Presence of Promise

 

“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Deuteronomy 31:8

THE PRESENCE OF HIS PROMISE 

His promise to be with us is solid

His promise is more dependable than rocks of old

Even mountains can be blasted into rubble 

Yet, there is nothing … absolutely nothing… that can cause one of the LORD’ promises to fail.

Therefore, we can celebrate before we see it

We have assurance as soon as He speaks it

It will come to pass 

Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ.

II Corinthians 2:14

The Presence of Power

 

‘So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; It will not return to Me void (useless, without result), Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.’ Isaiah 55:11 AMP

‘ … not one thing has failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spoke concerning you…’ Joshua 23:14

The word of God is a mighty thing - 

     His spoken word is a surety;

Which is why it is vital to know what He had said concerning us

‘For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.’ Hebrews 4:12

The sword in today’s picture is in its sheath on the third floor of my home. Yet the Word, my Bible, in the picture with it is more powerful and more useful in guarding and protecting my life. That is a thought to truly ponder … and to be in wonder.

The Word is listed as the one offensive weapon when discussing the full-armor of God in Ephesians chapter six.

There is power in the word of God!

The Presence of Power - Found in the Word of God

It is simply amazing …

‘All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.’ II Timothy 3:16-17

in the kitchen

 ‘For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory’  II Cor. 4:17

 

It has been a while since I’ve written –

But, as I sat at my desk praising the LORD this morning, this dropped on my heart

That picture above is a picture from my kitchen

I am starting a business and needed pictures for my website

The point is to show some of what goes into our products –

We select the finest ingredients that we can: vanilla, sugar, flour, salt, milk, butter

On their own, each of these ingredients is not that appealing –

            Not even the butter which is unsalted

And who really wants milk without a slice of cake or some cookies on the side?

 

However, when all of those ingredients are combined and mixed with other components; when the eggs are separated; when the mixture is beaten, laid into a mold and placed into a heated oven to bake – it creates something truly amazing!

 

If you take out too late – it will burn

If you take it out too early – it will be under-cooked and ruined

Precision is key - It must stay in a precise amount of time

This is true of baking and other forms of cooking as well

 

Mother’s Day is approaching this Sunday

This is my first mother’s day on this earth without my Mom who is now residing in heaven

I’ve been thinking about her a lot lately – and shedding some tears

            I miss her something terrible!

They are great memories. And one of my favorites is when she lived with me and my sons. My Mom did not bake a great deal. However, she was an amazing cook. And whenever she would cook, I would wait until she was not watching and sneak a taste out of the pan before it was done. 

I recall times when I burned my fingers, tongue or the roof of my mouth trying to hurry to eat it before she would catch me. Yes, I was [and sometimes still am] an impatient being . And when she would catch me, she would slap my fingers and say, ‘Get out of that pot! Out of my kitchen!’ Now – that was funny because it was actually my home; but it was unmistakably her kitchen when she was cooking in it.

 

I recall one instance where the LORD spoke to me after one of those exchanges with my Mom. And this is what He spoke to my spirit:

‘That is exactly how you are with Me at times. I am preparing something amazing for you. But you are impatient – sneaking into the pan, not getting the full effect of what is being prepared [because it is not finished yet] and hurting yourself in the process. If you will wait, you will receive My best – something delicious.’

 

You see – the process [the ingredients, in baking and cooking; the trials in life], they are all needed to bring about something magnificent. You may be experiencing bits and pieces which, on their own, are unappetizing. You might be frustrated, feeling beaten by life and circumstances. You may be weary from the amount of time required or parched from the heat and the cooking/baking process.  Yet, it is all a part of the plan, process and product of The Master Baker who says to you today, ‘I know the plans I have for you … plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future.’ Jeremiah 29:11

 

Rest assured that the LORD is working all things together for your good

          And for His glory

He is in the kitchen and He is fixing you something beautiful ... something beautifully delicious!

 Have a Blessed Day!

 

‘I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe even if it were reported to you.’

Habakkuk 1:5 GWT

forever enthroned

‘Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen’  

I Timothy 1:17

His birth would have meant nothing without His life and death

His death would have been meaningless without His resurrection

His purpose was fulfilled from the beginning,

            His task completed before it ever began on the earth

Jesus – the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world [Rev. 13:8]

Jesus – the Man who lived and died for all of humanity [John 1:29]

Jesus – the Conqueror who rose to life again [Heb. 12:2]

Jesus – the King who lives and rules eternally

            Seated at the right hand of the Father [Rom. 8:34]

I am thankful for His sacrifice every day of my life

There is no relationship with God Almighty without Him;

Faithful to His promise to never leave us, He sent His Holy Spirit

He is forever enthroned – in the universe and upon our hearts

We are not worthy; yet He esteemed us highly valuable

Today is just one more day to celebrate and give thanks

 

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

 

‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,

that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.’

