A Loving Reminder: Everlasting Love

the Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel! Again you shall adorn yourself with tambourines and shall go forth in the dance of the merrymakers. (Jeremiah 31:3, 4 ESV)

As I read Jeremiah 31, I identify so well with the people of Israel. I can think of the many times that I have fallen away from God's will and grace, losing my joy, losing my song, broken. I think of how God always draws me back and rebuilds me. Giving me a new song and filling me with joy and His peace. The only peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). 

It is in these moments of brokenness, that we can truly understand God's Grace, His patience, His faithfulness, and His everlasting love. It is when you are most 'unloveable' that God extends Himself drawing you to Him so He can rebuild You. 

Father, I come boldly before Your presence, thanking You for your everlasting love. Your love never changes. (Psalms 136, 138:8). Your Word says that You will never leave us, nor forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5) Even when we are unlovable You still remain faithful, loving us, with an everlasting love. Over and over again You pull our souls back from certain destruction, so we will see the light. (Job 33:29-30msg) Thank You for your patience. Father, I lift up any lovely that is in need of Your love, that You meet them exactly where they are. That You fill them up with your everlasting love and put in them a new song. (Psalms 40:3) Let them bring forth dance full of praise for what You have done for them. Thank you for teaching us along the way, what 'True Love' is. Love builds and never destroys. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. (1 Corinthians 13:7 NLT) Help my lovelies and I to remain in 'Love' with one another. Always building each other up. I could certainly speak of Your love forever. (Psalms 89:1) In Your precious name, Jesus.

One Thing Remains - Jesus Culture

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A Loving Reminder: He Gathers Us

A Loving Reminder: 

They will follow the Lord; he will roar like a lion. When he roars, his children will come trembling from the west. Hosea 11:10

Lovelies, I have wandered in the desert, where the land is dry and I was left thirsty and hungry, never satisfied. One morning I heard the Lord roar at me. I heard him tell me about me. Tell me about my wrongs, and warning me about changes I had to make.  He didn't use anyone to speak into my life. It was a personal encounter during a fast I was doing in preparation for a testimony I was to share. With fear and trembling I understood everything He spoke into my spirit.

I am not perfect. I am work in progress, but I am certainly not where I use to be. When I thirst I know where to draw water.

When I'm hungry I know where to be fed. 

Father, I come before your throne with a grateful heart, for I am redeemed. I know who's I am.  I wandered, I was unsettled but you gathered me. You relentlessly pursue me. You roar like a lion and back I am with trembling and fear, but in the hands of Unfailing Love! This is my story Lord, you have brought me to a place where I'm settled. As David said in Psalm 40  I proclaim your saving acts....; I do not seal my lips, Lord, as you know. I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help. I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness... Father I pray that you gather those hearts that are wandering from east and west, from north and south. Hear their cries and show them your unfailing love. Do not withhold your mercy from your children, Lord; may your love and faithfulness always protect us. In Your precious name, Jesus, Amen

A Loving Reminder: Never Changing

A Loving Reminder: 
Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. Psalm 86:11 NIV

Lovelies, so often we depend on the ever changing things of this world. Things like jobs, money, the homes we live in, people we love and trust. Putting all of our energy into them, not thinking that from one morning to the next it can all change. We can lose our jobs, we can go bankrupt, our homes can be destroyed in an unexpected natural disaster, we can lose a loved one or become disappointed by someone we loved and trusted. 

One thing is for certain, our circumstances will change, people will walk in and out of our lives; But, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

Thus says the Lord : "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit." The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:5-9 ESV)

Father, I come boldly before your throne, grateful for your faithfulness, and your unfailing love. Forgive us for the many times we rely on the things of this world, and putting our trust in man, rather than relying and putting our trust on You and what your word promises us.  Teach us your way, teach us to rely on Your faithfulness. Lord give us an undivided heart. Father I pray for a heart that aligns with Your word and Your will for our lives. Your word says Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. (Psalm 20:7) Thank you Father for giving us something solid to stand on. I pray that You may dwell in our hearts through faith, so we grow rooted and grounded in your love.  In your precious name, I pray, Jesus, Amen.

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: 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: 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: 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: 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