Remember All The Wonderful Things That God Has Already Done

Part 2 of Supernatural Perfect Peace In The Middle Of Life’s Storms

“O LORD my God, you have performed many wonders for us.
Your plans for us are too numerous to list.
You have no equal.
If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds,
I would never come to the end of them.” - Psalm 40:5 - (NLT)

I believe another component to obtaining that perfect peace is to remember all the wonderful things that God has already done in our lives, in the lives around us, and of course we should remember the wonderful miracles and stories of deliverance in the bible.

When we allow ourselves to remember how faithful God is we will be encouraged in our hearts. Faith will rise up in us. We will begin to feel confident that our God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. We will have a knowing deep inside that He delivered us then and He will deliver us again. He brought us through then and He will bring us through again. He sustained us then and He will sustain us now. (Hebrews 13:8)

Supernatural Perfect Peace In The Middle Of Life's Storms

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]” - John 16:33 Amplified Bible (AMP)

As long as we live here in this world we will have troubles and trials. We will at times feel overwhelmed, stressed, distressed, and frustrated. But we do not have to allow ourselves to be agitated and disturbed by our circumstances. We do not have to permit our hearts to be troubled, fearful, intimidated, cowardly, and unsettled. We can have a supernatural perfect peace that surpasses all understanding in the middle of life’s storms. (John 14:27 Amplified Bible)

But how do we get to the point where we have peace in the middle of our most unsettling trials? How do we take courage; be confident, certain, and undaunted when we feel completely overwhelmed?

Tell Those Who Mourn

“…tell those who mourn that the time of the LORD’s favor has come, and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory.” – Isaiah 61: 3

My heart aches as I write this post. I just got news that a friend of the family lost her husband. He had fallen down a flight of stairs and hit his head. He went to sleep and never woke up again. He was in a coma for more than 9 days. He leaves behind his wife and three small children.

I can’t imagine the terrible anguish that she must be experiencing from losing the love of her life and the father of all her children. There must be a terrible hole in her heart. While I do not know the pain that this young mother is experiencing, I do know what it is to lose someone you love with all of your heart. I lost my mother when I was just sixteen years old. I was devastated and lost. My world was upside down. I did not know what would become of me. But God did!

He Has Not Abandoned You!!!

“O Jacob, how can you say the LORD does not see your troubles?
O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights?
Have you never heard?
Have you never understood?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
No one can measure the depths of his understanding.” – Isaiah 40:27-28

This is a word that I have on my heart for my brothers and sisters that have been faithfully serving our Lord and His people. To those of you who have been diligently pressing forward in your faith in the face of persecution, trials, and testings. For those of you who are going through difficult times and are crying out to God with a broken heart or contrite spirit. I feel lead to tell you,

“Our Lord has NOT abandoned you!!!”

He knows you are tired and weak. He knows you are hurt and angry at your oppressors. He knows that you are grieving your loss. He sees the struggle with your loved ones. He sees you and He IS with you in your trouble. You are not alone in the storm.

Ready for ANYTHING and EQUAL To Anything Through Christ

Here's an article I wrote for WeUsed2bu Ministries.

Ready for ANYTHING and EQUAL To Anything Through Christ
On my journey with my Savior Jesus, I have discovered that He has not left me alone in this world full of sin, corruption, evil, and destruction. He is actively present in my life, helping me and bringing me comfort, hope, and security through the promises in His Word. There have been times where I have felt like I am just going to break under life’s pressures, that if one more thing happened, I was just going to lose it! But how quickly and faithful the Holy Spirit is to bring to my remembrance the promise in His Word which says,

“I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME!” (Philippians 4:13)

Harvest Of Right Living For Those Who Are Trained In This Way

“As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.” - Hebrews 12:7, 11-13


The definition for discipline is:

1. Training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement.
2. Controlled behavior resulting from disciplinary training; self-control.

Over the past weeks the Holy Spirit has brought me to different scriptures in the Word showing me where our heavenly Father uses trials, testing, and hardships as divine discipline or training to produce in us godly living and Christ-like character, and also to prepare us for our callings. Even those terrible attacks that the enemy will try to use to destroy us or those bad things that happen in life that we just don’t understand, God turns for our good. He did it for Joseph, Jacob’s son, the dreamer who was sold into slavery by his own brothers.

I’ll give you the very short version of what happened to Joseph. Joseph’s brothers were jealous of him and they intended to rid themselves of him forever so they sold him into slavery. He suffered loneliness, betrayal, and sadness. While Joseph was in slavery God never left him. He gave him favor, wisdom, and prophetic dreams with the gift of interpretation. He used these giftings to lift Joseph up to a position of authority and prominence in Egypt. Many years later a famine hit the land and the only place to find grain was in Egypt. So that is where his family went to buy food. Joseph forgives his brothers and the family is reunited. In the end Joseph looked back at all that had happened to him and finally understood why God allowed everything to happen the way it did. It was so that He could use Joseph to save the lives of many, including his own family. (Genesis 50:20)

Now I want to take you to some other scriptures that our Lord brought me to and showed me specifically how He uses life’s troubles to do the following:

Humble us and to prove our character, whether we would keep His commandments or not and to teach us to rely on His Word.

Deuteronomy 8:2-3 “2 Remember how the LORD your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands. 3 Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.” (NLT)

To test the genuineness of our faith

1 Peter 1:6-7 “6[You should] be exceedingly glad on this account, though now for a little while you may be distressed by trials and suffer temptations, 7So that [the genuineness] of your faith may be tested, [your faith] which is infinitely more precious than the perishable gold which is tested and purified by fire. [This proving of your faith is intended] to redound to [your] praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) is revealed.” (Amplified Bible)

To reveal or demonstrate to us the true quality of what‘s in our hearts.

