Welcome

Welcome to my blog. Here I will share with you some treasures that God gives me during my morning prayer times. I hope it speaks to your heart and feeds your soul.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Compassion

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Matthew 14:14

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Matthew 9:36

who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
2 Corinthians 1:4

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Colossians 3:12

Years ago, I remember crying out to God and asking him to rescue me from the agony that I was going through. He said to me, "Would you have this, or would you have compassion?"

Of course, I answered in the way that I knew he wanted, "I would have compassion." So, gradually, I have been gaining compassion. I am a slow learner, but thankfully God is a good teacher. Did you notice that in 2 Corinthians it says, "all our troubles"? That means we will have troubles. It is inevitable. The good news is that God has compassion on us. He wants to comfort us. As we receive his compassion and comfort we begin to have compassion for others.

Yesterday, I started to realize that I really am getting compassionate. I told you I am a slow learner. I looked at a woman and started to criticize her in my heart. Then I remembered how painful it is to be stuck in circumstances like hers and I began to pray for her. God truly gave me compassion. I guess I did have to choose. But baby, let me tell you, when you have agonized over a trouble in your own life, it is way easier to see the agony of others and have compassion on them.

That was when I remembered my prayer long ago, "I would have compassion."

Thank you God for your compassion and comfort. Open our hearts to receive even more from you and to choose compassion for others.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Have Faith

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:10

God is asking us to partner with him and choose faith. He wants us to believe what he has said, even if we can't see any evidence of it. He has an important job to accomplish and it requires the faith of the church. We are to believe with him. This will birth on earth what God has already begun in heaven.

Read his word. Learn who he really is and who you really are in him. Declare this. Believe it. Let this become your reality. If he is speaking to you in any way, listen. Write it down. Declare it to be true. This will change your life forever. You are a winner.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

We Will Win The Battle

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 brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes." Nehemiah 4:14

So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God. Nehemiah 6:14-15

At this time, my husband and I are reading the book of Nehemiah together. It is really speaking to us about victory in God. Nehemiah was sent by God to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. There was a lot of opposition and the enemy used lot's of tactics, especially intimidation. Nehemiah led the people to hope in God. They did have to post guards and they did have to work with weapons in their hands, but God gave them the victory.

It seems like there is always some sort of battle going on in our lives. The enemy wants us to look at him and be afraid. God is asking us to turn from the intimidation of the enemy. We are also to turn from the supposed evidence that says that we will fail. If God is for us, who can be against us. We are victorious. We will win this battle.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Fast

and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Luke 2:37

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

"Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish." Esther 4:16

There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. Ezra 8:21

"This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer." Mark 9:29

When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:16-18

So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. Daniel 9:3

Friday, March 25, 2011

Give Thanks With a Grateful Heart

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Romans 12:15

give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name Psalm 100:4

I had a nice conversation with my daughter and she gave me two more ways to practice being thankful. The first is, every time you see someone that has something that you wish you had, thank God for how he has blessed them. I love this, because my natural inclination is to either be jealous or be hard on myself for not being able to do what they can do. I have found this so freeing and I am enjoying the people around me more than ever.

The other exercise is to start noticing everything that you like and then saying, "I like that, I like that." You will find yourself being more and more aware of what you do like and less and less aware of what you don't like.

I have been working on these things and spreading the word about this great idea. It is so fun to choose joy and to help others do the same. This morning at work, it was like having a little joy party.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Walk In The Light

Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD. Psalm 89:5

Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD.
Isaiah 2:5

Walk in the light while you can,so the darkness will not overtake you. ... Walk while you have light so that darkness won't defeat you. ... John 12:35

Christ has risen! He has defeated the darkness. He has taken our shame and given us his righteousness. The enemy no longer has power over us, yet many Christians walk in such defeat. I am encouraging you today to choose to fix your eyes on Jesus and dwell in the light that he is providing for us. Yes, there is darkness, but we can wake up and live in the light. Declare this out loud for your own sake and for the sake of the world, "I will walk in the light of the Lord." This declaration is powerful.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Shout For Joy

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 100

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Strength For The Journey

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5

Do your own work well, and then you will have something to be proud of. But don't compare yourself with others. We each must carry our own load.
Galatians 6:4-5

This morning I said to God, "I don't know how to live in the circumstances that I am in."

He responded, "That's, O.K. That is what I am teaching you right now."

People around me look so strong, capable and wise. This has been intimidating me. God said to me that I don't have to prove anything to them or even myself. If I am weak, then I need to cry out to God. The journey of life is difficult. He is our strength. He is our wisdom.

Monday, March 21, 2011

You Will Not Be Burned

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."

