A Loving Reminder: True Friendship

A Loving Reminder:

Ointment and incense make the heart rejoice, likewise the sweetness of one’s friend from sincere counsel. Proverbs 27:9 

My lovelies,

We should choose our close friends wisely. I have a close friend whom I don't have to pretend with. We are as transparent with each other as we can be. We are kindred spirits. We always point to God, holding each other accountable, even when the truth stings. Proverbs 27:6 says Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy. Because she and I know each other well, we are able to pray for each other with true intention.

Our sisterhood blossomed during a very dark time in my life. She brought God's light and love with her. God used her to draw me back to him at a moment when I started walking away. She is a sister that was born for a time of adversity.

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. Proverbs 17:17

We all should have at least one friend whom we could be completely honest with, knowing that we will not be judged harshly, but instead have the Truth spoken to us lovingly. 

Father, I come before your throne with a grateful heart and full of praise. I thank you for the friend that You placed in my life, knowing that she will always point to you. I thank you that I have someone I can be fully transparent with knowing that she will not judge me, but lovingly speak Truth to me. Father, I pray that I too be that friend. Not only for her but for others as well. Father I ask that you appoint heavenly friendships for all of my lovelies. Friendships that are transparent and always speaking truth. Friendships that bring wise sincere counsel, but most important friendships that always point to you. In your precious and powerful name, Jesus, Amen! 

Seeds sown in good soil

A Loving reminder:

Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.” (Mark 4:18-20 NIV)

Lovelies, we are constantly surrounded by distractions in this world, quickly losing focus on the promises that are embedded in the Word of God. Instead we concentrate on all the issues that we are facing, putting all of our energy into making are problems bigger than the God we serve. We become distracted by what others have and questioning why we are not as blessed as 'they', losing sight of the blessings that have already been given to us. 

Focusing on these things, keeps us from living a purposeful life, and being fruitful. We Hear the Word of God but it doesn't apply to our lives. 

We cannot witness to someone who needs healing if we don't believe that there is healing for ourselves. Nor can we be a witness of God's sufficient grace  to someone who is less fortunate, if we don't believe it for ourselves and we constantly live desiring what other's have and always wanting more.

 

Father, I come boldly before your throne thanking you for the grace that covers my lovelies and myself. I pray father that we be more like the seeds that are sown on good soil, growing deep roots, during our trials, hearing Your Word and accepting it. I pray that we go forth, being examples of Your promises, and becoming walking testimonies, sowing seeds and speaking life into others, as we walk along in our lives. In your precious name, Jesus, Amen! 

A Loving Reminder: Resting on God's Promises

A Loving Reminder: 

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (2 Corinthians 1:20-22)

How beautiful is the Word of God. I love that this verse says 'for no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ.'  It doesn't say His promises are a maybe (uncertainty) but that they are "Yes" (definite) in Christ. 

Through Christ, God fulfilled the most important promises of all. The promise of a savior, the promise of salvation. Guaranteeing whats to come!  

Gods Word is full of promises to us. They are treasures, full of declarations that are infinitive. 

'I AM': Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me. (John 14:6)

'I Will': I will walk among you, and I will be your God and you will be my people. (Leviticus 26:12)

'So Have I': As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. (John 15:9)

Remind yourself who God is and what He promises you. 

Personally, I hold on to the promises behind His names. I rest knowing that He is who His Word says He is.

He is Yahweh Tsebaoth - Lord God of Host 1Samuel 17:45-46 

He fights for me!!

He is El Kanna - The Jealous One Exodus 34:14 

He relentlessly pursues me!!

He is Sar Shalom - Prince of Peace Isaiah 9:6

He covers me with His peace!!

He is Elohim - God Mighty Creator Genesis 2:4 

He made me wonderfully and with a purpose!!

He is Yahweh Roi- The Lord is my Sheperd  Psalm 23:1 

He brings me back everytime I wander!!

He is Yahweh Tsuri - The Lord My Rock Psalm 62:2 

He steadies me, I will not be shaken!!

He is El Roi - The God Who Sees Me Genesis 16:13

I cannot hide from him! He sees me in my strengths and He sees me in my weakness!!  

He is Yahweh Rophe - Our Lord who Heals Psalm 103:3 

Your my healer!!

He is Logos - The Word John 1:14

He stands behind his name!!