2 Chronicles 32:31 “31 However, when ambassadors arrived from Babylon to ask about the remarkable events that had taken place in the land, God withdrew from Hezekiah in order to test him and to see what was really in his heart.” (NLT)

To teach us patience endurance, maturity of character, joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation.

Romans 5:3-4 “3Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. 4And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation.” (Amplified Bible)

To develop steadfastness and Christ-like character

James 1:2-4 “2Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. 3Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. 4But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.”

It can be difficult while we are going through these holy trials and tribulations. But we must remember that our divine God sees the future and He has always had good plans for our lives. (Jeremiah 29:11) These scriptures confirmed to me that trials and testing are meant to test the reality of our faith and produce the likeness of Christ in us. They are meant to bring out the best in us, if we will allow them to. It’s part of our remolding and refining process. So let us not lose hope when we our heavenly Father lovingly trains us up. He has assured us that EVERYTHING that happens in our lives works together and is fitting into a plan for good to and for those who love God and are called according to His design and purpose. (Romans 8:28)

As I write this I am reminded of when our Heavenly father told the prophet Jeremiah to go to the potter’s house. He said, “Go down to the potter’s shop, and I will speak to you there.” So Jeremiah did as He told him and Jeremiah found the potter working at his wheel. But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so the potter crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over. Brothers and sisters, God is our potter and I believe the Lord is saying to us today,

“Can I not do with you as the potter does? (Jeremiah 18:6)

Let’s allow Him to continue the good work He has started in us and trust Him in the middle of the refining fire. He is here with us. We will come out unbound and with stronger faith. So keep joyfully and hopefully pressing on! (Philippians 1:6, Daniel 3:26-27)

Pressed In On Every Side

“We are hedged in (pressed) on every side [troubled and oppressed in every way], but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair;

We are pursued (persecuted and hard driven), but not deserted [to stand alone]; we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and destroyed;” 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 – Amplified

The Lord reminded me of these verses this morning. I read it out of the NLT and then the Amplified. It really hit home for me. You see I am currently going through a season of intense discipline and training through many trials and temptations. (Hebrews 12)The demonic attacks are so evident. I have felt pressed in on every side by spiritual oppression in some of my closest relationships. Even my children are under attack. At times I feel crushed and overwhelmed. The problems and trials I face often times feel like too much to bear. I would be lying if I said that thoughts of giving up don’t run through my mind. But I know who I am in Christ Jesus and I WILL NOT not be driven to utter despair! I know that our Lord has NOT deserted me or my family and left us to stand alone.

I am sharing this with you because I want you to know that if you are suffering through many troubles, trials, and temptations YOU ARE NOT ALONE! Listen to what the Holy Spirit has said through Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:13.

“No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it.” – The Message

Here’s parts of this verse out of the Amplified.

“NO temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance..

But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [CAN BE TRUSTED] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [ALWAYS] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently.”

Did you see it? Our troubles are not new to human experience. Many others before us and many now are going through the same or very similar problems that we are facing today. Others before us have overcome by remembering how faithful God is to His promise to never leave or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5)

In 1 Corinthians 10:13 we see that He has promised to never allow the temptations or trials that we face to be more than we can endure. He will ALWAYS provide a way of escape to overcome any temptation the enemy will put before us. He will also ALWAYS provide a way for us to go through whatever trial it is that we may have to face.

No matter what it is that we are facing we need to remember that He is our Strength and WE CAN do ALL things through Christ Jesus who strengthens us! Here is Philippians 4:13 in the Amplified. Read it. Receive it! Believe it! Confess it!

“I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].”

The Lord has spoken to me so many words of encouragement, affirmation, and comfort over the past several weeks. His Holy Spirit has ministered to my heart and given me peace at times where I probably would have fallen apart. He has hugged me through the arms of other believers full of his love and compassion. His presence has filled my room as I slept I knew that He was there with me. His love has sustained me through this all.


He will do the same for you as he is doing for me! Do not give up hope! He is by your side. You will see His promises to you fulfilled. Just keep believing! Keep trusting! Keep seeking Him in prayer, fasting, and in His Word. Keep your eyes on Him and you will not be destroyed. Fight the good fight of faith!

I will continue to share with you the scriptures that He has brought me to in this season of my life. God bless you all and remember what our Lord has said to His disciples,

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]” John 16:33 – Amplified

"Please God Help Me!"

I want to share with you a short story. It was a little over 14 years ago when I was at one of the darkest places in my life. I was strung out on drugs, homeless crashing at my aunt’s house, and in violation of my probation. My first daughter had just turned a year old. I sent her to live with father’s parents. I was so depressed and sick. I didn’t know what else to do. I believed that Jesus was real and that He would help me if I prayed and cried out to Him. So I did.

I will never forget that night and the series of events that happened from then on. I was lying on the top bunk of my cousin’s bed crying, “Please God help me! I am tired of all of this. I need your help! I want my daughter back. I want my family back. Please God help me!” I cried myself to sleep that night. The next morning I went ahead living my dysfunctional life. I went off to work and on my lunch break I got high and ended up committing a crime. I was arrested for not only that charge but for violation of probation. I knew that I was facing a prison sentence. I was scared, but I also had a sense of relief. No more running. No more hiding. Finally!! All of sudden I remembered my prayer from the previous night. “God this is your idea of answering my prayer? Ok??”

Our Lord in His mercy and grace gave me favor once again with the judge. After three months in jail I was sentenced to a drug rehabilitation center as an alternative to prison. If I completed this six month program my probation would be reinstated and I could move on with my life. But I was still so full of rebellion. I ended breaking the rules and violating my stay. Back to jail I went to await sentencing. This would be the third time that I would violate and the judge promised me that if I messed up again that I would be sentenced to prison for sure. That’s exactly what happened. I was sentenced to five years in the Florida State Prison.