John 3:16

in your lane ...

‘No weapon formed against you shall prosper and every tongue which rises against you in judgment is already condemned’  Isaiah 54:17

 

Stay in your lane –

It is usually said flippantly as a polite – not at all polite – way to say,

Mind your own business!

Yet, sometimes we need to remind ourselves and speak this to our own selves

 

But, what does that look like, practically and spiritually?

It looks like us fixing our eyes, minds and hearts on the right things

It is you & I staying out of matters that are not in our control

It is each one of us rejecting the impulse to ‘counsel’ God

It is each one of us focusing on all we know to do that is right

We stay in our lane and God stays in His lane … as only He can do

There is a story in the book of Esther –

Esther was a young Jewish girl. She was taken to the palace of the king and eventually became queen where she was tasked with being a voice to help save her people. It is a wonderful Bible account and one which had lasting implications. We will delve into Esther’s story later this year. But today, I would like to focus on the backstory of Esther’s cousin Mordecai.

 

Mordecai raised Esther after the death of her parents. He also served faithfully in the king’s court. However, he was hated and despised by a man named Haman – a man who would ultimately be responsible for plotting the destruction of the Jewish people [the very plot Esther had to fight against]. But before Haman set out to destroy all of the Jewish people, he set his sights on destroying one particular Jewish person, Mordecai – even erecting a gallows on which to hang Mordecai.  

Long story short, Mordecai ‘stayed in his lane’ by continuing to focus on what he knew to be right. He did not have to worry or think about any of Haman’s evil plotting against him individually. The Bible does not note whether Mordecai was even aware of Haman’s plot to attack him personally – to take his life and rob him of a future. Mordecai did not know – but God was fully aware of everything that was transpiring. And Haman ended up getting caught in the very trap he set for another. He reaped what he attempted to sow into the life of Mordecai, ultimately being hanged on the very same gallows which were erected at his command. And Mordecai kept living, traveling in his God-ordained lane.

Understand and know –

As we ‘stay in our lane’ … we free God to fully occupy His lane

We remove troublesome ‘traffic’ from His lane & what He is doing

Not that we could thwart the plans of God;

God is an expert at being & showing who He is

Yet we frustrate ourselves when we jump lanes and try to be God; and while we may want them to ‘get got’ now, God knows best

The battle is not ours – it belongs to the LORD

He is perfectly capable of working out His plans for us

He has good plans –  to prosper and not to harm, to give a hope and future (Jer. 29:11) and He promises that no weapon formed against us shall prosper.

He puts all things, situations – and people – in their designated lane

But, He does it in His time … in His way.

Esther is one of two books in the Bible that does not mention God

            But His presence and providence is evident

Likewise – you may not be able to see God in your current situation

            But He is ever working for your good and for His glory

No weapon formed against you shall prosper.

They can lie, cheat, manipulate and plot to steal from you

But, what God has for you is for you – and when He determines it is time for you to move forward, to spring forward into the plans and purposes that He has for you, nothing can stop it!

 

‘And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him,

who have been called according to His purpose.’

Romans 8:28

spring time

‘Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.’  

Isaiah 43:19

Springtime –

It is a brand new season;

A time for flowers and trees to bud

A time for things which laid dormant through the winter

          to spring to new life

A time for planting in anticipation of the showers of Spring

It is a wonderful time of the year – naturally and spiritually

It is the time of year where we reflect upon the sacrifice of Christ;

            But more importantly upon His resurrection

His death would have been meaningless if He did not rise again – but He did!

So it is with each one of us individually

The instances of death  - dreams, hopes, desires - it would all be pointless without some sort of redemptive quality

As such, we have this assurance from the LORD: ‘I will give you back what you lost in the years when swarms of locusts ate your crops. It was I who sent this army against you.’ Joel 2:25GNT

He will give beauty for ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a disheartened spirit. [Isaiah 61:3]

This is not a word for everyone – for there are seasons for everything … ‘a time to every purpose under heaven.’ (Ecclesiastes. 3:1) To you I say, ‘wait on the LORD and be of good courage. Wait patiently for the LORD.’ Psalm 27:14 Your time is coming.

However, if this is your 'now' word, you will know. It will resonate deeply in your heart and soul with what the LORD has been whispering to you of late. It will ignite a passion, excitement and mind-boggling anticipation, causing hope to spring to life in a tangible way. To those of you, I say, get ready! The LORD [not myself] says, “Look … See! Be astonished! Wonder! For I  am doing something in your days – you would not believe it if you were told.” Habakkuk 1:5 

Have a Blessed Day!