He is The Great I AM - Exodus 3:14

What is difficult for The Great I AM. He is everything,  in everything, at all times.. 

Father, 

I come boldly before you thanking you for who You are. You are everything to me! You are my maker, my healer, my protector, my strength, my peace. I thank you for the many promises you left behind for me. It is written that You are not a man that You should lie so, I choose to stand firm on your promises. I surrender myself completely to you knowing that you created me for Your purpose and that you know what's best for me, even if I don't always understand it. Always give my lovelies and I spiritual eyes to see beyond what is physically in front of us and to never lose focus of you and your promises. You remain the same yesterday, today and forever. Thank you Lord for you are good and your love endures forever and ever. In your precious name, Jesus, Amen

A Loving Reminder: Transformation

A Loving Reminder: 

They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they praised God because of me. (Galatians 1:23-24 NIV)

My lovelies,  I'm always filled with hope when I read about Saul's personal encounter with God. God met Saul right where he was. God encountered Saul, a Pharisee in the midst of his journey of Christian persecution, revealing Himself, and bringing forth transformation. We later come to know this man as the disciple Paul, whom God used to bring life through the sharing of the Gospel, to the very same people he was trying to destroy.

If God can transform, Saul, a persecutor of the Christian church, and use him for His glory, I imagine what more God can do in my life. But more so I think about what He can do for our unsaved loved ones. 

Father, I come boldly and humbly before your throne, praising You for You are the Great I AM, the God Almighty, Creator of All. I thank You for meeting us exactly where we are. You come to us in our deepest pits and You reveal yourself to us. Who can remain the same after having a personal encounter with You.  Thank you for the continual transformation that takes place in our lives, so we become more like You.  Father, create in us a clean heart, renewing a right spirit within us, and sustaining us, as is written in Psalm 51. 

Father I stand on behalf of our loved ones, placing them at your feet asking that You reveal yourself to them. Asking that You meet them exactly where they are, wherever that may be, giving them that personal encounter like that, that you gave Saul on the road to Damascus. Confronting them, and removing all doubt that You are who You say you are. 

Thank you for the hope that Your Word brings us. Nothing is impossible for You. Thank you Father, for all you have done and for all that we have yet to see you do. In your precious name, Jesus, Amen. 

A Loving Reminder: Bridegroom

I will betroth you to me forever;

I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. 

I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord. Hosea 2:19 - 20

My Lovelies, I love meditating on the names of God. One of my favorite names is Bridegroom. Often I like to envision The Lord stretching His hand out to me saying:

"Ali I am your Bridegroom, I have betrothal you. I have paid the price for your life. Ultimately I AM the one who full fills your need for intimacy. I AM the one who draws you out of isolation and loneliness by uniting myself to you."

What a beautiful thought, to know that we are God's Beloved, that we are his Bride. 

I wait eagerly for the day that God will rejoice over me as the bridegroom rejoices over his bride (Isaiah 62:5)

Father, I come boldly, but humbly with praises from within the deepest part of my soul thanking you for your unfailing love. Your word says that You will betroth me to you forever. That you will betroth me in love, compassion, and faithfulness. Thank you for your perfect love. There is no love like yours. I pray on behalf of myself and my lovelies that when we forget that we are loved that You remind us of your promises to us. That you remind us that we are your beloved and that you delight in us, and that you rejoice in singing over us. (Zephaniah 3:17)  May we keep our lamps full with oil as we await the arrival of you, our Bridegroom. In Your precious name Jesus, Amen.

My Beloved by Kari Jobe

http://youtu.be/2H9delPTKbI

A Loving Reminder: Because I Love You

A Loving Reminder: 

But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior. Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?” (Isaiah 43:1-2, 4, 10, 11, 13 NIV)

My, Lovelies, this past weekend, I was reminded of God's wonderful love for me, of His love for us.  How great it is to remember that: 

He has ransomed me. (Isaiah 43:1) 

He has called me by name. (Isaiah 43:1)

I am His. (Isaiah 43:1)

He walks with me through high waters. (Isaiah 43:2)

He walks with me through the fire. (Isaiah 43:2)

I am precious to Him. (Isaiah 43:4)

I am honored. (Isaiah 43:4)

I am loved. (Isaiah 43:4)

I am a witness. (Isaiah 43:10)

I am chosen. (Isaiah 43:10)

Apart from God there is no other. (Isaiah 43:11)

Nothing and no one can take me away from His hands (Isaiah 43:13)

God is so personal.  My favorite part of these verses is 'because I love you'.  Because I love you, says The Lord. Re-read the list of reminders again slowly, meditating on each one. Think about what each one means to you. 