Isaiah 43:1-2

I am so glad to be in the loving presence of the Majestic God. "In his presence there is fullness of joy." I flourish in God's presence. I am free to be me. I don't have to measure up to anyone's expectations. That is such a relief. If only I could not be so intimidated by man's opinion, including my own.

The scripture talks about going through the fire and not being burned. I keep getting burned. Then I have to go to God and get healed again. I want to walk through the fire of man's opinion of me and attitude towards me in God's love and approval. Here I am safe. Here I will not be burned.

Friday, March 18, 2011

We've Got The Power

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. Romans 8:11

I sat here worshiping, trying to focus, when my mind, emotions and body kept trying to run off in every direction. I chose to worship because God is worthy to be praised. I pondered the resurrection of Jesus. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is living in me. God's power is in me! I began to feel hope. So many times I feel so helpless to make my whole self have the right attitude towards God. I am thankful that resurrection power dwells in me. It is not by my own power or strength that I love God with my whole being. I am dependent on the power that God, himself, placed within me to raise me from this dead place of unbelief. Hallelujah! I surrender to your power, God.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

He Will Protect You

For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me. Psalm 40:12

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Psalm 23:5

Today, it feels like this is where I am. I can really feel the presence of the enemy and have been having trouble not looking at them. I realized it was because I felt that I had attracted them. I feel like a kid who put bait out for wolves, and now they are in a circle around me waiting to attack. Then I heard God say, "So what, if you attracted them? I am a good Father. I will protect you. Also, Jesus already took the punishment for your crime upon himself. Let it go. Humble yourself before God and let him bear the consequences. You cannot be perfect in and of yourself. Give it up. Come to your God and rest. I have prepared a great feast for you, here in the light. The enemy cannot come near you."

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

God Will Wipe Away Every Tear

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”

All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying:

“Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!”

Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?”

I answered, “Sir, you know.”

And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore,

they are before the throne of God
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne
will shelter them with his presence.
‘Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,’
nor any scorching heat.
For the Lamb at the center of the throne
will be their shepherd;
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’
‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
Revelation 7:9-17

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

You Can Have The Impossible

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

I have felt that God wanted me to dream big dreams and then go after them. What happened is that I dreamed the dreams, went after them and failed miserably over and over. So I have been in a place of confusion and discouragement. When I woke up this morning, fear and discouragement were reigning. I kept hearing God sing to me about giving up control. I was afraid to let go. I was concerned that if I didn't try hard, then failure would even be greater. As I prayed, I felt God encouraging me again. He said, "Why go for the possible when you can have the impossible?" Then he asked me to speak out my dreams and desires. I was encouraged to dream way beyond what is humanly possible. It was kind of fun.

The world teaches to focus on the dream and it will come to you. God asked me to speak out the dream and give it to him. He doesn't want me to give up on it, but he wants me to trust him with it. I am understanding that many of the things I am hoping for will come about, but even greater things are coming too. The key is that I am trusting in God, not the dream.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Where Will My Resting Place Be?

This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.
Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the LORD.
“These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.
Isaiah 66:1-2

I know, you have tried to be good. No matter how hard you try, you feel unsuccessful. "Sorry Charlie. StarKist doesn't want tuna with good taste, StarKist wants tuna that tastes good.” God isn't looking for you to be good. He is looking to be your God. If you read further in Isaiah, you find that God is really disgusted with those that just jump through religious hoops.

I can hear the cry of God's heart. He is not looking for us to be godly by our good actions and a little bit of God's presence in us. He wants right order. We are temples of God. He doesn't want to just dwell in us, he wants to fill us. He is the center, he is the truth, he is our all.

Friday, March 11, 2011

I Am Free

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. Luke 12:4

I was just driving home from the early shift at work and I heard a Newsboys song, I AM FREE, that has a cool video on You Tube. As I listened, I was picturing the video and chuckling. Then I got to thinking about the freedom that we have in Christ. There are many that are being intimidated by people in their lives that are against Christianity. I just got a sense of being so set free that nobody's bad attitude has power over us. I saw someone filled with joy and almost laughing because it feels so good to not be intimidated anymore. I get a sense that God wants to set us free in every way. This is so exciting!

Thursday, March 10, 2011

God Is Getting Rid Of Your Old Branches

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. John 15:1-2

I just pruned the dead branches off a plant. Then I heard God say,"You have to get rid of the old before the new can take over."

I asked, "What is the old in my life?"

God said, "I am getting rid of the old."

