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

Presence of Stillness

BE STILL

‘Be still and know that I AM God …’

‘Be still and know that I am God …’

‘Be still, and know that I am GOD …’ 

                                          Psalm 46:10

Be Still …

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

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

covenant

‘I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it shall be for the sign of covenant between Me and the earth.’ Genesis 9:13

Happy Monday!

I hope your day is off to a great start as we March forward into the week … [weak pun intended]

This will be a quick post because I have much to do – have to slay some school work

As a side note – it is never too late to accomplish a personal goal; keep going until you have obtained it

But I digress – today I wanted to share some spectacular artwork

Artwork which inspired thoughts of our  Covenant-Keeping God

 

I walked out this morning and saw this beautiful artwork next door.

It made me smile – so much so that I had to go inside, get my phone and take a picture

Counting, hearts, stars, someone with glasses, tic-tac-toe, a friend waving hello!, another with arms open wide and ...

Yes! There is a little person in a rainbow boat in the background

 

As I am writing this post, I am listening to Edward Rivera singing a version of the song Nothing Else. And the line being repeated over and over is this: ‘Take me back, take me back ... take me back to my first love’

So what does this have to do with my master artists next door?

Sometimes, to get back to that first love – you have to go back to your first thoughts

‘you have left your first love … you have abandoned the love you had at first …

repent … go back and do the works you did at first’

Revelation 2:4-5 [AMP & ESV]

Sometimes we have to go back to being like a child,

with an innocent and hope-filled view of the world

Where is that enthusiastic, wide-eyed approach that we once had - to life and love and God?

Sometimes we need to pause and just count to ten – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 …

Sometimes we just need to look at hearts and stars – and draw a few

Sometimes we have to use our imagination and … ride in boats made of rainbows

Don’t we need that sometimes?

When it feels like we’re sinking – to be reminded that His covenant literally carries us

It is the vessel which safely allows us to navigate the storms of life

It is supposed to start raining soon,

And, unfortunately that precious sidewalk chalk masterpiece will fade away

But it has accomplished its task: beautifying the world, inspiring hope and coaxing a smile

          from someone who needed to smile ... me

Many things will fade in this earth

Let us make sure our hope and joy are not among that list

Let us believe, with child-like faith, that anything is possible, even sailing in rainbows

Let us forever remember His covenant with us and commitment to us will never fade

 

Have a Blessed Day!

 

‘you have only a little strength,

yet you have kept My word and have not denied My name.’

Revelation 3:8

TRUST

Here we are in the homestretch of 2020 –

I pray and trust that all is going well with you as this year winds down

Yes – there are still two more days...

One day and a wake up as we used to say when I was a military spouse

But – we are almost there and it has been quite a journey, this 2020 year

There were some expected occurrences, and many more which took me completely by surprise

Yet – as I went to sleep last night, and arose this morning, one word has been on my heart and mind: TRUST

At the beginning of this year, I wrote a post titled ‘2020: New, New Year’s Resolution’

In that post I wrote about how resolutions do not have to focus on removing something negative; but that it could center on maintaining & increasing something positive … continuing to do what proved useful and faithful:

If you placed & found your trust in the LORD in 2020 –

                Resolve to CONTINUE TRUSTING IN THE LORD

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him” Jeremiah 17:7

 

If you clung to your hope in the LORD in 2020 –

                Resolve to CONTINUE HOPING IN THE LORD

“For You, O LORD are my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth” Psalm 71:5

 

If you found strength in the LORD in 2020 –

                Resolve to CONTINUE RELYING ON THAT STRENGTH

“ Those who trust in the LORD, will renew their strength; they shall rise up on wings as eagles; they shall run and not grow weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

 

We may not always understand the ways of the LORD –

It is difficult for us to comprehend how He is working in certain situations,

            Why He is allowing them to occur

But, if I have learned nothing else in almost 35-years of following Him, I have learned this:

He is faithful and can be TRUSTED

He is completely TRUSTWORTHY

He is worthy of my TRUST, He is worthy of our TRUST

 

‘Not one of all of the LORD’s good promises to Israel failed; everyone was fulfilled.’ Joshua 21:45

 

This is a cause for celebration – not just for nation of Israel but for us all:

You see, ‘The LORD is no respecter of persons …’  [Romans 2:11]

What He has done for one, He is well able to do for another

And, when it comes to the subject of the LORD making promises;

            He will always do, for all, what He has promised He will do

For, ‘God is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?’ Numbers 23:19

 

This morning –

My only encouragement is that you TRUST THE LORD –

He will not fail you!

I am praying that you will experience tangible instances of His presence, protection and favor

 

Have a Blessed Day!

‘Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path.’

Proverbs 3:5-6

WHAT HE SAID ...

Happy Friday!

