numerous. I will settle people on you as in the past and will make you prosper more than before. Then you will know that I am the Lord.  I will cause people, my people Israel, to live on you. They will possess you, and you will be their inheritance; you will never again deprive them of their children.”

“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because some say to you, “You devour people and deprive your nation of its children,” therefore you will no longer devour people or make your nation childless, declares the Sovereign Lord.  No longer will I make you hear the taunts of the nations, and no longer will you suffer the scorn of the peoples or cause your nation to fall, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

My Lightning Bolt- God speaks to things to provide for and protect His people. After all the destruction of wars past and more wars and tribulations to come, God has never given and will never give up on His people coming home to Him. He and ONLY He will provide. The scriptures I read this morning were pure and as clear as the River of Life and even more confirmation to me that God Loves Me.  He Loves You. The reminder to me this morning with things weighing so heavy on my heart, was in a clear quiet voice.  God said to me after the bolt… “My child, I Got this.”  Thank you Holy Spirit for the reminder!

Before Adam was formed, “God said” to things. Read Genesis 1. Sometimes I forget, don’t act like you don’t…. that He spoke to things in the Book of Genesis to provide for our coming into the world. We often get lost in the creation of man.  Of course, throughout the ages and still so today, we are not so thankful for His provisions given to us on this earth, things that He chose to speak to, things He knows we need for survival. Now if He spoke to money( a thing) and said money jump in that wallet or purse, we’d be more than thankful, right? 🙂  Just putting it out there!

Isn’t He the greatest Father? We surely need more earthly fathers as He. (that’ll probably be another blog)  Let me ask…..As a parent, does one not make provisions ready for their children they are bringing into the world with things? If we don’t know by now or if it is hidden somewhere in our cerebrum (you have one unless you are a jellyfish or sea sponge) God is the best example of how and what a parent should be and do. The bible is your best source of info on parenting.

Ok, back on sub…..I decided to look up Matthew Henry’s commentary on these verses, it was pretty neat. Let’s take a read. Ezekiel 36:1-15

“Those who put contempt and reproach on God’s people, will have them turned on themselves. God promises favour to his Israel. We have no reason to complain, if the more unkind men are, the more kind God is. They shall come again to their own border. It was a type of the heavenly Canaan, of which all God’s children are heirs, and into which they all shall be brought together. And when God returns in mercy to a people who return to him in duty, all their grievances will be set right. The full completion of this prophecy must be in some future event.”

Because God will speak to things, to me, five additional wings of the lightning bolt flew out…… We, His people, in the near future:

1. We will have a place prepared for us, a HOME, not a house, where there will be no more wars and tribulations
2. We will be well fed and dressed ( Lord I hope I can still wear boots)
3. We will be fruitful and multiply as children of the Almighty Living God ( so will the animals)
4. We will be prosperous in whatever we do in the name of Jesus
5. We will be in the most beautiful and serene landscape of things that God speaks to

And to the things, mountains, hills, rivers, desolate ruins, deserted towns, and ravines, in order for them to provide for His children He says: “No longer will I make you hear the taunts of the nations, and no longer will you suffer the scorn of the peoples or cause your nation to fall, declares the Sovereign Lord.”  It’s all about HOPE for these things and LOVE for His people. These things are alive in God.

God Speaks To Things just for us. He has ALWAYS PROVIDED and PREPARED THINGS just for us, His children. And I’ll ask it again.  Isn’t He the Greatest Father ever? Hmm, perhaps this should have been a Father’s Day post????? Enjoy your lightning bolt!

MY GOD is AWESOME. Listen to where the Spirit directed me.  I typed in Brain on God looking for a jpeg, and this came up.   🙂  It appears that the Spirit sometimes drives in the left lane. 

I don’t know of this person, but He sounds good , it’s my testimony, and I was truly blessed

       —-> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVj7ITOBKIk

I LOVE YOU

LOVE COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SINS

 

 

 

A Place Called Life- A Place Called Death- My Thoughts

These past two months back to back, week to week, I’ve experienced once again on a personal level death among several close family members and friends. Allow me to refresh our memories with definitions.

 Life-(n)- (1)the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic objects and dead organisms, being manifested by growth through metabolism, reproduction, and the power of adaptation to environment through changes originating internally. (2) a corresponding state, existence, or principle of existence conceived of as belonging to the soul: eternal life.
 Death-(n)-(1)the act of dying; the end of life; the total and permanent cessation of all the vital functions of an organism. (2) extinction; destruction

While practically living at the hospital and nursing home these past months, I was reminded of several things. There are lots of women, young and older bringing children into the world without the male parent present. Life is funny, they obviously where there during the seeding.  😦   There are lots of elderly or disabled people lying in hospital beds, nursing homes and even their homes, without family members being present or any family at all. While the birth of my two grand gifts (grandkids)in January and April brought joy, it also brought sadness because I know of the heartache and pain they will eventually experience right along with others who have been given a place in life.