I feel like God is saying that we can be at peace and trust that he is doing a good work within us. He is pruning our dead branches. We, personally, don't know what is dead or not bearing fruit. He knows because he is the gardener. Rest and let him work. I know that we might not recognize the new us that is revealed. We may look nothing like we expected, but we will be truly wonderful.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

God Takes Pity On His People

“Even now,” declares the Lord,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

Rend your heart
and not your garments.
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity.
Who knows? He may turn and relent
and leave behind a blessing—
grain offerings and drink offerings
for the LORD your God.

Blow the trumpet in Zion,
declare a holy fast,
call a sacred assembly.
Gather the people,
consecrate the assembly;
bring together the elders,
gather the children,
those nursing at the breast.
Let the bridegroom leave his room
and the bride her chamber.
Let the priests, who minister before the LORD,
weep between the portico and the altar.
Let them say, “Spare your people, Lord.
Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn,
a byword among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’”
The Lord’s Answer
Then the Lord was jealous for his land
and took pity on his people.
Joel 2:12-18

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

God is Guiding You

By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people. Exodus 13:21-22

God lead the Israelites. If he stopped and had them stay in an area for a period of time, it wasn't necessarily because they were bad. It wasn't because they were a failure at getting ahead. It was because God was having them stay in a certain place for awhile.

God is asking us to look at him. He promises to guide us continuously. He is guiding us when we are moving towards the promised land, and he is guiding us when he is having us stand still. Our hope is in God, not in what we accomplish.

Monday, March 7, 2011

More Than You Imagine

However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”- the things God has prepared for those who love him- these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. Ephesians 3:20

God has plans for you that are greater than you can imagine. Have a great day receiving from him.

Friday, March 4, 2011

God Will Not Give Up On You

For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,

for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet,

till her righteousness shines out like the dawn,

her salvation like a blazing torch.

The nations will see your righteousness,

and all kings your glory;

you will be called by a new name

that the mouth of the Lord will bestow.

You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand,

a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

No longer will they call you Deserted,

or name your land Desolate.

But you will be called Hephzibah,

and your land Beulah;

for the Lord will take delight in you,

and your land will be married.

As a young man marries a maiden,

so will your sons marry you;

as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride,

so will your God rejoice over you.

I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem;

they will never be silent day or night.

You who call on the Lord,

give yourselves no rest,

and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem

and makes her the praise of the earth.

The Lord has sworn by his right hand

and by his mighty arm:

“Never again will I give your grain

as food for your enemies,

and never again will foreigners drink the new wine

for which you have toiled;

but those who harvest it will eat it

and praise the Lord,

and those who gather the grapes will drink it

in the courts of my sanctuary.”

Pass through, pass through the gates!

Prepare the way for the people.

Build up, build up the highway!

Remove the stones.

Raise a banner for the nations.

The Lord has made proclamation

to the ends of the earth:

“Say to the Daughter of Zion,

‘See, your Savior comes!

See, his reward is with him,

and his recompense accompanies him.’”

They will be called the Holy People,

the Redeemed of the Lord;

and you will be called Sought After,

the City No Longer Deserted.
Isaiah 62

Thursday, March 3, 2011

God's Shadow Of Light

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

The other night I was meditating on the 23rd Psalm. "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me." I saw a picture of myself walking through a dark, cold valley. God was with me and he was really tall.As he walked with me his shadow fell over me, only it was warm and light. So I was protected by the presence of God.

There is a client where I work that is always right and is often attacking me. The day after I saw the shadow of God vision, I was at work, and she walked in the door. I remembered the picture and prayed, "O.K. God, I'm in your shadow of light." I experienced the coolest thing. There really was an invisible barrier between us. At least twice I saw her start to condemn me, but she stopped mid sentence. God, literally, did not let her attack me. "Thank you God."

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

God Is My Safe Harbor

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
James 1:17

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1

I have just been at work, a changing person amongst changing people. Now, as I worship God I am becoming very aware of how unchanging God is. This brought me great comfort. Out in public I have to work hard to be understood. It's such a relief to hang out with God. I don't offend him, even on my bad days. He always understands and sees the best in me. Hanging out with God is like coming home where you can let your guard down and just be.

For me, being out in public is like being in a storm. It has it's beauty, but it's so tiring. God is my safe harbor. The storm can't have it's way with me when I rest in God.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Joy

Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:10

Grab all the joy that comes to you in any form no matter how small. A happy memory, a hope, a yummy bit of food. a smile, a song, a good book, whatever makes you smile on the inside. Others around you will be suffering, some, way more than you. I am sorry for them, truly I am, and so are you. Their sorrow cannot be the deciding factor of whether or not you are allowed to be joyful. Don't feel guilty for your joy. Revel in it. The truth is, that joy is contagious, and the more you allow yourself to be happy, the more it can spread to others. So, be a vehicle of joy instead of a receptor of other people's sorrow.