Seems like a terrible story huh? Well it isn’t! What I didn’t share with you is that from the day that I got locked up I began drawing close to God and He drew close to me too. I got a bible and I would read and ask God to help me understand His Word. I did not know that what I was asking would result in the process of renewing my mind. I began to pray and seek Him like never before. He put a beautiful woman of God in my life, Sonia, who was not only strong in her faith but strong in personality too. He knew I needed someone like her to mentor me and speak into my life words of faith, truth, hope, and power. We meet at the rehab center where she had volunteered for an outreach event. She promised that she would write me. I did not believe her but she wrote me letters weekly from then on. She became my spiritual mother. It was through her that I first really experienced the love of Christ. She is still by my side today.

By the grace of God my five year sentenced ended up being eighteen months instead. Those eighteen months the Holy Spirit taught me the Word of God and filled me to overflowing with His Spirit. One day I received a card from my Sonia with my name and the meaning of it. Lisa comes from Elizabeth, which means consecrated to God. Consecrated means set aside, or to declare or set apart as sacred. All of a sudden I realized that the Lord allowed me to be sent to prison not only to save me from my destructive path but so that I could be set apart for Him and His purpose. Without the rest of the world and drama in my ear I could finally hear from God. My life has not been the same since. Everything that I lost and that the enemy took from me God has been restored to me in abundance. The years of pain, loneliness, and sadness have been replaced with joy, peace, and hope. Today I am surrounded by people who love me. I have undeservedly been rewarded with the blessing of several children. Our God has been faithful to build me up in Christ Jesus. I am no longer a victim of life’s circumstances. I am an over comer in Christ Jesus!

I wanted to share this with you because I believe that there is someone who has been crying out to God, “Help me God! Please help me!” and it may seem that your situation is getting worse, but it isn’t. God may not answer your prayers the way that you think He should but you cannot rely on your own understanding. His ways are so much higher than ours. His ways are so much better. You may not see it right now, but God is working in the midst of everything. Learn to walk by faith and not by sight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

I don’t know what your situation is but as I’ve shared I had created such a mess of my life that even though He saved me the moment I believed and cried out to Him, He still needed to do some major reconstruction to my entire life from the inside out. In my rebelliousness I planted some bad seeds and I still needed to reap what I had sown and face the consequences of my actions. I could have gotten angry at God but it wasn’t His fault that I ended up in prison. It was mine. It was my own foolishness and rebelliousness that got me there. It was our Lord in His mercy and grace by the power of His Holy Spirit that gave me the strength, courage, and perseverance to endure through it all without becoming angry and bitter.

Proverbs 19:3 says, “People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the LORD.” There are people who get made at God when they are overwhelmed with debt but they mismanage their money and are tightfisted, scared to give their tithes and offerings. Others get mad at Him because they don’t see a breakthrough in their families but instead of speaking words of faith in their home they are speaking words of unbelief, doubt, and defeat. They are tearing apart their own homes by the words of their mouth. There comes a time where we have to accept responsibility for our disobedience, repent, and ask God to help us back onto the narrow road. We have to learn to desire God’s will more than our own.

When God is restructuring our life we cannot get angry with Him. We must remember that God is the Master Potter. He is working at His wheel. We are the jar of clay that He had a very specific plan and divine purpose for from the time that we were in our mother’s womb. However, because of our desire to have our own way and all the resistance we gave Him we messed the jar up some. So he has to start over remolding and shaping us. But this is a good thing because when God is working with a willing vessel they become one of His vessels of honor which He uses to make the riches of His glory shine through. (Jeremiah 18:1-7, Romans 9:21-23)

I want to encourage you to let go of your own plans and your own will. Become a willing vessel and trust the Lord through the remolding process. Allow Him to continue the good work that He has started. He knows what He is doing. We can trust Him with our lives. We can be sure that the end results and reward will be better than the beginning. Hold on to the verses in Isaiah 43:18-19

“But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.”

You cried out, “God Help Me!” now it’s time that you let Him help you HIS WAY, NOT YOUR WAY! Obey and trust Him you will not be sorry.

May The God of Hope Fill You With All Joy And Peace As You Trust In Him

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

This one little verse is so powerful and full of insight. If you are facing extreme testing and trouble, trials and persecution hear what the Spirit of God is saying to you here in this verse.

Our God is the God of hope. There is no situation that any of us will ever face that is too big for the God of hope. Our problems don’t surprise Him. He is not moved by them. He saw them before they ever manifested themselves. In fact He has been preparing us for this time. We are equipped in Him to face this situation. The testing and the trials may seem too much to bear ALONE, but we ARE NOT ALONE! His Holy Spirit is with us and in us.

Often times when we are in the middle of the fiery furnace we allow our emotions to get the best of us. When we begin to focus on our problems and listen to our fickle emotions instead of the Word of God we will surely get off track. If we allow our emotions to manage us instead of us managing our emotions we will lose our peace and joy. Emotions are just feelings that we have in the moment and THEY WILL CHANGE. So we cannot be lead by them. Instead we have to be led by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God that never changes. It is the same yesterday, today, and forever. It is stable and secure. It is true and infallible. It is our hope and confidence. We have to trust it above our emotions and what we see.

When we are in a relationship with the Lord He gives us very specific details for our life and gives us clear instruction on which way to go. We don’t need to freak out when circumstances look the opposite of what God has promised us. Remember that His Word never returns void. So we must keep believing and pressing forward diligently. Most of all we need to be obedient to His direction and leading. We need to desire His will more than our own will for our lives. Unfortunately many people give up on trusting God and harden their hearts toward the Holy Spirit. They turn back to their own way of doing things. Their disobedience hinders their breakthrough and blessings. Brothers and sisters we cannot lose hope and turn away from God’s will for our lives. When we decide to turn away from God’s path we will affect not only our lives but the lives our friends and families too.

