God

Good Family Genes…

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From my personal God Journals…

Hey, God!

It’s me again. I only have about 30 minutes right now, but I cannot think of any better dear godway to spend them than with you, right here, right now. I love that you have given me the gift of writing as it is so exhilarating to record our precious time together. I learn so much when I reread the entries and I suspect that others will as well. I am just honored that you allow me to do this; to have this assignment. May every word I write and share give you and only you glory. Help me to keep my pride in check, Lord. You know the flesh can easily become boastful, but my heart wants to remain humble in you. There is a fine line between being happy that people are gathering and harvesting good crops from the words I write and taking all the credit. Please, please help me always give you the credit and the glory and help me to always, always remember that it is not a matter of talent, but a matter of obedience. I want to be obedient, Lord. Help me. I love you, forever and ever. Amen and Ehmen.

Dear Child of Mine,

You do make me proud. Your heart is in the right place and I am so very proud of you. I made you in my image and you are looking more and more like me every single day. We have good family genes, child. Even though the world exists now in a fallen state and even though Adam and Eve introduced sin into the human race when they ate from the Tree of Knowledge, it is I that knits together your D.N.A. It is My Holy Spirit that provides you with the refreshing, reviving Breath of Life. You are programmed to seek Me and it is I and only I that will complete you. It pleases me so that you are understanding this and, just as I have promised, as long as you seek Me, I promise you will find Me. As long as you seek wisdom, it is yours. I promised it to you and I delight in fulfilling My promises. Every single one of them. I have never broke a promise, child. And I never will. I am still fulfilling the promises I made Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and will do so until all of my children have walked through the gates of heaven and into my arms. Child, you can count on me. Don’t ever forget this. You may never find anyone of this earth that you feel you can trust completely, but that is ok, because you have me and I will never leave nor forsake you. Rest in that fact, my child. The promise and peace of heaven goes with you wherever you go.

Oh, sweet Jesus, the peace of the Father just rained down upon me. From head to toe, I can feel the promise and peace of heaven coursing through my veins. I love you, Lord. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. In Your Holy Name I Pray. Amen and Ehmen.

And the Word of God Says…

Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV)

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Psalm 105: 4-8 4 Depend on the Lord and his strength; always go to him for help. 5 Remember the miracles he has done; remember his wonders and his decisions. 6 You are descendants of his servant Abraham, the children of Jacob, his chosen people. 7 He is the Lord our God. His laws are for all the world. 8 He will keep his agreement forever; He will keep his promises always.”

Live In the Present Tense …

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Bybrendat's avatarAmen and Ehmen!

Writer’s Note:Two things you might notice in my devotional today: The use of the word “ponderment” and the lack of a capital letter on “satan.” Both are intentional. Ponderment is a word (or non-word, as the case may be) I like to use to describe those special times that I spend pondering during my morning God-time. I guess you could say it’s a cross between wonderment and ponder, because I always wind up being amazed when reflecting and communing with my Lord and Savior. And, as for satan, I have tried not to use a capital S on his name since a dear friend of mine told me years ago that she doesn’t feel the little poop deserves the respect that a capital letter denotes. I loved that and whole-heartedly agree! Have a great day, y’all! (P.S. Denny, I did use a capital letter in the one instant that I started a sentence with satan’s name. The grammar freak in…

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Please let it be so…

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This is a short excerpt from a conversation with a dear friend who was going through a difficult time and seemed to be struggling a bit spiritually. About the same time, I was being nudged, sometimes not so gently, out of my comfort zone as I  began to see the fullness and the cruciality of the purposes and plans God has laid out for me. Stumbling upon the words tonight, it reignited something deep inside of me and I felt compelled to share it. It is in its original non-edited state, spoken from the heart, and shared tonight just because I’m learning not to question…

“You are still living much of your life based on feelings and emotions….flesh….as do many of us…..you still don’t trust God…at least not completely. You are still a little upset with Him….or maybe I should say disappointed by Him….We are both still trying to live in the Spirit, but to do so by dictating the parameters….by what we want, instead of what He wants.

It has really shook me to my core….knowing that God has this beautiful calling on my life….this mantle of spiritual leadership….and that I keep walking away out of fear and doubt,

THAT is what I want to fall in love with….overcoming fear and doubt and stepping into everything that He has for me. For there….in that place….I know that I know fear and sadness will be replaced with joy, and loneliness with the fullness of life.

I want to please Him. I don’t want to fear anything but Him.

I want to serve Him. To Glorify Him.

Please let it be so. Amen and Ehmen…

The Sweetest Voice

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God talks to us in the stillness of the night.nature shot at stone mountain

When all is quiet in the world and nothing remains but the rhythmic beating of our hearts and the steady, calm sound of our breath.

If you can just learn to listen; to take pause and really listen, you will hear the sweet, sweet voice of God.

God also talks to us in the midst of our busy lives.

When the world is crazy; everything around us in a whirlwind; beeping horns; people talking and pressing engagements.

If you can just learn to listen; to take pause for even a moment and really listen, you will hear the sweet, sweet voice of God.

Oh, how I have always longed for those moments and am thrilled to finally realize that those moments can be anytime, anywhere. My how much better life is and how much clearer my path now that I am finally leaning to listen with my heart; now that I am finally hearing the sweet, sweet voice of God.

I pray you can hear Him, too. Amen and Ehmen!

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them,

and they follow me.

John 10:27

 

Same God, Same Plan…

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Writer's Note: Another page from my personal "Dear God" Journals. Though this was from a few months ago, the lessons learned will last a lifetime...and beyond. Here's praying that we all spend more "Me and Thee" time. You don't have to spend hours. This exchange took about 20 minutes. :)

April 2, 2015 6:27 a.m.