I think I cried for most of April because I just felt the sadness, disappointment, and pain of others. I cry when people do wrong even after I’ve spoken my peace.(not piece)  I cry when I am overblown with anger of wrongdoing to others. This is why sometimes I try hard to stay away from people because I get tuned into their spirit. It’s draining and it’s weird sometimes, because I can’t prevent them from experiencing heartaches and death and can’t make them heed advice. I can only give of self and time and pray for a healing for all, and even that at times becomes draining. Thank you Jesus! Thank you Holy Spirit!

When my aunt’s days in this place of life were dwindling down and she was hospitalized, family members started telling me a whole lot of things I was not prepared to hear and expected me to put people in their place. I made sure they knew it was not my job and that I was not God, and reminded them that God knows it all and He will take care of the issues. It was very saddening to hear a lot of those things. All I can say is this…if you have parent(s) that have been a true parent to you, don’t ever neglect them or show disrespect towards them while they have been given a place in life.

It was saddening to me to find out that there are elderly and disabled people that receive care and visits only from staffed members. I was in awe, to learn that even family members did not spend quality time visiting with their relatives in the hospital and nursing homes. Where oh where have we gone wrong in this world, in this place of Life, with compassion, respect, and love for others? Let me be honest, it actually made me more angry than sad.

How do I know this you may ask? I’m nosey when I see a need not being met or an absence of love being felt. Most of the times, I just feel the presence. Whenever I would walk down the halls of the hospital or nursing home, I’d see patients just lying there in their beds looking lifeless or their mind seems to be elsewhere and they were lying there or eating alone. I started praying as I walked the halls and peeping in rooms for the Holy Spirit to be with and help these people. I don’t know what wrong they may have done to others during their life and I don’t and didn’t care. What mattered each time I saw this, was that the individuals needed prayer and to be shown someone cared and to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives me great insight into the pain and need of others and boy did it hurt. The biggest thing I felt inside is that though these people are breathing, they are actually dead in a sense in the place of  life and most  are awaiting death without any hope or faith. It’s so sad. Some were under the delusion that somebody in their family was “coming to get me” and “coming to see me”.  😦  😦
These things reminded me of something I read in the Book of Isaiah 43: 7-13 and Ephesians 2: 7-13 about why we are given or have life. This is just my thought, you may think otherwise.

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Isaiah
 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears. Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth. Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God. Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?

Ephesians
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

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And now, with that being my scriptural documentation and belief, let me almost finish this up. We, even us who call ourselves Christians, have bouts of forgetfulness of what God requires of us. We either don’t have time or make time, we don’t know or don’t want to know about the lack of love and care given to others, we don’t want to take on the burdens of others when it is clear they have family available, we have lost the true meaning of compassion and what it means to truly and wholeheartedly give to others via the Holy Spirit and in the name of Jesus and might I add, in the eyes of God in this place we call Life.

Since the Holy Spirit lives within us as Christians as our Helper and Comforter, whom the Father sent to us in Jesus’ place for a set time in this place called life,  should we not share and give of that help and comfort to others?

The church of today which is the Body of Christ that includes you and I as a Christian, place way too much focus on financial stewardship via financial giving so much so, that members are forgetting that giving of time and self to others is hiding and buried under the last row of pews in the church crying to be heard and done. We forget that giving of self, time, and helping others is also a form of stewardship. Wake Up! What did the verse above in Ephesians say?
WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS UNTO GOOD WORKS, WHICH GOD HATH BEFORE ORDAINED THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM.

I ask self and I ask you…Are we as Christians really walking in the way that God ordained that we should walk in this place called life? Jesus was given life by God to live on this earth for a set time. Per our bible studies, what is the one thing that stands out about Jesus’ life to you and God? We are also given a set time on this earth, what is the one thing that stands out to others, self and God about our being? If we call ourselves Christians, Followers of Christ Jesus, and/or Children of God…Folks we KNOW, without a doubt what should be or could be done to walk in His ways. We have been given a place in life to do such. We have been created for His glory. God said so. When we are in the place of death, we can do NOTHING in His ways.