There is a saying that God will never put more on you than you can bear. But I think the saying should be that God will never put more on us than we can bear ALONE. When we try to face life’s problems on our own we will most assuredly not be able to bear up under the stress and burdens. We are not strong enough. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to help us. He is our strength and comfort. Apart from Him we can do nothing and then we become hopeless. (John 15:5)

We WILL get our break through! We just have to believe and have trust in the God of hope no matter what. In Romans 15:13 the God of hope has PROMISED that AS WE TRUST IN HIM, He will fill us with all joy and peace so that we can overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. He doesn’t break His promises. He will give us hope in our situation because we trust Him, His promises, and His Word! We must remember that He always works everything out for our good. Even what the enemy tries to use to destroy or harm us He can turn for our good. We are never without hope because the God of hope is on our side.

So let us meditate on Romans 15:13 and allow it to go down deep in our hearts. Let His Word renew our mind so that when we are facing many troubles His Word will fill our thoughts with hope, joy, and peace.

"Why Are You Afraid? Do You Still Have No Faith?"

Matthew, Mark, and Luke give an account of a day when Jesus and His disciples got in a boat to cross over the Sea of Galilee when suddenly a great storm broke out. The waves and winds were tossing the boat to and fro. Water was getting into the boat and they were in real danger. Mean while Jesus was resting taking a nap. Luke says that the disciples woke Him up shouting, “Teacher, don’t You care that we’re going to drown?” (Luke 4:38)

When Jesus woke up, He rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then He asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. ‘Even the wind and waves obey Him!” (Luke 4:39-41)

Is this you? Is your life in the middle of a storm? Are the cares of this life tossing you around and making you feel unstable in your faith? Are the winds causing you to panic and forget that Jesus is in the boat and everything is going to be ok? He does care! When you go through deep waters, He will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. ” (Isaiah 43:2)

Jesus asked them “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” These guys spent intimate time with Jesus. He spoon feed them the Word of God. He personally taught them about kingdom matters. They saw Him do many miracles, heal the sick, cast out demons, and raise the dead. What would it take for them to reject fear and put all of their faith in Christ Jesus? What will it take for us to be sure without a doubt that He will never leave us or forsake us?

Jesus is our Savior. He died a brutal death for us so that we could have peace not like the world gives, but that peace which surpasses all understanding as we trust in Him to see us through every situation. Remember the words in Isaiah 53:5,

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.”

He suffered so that we could have freedom in Him. We don’t have to be fretful Christians. We are supposed to be sure without a doubt that our Lord is faithful. We are to be at peace knowing that our Lord is on our side no matter what. We are supposed to be at peace knowing that no weapon formed against us will prosper and that we can overcome all things through Christ who strengthens us and empowers us by the power of His Holy Spirit.

To the reader who has been fighting against the lies of the enemy. To the reader who has been fighting anxiety and fear about you calling or the changes that are to come in your life. To the reader who has allowed the storm to wear them down and has almost lost hope I say, “Be still and know that He is God.” In the name of Jesus I rebuked the wind and the waves in your life and I say, ‘Silence! Be still!”

Our Lord is saying to you right now, “Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]” John 14:27

Be encouraged…

Sincerely,

Trophy of Grace

His Ways & Thoughts Are Higher Than Ours

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

I really don’t try to figure out any more why our heavenly Father allows certain things to happen in our lives or in those closest to us. I don’t need to know when circumstances will change or when will the unjust receive justice. I have learned to trust Him in every situation, especially the ones I don’t completely understand. I know that He is sovereign, omniscient, and omnipotent and that is all that matters to me.

He has shown me over and over again that no matter what happens in our lives He is always in control. He is never taken off guard by our problems or ‘situations’. We have to learn that even if something in our lives happen that seems unjust or unfair He can use it for our good. Sometimes we will have to walk through the situation and other times the Lord will provide a way of escape. Either why whatever He allows He has our best interest in mind.

If something tragic happens we must know with all of our hearts that He allowed it for reasons beyond our understanding. Let us not be angry or bitter towards God. We must remember that His plans for us are ALWAYS for good not for evil and to give us a future and a hope. He never leaves us or forsakes us. He will be our strength when we go through the storms of life. He never allows us to go through trouble, trials, sorrows, or any change without promising to be with us. (Jeremiah 29:11-13, Hebrews 13:5)


“When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.
For I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Isaiah 43:2-3

We have to remember that His ways of doing things, His way of bringing about change in us and around us, His way of helping us produce the fruit of the Spirit in our lives is sometimes beyond our understanding. His thoughts are nothing like our thoughts and His ways are far beyond anything we can imagine. So why do we even question Him? Can we really even grasp His reasoning and purpose?

We have to learn to be ok with trusting Him especially when we don’t understand what’s going on around us or why He allowed certain circumstances. His faithfulness, mercy, and compassion toward us is unending so we should not be afraid of change. Our Lord in all of His wisdom causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to his purpose. So why should we fear or fret? (Romans 8:28)

Let us remember that everything is only for a season. We will not have trouble or trials forever. So let us not get tired in doing good and trusting Him. We will reap a harvest of blessing if we do not give up prematurely. (Galatians 6:9)

Be blessed brothers and sisters and know with all of your hearts that our heavenly Father is by your side all the time.

Don't Despise This Season

“So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” 1 Peter 1:6-7

I want to encourage someone reading this who is in the fire of many trials. Don’t despise this season. It will only be for a little while. There is wonderful joy ahead if you do not give up. Don’t be afraid. Our Lord is with you every step of the way. He has not left you alone, I promise. The fire is just a test. It is meant to refine you. When you come out of this you will not even smell of smoke. Just stay close to Him in the fire.

