Category: Relationship

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Break Every Chain

I just read and heard a young woman’s prayer at her high school graduation. It was a prayer of power for her fellow students, faculty, parents and friends.

It was a prayer of power for their futures, breaking addiction, depression, oppression, and setting them on a path of knowing God deeply and walking in His presence. It is a prayer that I said a heartfelt AMEN to, praying those words with her over my family, friends and co-workers.

It was the words of Jesus, words that are filled with truth and power. Words that bring about that change we were talking about yesterday.

Jesus knew the power of God’s word. He returned the from desert where He had been tempted by Satan. Satan tempted Him with power, possessions and position. Jesus answered every temptation with “It is written”.

“ Jesus traveled to Nazareth, the town where he grew up. On the Sabbath day he went to the synagogue as he always did. He stood up to read. 17 The book of Isaiah the prophet was given to him. He opened the book and found the place where this is written:

18 ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me. He has chosen me to tell good news to the poor.
He sent me to tell prisoners that they are free and to tell the blind that they can see again.
He sent me to free those who have been treated badly 19 and to announce that the time has come for the Lord to show his kindness.‘

20 Jesus closed the book, gave it back to the helper, and sat down. As everyone in the synagogue watched him closely, 21 he began to speak to them. He said, “While you heard me reading these words just now, they were coming true!” Luke 4:16-21 ERV

Jesus brought that same power that He had used to defeat Satan to the people in the synagogue. “While you heard me reading these words just now, they were coming true”!

While you read these words, this very minute, they are coming true for you! Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. The words He spoke to them, He also speaks over us. The freedom and the power that infused the word of God then is the same for today.

“So if the Son makes you free, you are really free.” John 8:36 ERV

“God made us free from the power of darkness. And he brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son.” Colossians 1:13 ERV

There’s a song that is filling my heart as I finish this writing. It is my prayer for you. “I Speak Jesus”

“I just wanna speak the name of Jesus
Over every heart and every mind
‘Cause I know there is peace within Your presence
I speak Jesus

I just wanna speak the name of Jesus
‘Til every dark addiction starts to break
Declaring there is hope and there is freedom
I speak Jesus

‘Cause Your name is power
Your name is healing
Your name is life
Break every stronghold
Shine through the shadows
Burn like a fire”

I tell you today that Jesus paid the price and broke the chains that imprisoned you!

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Mighty to Change

Zacchaeus was a wee little man and a wee little man was he. He climbed up in a sycamore tree for the Lord he wanted to see.

That’s the start of a children’s action song that we sang when I was a little girl in Sunday School. It started a train of thoughts this morning about God’s ability to bring about mighty changes in our lives.

“The Changed Life of Zaccheus

19 Jesus went on to the city of Jericho and was passing through it. 2 There was a rich man named Zaccheus. He was a leader of those who gathered taxes. 3 Zaccheus wanted to see Jesus but he could not because so many people were there and he was a short man. 4 He ran ahead and got up into a sycamore tree to see Him. Jesus was going by that way.

5 When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw Zaccheus. He said, “Zaccheus, come down at once. I must stay in your house today.” 6 At once he came down and was glad to have Jesus come to his house. 7 When the people saw it, they began to complain among themselves. They said, “He is going to stay with a man who is known to be a sinner.”

8 Zaccheus stood up and said to the Lord, “Lord, see! Half of what I own I will give to poor people. And if I have taken money from anyone in a wrong way, I will pay him back four times as much.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Today, a person has been saved in this house. This man is a Jew also. 10 For the Son of Man came to look for and to save from the punishment of sin those who are lost.” Luke 19:1-9 NLV

Zacchaeus had heard about Jesus – everyone had but he hadn’t seen Him. He was curious, he wanted to see what this teacher and miracle worker looked like. I don’t think he went thinking that Jesus would change his life. The woman with the issue of blood did that; she knew she needed to touch Jesus to receive her healing. The man with the daughter on the verge of death knew he needed to get Jesus to come to his house and touch his daughter or she would die. But Zacchaeus just wanted to see Jesus, who was this man?

However, being face-to-face with Jesus, eating with Him, talking with Him effected a marvelous change. A once greedy and dishonest man went through a complete metamorphosis in one afternoon.

Jesus didn’t demand that Zaccheus give back money he had taken wrongfully. We don’t have any evidence that Jesus even mentioned his shady business dealings. Yet, it happened.

“For if a man belongs to Christ, he is a new person. The old life is gone. New life has begun.” II Corinthians 5:17 NLV

Belonging to Christ brings change. Change in our attitudes, change in our perspective, change in our character and in our lifestyle. Greed is replaced by gratitude, fear gives place to faith. Kindness occupies the space that cruelty had dominated. Love lives where self-centeredness stayed.