Let us be reminded, we are God’s witnesses per Isaiah’s verse above. He and only He is our Deliverer. Satan has NO power over your place in life or in death. He is not the deliverer of your soul of the place in death, nor is he the one who has given you a place in life. See how weak he is? God is ALWAYS in control and in charge in the place of life and death.
Recognize and Remember..…GOD IS….He told Moses in the Book of Exodus 3:14, so Moses told us via the scriptures,

“I AM WHO I AM, tell them I AM sent you”. He also told Moses that “I AM” is his name to be “called from generation to generation.”
 So the next time somebody try to shut you down, do wrong against others or self, or speak ill will, you tell them – The God who is I AM is listening and watching everything you say and do.
He told John in the Book of Revelation to relay the message to us in the first chapter, after the introduction “I AM THE ALPHA AND OMEGA, SAYS THE LORD GOD, WHO IS, AND WHO WAS, AND WHO IS TO COME, THE ALMIGHTY.” And if that wasn’t enough as a reminder, He reminds us again in Revelation 22, the final chapter of the bible.

Lookie Here Folks!

 “I AM THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA, THE FIRST AND THE LAST, THE BEGINNING AND THE END.”

Doesn’t that prove He and only He is over the place of life and the place of death?
And then there is the place called Death. What can we do in the place called Death? We can’t reach out to others. We can’t cry for others. We can’t give to or love others. We can’t show good works in the place called Death. We can’t even gossip anymore in this place.  We can’t even go shopping.  🙂  Everything we need to do as children of God should be done in the place called Life. Jesus took care of and paid for our biggest burden through His place in death.  The least we can do is partake of this same act (easing a burden) for those who are in this place called life in His name before we are given over to the place called death.

I don’t recall who said “find a hurt and heal it”, but I beg of you all to find one and began the healing process for yourself and for others. Don’t fret over end times and signs, be watchful, believe in the Lord and have faith in His will as the Lord says, but do not fret. It is my opinion, that if you fret, you lose sight of His will and eventually lose faith in Him. We know the outcome. Those who are in Christ will overcome. Stay in Christ while in this place called Life. Do what needs to be done in the name of Jesus while we are in this place called Life before being given over to the place called Death.
His will shall be and will be done regardless. Be absolutely sure that you have done well for and with others in the name of Jesus in the place called Life before reaching the place called Death. Thank You Holy Spirit!

 

 

LOVE COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SINS

Your Worth – My Thoughts

Note- Original post disappeared, reposting.

I was talking with my daughter today about the costs of having babies and how it increases as the child grows even after the age of 21 and between the ages of 21-30 for most folks.  She mentioned that her last pregnancy hospital stay for 3 days was 360k. GASP! So I said to her you didn’t cost that much 29 years ago, actually you were cheap. I told her she was worth 9.2k, my 31 year old was worth 6.7k, and the youngest one, who is 22, was worth 35k per the hospital bill.

 Yes I kept copies of the hospital bill. Didn’t I mention that we hold on to things in one of my last posts?  So I told her, only the youngest of my three was worth the most and it appears they were worth mere pennies per the youngest child. She said “Oh hush Mommie, I am worth more than them both, I’m your only daughter”, and we laughed.  I expected her to say that…”I’m the only girl” was always her reasoning for things.   

So, anywho…..It got me to thinking about some things…. just how much are we worth to ourselves and others? Do some of us realize how much we are worth to God?  I know how much we all are worth to God.  Our worth is immeasurable to Him, for He sent His ONE and ONLY begotten Son to us and to die for our sins, just to save us. After an earthly death for us, His Son returns to Him, and then what does God do? He sends us the Holy Spirit as our Comforter.  Is it worth your life to die for an ungodly person? Is it worth anything to you to give your child’s life for another? Aren’t we a hallowed bunch of humans?  God’s Grace is amazing!

Then I said to self…. “Self, lets write a quick blog about what we are worth to God, and the Holy spirit will jump in when He wants to.”  Self said “ok”.  😛

You read it here folks!  Extra! Extra! Read all about how much you are worth to God!

God gave Joshua a wonderful pep talk to let him know how much he and future generations are worth to Him.

Joshua 1:5-6 –No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.

I will make this post message kinda between short and lengthy, depending on where the Holy Spirit leads me, I promise. Did you catch it? Let me point it out once more.

• “I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU” 

God told Joshua, just as He is telling us to day through reading, and the hearing of His word. Whoever has ears, let them hear, huh?  If one cannot hear, hopefully they can see or have sign language.  If one cannot see or hear, then what?  I’m thinking. (Jeopardy music playing)  Come on Holy Spirit!  Yes! Yes! Yes! One can FEEL and understand His Word with their heart.

The Lord gave Moses a pep talk too when he thought he would be afraid and alone.  Let us read what He said to Moses.

Exodus 4:11-12–The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” Oh! Thank you Holy Spirit for leading me to the following scripture:  

Matthew 13:15-17–  For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

Remember, this is from God’s mouth….“I will NEVER leave you or forsake you.” In French, Spanish, German, Greek, and all other languages and in layman’s term…it still means no matter what others think  of or say about you, you are worth more than you know to Him and you are NEVER alone.  God is ALWAYS available to you and for you.  That’s how much you are worth to Him.
2 Peter 1:3 – His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.