Recently I was reading the story again in Daniel about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who were thrown into a blazing furnace because they refused to worship king Nebuchadnezzar’s golden statue. Right before they were thrown into the fiery furnace the king had them bound up. I received a revelation that sometimes right before some of us go into the fire we are all bound up by something. Maybe it is hidden sin, unforgiveness, unsurrendered areas of our lives, bitterness, anger, hopelessness, or maybe slavery to debt. Whatever it is that has us bound wants us to bow down, surrender, and worship it. In some cases we have given in and these strongholds have become our little gods that we are serving, whether we realize it or not. (Daniel 3:16-23)

Now the king had them thrown into the blazing fire and to his surprise instead of hearing screaming and tormenting agony he looks in and sees FOUR men, UNBOUND, walking around in the fire unharmed and the fourth man looked like a god. (Daniel 3:24-25)

We may often times go into the fire bound but praise God it is the refining and purifying fire that burns off whatever has us bound up. While in the fire is when we learn to draw closest to the Lord for comfort and strength. Then we begin to see what really matters the most in our lives. Those hindrances that had us captive are not what we want to be bound to any more so off in the far they go.

The fire is meant to make us stronger and to build up our faith. Just the other night I was lying down to rest for the evening and I turned the station to TBN. There was man singing and he said, “If I didn’t have a problem I would not know that God could solve them”. No one likes to be in the fire, but we don’t have to despise these seasons. They are opportunities for us to see God’s faithfulness. In the fire we see our Lord’s protective power and His miraculous provisions. Going into the fire allows us and others to see God’s goodness.

Now back to the story of the three young men. The king was amazed! He shouted to the men in the fire, “Servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” Everyone there saw that the fire had not harmed them. Not a hair on their heads were singed, and their clothing were not even scorched. In fact they didn’t even smell of smoke! The king made a decree forbidding anyone to talk against their God and he confessed that there is no other god who can rescue like this. Then the king promoted them to even higher positions in the province of Babylon. (Daniel 3:26-30)

Not only does our faith get built up in the fire but our trials can become a testimony to others as well of God’s faithfulness. When they see how we allow the fire to refine and make us stronger they will rejoice and put their faith in God too. They will have hope when they are going through the fire also.

The last point I want to make is that sometimes we have to go through the fire before our Lord promotes us to higher positions. To whom much us given much is expected and we are given responsibility based on our abilities. Through the fire we learn endurance, patience, longsuffering, and all the other fruits of the Spirit. If we are going to be used by God we have to go through the refining and purifying fire, so don’t despise this season.

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” James 1:2-4

Be blessed brothers and sisters…

"All I Can Do Is Pray"

Why is it that when situations get extremely difficult, or seem hopeless, or out of our control do many of us respond by telling ourselves and others, “All I can do is pray.” What do we really mean anyways? What are we really saying? Is it a statement of faith? I don’t think so..It’s almost like when say that it’s as if prayer is our last resort to our tiresome efforts of trying to resolve our own problems. In some cases some of us have made prayer exactly that..our last resort. This statement, “ALL I CAN DO IS PRAY..” usually follows a statement like this:

“I’ve tried everything I can think of to change or fix this situation now..”
“My hands are tied. It’s out of my control now...”
“I just don’t know what else to do...”

Seeking God’s will and direction for our problems, concerns, and decisions should be our very first reaction. We should pray and never give up. Prayer should not be the last resort. Just think of how many times we have only made our circumstances worse by moving ahead with our own ideas of how to resolve our situation without seeking God’s face, without praying first. (1 Thessalonians 5:17, Luke 18:1, Proverbs 16:25)

When we are facing troubles or when we are at a fork in the road that is when we need to tune our ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding even more. We need to cry out for insight and ask the Lord for help. We need to recognize and remember immediately that our hope should always be in the Lord. Our hope is in knowing that He leads us down the right path for our lives. He is our lamp. He lights up our darkness. He does not leave us or forsake us in our troubles. He is the answer to every situation. He gives us wisdom and counsel. We don’t have to fix everything on our own and we definitely should not make important decisions in our lives without praying and even fasting first. (Proverbs 2:2-3, Jeremiah 17:7-8, Psalm 23:3, Psalm 18:28)

“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.” (James 1:5-6)

I love how Queen Ester handled the horrific news that was brought to her via messenger from her mentor and cousin Mordecai. She was told that there had been a decree of death pronounced by the king and his prime minister, Haman. They planned to kill millions of people-including women and children. Mordecai directed her to go before the king and beg for mercy and to plead for her people. They both knew that if anyone appeared before the king in his inner court without being invited they were doomed to die unless the king held out his gold scepter. Even the queen had to be summoned. This was a terrible dilemma, but she was determined to lay down her life if she needed to, but first she determined to seek God’s will and direction. Queen Ester proclaimed a three day fast for her and her people. They all got on their faces before the Lord asking for God’s help and favor. They prayed for the queen and for their own lives to be spared. (Ester 4)

After those three days and nights of fasting and prayer she got up, cleaned up, and put on her royal robes. She was prepared to go before the king prayed up and trusting the Lord to go before her. Many of you know the story. The Lord gave her great wisdom as to how to tactfully approach the situation. The outcome was that the truth of the plot against her people was revealed to the king and their enemies were defeated. It’s an awesome story! (Ester 5-9)

“The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” James 5:16

With every situation that presents it’s self we need to go boldly into the throne room giving thanks immediately to our Lord for the answer and direction that He will provide, because He WILL direct our steps, we just need to seek his face. We don’t have to be afraid or over burdened with troublesome feelings or emotions, confusion, or fear over our circumstances. We need to rise up with the Spirit of power and love, trusting Him and immediately drawing close to the Lord knowing that He will draw close to us.

Let us be determined to seek God first, His will, and His way of handling this life’s troubles. May prayer be our first reaction instead of our last resort. In Jesus name amen…

Be Strong In the Lord and In His Mighty Power

“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” (Ephesians 6:10)

We need to truly realize that on this journey through this world we do not have to do anything in our own strength and power. Instead we are to be strong in the Lord and in HIS mighty power, not in our own power. That should be a great relief to everyone. I know it is to me. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by the responsibilities and the calling that I have on my life. There are also times where I feel I am not strong enough to face certain troubles, tests, and even people. Feelings of inadequacy creep in and I feel incapable of fulfilling the visions that our Lord has given me for my family and ministry. Then the truth hits me dead on. I am NOT able to accomplish any of these things and have godly results in my own strength or power. Over and over again I am humbled by this reality and that is when the sweet Spirit of God reminds me of what His Word says, “For I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength”. So it is not by our strength or our might but by the Spirit of God that we able to do all that the Lord has called us to do. Thank you Jesus!