Like a caterpillar our lives are transformed by the power of God’s love!

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A Word for the Wise

This morning, I was reading in I Kings. The book begins like this, “ King David was now an old man”.

David knows his life is ending. He has a son who wants to steal the throne from his brother Solomon. David’s advisors tell him what is being planned and David thwarts that plan by having Solomon immediately anointed king.

What a way to live your final days? David needed to prepare his son for life as the ruler of Israel. He gave Solomon this instruction.

“My son, I will soon die, as everyone must. But I want you to be strong and brave. 3 Do what the Lord your God commands and follow his teachings. Obey everything written in the Law of Moses. Then you will be a success, no matter what you do or where you go. 4 You and your descendants must always faithfully obey the Lord. If you do, he will keep the solemn promise he made to me that someone from our family will always be king of Israel.” I Kings 2:2-4 CEV

Do these words sound familiar? They did to me.

The Lord gave these words to Joshua many years before this.

“Long ago I promised the ancestors of Israel that I would give this land to their descendants. So be strong and brave! Be careful to do everything my servant Moses taught you. Never stop reading The Book of the Law he gave you. Day and night you must think about what it says. If you obey it completely, you and Israel will be able to take this land. 9 I’ve commanded you to” be strong and brave. Don’t ever be afraid or discouraged! I am the Lord your God, and I will be there to help you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:7-9 CEV

Joshua led the Jewish people as the conquered the Promised Land. David ruled the nation of Israel and made it a great nation that honored and served the Lord. Now Solomon was given the place of leadership – a passing of the torch or the mantle of leadership.

A few days back I showed you Solomon’s prayer when his father died. He asked for wisdom to be a good leader and the Lord not only blessed him with wisdom but also with great favor and wealth.

Now, look at the words of wisdom Solomon gives in the first few chapters of Proverbs.

“My son, do not forget my teaching. Let your heart keep my words. 2 For they will add to you many days and years of life and peace. 3 Do not let kindness and truth leave you. Tie them around your neck. Write them upon your heart. 4 So you will find favor and good understanding in the eyes of God and man. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not trust in your own understanding. 6 Agree with Him in all your ways, and He will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord and turn away from what is sinful. 8 It will be healing to your body and medicine to your bones.” Proverbs 3:1-8 NLV

Why read the Bible? Why study God’s word?

I know of no other place to find true wisdom, for these are the words of life!

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Make A List

I sit here thinking about eternity…eternity! That’s a very long time, I said to myself with a smile.

But what I thought about the most was those who will be in the Father’s eternal heaven. Think about this for a moment. Make a list of twenty people who you would want to join you on an island retreat – not like survivor – but a nice retreat. There would be no TV, internet or computers. Just good old-fashioned conversation and friendship. Being with them for a week or two is one thing but what about eternity.

Now think about God and the fact that He has invited us to spend eternity with Him. (Let that sink in.)

Eternity.

His perfect love – mercy – grace, perfect God invited us to live in His presence for eternity.

He made His list and it included all of our names. We’ve been invited but sadly, not everyone will accept His invitation. Some will reject His invitation, but He has made it open ended.

“God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.” John 3:16 CEV

“Christ is the sacrifice that takes away our sins and the sins of all the world’s people.” I John 2:2 CEV

King David thought about this when he wrote:

“ You are making a table of food ready for me in front of those who hate me. You have poured oil on my head. I have everything I need. 6 For sure, You will give me goodness and loving-kindness all the days of my life. Then I will live with You in Your house forever.” Psalm 23:5-6 NLV

Jesus said to the thief who was on the cross next to His:

“Jesus said to him, “For sure, I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:43 NLV

God the Father made His list of those He would like to spend eternity with and all of our names were on it.

“For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.” Romans 8:29-30 NLT

“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.” Ephesians 1:4-6 NLT

Some of you who are reading this I have never met before, but I am excited to think that I will get to spend time in eternity getting to know you.

I’m so glad the Father put us on His list!

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Fenced In

Last night was another one of those times when I tried to sleep but got up in the wee hours to pray.

Praying over family, friends and life’s situations.

I’m needing answers to some questions that are past my knowledge. I don’t want to be held back because of my ignorance so I got up, seeking the Father and His wisdom.

One thing that has been proven over the years, not just of my lifetime but of time itself, is God is faithful and His word is true. When He tells us to ask for wisdom and He will give it liberally, He does! When He says ask and it shall be given, seek and you will find, knock and the door will open, you will and it does!