 

‘… the old is passed, behold all things are made new.’

II Corinthians 5:17 DRB

2021: St. Patrick's Day

‘For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God’  Romans 8:14

 

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Today is a day of great celebration for many and a day of national pride for many Irish. Yet, that has not been the primary or traditional reason of celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in my family. Today is my Nana’s birthday!

Growing up in Boston, MA … March 17^th was a local holiday

My mom always told me we had the day off from school because we were celebrating my Nana’s birthday. And I remember thinking, ‘My Nana must be something pretty special for them to shut down the whole city.’ I think I was in second or third grade  before I found out the truth. I guess technically my Mom was not lying – that is why she celebrated March 17^th.  

However, she also incorporated some very Irish traditions: corned beef, potatoes, carrots and cabbage for dinner on St. Patrick’s Day. The recipe has been tweaked over the years. I add Guinness Stout to my corned beef and we have incorporated chocolate treats and a couple of loaves of Irish Soda Bread. However, the heart of the celebration is the same: good eats, counting blessings and enjoying relaxing time with family. This year my mom is heaven with her mom (my Nana) – but I like to think they are both smiling at me and my sons as we continue our family traditions.

Not all traditions are bad. However, the true message of St. Patrick’s Day often gets lost in some of those traditions. It is frequently overlooked the fact that St. Patrick was taken to Ireland as a slave and eventually played a substantial role in sharing the gospel with the Irish people.  A slave turned missionary  … that is noteworthy.

It is this aspect of St. Patrick’s Day which is much more aligned with the celebration of my Nana’s birth and life.  She was an amazing woman of God! She loved her husband. They were married over 50 years and did not separate until she went home to heaven. She loved her children, she consistently provided for her family, always extended a helping hand to neighbors and established a firm foundation of faith for her family and grandchildren. This legacy of faith has continued – the roots which she established continue to grow, bearing fruit in the lives of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great, great-grandchildren to this day. Faith in the One True & Living God, Facilitated by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and Empowered by the Holy Spirit … That is truly something to celebrate!

Therefore, in the tradition of honoring my grandmother and honoring the memory of St. Patrick, I leave you with this blessing: May the Strength of God guide us. May the Power of God preserve us. May the Wisdom of God instruct us. May the Hand of God protect us. May the Way of God direct us. May the Shield of God defend us. May the Angels of God Surround us. May Christ be with us, before us and in us. Christ be over all!

still our living hope

‘I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.’  Psalm 27:13

 

I was watching a show this morning and it echoed something that has been visiting my heart over the past few days. It made me think of a post that I originally wrote back in 2012. It was a post about ‘a living hope’. National Suicide Prevention Day is not until September 10^th  but many precious souls will not make it that long. So I am sharing that post today … since it is heavy on my heart today. I pray you will be blessed by it…

 

[originally posted 22 March 2012]

I have something that has been on my heart for several days and it just will not move for some reason. My prayer is that I can make the following statement without people jumping to a bunch of conclusions.

In the past few years with all that I have experienced personally and in my interactions with others, I have come to this conclusion:
     "There are many people who have contemplated suicide who do not want to die ... they simply want the pain to end."

They are not completely hopeless as some would presume. Saved or unsaved, they have a hope and an expectation that what lies on the other side must be better than what they are currently experiencing - if for no other reason than the simple fact that they can rest.

To those who have never been there, and cannot fathom how someone could reach that place:

• Do you know what it is like to be so exhausted from living that an eternal rest seems like a better option than awaking to face one more draining day all over again?
• Can you understand and have a heart of compassion for someone who feels that way?
• Or do you scoff, spew out a Bible verse and flippantly declare, 'It's not that serious.'? 

My heart aches for those who hurt. And I have come to the realization that but for Christ in my life (and me actively in Him), there am I.

'I would have lost hope unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.' [my emphasis] Psalm 27:13

So tonight I am praying ....
Praying that God will touch every person who is so tired of living that death seems like the only viable alternative. I pray that He would speak to you in a personal way, unique and specific to how you can hear Him best. He loves you so much and He is present, even though it may not feel that way.

My pastor made a comment on Sunday and he said, 'There are people that are so lonely ... they can be in an auditorium full of people and feel completely alone ... sometimes you need Jesus with some skin.'

