God is is Faithful/Personal Halls of Faith

Last week I read Hebrews 11; I  read it and listened to it being read daily. At the end of the week I was all set to read another chapter in the Bible but God led me to continue reading it for another week. This week I also worshiped daily. Today as I was singing God called my attention to the fact that I was singing quietly. I tried to sing louder and found that there was some resistance there. Upon that realization I was determined to sing louder. I had been worshipping for 6 days and felt the presence of God but I hadn't realized that I was doing it quietly. It reminded me of the Battle of Jericho. Today was my seventh day and it was time for me to lift up my voice like a trumpet to breakthrough to victory. I sang a few songs and reflected on the fact that they were older songs. I turned on YouTube and began to sing along to various videos all of which were older songs. I knew the fact that I was singing songs that I had song over the years was significant. For one older songs were clear about who they were about...the name of Jesus was mentioned in most of the songs that I listened to and sang. I also thought about things that were going on while the songs were new and how the songs had helped me through some difficult times; times where my faith was tested.  I am grateful for the goodness of God. He has brought me through so many things...God is faithful.

Hebrews 12

1. Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay said every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 

2. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith: who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Remember

 This week I have been thinking about patterns and repetition as they relate to breakthrough and other aspects of life. God told me something about 20 years ago that he has continually repeated. I did not understand it at the time but over the years the statement he has been making has become clearer. I won't share what he said but I will share that it was a bit of an instruction. I also thought about things that have caused me to miss breakthroughs and blessings in the past and it tends to be one thing in particular. So as I wait for the manifestation of what God is doing I will be careful to remember instruction and I will also remember to not let old patterns cause me to forfeit what God has for me. Has God repeated something to you over and over? if so do not take it lightly. Is there an old pattern that you seem to get caught up in that affects your life negatively? Take a moment to identify those things and then pray and ask God to give you more insight on them...keep them in remembrance so that when they come up you will know how to proceed.

John 14:26

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?

 I was talking with my son earlier this week and I told him about how I could make myself dream about anything that I wanted to dream about when I was a child. I could even make myself dream in cartoons if I wanted to. Before I went to sleep I would just say to myself "I am going to dream about _____..." and I did. I could also change my dream if I was dreaming and I didn't like something about that dream. I lost that ability when I was around 7 years old.What changed? My innocence. As I got older my experiences and environment shifted my perception. The frontal cortex, the part of the brain that controls reasoning developed more and more as I got older and as it did my ability to reason and the way I saw the world changed. There are countless scriptures about being childlike in the Bible. What characteristics do children have that we lose as we get older? trust, faith, concern for others, love, not being aware of the differences between other people etc. There is so much that we can learn from children. Life can change you; it can make you cold, judgmental, selfish and it can do it slowly over time so that we don't notice the shifts. God tells us to renew our mind; to bring it back to an original condition of freshness and vigor..this will transform us; it will completely change our appearance or character causing us to become more like Jesus Christ. I am on a quest to regain those childlike qualities and I am going to have fun along the way by doing things that I enjoyed while I was a child like blowing bubbles, having dance parties, when it gets warmer walking barefoot etc. Will you join me?

Romans 12:2

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 

Mark 10:15 

Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

Matthew 18:

At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

A Sweet Smelling Savor

 The Lord has really been drawing me to him this week. I knew that this week I wouldn't simply be observing Shabbat and that he was literally calling me to "remember the Sabbath and keep it holy". I normally read the Bible and pray...I worship too, (although I could definitely do it more )but God was asking for something specific of me this week. On Saturday's I may read my bible, pray etc. but it has sort of become "my day". I watch what I want to watch, a movie or shows. I may drive by the water or whatever else I choose to do for the day. Today was different. I knew I needed to study to see what God was telling me and I knew that if I watched t.v. it should be a Christian movie. I started watching more wholesome tv a while ago, older shows like "Highway to Heaven", "Touched by an Angel" or the "Flying Nun" but I watch secular tv as well. The addition of wholesome shows alone has made a difference on days when my senses have been overloaded by worldly stimuli. On those days watching one of those shows is just what I need. They are entertaining with decent content; "good clean fun" as the older people use to say. Considering how hard my week was, surrendering control of my day and not #treating myself was a sacrifice but that is exactly what God wanted...a sacrifice. When we worship in the midst of challenge it produces a sweet smelling fragrance that ascends to the throne room of heaven. God sent confirmation today by way of an air freshener sent by a ministry I am connected with. The fragrance was so strong I smelled it through the envelope. I smelled it as soon as I opened the door to my P.O. Box. I was watching a recording of Chuck Pierce today and he said he heard God say "river bed" and that he was reading Joshua 3. In Joshua Chapter 3 the children of Israel cross over the Jordan as if it were dry land. The text says that the Jordan normally was overflowing during that time; the time of harvest. I looked up river beds on Youtube and I found a video where a river bed was bone dry and then suddenly it was overtaken by a rushing river. That reminded me of me at times; of times that I have felt dry and barren and then God called me into his presence and filled me again with his spirit causing the rivers of my spirit to live and move..."in him I live move and have my being". No matter what is going on around us or in our lives if we lift up our eyes, focus on the Lord, and worship he will come in and overtake us with the living, restoring, reviving waters of his spirit. Enjoy the REST of your day.

Jeremiah 17:

19 Thus said the Lord unto me; Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, whereby the kings of Judah come in, and by the which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem;

20 And say unto them, Hear ye the word of the Lord, ye kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that enter in by these gates:

21 Thus saith the Lord; Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem;

Psalm 24:

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

Joshua 3

13 And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the Lord, the Lordof all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap.

14 And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people;

15 And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)

16 That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.

17 And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan

John 7

37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Green Pastures

 Up until a few months ago I thought that what was growing in my yard was weeds. I like to mow and do the up keep of my yard myself, but I often got annoyed because what I once thought were weeds would spring up and make the yard look like it needed to be cut before it really did. One day my brother came over and I was complaining about the "weeds" in my yard and he said "that's grass seed". That blew my mind... immediately I thought of how my not recognizing what I had in my own front yard could be likened to so many other things, like: how people don't recognize the value of something or someone; how the thing (or person) you need or want is right in front of you and you don't recognize it (I had been contemplating buying grass seed);or how the grass may look greener on the other side but if you just cultivated what you had there would be no comparison. Welp, I will be taking the bagger off my mower and I look forward to greener days.

Psalm 23:2

He taketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leaders me beside the still waters.

Oh, the Glory of Your Presence

 

Yom Kippur (Wash Me Clean Allow Me In)

At the Cross

 

Hope in God

 

Praise God....This Battle is the Lord's #2020#Coronavirus#We Still Win!

2020... I could stop right there (but I won't). This has been the strangest time in my life. If someone would have told me I would not have believed them. Movie after movie about outbreaks and pandemics...we knew they were coming but somehow we still managed to convince ourselves that it wouldn't be in our lifetime. I have to pause and insert some humor here because it has been a heavy year...people are dying that have never died before! Sorry, I had to. I have lost family members, friends of friends etc. some from the virus, some from other illnesses, and some just left like they said within themselves "enough of this" and crossed on over into eternity. I thank God for his peace; the peace that surpasses understanding.  I thank him for the resilience that he placed down on the inside of us. Saved and unsaved alike have been functioning and carrying on; I thank God for that and I acknowledge his hand in it. I acknowledge that his peace and spirit is keeping us all. As we approach the end of 2020 my worship and praise is being renewed! I must praise him. I have reflected in the past on how miraculous life itself is. Everyday there is so much that could happen but God organizes the chaos of life and we live to see another day; thank you Lord. I thank God for my family, the other people in my life, I thank him for you. We have truly been hidden in him during this season and as the elders say "he has kept us from dangers seen and unseen". He has fought our battles and protected us...thank you Lord for keeping me; thank you Lord for keeping us. Today as I reflect on some of the things that have been going on I am grateful that God is... I came across something someone had written a while back that made me see Isaiah 6:1 differently. Isaiah 6 mentions the train of God; it says it fills the temple. The study stated that Kings of Old wore elaborate robes to signify their conquests and greatness. The longer the robe the more conquests they had. After every conquest the triumphant king would cut off a portion of the defeated king's robe and have it sewn to the train of his robe. Our God's train is so long that it fills the entire temple; aren't you glad he goes before us? Aren't you glad he fights our battles? 2021 is nearing, I am going to be a one woman cheer squad! Praising my savior as he leads us to victory.Won't you join me?