When we call – He answers!

“Moreover, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the second time, while he was still shut up in the court of the guard, saying, 2 Thus says the Lord Who made [the earth], the Lord Who formed it to establish it—the Lord is His name: 3 Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know (do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand).” Jeremiah 33:1-3 AMP

When it seems like we are fenced in, in the prison of our circumstances or held back by our limited knowledge, He reminds us of who He is, His power and His willingness to help.

Call on Me and I WILL answer and I’ll show you the things that were hidden, the things that you don’t recognize or understand. CALL!

And after we call “Be still and know that I am God.”

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! 11 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.” Psalm 46:10-11 NKJV

The wonderful work of the Holy Spirit is to teach.

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:26-27 NKJV

As we ask for wisdom, we wait for the answers. The key is to wait in peace and not be afraid. God’s plan for us is good and He is faithful!

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Joy Every Morning

Listening to the birds singing this morning – it’s a beautiful song. The sparrows, the finches, the dove and the quail; they are all singing praises!

They know that their Creator has supplied their needs. Dave and I do our part in scattering seed every morning and evening. They rejoice as they meet the day.

“I tell you not to worry about your life. Don’t worry about having something to eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food or clothing? 26 Look at the birds in the sky! They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren’t you worth more than birds?

27 Can worry make you live longer? 28 Why worry about clothes? Look how the wild flowers grow. They don’t work hard to make their clothes. 29 But I tell you that Solomon with all his wealth[b] wasn’t as well clothed as one of them. 30 God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow. He will surely do even more for you! Why do you have such little faith?

31 Don’t worry and ask yourselves, “Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?” 32 Only people who don’t know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows that you need all of these. 33 But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.” Matthew 6:25-31 CEV

Not one of the birds woke on the tree branch this morning and said “I’m just going to stay in bed, I can’t face the day! I don’t know what I’m going to do about the mortgage on this nest, these eggs are going to hatch soon and it’s another mouth to feed and there just might not be enough bugs or seeds. I’m just going to pull a twig or a leaf over my head and stay here. I don’t have the energy or the courage to face another day.”

No, they get up singing! The break of day tells them this is another day to sing. A day to see God’s provision, a day of promise!

When I was a little girl we sang a chorus in Sunday School:

The birds upon the tree top sing their song,

The angels chant their chorus all day long.

The flowers in the garden blend their hue

So why shouldn’t I, why shouldn’t you Praise Him too?

This morning – get up with a song in your heart and praise on your lips – the Father loves you and He will provide!

Now get out there and find some seeds. 🙂

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Jesus Cares

Mother’s Day for some is not a happy day.

There are those of you who have recently experienced the death of a child either as an unborn (stillborn, miscarriage), infant or even an adult. You’re not having a good day but instead you want to stay in bed with your head under the covers and avoid all who are celebrating today.

And some of you have been told you will never have children and your heart is screaming “I’m broken…I ache…I may never recover and I can’t go on pretending everything’s ok.”

Then ladies, some of you may be dealing with abortion or giving a child up for adoption. While others may be facing life as a single parent because you’ve been abandoned. Some have a special needs child that you don’t feel you know how to adequately care for.

The last group of ladies I want to include here are those of you who are estranged from your children, those whose children have left, and you have no idea where they are or they are living a lifestyle that is far from you and even farther from the Lord. They may be in an addictive lifestyle, or they may be in prison.

Today is not a good day for you to say the least. You hurt and the thought of facing the day, a day filled with cards and flowers, cheery greetings and gifts is just unbearable.

Because I’m writing this too you, you can know that your Heavenly Father knows your heart, He knows your pain. There are two verses that immediately came to mind

” If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. 29 Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest.” Matthew 11:28-29 CEV

“for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!] 6 So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5b-6 AMP

Your Father knows your heart and how it’s breaking, He is here to heal it and to give you comfort. You are not alone!

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Love is Spelled P-R-A-Y-E-R

With Mother’s Day almost here I imagine most of us are thinking of our mothers and our children. We’re remembering times with both. The joy and laughter, the heartache and the sadness. Some have lost children and others have lost their mothers. The memories come rolling in like a flood.

Most of us didn’t have a manual on how to raise loving, well-adjusted children but we did have prayer, the Word of God and advice from other loving mothers. We weren’t perfect – oh, far from it! But we loved!

This picture is my Mom in the days before disposal diapers. She was changing a diaper and realized she had pinned it to her finger and not the cloth. This picture always makes me smile and remember how loving she was.