Powerful statements ...
And while I pray that He would speak to you individually and directly, through a dream, through a song, through a sermon,  to your heart, through a breeze, a flower or  a touch ... I pray also that He would send you a 'Jesus with some skin', a child of God who will not judge or condemn or minimize your pain - but one who is blessed with discernment and understanding, who radiates the love and compassion of Christ in such a way that it will be difficult to discern the difference.

Yes, God is bigger than anything you are facing and He is well able to handle it. However, I have come to the realization that the biggest hurdle for most people to jump is not in comprehending or believing in the ability of God but in having the assurance of His willingness, believing that He desires to do something meaningful for them.  He does ...

Therefore, I pray that He would comfort you with an everlasting and powerful comfort. And I pray that His love would be as real and tangible as the pain has been ... and so much more so.

I pray that you would see and experience His goodness in the land of the living and that it would be the foundation for a living hope - a match which ignites a desire to stay among us and fulfill the plan and purpose that God has for you life. He does indeed have a good plan, to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a real hope and a future. (Jer. 29:11)

'Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD and whose trust is the LORD. For he will be like a tree planted by the waters, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green and, it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.'  Jeremiah 17:7-8

Another word for trust is confidence or hope. It is one thing to place confidence in the LORD. However, it is something entirely different when He becomes the very confidence or hope that you possess. Jesus Christ, who died so that we could live, is our hope and confidence.

May the LORD God Almighty, truly bless you and keep you...
May His Holy Spirit supply you with strength and wisdom
May Christ be your living hope and give you hope to live ...

still yes ...

‘... exceedingly, abundantly above all that we could ask or think ...' Ephesians 3:20

Will you protect me and shield me?

Will you nourish me and comfort me?

Will you support & encourage me?

Will you see the best in me when I cannot see it in myself?

Will you provide my every need?

Will you respond to my cries?

Will you watch over me while I sleep, stay with me in the dark and reassure me when I am afraid?

 

But, will you sing to me?

 

Will you defend me when no one else will?

Will you listen when I need someone to talk to … no matter the time of day?

Will you help me when I am confused?

Will you know what I am trying to say when I cannot explain it myself?

Will you help me find the things I have lost?

Will you support my dreams and help me get to where I need to go?

 

Do I have anything to fear?

'As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.' Isaiah 66:13

Could a mother forget a child who nurses at her breast? 

Could she fail to love an infant who came from her own body? 

[Yet] Even if a mother should forget, I will not forget you. [says the LORD]

Isaiah 49:15 CEV

yes!

‘For as many as are the promises of God, in Him [Christ Jesus] they are yes’

II Corinthians 1:20

 

Every promise of God gets stamped with a ‘Yes!’ in Christ Jesus –

That is how The Message version of the Bible describes 2 Corinthians 1:20

I thought about this verse after seeing a preview for a movie on Netflix – Yes Day

The premise of the film is a day where parents must say ‘Yes’ to every request

Ice cream for breakfast? Yes …

Taking a day off to rest, relax and play? Yes …

You name it and it is getting a ‘Yes!’ on this imaginary day

 

But what if ‘Yes Day’ were a real thing?

What if you could ask your parent a question and be assured a positive response?

YOU CAN!

All the promises of God are ‘Yes’ in Christ Jesus –

Why? Because in Christ we have covenant, relationship & fellowship

In Christ we are co-heirs

‘If we are God’s children, we will get the blessings God has for His people. He will give us all that He has given Christ.’ Romans 8:17

Now, those blessings are not without suffering with Christ, to the glory of God – but it is still a ‘Yes Day’ … every day

How amazing is that?!

That is not to equate God to some genie in a bottle –

He does not fulfill everything we want

But He does fulfill everything – and I mean every single thing – He promised

Anything we desire in accordance with His promise is assured

We have full assurance that what He has promised He is able and willing to perform

LORD, will You protect me from my enemies today? Yes …

LORD, will You shadow me with goodness and mercy? Yes …

LORD, will You supply my every need today? Yes …

LORD, can I trust that You will not fail me? Yes … Emphatically Yes!

 

Jehovah Promise Keeper

When asked, ‘Who do you say that I am?’, it would most definitely be among my responses

While not one of His names listed in the Bible, I know from experience it is who He is

There is a comfort in knowing that He has good plans for me – and that He is faithful to fulfill them

Not one of His promises has failed … ever

'He is not a man that He should lie nor the son of man that He should repent or change His mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?’ Numbers 23:19

His Word goes forth and accomplishes that for which it was sent [Isaiah 55:11]

His Living Word Jesus, came & accomplished all for which He was sent [John 1:1, John 1:14]

His spoken word, His promises, do the same –

'There has not failed one word of all His good promise.’ I Kings 8:54

 

So today I declare His Word over your life, and mine

The LORD will be our guide [Psalm 48:14]

His presence is with us always [Hebrews 13:5]

There is no need to fear – His perfect love casts out fear [I John 4:18]

His faithfulness – rich in mercy – is not dependent upon our faithfulness [II Timothy 2:13]

May the LORD bless you in accordance with His perfect will for your life – today & everyday

Have a Blessed Day!