As we go through this life living as a servants of Christ Jesus we must remember that it is truly by His grace and mighty power that we have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading the Good News and by being living testimonies. We don’t have to worry about how everything will be accomplished or where the provisions will come from because our Lord is faithful to always provide everything we need. He will give us wisdom and favor. He has given us His power and might. He has given us every spiritual gift we need to do His work and His will as we eagerly await His return. He will keep us strong to the end. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. (Ephesians 3:7, 1 Corinthians 1:7-8)

We don’t need to fall apart when we feel weak and incapable. There is no point of beating ourselves up. Instead let us rejoice because when we are weak God’s power works best in us. When we go to Him humbled by our weakness we will see that His grace is truly all we need. When we are weak that is when we see Christ’s power manifests through us. So draw close to the Lord when you feel like you don’t have enough power or strength because there is an incredible greatness of God’s power available for us who believe him and take Him at His Word. This incredible power that helps us is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. It amazes me that this power is available to us! But how many believers actually live by this power? I guess the evidence would be in their fruit. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Ephesians 1:19-20)

Brothers and sisters be encouraged by these scriptures provided above because the Lord does not want us to feel like we are without power or strength. Through His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower us with inner strength through His Spirit. We just need to trust Him with everything in our lives. With every problem, trial, tests, persecution, with EVERYTHING we have to rely on Him. He is the Source of our Strength. We can not face this life and its circumstances on our own and that is not what our Lord intended. So remember to be strong in the Lord and His mighty power! Don’t rely on your own strength and power.(Ephesians 3:16)

Blessings to you all in Christ Jesus name..

In His Presence Is Fullness of Joy & I Am Renewed

“I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips” Psalm 34:1

The week before was a trying week for me. I had difficult tests and trials to overcome almost daily. It felt like hell put an A.P.B. (all points bulletin) out on me. I felt the attack hard. The hardest thing for me is when I see believers becoming the tool in the hand of the enemy. It saddens my spirit. By Friday I felt tired and worn out. I found myself trying to carry around other people’s junk and blaming myself unnecessarily so. I was slipping into a ‘Woe is me’ attitude. I woke up that Friday morning and said, “Lord, I need your comfort. Heal me from these troubles, renew me, and refresh my spirit.” Well…I asked and I received!! Praise Jesus!

He saw how my week was going and lined up a weekend of blessing to lift my spirit back up. It was awesome! I partied and celebrated all weekend long. I danced and I lifted my hands in praise and worship with my husband and loved ones. Last Friday night our church Calvary Chapel Ft. Lauderdale had their night of worship which is always a wonderful time of celebrating and dancing. We started off shaking off any heaviness that was attached to us from our contacts with the world and from dealing with life’s issues by singing upbeat praise music. Then our hearts were prepared for worship songs with lyrics that cried to God to search our hearts and find anything in us that does not reflect His purity. In Spirit and in truth we asked the Lord to refine us in the fire of His gaze so that we could be holy in all of our ways. Many of us went down to the altar and got on our faces before the Lord and in His presence we were renewed, strengthen, and filled with even more faith and hope. That was just my Friday night.

Saturday night I got to attend a free Christian concert hosted by Cross the Bridge with David Mcgee from Calvary Chapel of the Triad. That too was a wonderful time of praise and worship. We danced some more and continued to worship the Lord knowing in our hearts that mountains were being moved in the spiritual realm. Sunday back to church and as always Calvary Chapel’s praise and worship team was on fire. More dancing, more lifting of holy hands, and more change in our hearts. I am excited again just writing this..Glory be to God!!

“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11

It was in His presence humbly worshiping Him on my face at that altar Friday night that I felt immediately renewed. I felt the power of the Holy Spirit lift up my countenance and renew my strength as I praised Him for His faithfulness to me. I realized that no matter what I go through the Lord is faithful. I made a choice to let that week of trouble go and not to give it any more of my attention. Instead I remembered that our Lord has been with me from birth; from my mother’s womb He has cared for me. So I will choose to praise Him instead of moaning and complaining about my troubles. (Psalm 71:6)

We can not allow ourselves to be ruled by our emotions and feelings. We have to learn to praise the Lord at all times no matter what is going on around us. No matter who comes against us in gossip and persecution. No matter what bad report we get. Worship the Lord even then. Praise Him because He is worthy of our praise. He has always watched over us. So don’t be troubled by temporary circumstances. God’s got it!

You will find that no heaviness, negative emotion, depression, fear, sadness, loneliness, or any other hindering spirit can stay around when you are lifting up holy hands in worship and submission to Almighty God. Why? Because the Lord inhabits the praises of His people. He is in the midst of them. When we worship Him we are taking refuge in His Holy presence. (Psalm 22:3)

You will also notice that while worshipping Him that you are also being cleansed. I don’t know about you but when I am worshipping our Lord I begin to ask Him to cleanse me and purify me of everything in me that is ugly and unholy. It is during worship and praise that our hearts are renewed and we desire to be more like Him. It is in worshipping Him in Spirit and in truth that we desire to let go of all the extra baggage such as anger, unforgiveness, resentment, hidden sin or whatever is trying to entangle us. Our burdens fall off in His presence and when we rise up again we feel light and burden-free ready to move on in our battle.

Spend time worshipping and praising our Lord. I promise you will see that your problems just don’t compare to the joy that comes from knowing that God is your refuge and that you are truly safe in His care. Praise the Lord at all times let His praises constantly be on your lips!