At times our hearts ached with an indescribable pain but most of the time we were kissing little knees and elbows, making cookies for classroom parties, taking long walks and listening to dreams and ambitions.

And praying! Praying that our children would grow to love the Lord; praying that they would find love and praying that they would be protected from the cruelties of life.

Hannah, Samuel’s mother, is an example to us all. She prayed desperately for a child and then she gave her son to the Lord for His service.

“When the boy was old enough to eat solid food, Hannah took him to the Lord’s house at Shiloh. She also took a bull that was three years old, 20 pounds of flour, and a bottle of wine.

25 They went before the Lord. Elkanah killed the bull as a sacrifice to the Lord as he usually did. Then Hannah gave the boy to Eli. 26 She said to him, ‘Pardon me, sir. I am the same woman who stood near you praying to the Lord. I promise that I am telling the truth. 27 I prayed for this child, and the Lord answered my prayer. He gave me this child. 28 And now I give this child to the Lord. He will serve the Lord all his life.’ Then Hannah left the boy there and worshiped the Lord.” I Samuel 1:24-28 ERV

And she left the boy there…this morning those of us with children need to make that decision, whether they are small or grown, we need to take them to the Father and leave them there. At His throne, in His care, is the safest place we can leave them and then we must worship the Lord because He is able to keep them!

Thank you Father for the wonderful life of being a mother!

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I’ve Got You!

Have you ever helped teach your children or grandchildren to swim? Some kids just take to the water like they are part fish, but others are reluctant, even scared, and need to be reassured, coaxed and supported in their endeavors.

The scene that came to mind as I was reading in Isaiah this morning was one such experience a few years ago in our oldest daughter’s swimming pool.

Our youngest grandson was just learning to swim. His auntie was coaching and coaxing him. He was scared and not enjoying himself at all. That’s when auntie said this, “I have never let anything hurt you and I never will. You can trust me. I won’t let you go. Take my hand.”

“Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will give you strength, and for sure I will help you. Yes, I will hold you up with My right hand that is right and good.” Isaiah 41:10 NLV

“Don’t be afraid. I am with you. Don’t tremble with fear. I am your God. I will make you strong, as I protect you with my arm and give you victories.” Isaiah 41:10 CEV

How often are we like my little grandson, afraid and needing to be supported? Things we don’t understand or situations we can’t control bring a rush of fear. That’s when we hear the Lord say, “I will hold you up, I will help you, don’t be afraid, I am with you”.

“The Lord will hold your hand, and if you stumble, you still won’t fall. 25 As long as I can remember, good people have never been left helpless, and their children have never gone begging for food.” Psalm 37:24-25 CEV

When I was little, I loved holding my parents’ hand. It gave me such a feeling of security. When I was in high school my mother and I would go shopping and I would hold her hand, it was a sign of affection. When Dave & I started dating we always held hands, we still do, it was a sign of our commitment and love.

Our heavenly Father desires to hold our hand. It’s for our protection and a sign of His affection. Reach out for His hand today – you’ll hear Him say, “I’ve got you”!

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Level the Playing Field

Have you heard the expression, level the playing field?

It comes from early days of sports when a rugby or soccer field was out-of-level, giving one team or the other a distinct advantage. Now days, it has come to mean fairness or an equal chance to succeed.

The great leveler is our heavenly Father.

“All of you who have been baptized to show you belong to Christ have become like Christ. 28 God does not see you as a Jew or as a Greek. He does not see you as a servant or as a person free to work. He does not see you as a man or as a woman. You are all one in Christ. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you have become the true children of Abraham. What God promised to him is now yours.” Galatians 3:27-28 NLV

We have been accepted! No prejudice, just accepted!

“There is only one God, and he accepts Gentiles as well as Jews, simply because of their faith. ” Romans 3:30 CEV

When Jesus said “I am the way, the truth and the life” he made that way open to all who believe.

Education, wealth, social standing, race, religion and gender are not issues. The playing field is leveled, we are all invited to come.

“Money paid to workers isn’t a gift. It is something they earn by working. 5 But you cannot make God accept you because of something you do. God accepts sinners only because they have faith in him. 6 In the Scriptures David talks about the blessings that come to people who are acceptable to God, even though they don’t do anything to deserve these blessings. David says,

7 ‘God blesses people whose sins are forgiven and whose evil deeds are forgotten. 8 The Lord blesses people whose sins are erased from his book.’” Romans 4:4-8 CEV

When we come to God, our Father, in faith we are accepted into His family. We all receive the same unconditional love, amazing grace and the forgiveness of our sins.

What a blessing!

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