2 Chronicles 20:

1 It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.

2 Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi.

15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.

16 To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel.

17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you.

18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the Lord, worshipping the Lord.

19 And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on high.

20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.

21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever.

22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lordset ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.

Isaiah 6 

 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lordsitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.

3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.

The Good Shephard (Rest)

 

Be Blessed!

 

Finish Well!

 

Galations 5:7 

Ye did run well; who did hinder you that you should not obey the truth?

Rejection is a powerful spirit but the good news is God is more powerful. I have been in situations where I have known the truth but someone spoke something over me (against me) that bypassed my reasoning, bypassed things that God had spoken to me, bypassed things I knew, and connected to the stronghold of rejection. Rejection is something that has to be dealt with. You can be loved by The Savior of the world, The Creator of  All Things but still walk around in a state of defeat because rejection won't let you accept his love which is the very thing that will heal and deliver you. Rejection keeps reminding us that we are not worthy,  but the beauty is that no one is, but God loves us just the same. God loves us! we are accepted in the heavenlies; there is no greater honor. If you are dealing with rejection stop for a moment to pray; ask God to break the spirit of rejection off of you, ask him to to show you how it entered in and then renounce it in the name of Jesus; and decree that the door of rejection in your life is closed and the doors to God's love, acceptance and favor are open. Take another moment to think on ways God has shown you that he loves you personally. Whether it was through someone doing something  nice for you, an unexpected blessing, a word of encouragement etc...think and meditate on the love God has shown you and know that you are loved, you are accepted, and you are called.

I love you with the love of Christ. Amen.

Phillipians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Reign Jesus Reign

 

Great are God's Mercies and Faithfulness

God is so faithful and merciful even when we are going through things that are hard and painful he is always there. I can recount times where I was angry or upset and God caused me to look up and there was a rainbow or some other occurrence in nature that was so beautiful that it brought me to complete peace. I can recall going through something hard and mustering all of my energy to not cry or break down and then seeing something  funny and having to laugh (I love to laugh). Once my brother and I were coming from the hospital to see my dad and it wasn't looking good and I looked up and saw a church sign that said "Don't let Jesus catch you riding dirty" (I was a new secular song and that made it even funnier). I think we can all look over difficult times and see that God was there even if we didn't recognize his presence at the time. Jesus is present in every one of the circumstances and events that later become testimonies. Speaking of testimonies, have you ever heard a testimony that surprised you? Some church mothers give "testimonies" during the time to give testimonies that will have you putting your head down or finger up to walk to the restroom to keep from laughing out loud. I was visiting a church once and a church mother (the pastor's mother) got the mic and I was all set to hear about the goodness of God when she said "and that baby keeps crying because it don't  have on enough clothes and its cold"...she said some other things during her testimonial that I won't get into as well. I think we were all relieved when she passed the mic because we didn't know what was coming next. This wasn't intended to be a deep post. This is a lighthearted, go watch a comedy, tell a joke  or do something that makes you laugh kind of post because laughter doeth good like a medicine and the Joy of the Lord is our strength. God is good, and he is in control. There is so much hope for our future. God is faithful and no matter what is looks like he is able to accomplish his words and his promises. I love you with the love of Christ...Be Blessed.