Father, I come boldly before your throne full of praise and just grateful. 

You are perfect love. 

Thank you for the ransom you've paid. 

Thank you for calling me by name.

Thank you for reminding me that I am yours.

Thank you for walking with me through my trials and pains.

Thank you for reminding me that I am honored, precious, and loved. 

Like you there is no other. I pray on behalf of my lovelies, that they are daily reminded of your unfailing love. In your precious name, Jesus, Amen

A Loving Reminder: True Worship

A Loving Reminder:
Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. (John 12:3 NIV) 

My lovelies, when I reconciled with The Lord, I thought I knew what true worship meant. I thought that singing along with every song in church and attending every Sunday church service meant I was worshipping God.  

As the years went by, and God started to deal with me, in bringing forth transformation He started stripping things away. He has required me to surrender it all. Myself, my family, my time, my dreams, my hopes, all I aspired to be. I have struggled and still battle with things God ask of me.  I may not completely understand all He requires of me or even agree with them, but I will put all my trust in Him, and continue to offer my praises onto him. 

It is great to praise God when your prayers are answered. But how much more is your worship worth when you can still praise God in the midst of physical pain, in the midst of emotional pain, in the midst of loss, in the midst of trouble. 

Relative to the expensive perfume that Mary poured on the feet of Jesus, my worship to God is expensive, it's cost is measured in my submission to His Will. 

I worship because, I trust that He is the One True and Living God. I trust that He is my Kinsmen Redeemer, and I belong to Him. No matter the circumstances that surround me in the moment, worshipping Him is where I find my peace and my joy, even more so in my moments where I find myself in an emotional hole. 

Father, I come boldly and humbly pouring my praise and worship onto you like the bottle of Mary's expensive perfume. You and only you know the cost of my worship. I pray that the fragrance of my worship reaches you in the heavens. We look at the exterior but you look at the heart, you know what We have had to surrender, and the things we have yet to submit to you. Father I pray that you lead those who find themselves in any situation into an experience of true worship. That even in moments when they don't feel like worshipping because the weight is so heavy, that you strengthen them to lift up their hands in praise. Father I pray that they receive the healing, the joy and the peace that comes from true worship.  Let our praise, and worship along with our prayers be accepted as sweet-smelling incense in your presence, as it says in Psalm 141:2. In your precious name, Jesus, Amen.

Alabaster Box by Cece Winans

http://youtu.be/4Ls8ZfeBmHA

A Loving Reminder: The Intercessor

A Loving Reminder: 

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27 NIV)

Lovelies, sometimes there are moments where we find ourselves to be in such pain be it emotional or physical, be it for yourself or for a loved one, that you find it difficult to utter words into a prayer. 

I recall one time during an alter call being led by the spirit to pray for a sister I love dearly, whom I know was struggling. She was not at the alter for prayer, she was simply standing alone in the front row, and with the intentions of praying for her to encourage her, I gravitated towards her, but I could not utter a word I just groaned. God is amazing! The alter call was not in any way related to her struggle but she was certainly in need of prayer. The beauty of this all is that not a single word would came out my mouth, but I knew in my heart that God understood the groans. The Spirit stepped in immediately and interceded on her behalf according to God's will instead of me praying from my heart what I thought my sister needed.

 

Father, thank You for your word says that in our weakness your spirit intercedes for us through wordless groans. What a beautiful thought that in the very midst of our darkness You are there interceding for us. You know our needs better than we know them ourselves. I come on behalf of myself and your lovelies, asking that you reveal yourself to us in each of our situations, whatever they may be. Father that You search and know our hearts when we come to you so broken that we have no words to piece together into a prayer. Cover us from the crown of our heads to our toes, rushing to us and interceding for us according to Your Will over our lives. Your word says that you never leave us nor forsake us. Thank you for your unfailing love.

Thank you for being our provider in time of need.

Thank you for being our Intercessor, our one and only true mediator.

In your precious, name I pray this Jesus, Amen