A Loving Reminder: A Thorn

A Loving Reminder:

Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:7-9)

Lovelies, most times we go about our daily lives forgetting that we are always in the presence of God. We seek God the most during times of affliction. Like Paul's thorn, I have an emotional struggle, that is a bit like a 'thorn in my flesh'.  What it is exactly, is not important.  I believe a thorn can be anything, from remaining on a dead end job, a loss, loneliness, dissatisfaction, grief, an illness, a disability, etc. What is important is that mine serves as a reminder of the need of Christ in my life. I believe, God has allowed this struggle in my life because it keeps me at his feet. It keeps me humble, it keeps me in prayer, it keeps me seeking more of him. His grace is sufficient for me.

Father, I come before your throne as bold and humble, praying as King David in Psalm 119 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands. I know, Lord, that your laws are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant. Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight. (verses 67, 71, 73, 75-77) Father, I lift up any lovely that is in need of your grace, that if they are in the midst of affliction that they know that all they need is to seek you, for in our weakness your power is made strong. Forgive us for the times we go astray. I thank you for the mercy and the grace that you shed on us daily.  In your precious and powerful name, Jesus, Amen

A Loving Reminder: Always With You

A Loving Reminder: 

.....And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:20

What a beautiful sentiment. I love knowing that I am never alone. That in All things and at All times the Lord is with me. That when Im at my lowest He is there. That when I'm full of joy He is there. 

When I step out my home He kisses me with the sun, showers me with rain drops of love, and serenades me with the wind. He not only dwells in me but I find Him in all things He created.

Father, I come boldly and humbly before your throne. Thanking you for your unfailing love. Not only do You dwell in me but You surround me. Psalm 84:11 says that You are our sun and our shield. Thank You for shining down on us with your glory and thank you for shielding us with your grace. Father, I lift up every lovely who reads this, that if they are in need of Your touch that You meet them exactly where they are, kissing them with your rays of sunshine, showering them with your raindrops of love. Reminding them that You are with them. Let them hear You in the winds that blow, in the trees that sway and in the birds that sing. Jeremiah 29:13 says that if we seek You wholeheartedly we will find You. Soften the hearts that need to be soften again and give them spiritual eyes to see You in All things, so as they go along their days they are reminded that You are indeed present. Thank you Father for never leaving us. Even when we walk away, You are with us always to the end of age, relentlessly pursuing us. In Your precious name I pray, Jesus, Amen

                       

A Loving Reminder: God Speaks

A Loving Reminder: God Speaks

For God does speak—now one way, now another— though no one perceives it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they slumber in their beds, he may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings, to turn them from wrongdoing and keep them from pride, to preserve them from the pit, their lives from perishing by the sword. “Or someone may be chastened on a bed of pain with constant distress in their bones, so that their body finds food repulsive and their soul loathes the choicest meal. Their flesh wastes away to nothing, and their bones, once hidden, now stick out. They draw near to the pit, and their life to the messengers of death. Yet if there is an angel at their side, a messenger, one out of a thousand, sent to tell them how to be upright, and he is gracious to that person and says to God, ‘Spare them from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom for them— let their flesh be renewed like a child’s; let them be restored as in the days of their youth’— then that person can pray to God and find favor with him, they will see God’s face and shout for joy; he will restore them to full well-being. And they will go to others and say, ‘I have sinned, I have perverted what is right, but I did not get what I deserved. God has delivered me from going down to the pit, and I shall live to enjoy the light of life.’ “God does all these things to a person— twice, even three times— to turn them back from the pit, that the light of life may shine on them. (Job 33:14-30 NIV)

My lovelies, 

As I read this passage I couldn't help to think of the many times God has spoken to me, to remove me from my pit. He has warned me in dreams, He speaks to me through His Word, and I have even witness Him speak by restraining some to a bed of pain and there being a messenger whom mediates for them, and witnessing the restoration in these bodies. 

The Word says that we do not perceive when he speaks to us, however James 1:5 says "If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking." And Ephesians 1:17 says "asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God."

We do not perceive because we do not ask. I challenge you to ask God to speak to you. He has a lot to say. Some things will be hard to take in but all things will be spoken in Love. 

            

Father, I come boldly and humbly standing before you in your throne of grace, praising you and thanking you for the mercy that you bestow on us. Your Word says that You Speak. That you speak to us in dreams and that You speak warnings into our ears, but that we are unaware of it. Job 29:30-33 says that You reach out to us in different ways two even three times, to help us out of the pit. Thank you Father for Your everlasting love for us. Thank you that you never get tired of coming to our rescue. Thank you for being mindful of us. Father, I pray that you open our ears, that you give us spiritual eyes, and wisdom to discern what comes from you in our time of distress. In your Precious and Powerful name, Jesus!