Speak Lord

I had been hearing God tell me to make room for him. I assumed he meant a physical space but as time passed I understood that he was asking me to make time for him in my life. I tried to fast but couldn't and I heard God say "Is this not the fast that I have chosen?" I then asked, what do you want me to do?  What I got back was spending time with him daily (for at least an hour and a half). I am on day 5; I am suppose to do it for 21 days. I listen to Kay Nash sometimes; she is doing the same thing so it was comfirmation. Kay Nash is calling her 21 days the "Daniel Wait". I am finding that I am watching less television. Somewhere in the 21 days I will need to abstain from the tv. and maybe the phone too for 3 days. I wander what that will be like. I will order Christian fiction and nonfiction books to read along with the bible soon for entertainment if I need it so that I won't be tempted. As I draw near to God I want to hear him frequently and clearly.  Lord you have my attention...please speak Lord.

Think the best

Today I went to the drive through at my bank and there was a guy on a bike that rode up next to someone while they were completing a transaction. My immediate response was to be irritated. When I am at an ATM I have tunnel vision; I want to do whatever I am doing without interference and I want to get back to the safety of my car if I had to get out of the car to use the ATM  or quickly roll up the window when I am done if I drove up to the ATM. I noticed that the guy on the bike looked irritated too. I assumed he needed money and said to myself " I will get out a little extra to give him". My mom had driven and the guy looked inside the vehicle we were in and my mom asked him if he needed help. He said yes...he had a check and did not know how to deposit it. I told him when it was our time to use the ATM to just come up to the ATM and I would help him. He signed his check, I walked him through his deposit and I saw the frustration lift off of him. I was convicted immediately. I had assumed he wanted something, and I thought of how most people don't want to interact with others while at the ATM and how that situation could have went bad when he only needed help. I want to get to a place where prayer and checking with the holy spirit is an instinct. I don't even want to have a bad thought. I want to be able to seek God, ask him what I need to do, and then proceed. I want to overflow with the love of God and think the best until God tells me different.

Phillipians 4:8
Finally,  brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue  and if there is anything praiseworthy- meditate on these things.

Pass Over

Love and War

I shared before that I had started reading "The Art of War". I started and then I stopped; it is a slow read...the first 13 chapters are the text but then it goes on the history of the text and then on to the text with commentary. I stopped reading it. The book of the bible that I am reading now is the Song of Solomon. When I got the impression that I needed to read it (Song of Solomon) I thought it was odd given all that is going on but I obeyed. I then started feeling like I really needed to start back reading "The Art of War". I thought to myself what a peculiar combination but then I thought not really and I also reflected on the phrase "All is fair in love and war." I will continue to seek God about what he is saying but I know part of what he is saying is that he loves his bride and he longs to be with us, even in times of war. So fret not.

Romans 8:37-39
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Be Ready

Last night I dreamed I was on a new job (a good job) and I was not taking it serious. There was work that I was suppose to be doing that I wasn't doing. I even had a coffee mug full of alcohol that I was drinking. In the dream my boss asked me a few questions about how I was progressing. I gave him a superficial answer. He then told me he wanted to have dinner to talk more. I tried to make an excuse but the dream cut to our being together after work. I am the complete opposite on a job. If I find myself being even a little unprofessional I know its time for me to leave. In this dream I was starting off on the wrong foot. I believe my supervisor knew I wasn't doing what I was suppose to be doing and was making me aware that he knew and also letting me know he would be involved with my daily duties. I think this dream represents where we are right now. God has opened the door to new opportunities. Even though what is going on is going on now is not a time to be stagnant or to do the bare minimum. When God opens the door we need to be ready not trying to get ready  so we don't miss our moment of favor or visitation. I am reading the "Art of War" along with Ecclesiastes and doing some other things I am suppose to be doing; I was so tempted to just put it off, but now is not the time to put off what needs to be done. Now is the time to use the extra time we may find ourselves with wisely. God bless you.