Here we are one short week until Christmas –

And Hanukkah ends this evening at sunset

This entire time of year is such a joy to me –

Time to slow down and spend quality time with friends & family;

Time to enjoy simple pleasures and reflect on all of the blessings of the LORD

For me, that time of reflection also includes a journey through my mental file cabinet

It is a time for me to remember all the things which God has spoken to me

It fills me with hope and is a source of great encouragement – thinking on what He spoke

 

As I did my devotionals this morning, I came across this section of scripture:

‘Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel because He has come to His people and redeemed them. He has risen up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David (as He said through His holy prophets of long ago)…’ Luke 1:68-70

 

This verse of scripture recounts words spoken by Zechariah, father of John the Baptist

He was speaking of the coming of Jesus

‘Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel because He has come to His people and redeemed them … (as He said through His holy prophets of long ago)’

 

Indeed, this fulfillment of prophecy was a long time coming

The words spoken to the prophets were delivered multiple generations before Jesus’ birth

The promise was in motion before any record of it ever occurred in the earth

For Jesus is the Lamb who was slain before the foundation of the world [Rev. 13:8]

Yet every promise God makes is sure to come to pass

‘For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.’ II Corinthians 1:20

What He Spoke Will Always Come to Pass

 

Again – what He spoke will always come to pass

However – the timing is not always what we expect, nor the process

Yet – we can TRUST His words and His ways

His thoughts are above our own [Isaiah 55:9]

He makes all things perfect in its time [Ecclesiastes 3:11]

Not one of His promises has ever failed [Joshua 21:45]

What He Spoke Will Always Come to Pass

 

Some promises will spring to form suddenly –

As it did at creation when He spoke the worlds into existence [Psalm 33:6-9]

Some will take time –

Like the promise of a child to Abram and Sarai,

a promise not fulfilled until Abraham was 100-years old [Genesis 21:5]

Some promises will take months –

Like the promise to Mary & Joseph regarding the birth of Jesus [Luke 1 & 2]

Some will be fulfilled in a day –

Like the promise to the thief hanging on cross next Jesus at His crucifixion [Luke 23:43]

What He Spoke Will Always Come to Pass

 

TRUST & BELIEVE

No matter what God has spoken to you – no matter when He spoke it

TRUST the LORD you God to do exactly what He promised

‘God is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?’ Numbers 23:19

If He spoke, He will also do it

What He Spoke Will Always Come to Pass

 

I am praying for you this morning –

I am praying you will experience the presence of God is a very tangible way

– today and every day

Keep expecting a marvelous manifestation of every promise He has made you

What He Spoke Will Come to Pass

 

Have a Blessed Day!

‘The vision is yet for an appointed time; in the end it will speak and not lie:

though the vision tarry, wait for it; for it will surely come and will not be [late] delayed’

Habakkuk 2:3 

VISION

 Good Morning!

I pray your day and week has been off to a great start

I was so pleased to share some thoughts yesterday on the subject of ‘chosen’

It is such a marvelous thing when we realize that He chose us before we were ever born

Yet – there are times when it is challenging to focus on that beautiful truth

The cracks and fissures and fractures of life make it difficult to see the larger picture

It makes it necessary for us to have a focused VISION

There is a story found In the second book of Kings in the Old Testament –

Elisha and his servant are facing a situation where the issues of life are closing in on them;

Their enemies have encircled them fully

The servant can only see imminent destruction

But Elisha, looking at their situation through eyes of faith, declares,

‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’

‘And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around’ II Kings 6:17

 

What we see is not always all there is –

Perspective is everything

 

In the book of Luke, chapter 4, there is an account given where Jesus enters a synagogue and reads a section of text from the book of Isaiah where it was written of Him,

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
    because He has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
     to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor”

 

He found in the scrolls, written hundreds of years before His birth, the declaration of Him being the Chosen one. And we know from Scripture that the plan of salvation was in effect long before anything was penned in the book of Isaiah – Jesus being the Lamb who was slain before the foundation of the world (Revelation 13)

 

Yet – there were so many things which took place prior to the fulfillment of the prophecy

There was time – countless time

There were detours – or apparent detours

There were heartaches and seeming delays

There were points of confusion and disappointments

Indeed, anyone looking from the outside in would likely find it difficult to see how all of the happenings were part of a beautiful and glorious plan.

 

Yet and still – all of the cracks and fissures and fractures were forming something beautiful

He was taking all of those seemingly broken things and creating something glorious for humanity

And He is also making something beautiful for you!

 

Today, if all you can see is the brokenness –

I encourage you to take a step back and see how those cracks are forming something beautiful

Grasp the perspective that they are one part of a huge tapestry of your life and God’s plan

I pray that the LORD would open your eyes to see all the ways He is working

I pray that He would give you VISION to see the larger picture

I pray that you would understand and experience the truth of His Word which reminds us:

‘He makes all things beautiful in its time’ Ecclesiastes 3:11

  

Have a Blessed Day…

      & Merry Christmas! 

MORE

Greetings Friends!

I have not written here in some time –

It has been quite a first half of the year. And here we are almost to the end of July.

There has been much on mind – great periods of reflection

 

I am studying the book of Nehemiah and, like him, there is a quest to rebuild the walls

Only it is not the walls of Jerusalem laying in ruin –

No – these are a completely different set of walls, entirely

But – that subject is not why I am taking a break from my hiatus and opting to write today

When I woke up this morning – before my eyes were fully opened – the first word I heard was:

 

MORE

It was almost as if it was a promise, a command, and a challenge – all at once

What More? Whose More?

The MORE of the people of God –

More FAITH

More TRUST

More SEARCHING

More YEARNING

More LEARNING

 

The MORE of the God of the people – given freely to His people

More JOY

More WISDOM

More DISCERNMENT

More PEACE

More POWER

More FAVOR

More PROVISION

 

Whether it is our MORE toward the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY,

Or His MORE graciously bestowed upon His children

THERE IS MORE … SO MUCH MORE … EXCEEDINGLY, ABUNDANTLY MORE!

 

‘Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus, throughout all generations, for ever and ever. Amen!’  Ephesians 3:20-21

 

Have a Blessed and Restful Evening