• “YOU WILL INHERIT THE LAND I SWORE TO YOUR ANCESTORS TO GIVE THEM”

Not only was this mentioned in the Old Testament, but also in the New Testament. Only God can give life and call those things into our life when it is not even evident to us.  Who else is going to give you anything of earthly or heavenly value and ask for no taxes? Who else will keep a promise forever and ever through all generations? What’s exciting to know, here comes the Holy Spirit again guiding us to scriptures. God mentions this first in the Book of Genesis, the books in between AND He mentions it last in the Book of Revelation. Here we go riding and reading with the Holy Spirit!

• Genesis 1:27-31
• Genesis  9: 1-17
• Genesis 12: 1- 3
• Genesis 3: 7-8
• Isaiah 45: 2-8
• Isaiah 49:8
• Isaiah 51:8
• Romans 4:13-17
• Romans 6: 9-10
• 2 Corinthians 1:20
• Galatians 3:29
• Revelation: 21:1-8
• Revelation 22:1-5
• Revelation 22:19

Let me tie it up here with a pretty yellow ribbon around the Tree of Life to prove what you are worth to God.

John 3:15-18

…that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

And that my beautiful beloved sisters and brothers in Christ is what you are worth to God. EVERYTHING. And might I add that what God has for you is tax free.  Jesus paid for it all.

In the memorable words of George H.W. Bush, 1988 – “Read My Lips- No New Taxes.” I’m done. Amen.

 I Love You

Love Covers A Multitude Of Sins

Quotes I Love About Family

The Lord has really been great in blessing me with great gifts (grandkids and kids). This past Thursday after a year long prayer was answered, I SHOUT to the world that I am so grateful for the Lord’s mercy and goodness to me and mine and His will.  He always answers my prayers.  I am still having a praise fest. Wanna come?  So my beloved ones, I will share with you quotes, proverbs, and scriptures about FAMILY today and leave you with this thought….Whatever the Lord gives to you, cherish it with nothing but LOVE, and always be in prayer, thanking and praising him, not just asking. Family members are not mistakes. – Moi I think?  If not moi, it’s what I feel and think about family.

• Families are like fudge – mostly sweet with a few nuts.  –Author Unknown
• Family quarrels are bitter things. They don’t go according to any rules. They’re not like aches or wounds; they’re more like splits in the skin that won’t heal because there’s not enough material. – Anonymous
• The family.  We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another’s desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together. – Erma Bombeck
• You don’t choose your family.  They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them.  ~Desmond Tutu 
• Our most basic instinct is not for survival but for family.  Most of us would give our own life for the survival of a family member, yet we lead our daily life too often as if we take our family for granted.  –Paul Pearshall
• The only rock I know that stays steady, the only institution I know that works is the family.  –Lee Iacocca
• If the family were a fruit, it would be an orange, a circle of sections, held together but separable – each segment distinct. – Letty Cottin Pogrebin
• Are we not like two volumes of one book?-Marceline Desbordes-Valmore
• A man ought to live so that everybody knows he is a Christian… and most of all, his family ought to know.-Dwight L. Moody
• Adam was the luckiest man; he had no mother-in-law.- Mark Twain  😛
• He that loves not his wife and children feeds a lioness at home, and broods a nest of sorrows.-Jeremy Taylor

 

• A farmer who had a quarrelsome family called his sons and told them to lay a bunch of sticks before him. Then, after laying the sticks parallel to one another and binding them, he challenged his sons, one after one, to pick up the bundle and break it. They all tried, but in vain. Then, untying the bundle, he gave them the sticks to break one by one. This they did with the greatest ease. Then said the father, Thus, my sons, as long as you remain united, you are a match for anything, but differ and separate, and you are undone.-Aesop
• In a broken nest there are few whole eggs.-Chinese Proverb
• Man is the head of the family, woman the neck that turns the head.-Chinese Proverb
• Look for the good, not the evil, in the conduct of members of the family.-Jewish Proverb
• None but a mule denies his family.-Arabian Proverb

 

• The family is the most basic unit of government. As the first community to which a person is attached and the first authority under which a person learns to live, the family establishes society’s most basic values.-Charles Caleb Colton
• “The same Jesus Who turned water into wine can transform your home, your life, your family, and your future. He is still in the miracle-working business, and His business is the business of transformation.”-  Adrian Rogers

 

• Psalm 137:3-5 – Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. 4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth.  Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.
• Romans 8:16-17 – The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.  
• Proverbs 11:29 -Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise.
• Proverbs 18:19 – A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
• Psalm 103:17 -But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children
• Ephesians 1:5 – Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

 

I Love You

Love Covers A Multitude Of Sins