 

‘He who promised is faithful’

Hebrews 10:23

2021: ALL THINGS LOVE

We have officially made it through the first month of 2021!

The time, it seems to go so fast

However, I cannot state that I am disappointed

Because with the end of January, comes the beginning of one of my favorite months –

February is here!

And, if you have spent any time here on our page,

that means we are focusing on all things LOVE for the entire month

 

But LOVE means different things to different people

Whether it is a concept, a feeling or a verbal declaration,

When discussing the subject of love, the range of opinions can be as vast … as the stars

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE
I recently watched a show where the two lead actors were discussing the subject of LOVE

They had just met with his parents and announced their plans to be married

Upon being questioned about her intentions are reasoning for marriage, she responded:

‘My sweetie … I  … I love him’

When discussing the events of the evening the next morning, he commended her on putting his father at ease. "He does not usually believe those words", he said.

She then noted, "It occurred to me that your father wanted to hear a love declaration. I think he wanted to verify if it [the marriage] was a good match for his son. To be honest – it might be a little obvious – but there is nothing more definitive than love in that situation.”

He responded, “Right … there is no easier word than that either.”

A declaration of love could mean everything – or absolutely nothing

However, we will delve into that later this month

But for today – I would like to focus on the God who is LOVE

Why start here?

Because everything concerning love begins and ends with GOD –

Because you can never know or understand love until you know the LORD who is LOVE

I John 4:8 says, ‘Whoever does not love, does not know God, because God is love.’

It can also be stated that, he who does not know God does not know love [not truly]

So my question to you is a simple one

Do you know the God who is love?

Is it evidenced in your life and in your interactions with Him and others?

We will talk about this some more in the coming weeks …

It’s going to be an enjoyable month – I hope you’ll  stay around.

Have a Blessed Day!

WHO HE IS ... WHO HE IS TO YOU

It is a bit late for me to write a post

However, I felt like it was needed

I was listening to a song earlier today –

‘There was Jesus’ by Zach Williams & Dolly Parton;

And that song, it got me thinking about the LORD – about who He is to me

Last weekend, I turned 50 years old

It was the very first birthday I was not able to spend with my Mom.

I miss her so much – but there was Jesus

I have been walking with Him for thirty-five years and He has never left my side

So as I thought about His faithfulness through the years,

I gave some deep consideration to who He is to me

Last week I was listening to another song called ‘Man of Your Word’

                It is a song sung by Maverick City (featuring Chandler Moore & KJ Scriven)

In that song, there is a line that says – ‘I am who you say I am!’

The line is sung from the perspective of one who worships with LORD God Almighty

Yet, as I listened to it, it struck me that it is also a declaration –

Sung by the One who is worshiped, sung by the LORD God Almighty

 

In Matthew 16:15, Jesus asks a poignant question to His disciple:

‘Who do you say that I am?

His question has not changed

And our response still holds power – to effect change in our lives and the world.

He has many names –

But, we only receive to the degree that we acknowledge

If I do not recognize and respect someone’s leadership, they can never lead me

This works in natural relationships and in our divine relationship with GOD

The gospel of Matthew tells of an instance in Jesus' life where this principle played out

‘He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief’ Matthew 13:58

They could not acknowledge Him as the miracle-working God.

As a result, the did not receive many miracles

THE GOD WHO CAN DO ALL THINGS – the One who defeated death, hell & the grave;

                He did not do many miracles because of their unbelief

 

What we believe in our core – and confess with our mouths – it matters

 

To me – He has been the Faithful LORD who has been by my side

                In the thirty-five years I have been walking with Him

                And even in the fifteen years before I acknowledged Him

 

So, I ask you this today – who do you say He is?

Get ready to be astounded – because that is who He will be in your life

 

I have included a link to both of those songs down in the comments.

When you have a moment … take a listen

 

Have a Blessed Evening!

2021: untouched splendor

 

When you wake up to beauty;

A canvas filled in the dark of night

A God-text reminder ... 

He is working all for your good and His glory – Romans 8:28

His mercies are new every morning – Lamentations 3:22-23

He has made our scarlet sins white like snow – Isaiah 1:18

He has made this day ... rejoice and be glad! – Psalm 118:24

 

Have a Blessed Day!