When One Door Closes Another One Opens

“However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" 1 Corinthians 2:9

There is no need to freak out when the Lord closes doors in our lives. Whether we’re laid off from work, girlfriend or boyfriend breaks it off suddenly, we weren’t approved for a loan or modification; whatever door has seemingly closed was closed for a reason. We have to immediately rely on the truth that our Lord has good plans for our lives and that He works everything out for our good. We have to accept that maybe this door has closed because it is time to move on. Maybe we even stayed longer than we should have. Only God knows. (Jeremiah 29:11-13, Romans 8:28)

I have seen in my own life that when the Lord allows doors to close it is because He has something new for me some where else. He wants to teach me new things. He’s just taking me to new training ground and this process will increase my faith and dependence on Him. It’s time to grow and expand and that can not longer be done with where I was at. So I don’t reject change. I have learned to trust what the Lord is doing even when I don’t understand it.

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” Isaiah 55:8

Sometimes we feel it in our spirit before it happens that God is calling us to move on and step out in faith. He’s given us a clear vision and He has assured us that we are not crazy, it truly is God Almighty saying, “You have heard Me correctly. Yes it is time to step out. Go now! Do not be afraid I AM with you.” But instead of moving immediately we over analyze our state of affairs and his instructions and we sit in our situation longer. Asking for more confirmation. Lol..That’s when our loving heavenly Father pushes us out of our comfortable nest like a mother bird teaching her fledgling to fly. Much like the baby bird we have become so comfortable in our nest that we do not want to leave, not realizing that if we don’t go we will not learn how to use the muscles in our wings. However, our Lord knows that if we don’t get out of the nest we will not learn how to fly. Thus the gentle push out, He knows it’s for our own good.

“Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19

The closed door is the beginning of something new and fresh that is going to happen in our lives. It’s a time to draw nearer to the Lord and seek His face like never before. When doors close we should thank Him because we know that He is the one who directs our steps and He will not let us fall. We trust Him to guide us and lead us, so then we must also trust that when He closes one door that He will open another one in due time, in His time. You’ll see!

Don’t wait till you see the physical manifestation of the new thing to praise Him. Praise Him now. Let His praises constantly be on your lips and pray without ceasing while you wait for another door to open. Be confident in what you hope for. Be confident in the word that the Lord has spoken in your heart. Have faith that it will actually happen and be assured about it even though you cannot see it yet. (Hebrews 11:1)

Trust me He loves us so much that He has already made a way. He knows our needs and gives us the desires of our hearts. He knows how to give good gifts. So receive the closed door as a good gift because what He has for you now is better than before. (Matthew 7:11)

Be encouraged as you wait and hope in the Lord..

A Perfect Marriage

A perfect marriage? Is there such a thing? No it’s impossible. An imperfect woman and an imperfect man who get married do not equal a perfect marriage. All too often we deceive ourselves into thinking that marriage is supposed to be easy and not so much work. We see these movies about love and living happily ever after, but life is so much more complicated than these fairytale love stories we see in the movies. The truth is that marriage is hard work. We have to choose daily to lovingly submit one to another. We have to learn to discuss life’s issues such as raising the children, financial responsibilities, work issues, ministry issues, and so much more; all while trying not to allow these conversations to turn into unnecessary arguments.

Anyone who has been married for quite some time will know that what I am saying is true and this is nothing new to them. My husband and I have been together for almost eleven years and I know that we will be together for eleven plus more. I trust that the Lord will continue the good work that He has started in our marriage until the day He returns to bring us home.

I just want to encourage you if you are in a difficult season in your marriage that you are not alone. There are many others that are going through the same thing. The enemy will inevitably attack out marriages. He is determined to tear families apart and hinder the work that the Lord is doing in our lives. He wants our children to be left broken and confused by the affects of divorce. The deceiver would have us believe that perhaps we would be happier without our other half. Don’t believe the lies.

We must stay encouraged and keep pressing forward no matter what lies the enemy brings to us. We mustn’t get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. The Lord is faithful to fulfill His promise to care for us and to help us when we are weak, we just have to enter into His presence and ask for help. He will not leave us or forsake us. He has to be the Source of our marriages’ strength. (Galatians 6:9)

My own marriage has been under attack since the day we made that covenant before God and said till death do us part. I am sure the enemy was heated that day. That was the day we became a tripled-braided cord. Ever since that beautiful day we have not been easily broken. The Holy Spirit has been that strong part of the cord that keeps us binded together. At times when we have felt like we just can’t go any further the Spirit of God reminds us that He has ordained this marriage for such a time as this. It was His purpose and plan that we be together and serve Him side by side. What God has joined together let no man separate. (Ecclesiastes 4:12, Mark 10:9)

Trust the Lord with your marriage. Give Him every concern, complaint, or burden that you are carrying. He wants you to cast all of your cares on Him. Pray together. Pray for one another. Pray as family. Don’t allow bitterness to root itself in your heart or it will hinder your love for your spouse. Listen to one another and remember that the two of you have become one so it’s ok that you are different. That was the point. You were made to compliment one another. Where one is weak the other will be strong. When one falls the other is there is to lift them up. When our Lord created our spouse He had us in mind.

So remember that when your marriage has to pass through the waters, God will be with you. When you have to walk through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire (and you will), you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. These are meant to perfect your marriage. (Isaiah 43:2)

Overwhelming Victory is Ours!

We did it! We ran 3.1 miles this morning. YAY!! For the past 2 weeks my husband and I have been training to run the 6th annual 5k race for faith scheduled for February 7th, 2009. All proceeds go to First Priority of South Florida. First Priority’s vision is to mobilize the Body of Christ in South Florida for the common purpose of evangelizing, equipping, and empowering middle and high school students on every public school campus. Student led clubs meet every week and the Gospel is shared each month. First Priority builds a bridge from the campus to the church, where students can be discipled and nurtured in a local body of believers. This ministry is doing a great work and we are excited to participate in this run.

