REST

Good Morning!

I pray all is going well with you this morning –

Hopefully, you have been able to get some much needed rest this holiday weekend

Rest – it is an important element which often gets overlooked

It is so essential to … REST

I know that it sometimes feels as though there is no time to REST –

Yet, our bodies [and our lives] cannot function properly without times of refreshing

There is a story in the book of I Kings which tells of a day in the life of the prophet Elijah:

‘He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die.’ I Kings 19:4

 

Here we have a mighty man of God, on the heels of a great victory

            He had called down fire from heaven … and it fell! I Kings 18:38

Yet, here he is one chapter later completely despondent

What happened?

The battle had exhausted him and left him utterly undernourished – spiritually & physically

And what was God’s prescription?

What grand solution did Jehovah-Rophe, the LORD who heals, offer?

REST, EAT, GET IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD

‘Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” … He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat for the journey is too much for you.”' I Kings 19:5-7

 

THE JOURNEY IS TOO MUCH

We have not had to call down fire from heaven –

Yet many of us have felt that the journey through 2020 has been too much, ‘way too much’

But – take heart

Despite the reality of the challenges, there still remains a REST

‘Thus far, you have survived 100% of the toughest moments life has thrown your way.’

 

LIKE AN INFANT

I had a discussion a while back with my friend where I was sharing the importance of REST

I told her there are times when I get restless, impatient and downright cranky;

            whining and sometimes crying; wanting to be consoled and left alone all at once

In those moments, I shared with her, I imagine a scene plays out in heaven…

The angels are gathered around the throne and they are completely perplexed:

‘My LORD, WHAT is wrong with her?!’

And I imagine the LORD calmly responding,

‘She’s fine … she just needs a nap. She’s tired and hungry and she needs her Heavenly Father.’

 

It used to be that way when my sons were infants. It was not often but they would have those moments when they would start to get ‘fussy’. They were tired, or hungry [sometimes both] and they needed REST! Sometimes all they needed was to know that I was close by, that I was present ...and then they could REST.

 

It is amazing what a little rest will do – emotionally, spiritually and physically

It also helps our perspective, so we may see more clearly

But the act of rest it is not a one-time occurrence

We must be intentional about seeking out regular moments of rest & rejuvenation

Forty days after that encounter with the angel of the LORD, Elijah was in a cave;

And the LORD came to him where he was:

‘The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” I Kings 19:11

Even if you are too weary from the current journey and for the next journey,

The LORD will meet you right where you are

He is the Omni-Present One …there is no escaping His presence

 

HIS PRESENCE IS KEY

The refueling – whatever that may look like – is great

            Water, food, exercise, prayer, meditation

The rest – in all its forms – is helpful

            Naps, sleep, sitting in silence

But the getting in the presence of the LORD – it is absolutely essential

His presence is key!

 

This morning –

Whether you only have today or the remainder of this week heading into the new year;

Be intentional about carving out meaningful moments of rest, in His presence

Take time to pursue and enjoy REST –

recovering from the present journey and preparing for all that is to come

 

Have a Rest-Filled & Blessed Day!

‘He gives His beloved rest.’  Psalm 127:2

‘The LORD provides for those He loves, even while they are sleeping.’ Psalm 127:2

WSR REPORT: BE PREPARED

Good Morning Friends

It is early Sunday morning –

However, with the stay-at-home order in the State of Virginia,

                Today will likely look very similar to yesterday

One positive coming out of this current circumstance – time for self

There is ample time for rest, self-reflection and future planning

And, planning and preparedness is the subject of our WSR Report today

When Storms Rage, and truly before storms rage, preparation is a vital principle for success

There is an old saying that, ‘an ounce of preparation is worth a pound of cure’

This is so true – a truth which has become glaring evident in the current crisis facing the world

In my book, When Storms Rage, there are twenty-one principles

Twenty-one principles to keep you anchored through life’s toughest moments

Principle one is ‘Get Prepared’

Yet, even as we start off our journey here, focusing on the need to prepare,

We recognize there are some storms you simply cannot anticipate

“There are some storms you just can’t prepare for … they either strike you completely unaware or they suddenly shift in the level of intensity, leaving you confused and devastated.”

This has happened on so many levels with the current pandemic. Yet, all is not lost

When you find yourself if the midst of a storm – one for which you were unprepared or under-prepared – take some time to regroup, to critically analyze your situation and start planning and preparing from where you are at this moment.

Yes – situations can be overwhelming

However – those situations, they do not have to be devastating

Within the book, When Storms Rage, there is a Storm Management Checklist. It offers spiritual and practical areas which we all must consider in preparing for the storms of life which arise. Over the next couple of days, I will be sharing portions of that checklist as a vital resource tool to help equip you for the storms of life.

One Final Word

Even as health concerns continue and economies are impacted by the current events,

Remember – faith is the currency in the Kingdom of God

With man, it may seem impossible, and may indeed be impossible,

But – with God all things are possible!