A Loving Reminder: I am an heir!

A Loving Reminder: I am an heir!

So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. (Galatians 4:7)

Lovelies, living in this world is difficult when we lose sight of who's we are.  So often we forget that we are sons and daughters of a King, and we run to the comfort of the world. Binding ourselves to it. 

The moment we truly accept Christ, we became His children, and heirs to His Kingdom. But, instead of embracing the riches of this new life, the new things that God has for us, as  creations in him, we put back on the chains that God has removed. Habitually putting back on: 

the chains of sin,

the chains of depression, 

the chains of grief, 

the chains of fear, 

the chains of loneliness, 

the chains of anxiety/worry,

the chains of addiction.

Becoming weighted, and enslaved to the things we know, that eventually lead us to disappointments and into pits of despair. Blocking ourselves from receiving blessings.

'How often I forget that my new identity as an adopted daughter of the living God defines who I am. How often I still live as an orphan, comfortable with my old spoon and bowl and crib, even entrapped by them, not even wanting new ones. How often I forget that I am an heir, a forgiven, accepted, free, righteous heir because my Father, at the greatest cost, adopted me.' (100 Days of Hope Devotional by Hope International)

Let us remember that we are children of not just any King, but the King of Kings! Let us walk in the Victory of being heirs to His throne; the throne of the Great I Am! Let us walk in the freedom that has been granted through the shedding of the blood by our Redeemer. 

Father, I come boldly and humbly before your throne, praising you and thanking you for the redemption of our lives. Thanking you for the heavy ransom that was paid on our behalf. For the freedom gained that cost us nothing but came at a great cost to you. Forgive us Father that we often forget these things and we enslave our selves once again to things of this world. Help guide us, giving us wisdom and discernment so we do not lose our spiritual sight, our focus that we once were captives but we have been set free. That it is already done! 

Father  I pray for my lovelies, whom have forgotten their identity in you, and also for those walking around still in heavy chains, because they do not know that they have been set free.  

I pray Lord that You meet them exactly where they are reminding those that need reminding and revealing yourself to those that need a revelation. 

Thank you Father that I am your child, that I am heir to Your throne! I pray this in your precious and powerful name, Jesus, Amen! 

A Loving Reminder: Acts of Love

A Loving Reminder: 

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

My lovelies,

I have been blessed with lovelies that show me acts of love daily.  We send each other love notes full of God's promises, we have venting sessions, we pray for each-other and we also pray on behalf of others that we encounter in our daily journey. By these acts of love I am motivated to in-turn do the same for another, and it keeps me focused not on me, me, me, but on Him the Most High.

Let us be active in encouraging one another throughout the week. Send each other love notes.

Meet with a friend who is struggling. 

Extend yourself to a friend in need. 

Father, I come boldly and humbly before your throne, praising You for You are God alone! Thank you Heavenly Father, that you have appointed the right people to come into our lives at the right time. People who act out in love and compassion when needed. Father I thank you, because through the acts of love from my lovelies, you draw me and keep me close and focused on You. I pray Father that You will continue to use me to encourage others, that you continue to use me to point to You and only You. Father lift up motivators and encouragers in all my lovelies, because we need each-other. There will be times when one is weak and the other is strong. Give us words when words are needed, and prompt us into actions of love when actions are needed. Let every word and every deed stem from you and point right back to you. Thank you Father for giving us examples of Perfect Love and friendships. In Your precious name I pray, Jesus! Amen

A Loving Reminder: Seated in the heavenly realms

A Loving Reminder: 

For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:6 NLT)

Lovelies, so often we walk around, depleted, discouraged, and defeated, because of the weight of all that surrounds us in this world. 

Instead lets focus on the wonderful promises that are spoken over our lives. The promises that were left for us long ago to help us cope during our inhabitance in this place. 

The word says that we are seated and united with Christ in the heavenly realms. It is already done! Let us walk in this Victory! 

Father, I come boldly and humbly before Your presence, acknowledging and thanking You that You have given us life. That even when we were dead in our sin, You loved us so much and are merciful, transforming us, making us alive with Christ. I thank You for the grace you have extended us by saving us through our faith. I thank You for there is nothing that we can ever do to earn this gift. 

You have betrothal us. You have paid the price for our lives. You are the one who draws us out of isolation and loneliness by uniting us to You, Christ Jesus! Father, I lift up every lovely here that has lost focus of Your promises. That You lift the weight of the world off their shoulders, giving them spiritual eyes to see what lies ahead and surrounding them with Your loving Word filled with promises. 