It is has not been easy but we have determined that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. We know that it is Christ Jesus that has put all of this determination and ability in us to accomplish the dreams and visions that He has given us. Therefore when we set out to fulfill our missions and goals we know that we are not alone in our endeavor. Are confidence is in knowing that Christ Jesus our faithful Lord is right there with us pushing, empowering, and reassuring us that we can do it because He has equipped us for success. Glory be to God! We are more than conquerors!

What about you? Do you realize that you too are more than a conqueror? Realize it, receive it and believe it! No weapon formed against you will prosper. No matter what problems, trials, enemies, and obstacles present themselves we have to realize that we truly are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus who loves us. If God is for us, who can ever be against us?

I love what Romans 8:31-39 says but in an effort to keep this relatively short I want to show you verses 35-37.

“Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep. No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is our through Christ, who loved us” (NLT)

You see, despite all the troubles that we encounter in this world overwhelming victory is ours through Christ Jesus. There will be times that we will have to go through troubles and we will have to put our faith to action. Through the trials is when we truly learn to develop godly character and faith. That is why James 1:2 says, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it as an opportunity for great joy.

Great joy? Yes. I understand better now that I have been subjecting my body to this training. It hurts and I get really tired. I do want to give up at certain points during my run but I keep pressing forward knowing that I am building my endurance and perserverance. This will result in my body being healthier, stronger, fit, and better prepared not only for the race but for life. Joy was what I felt this morning when we completed our run.

James goes on to say in verses 3-4,”For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”

Therefore we should determine in our minds that we are going to go through every trial, trouble, and persecution as more than a conqueror because we have Christ Jesus on our side. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us and we should always remember that He works everything out for our good. Overwhelming victory is ours!!

It'll Be Ok!!

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

It’ll be ok I promise. Sometimes we allow ourselves to get so caught up in trying to figure things out; contemplating all the what ifs, that we lose our peace and joy. We begin to meditate on the dilemma so much that we have forgotten to take it to our Lord in prayer. If we get into trying to fix our problems on our own in our own strength we most certainly will complicate things even further. We have to learn to instinctively run to the throne room full of humility and a willingness to listen and obey. Then we can make our supplications known to God, lay down our will at His feet and accept His Wisdom thankfully. Then His peace will most certainly guard our minds and hearts from worry, fear, and anxiety as we meditate and trust in His Word, Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

James 1:5-8 says “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.”

Our Lord is our source of wisdom and direction. Through prayer and reading of the Word the Holy Spirit reveals which way to go. He is always going to be faithful to lead us down the right path when we ask Him for direction. However, we must be willing to accept His divine counsel. It is foolish to seek God’s face and present our problems to Him to only do the exact opposite of what He has shown us to do. Don’t allow fear, doubt, confusion, and especially compromise to deter you from following the Lord’s will and way.

I have learned that sometimes our Lord’s response is far from what I expected and then others time it is confirming and clarifying the vision that He has already given me. However, when His response is totally opposite of what I thought and most certainly not the way the world would handle my situation I remember the words in Isaiah 55:8-9. It says:

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts, says the Lord. And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.”

Let us remember that our Lord is faithful and He always works everything out for our good because He loves us so much. He is our Faithful Father carefully watching over us guiding and protecting because He has promised to. Our hope and faith has to be so devoted to Him that we trust Him at His Word. We have to trust him with all of our hearts, and not depend on our own understanding. If we seek His will in all that we do, He will show us which way to go. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Remember that you do not have to be under the yoke of worry or confusion. Get on your face before God and give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. (Psalm 55:22)

Trust Him and it’ll be ok!!!!

Picking Up the Broken Pieces

“For I know the plans that I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. You will find me when you seek me, if you look for me in earnest.” Jeremiah 29: 11-13

In my last posting I wrote about how I bought a beautiful mosaic candle holder. Well, I wanted to share another word the Holy Spirit spoke to me about that mosaic. You see when I saw the beautiful red and gold glow behind the cross I remembered what my sister in law had just recently told me about a project that her and her mother took on. They were making a mosaic tile for her mother’s garden. She said that they found the project to be difficult because the glass would cut their hands and fingers. I heard the Holy Spirit say,

“When people try to pick up the broken pieces of their life on their own they will find themselves getting cut and hurt. It is too painful. It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that I pick up the broken pieces and make a beautiful master piece for all to see and stand in awe of.”

We don’t have to worry about picking up the broken pieces in our lives. That is not our job. This difficult job belongs to our Lord and Savior. When we surrender to the healing power of the Holy Spirit He puts the pieces back together again, better than we ever could. Then He fills us with His joy and peace. His fire will be in us and will illuminate us.

I remember when I lost my mom at the early age of sixteen. My life was shattered into a million pieces. The years after her death were consumed with drug abuse, extreme feelings of loneliness, and depression. I was a mess for many years. Every time I tried to pick up the broken pieces of my life I found myself more frustrated and discouraged. The more I followed my own ideas and ways of healing the worse things got for me. I needed the Healer to come and mend my broken heart. I needed Him to help me forgive. Most of all I needed to surrender to Him and lay down the broken pieces of my life at His feet. And that’s exactly what I did.

He has healed me and has showed me that He can use any situation good or bad, happy or sad to make us stronger Christians. We don’t always understand why we go through some of the troubles that we do, but we have to know with all of our heart that He truly does work everything out for our good. We have to trust Him with every part of our life. There is to be no holding back from Him.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 reassures us that He does have a good plan for our lives. It promises us that when we call on Him that He will hear and answer us. The Holy Spirit can heal every part of us and make us beautiful in Christ Jesus.

If you are still trying to pick up some of the broken pieces of your life on your own, STOP IT! That is the Holy Spirit’s job. Allow Him to have His way in you. He loves you and has a wonderful plan in which He will use every broken piece to make you whole again. Trust Him and you’ll see that your faith will make you whole.