Good morning, Father.

I was just re-reading what we talked about yesterday. Thank you for teaching me from your word. I dear godcouldn’t stop thinking about the fig tree yesterday and listened to three sermons on it. The really cool thing is that the information I got there simply added detail to what you told me. Oh, how I love these times together and learning directly from the teacher. Please continue to teach me and please let me say tuned to You so that it is Your voice and Your voice alone that I am hearing and so that I can discern right teaching. And thank you especially for the one preacher I listened to yesterday afternoon that gave facts on the fig tree as fig trees are not part of my everyday life. Just to recap so that I can remember: fig trees grow really tall, as tall as 50 feet; they grow even wider; they have many leaves and make great shade trees, providing protection from the elements; they were very common in Israel and Palestine; and, though, it was not the “season” for figs, there should have been evidence of the fruit to come on the tree in March when this occurred. What Mark meant by “not the season” was that the fruit did not ripen for harvest until around June. The tree represented Israel, just as you said, and it is still a symbol that applies to us all today. Lord, I pray with all that I am, do not let me become like that fig tree, looking the part on the outside, but bearing no fruit. To be dried up from the roots means that the tree is no longer drawing life from the Father. Lord, please help me to always stay rooted in you and connected to you. I need you today and every day and will re-commit my life to your plan and purpose every single day that I am allowed to wake up. What do you have for me today? I love you, sweet Lord. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen and Ehmen.

“Oh dear, dear child, I am so proud of your commitment to My will and purpose, and, as long as you stay committed to that, and keep living in relationship with me, you will never have to worry about disappointing me. The roots will grow deeper and you will grow more and more beautiful and fruitful. Will there be others who still stand by the wayside and look like that Fig Tree that is no more? Yes. But, together, you and I will warn those who are going in that direction so that they, too, may “turn a new leaf” before it’s too late. Child, there will always be some that have hardened their hearts, but that day will come when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that I am the Lord. I am the only One that ever was and that ever will be. I am the same One that Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David and Jesus prayed to. Yes, child, you pray to the same God! And, you serve the same God. You are a part of the same plan that was put into play before the dawn of creation. My plan hasn’t changed just because the world has changed. It remains and will remain even after the end of time. It IS just like I AM. Yes, there will come a day when the world as it is will pass away and those who know the world and things of the world only will pass away with it. But, those, like you, who know Me will live forever by my side in glorious eternity. I love you, child…with all My heart….and I AM the Lord, Your God.”

Inviting the Enemy Out to Play

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image

We live in a fallen world. The enemy prowls and surrounds us on all sides. He is shrewd. He is cunning. He is devious. He twists the facts and distorts the truth. He comes to you wearing sheep’s clothing and, if you are not suited up in the full armor of God, you will be deceived.

Then, just like that, before you even know it, you are dancing with the devil. What started out as a little flirting has ended in you inviting him into your home, your job and all the places you hold dear. You invite him out to play where he is more than happy to go to work, spreading evil from corner to corner of your life. You give him an all-access pass to your life and then wonder where in the world you went wrong.

Good news! We are never too far away to be reached by God. He is always near, but you must reach for Him. God is a giver. Realize he gave you what you have. He doesn’t need anything from us…he gives us breath….we are in the place god always meant for us to be….puts us in circumstances…so that men will seek him and find him….God is God…always in charge!

He is a sovereign God….a sovereign guard….he guards and guides us….

Prayer for Today:

Dear Lord, you know the needs of this day. I will do my part and clothe myself in the armor that You designed. The belt of truth. The breastplate of righteousness. The Gospel of Peace. The Shield of Faith. The Helmet of Salvation. And, the only offensive weapon, the Sword of the Spirit, which is Your Word. Please open the eyes of the spiritually naïve, Lord, so that they may suit up and STAND as well, at all times, but especially today when it seems the enemy is being called out to play. Amen and ehmen!

And The Word of God Says:

Ephesians 6:10-18New International Version (NIV)

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

God is Real!

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Writer’s Note: I just love these little reminders of how much our God loves us and is ALWAYS in ALL WAYS there for us. This was a little praise report I posted on my FB page on August 3, 2012 as my only child headed off to college and I prepared myself for an empty nest. Oh, and by the way, my nest is far from empty. My daughter is back at home, at least until next year when she gets married, and my beautiful mom has just moved in. God is good. All heart isaiah 46.4the time.

Oh, my, how great is our God! I have to share this with you, but please bear with me as I try to convey this before completely processing it all. It’s just so incredible to me, I can’t wait. As I was struggling a bit tonight with my impending empty nesthood, I did a little google search for an article that might help. The one I chose was about single parents struggling to find their purpose when the kids they focused on for so long were now leaving the nest. Towards the end was a scripture that really caught my eye. Isaiah 46:4 “I will be your God throughout your lifetime — until your hair is white with age. I made you and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.” Oh, how I needed to hear that! So much so, in fact, that I got up and went in the other room to get my bible so that I could read it in context; really study it. As I sat back down and opened the bible to begin my search, my eyes rested on a scripture. I noticed it was 46:4. No way, I thought! Then I looked up and saw the Chapter Title. Isaiah!!! Oh my! Out of 2600-plus pages in my bible, 31,000-plus verses, my bible opens to that page and my eyes fall on that verse. Coincidence? No way. Thank you, God!!! I asked you earlier today for sure signs. Thank you, God, for being so patient and thank you for making yourself known to us in such undeniable ways. Can I just say, you rock! Amen and Ehmen!

Isaiah 46:4: New International Version
Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.