In your precious and powerful name, Jesus, Amen!

A Loving Reminder: Waiting on God

A Loving Reminder: Waiting on God

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20)

“Beloved, our great and pressing need today is to give ourselves to waiting upon God, because waiting time is never wasted time.” - Ian Hamilton 

Father, I come boldly but humbly to Your throne. Thanking You Father for all You have done and all we have yet to see You do. You are our God who sees all, You are our God who provides for our every need. I lift up my lovelies whom are in the waiting for an answer from You, I lift up my lovelies that have presented their petitions to you. Father that You pour an overflow of grace and strength over my lovelies during their waiting period, for Your Word  in Isaiah 40:31 says, But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Thank you father, for your unfailing, everlasting love. In your precious and powerful name, Jesus, Amen! 

A Loving Reminder: Grace and Mercy

A Loving Reminder: Grace and Mercy

Then I will return to my place until they admit their guilt and turn to me. For as soon as trouble comes, they will earnestly search for me.” (Hosea 5:15)

My lovelies, I've been reading a study on the book of Hosea. A study on the disobedience and redemption of the people of Israel. It has been a little tough to swallow, convicting and bringing full awareness of how we grieve God. 

Hosea 5:15 penetrates my heart. I read it over and over again. The Lord says I will return to my place..... Until they admit their guilt..... For as soon as trouble comes.....they will earnestly search for me. 

Certainly I am no different than the people of Israel. Almost daily, I get consumed by the worldly things around me. Grieving God by desiring the things of the earth. Wanting more than that, that He has already given me. I have even walked away in pursuit of things that are not of God, and that is not in His will for my life. And as beautiful as certain things may seem, where God's will is not present, there is no peace. So we often find ourselves living in misery, in pain, in trouble, living the consequences of pursuing our own earthly agendas without the blessing from God. It is in these moments of pain that that we remember God and start calling out to him. 

The part of the verse that resonates in me is 'The Lord says I will return to my place..' I know what it feels like when God recedes, because of disobedience. He never left me, he remained present. But after warning me, He receded and allowed me to walk in my will. Walking against God's will is an uphill battle. And I battled alone. The entire time I knew in my spirit that He was present but He allowed me to stumble, fall and feel the heaviness of his absence, until I could no more. It was at that  point of hurt of being tired of going against God that I searched for Him and that I longed once again to be in His presence! 

How faithful and merciful is He, that he allows us to do what 'we' will after he tries to guide us and then waits patiently until we are ready to come to him, full of pain, anguish and full of regret, searching for him diligently. 

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. Psalm 107:1-9

Thank you Father, for I am redeemed! I know who's I am!  I wandered, I was unsettled but you gathered me. You relentlessly pursued me. You roared like a lion and back I was with trembling and fear, but in the hands of Unfailing Love! I lift up any lovely that may be walking on their own right now. I pray that they feel the heaviness of your absence as I did and run to You, searching for you diligently! I pray for true restoration where it is needed. I pray for a touch of your love where it is needed. I pray that you fill their mouths with a new song. Father I thank you because although you recede, you never leave. You are ever-present waiting to pick us up. Forgive us for grieving you.  In your precious name Jesus! Amen

A Loving Reminder: Consuming Fire

A Loving Reminder: Consuming Fire

For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. (Deuteronomy 4:24)

for our “God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:29)

My lovelies, I don't function well on very little sleep. I had to work late last night and had to be at work extremely early the next day. Before going to bed I remember asking God for supernatural strength to get me through the next day. 

How awesome is God that He cares about every detail in our lives.
You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? (Psalms 56:8)  He gently woke me up before the alarm went off, with a song in my heart. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God...(Psalms 40:3)

"There's nothing else in this world/ That lights me up like you do/ There is no one or anything/ That's of worth compared to you/

Chorus

Fire, fire burning/ Burn me out/

Fire, fire falling/ Consume me now/" 

Father, I thank you for You have consumed me! When I first wake You are my first thought, when I lay down You are my last thought! Forgive me for it has not always been like this. I need you to consume me, to burn me! I need to feel Your fire in my bones! I can not contain from singing your praises!! Your word says that You are a consuming fire, and a jealous God! Thank you for your relentless pursuit of me. Thank you that you lit me up this morning when I most needed it! I pray that you consume my lovelies, removing all that is not of you and replacing it with a fire that will burn in their hearts, in their bones and will reach out to others! Father take my life it is yours! In your precious and powerful name, Jesus, Amen!

But if I say I’ll never mention the Lord or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold it in! I can’t do it! (Jeremiah 20:9 )

'Burn Me Out' by Je'Kob  http://youtu.be/0nprDrdl0Jo