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

http://youtu.be/E3Rv9P92ebU

A Loving Reminder:

The heavens declare the glory of God;  the skies proclaim the work of his hands.  (Psalm 19:1 NIV)

This past week my family and I had the pleasure of visiting with friends on the Island of Anguilla in the British West Indies. Our first evening there we had dinner at Meads Bay Beach. As we watched the sunset my little girl turned and said to me, 'mommy look God painted the sky'.  She then got closer to the water and sat on the sand taking it all in. 

Yes, the skies proclaim the work of his hands, God painted the sky. It was 

breath-taking. How wonderful it would be if we could all have some quiet time, sit, meditate, and see God's glory with child like eyes. 

Father, thank you for allowing me to see the work of your hands through the eyes of my daughter. I pray that you give us all child-like eyes so we can see your glory in the things we take for granted daily. Let us lose focus of our every day hassles, even if just for a few minutes and indulge in the works of your hands, that surround us daily. May we find time to take in a sunrise or a sunset. Let the heavens declare Your glory and proclaim the work of Your hands. In your precious name, Jesus 

A Loving Reminder: Remembrance

A Loving reminder: 

Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does. (1 Chronicles 16:24 NLT)

It was there at Gilgal that Joshua piled up the twelve stones taken from the Jordan River. Then Joshua said to the Israelites, “In the future your children will ask, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Then you can tell them, ‘This is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ (Joshua 4:20-22 NLT)

I had a beautiful sister in Christ whom encouraged me to journal my prayer request and the answers to my prayers. I love to document the awesome things I've witness God do in my life. I like to call them my 'twelve stones'. In times of hurt, grief, and waiting, I have my 'twelve stones' to remind myself of God's Faithfulness. 

Unfortunately we quickly can forget the things that God has done in our lives. I confess that this past weekend I found myself in a moment of hurt, of waiting, of grieving, of fear and I had to be reminded of God's hand over myself and my family.  

Instead of focusing on the pain in the hurt, the anxiety in the waiting, the struggle in the grief, focusing on the things God has already done brings peace. 

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (Romans 8:28 NLT)

Thank you Father for your faithfulness!! I fail you daily but you never fail me! I choose to remember all the wonderful things you have already done for me and if you choose to do no more, you would have already done enough! I lift up any of my lovelies that are struggling. Father remind them of your faithfulness over their lives. Remind them how you delivered them from different situations.  Give them spiritual eyes to see that what they otherwise cannot see. You are still seated in the throne and in full control. We are limited but You are limitless. Nothing is impossible for You. In Your powerful name, Jesus, Amen! 

A Loving Reminder: Always on His Mind

A Loving Reminder: 

I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me! (Psalms 139:7, 17-18)

Lovelies, one of my favorite Psalm's is 139. It reminds me that I am always on my Father's mind, and that no one knows me better than He that created me. In life we sometimes connect with people in such a way that sometimes words need not be spoken, but no one knows you better than your maker. He examines our soul. Our lives are written in His book. Nothing can happen to us, without Him knowing about it. This includes our grievances and our joys. 

If possible, take time today and read Psalm 139 ( http://bible.us/116/psa.139.1.nlt ) and reflect on your connection with God. Indulge in the facts that:

He knows everything about you.

He knows every thought even when we stray from Him. 

He is with you every waking moment. 

He goes before you and behind you. 

There isn't a place you can run to hide from Him. 

He guides you.

He supports you with His strength. 

He made you wonderfully complex!

And His thoughts of you are like the sand and cannot be numbered! 

I don't know about you but His thoughts about me get me excited!

Father, I come boldly before your throne full of praise. I thank you for You know us well. You knew us in our mother's womb. It was in that place where You created us. 

There is not a thought or a word that we speak forth that you didn't already know. You know our success and our failures, our joys and our grievances. Thank you Father that we cannot escape you. That in All things (not just some) and in all places we are in your presence. Father continue to examine our hearts, to guide us and strengthen us. In your precious name, Jesus, Amen!

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: God goes before us

A Loving Reminder: 

I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. (Isaiah 45:2 NIV)

What a beautiful reminder to know that when you walk in the will of God, He makes a way where it sometimes seems impossible. 

In life we face many mountains. 

Mountains of financial difficulties.

Mountains of loss.

Mountains of pain.

Mountains of uncertainty.

Mountains of change.

Mountains of worries.

We see the mountains ahead of us and we become overwhelmed with anxiety and concern on how we will get over them.  

But God says  'I will go before you and will level the mountains'.

He will make a way, a path for you to get through. 

But God says 'I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron'. He will make doors open for you to get through. 

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV)

Father, I come before You with a grateful heart, knowing that in all walks of life, as long as I remain in Your will and not mine, You go ahead of me. Father I lift up those lovelies to you that may be facing mountains today. I pray that You give them spiritual eyes, revealing to them how big YOU are. Showing them You are bigger than any mountain they can ever face. That You have gone ahead of them paving a way for them to get through. Your Word says that You will go before us and with us and that You will never leave us or forsake us. Let my lovelies choose to stand on the promises You have laid before us, in Your Word. Father fill them with a peace that goes beyond their understanding. I pray this in Your precious and powerful name, Jesus, Amen!

A Loving Reminder: Stand Guard

A Loving Reminder: 

But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat. Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” (Nehemiah 4:9, 13, 14 NIV)

I recall having a conversation with a loving sister in Christ about how hard life is. One thing she said still resonates in me. She said "Life is hard, but life without God is harder". I think often how much I run in prayer to God for refuge throughout my day, for myself and for others, and then I started to think of those who don't truly know, understand, or believe in the power of the one who created them. The power of the awesome God who fights for us and our homes. 

Lovelies, one thing is for certain, threats will come. They come in all shapes and forms, and sometimes they come disguised. We must remain united and diligent about being on guard daily through prayer and intersession, to meet the threats that come to us daily. 

But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man." (Luke 21:36 ESV)

Father, thank you for the reminder that you are the Great and Awesome God that fights for us and our families. I ask that you give us the strength and stamina to be on guard day and night in prayer, not only for ourselves but for each other. Let us meditate on your promises from morning to night, that when the heaviness of the world falls on our shoulders that we be able to withstand it through your grace. In your precious name, Jesus, Amen!