Keep trusting Him – He will see you through

Have a Blessed Day & Stay Safe

WSR REPORT: STORMS RAGE

Good Morning Friends

I pray your weekend is off to a good start

I know these are challenging times,

However, it is so important to reign in our focus and fix our eyes on any positives

‘Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything is worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” Philippians 4:8

Therefore –

In an effort to do a small part in encouraging you my friends, over the next few weeks,

I will be sharing excerpts from my book ‘When Storms Rage’

I will be contextualizing those excerpts to focus directly on the current storm facing our nation and the globe.

This is not a marketing ploy – I receive nothing from sharing free excerpts from my book

Rather – I know that there are beneficial principles found in the Word of God,

                Principles which have helped me throughout my life,

                Principles which continue to help me through this current storm

In an attempt to encourage as many as possible,

these posts will also be shared on my WordPress site, ‘Fuerza’

Today – in our When Storms Rage [WSR] Report, we acknowledge, STORMS RAGE

However – even as the storms rage outwardly, they do not have to destroy us inwardly

Today – my prayer is that you would be encouraged in your soul,

That you would be kept safe from harm,

That you would be strengthened in your spirit.

God has supplied, in His Word, direction and instruction for us all –

He has supplied words of encouragement and hope to keep us through every storm

Despite what we are seeing – nationally and globally – there is hope

It is not a false hope – it is a real hope, a living hope

Jesus Christ is our Savior, our Strength, our Protection & Provision, our Living Hope

Even as I write this post –

I am sick with an upper respiratory infection, awaiting COVID-19 results

And, while I pray that the test comes back negative, I am prepared whatever the result

I am confident – no matter the storm

I know in Whom I have believed – I am confident in the One who I trust             

My trust and my hope is in the LORD God Almighty –

There is no better preparation than that ….

Be encouraged my friends –

Have a Blessed Day & Stay Safe

stand strong

Good Evening Friends!

I hope you had a fantastic day today –

I have had an interesting day;

One of those days that makes you sit and reflect at the end of the day

Have you ever experienced a situation –

One which should have left you feeling a certain way,

But had the complete opposite affect?

I had one of those moments today –

Two actually

It made me think of a response from three of God’s faithful servants in the Old Testament

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego

These three men were faced with persecution and threatened with bodily harm;

And, their enemy, who had heard of their determination to honor the LORD, was furious;

Then, in his rage, the king declared, “Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?” Daniel 3:15

The three Hebrew men responded, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if He does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Daniel 3:16

I love the way the Message Version says it:

“Your threat means nothing to us. If you throw us in the fire, the God we serve can rescue us from your roaring furnace and anything else you might cook up, O king. But even if he doesn’t, it wouldn’t make a bit of difference, O king. We still wouldn’t serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up”

The kings words were meant to instill fear –

However, those very words, words meant to intimidate them,

Those words had the opposite affect – instead it emboldened them!

People in our modern-day society make reference to people ‘doubling-down’

Well, these three had to be the originators of ‘double-down’

Some might refer to them as ‘strong-willed',

But that is what I like about them and their story.

I have often told the tale of my youngest son and his incredible determination:

From the time he was very young, he has had an extremely strong will;

I would even dare to say that it is a quality he possessed before he was born

The pregnancy with him was nothing like what I experienced carrying his two older brothers

And, he was almost two weeks late! He was determined to do things his way, on his timetable

It was a constant struggle, a war of wills, a tango of temperaments;

My son determined to have his way – and me determined to control the situation

HOWEVER – everything changed one day

I was praying about/against that willfulness in my son;

Then I heard the LORD speak so clearly, that it might as well have been audible:

‘Stop praying against that trait … I gave him that characteristic

It does not need to be rebuked. It needs to be trained and harnessed

Because when he wants what I want – HE WILL BE UNSTOPPABLE!’

You see – there is a strength that comes from confidence in self

                In knowing who you are as a person … this is foolishness, vanity and futility

Then – there is a strength that comes from confidence in the LORD;

                In knowing Whose you are … this is true strength, wisdom & power!

When you know the LORD – you are able to walk and talk, a little differently;

‘The people who know their God shall display strength and do great exploits’ Daniel 11:32

So, my encouragement to you this evening – stand strong in the LORD

AFTER ALL –

‘…if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God,

You cannot overthrow it – lest you even be found to fight against God’ Acts 5:38-39

Have a Blessed Evening!

the comforters ...

Good Morning –

I pray all is well and that you have had a blessed week

Hard to believe we almost to the end of February

Where is the time going?

It is moving so fast that it almost makes you want to pause –

                to find comfort in a slower pace and to rest

Funny thing is, though, even when I have the opportunity to sleep in,

Here I am – up at 4AM on a Saturday

As soon as I arise – lately – my very first thoughts are of the LORD

And the next thoughts go to all who are facing challenges in this fast- paced world,

                to those who seek comfort and strength for their journey

Yet you cannot think only of the ones needing comfort

Someone has to meet that need

Where are the comforters?

We know Jesus is our Ultimate Comforter –

He is our High Priest, able to sympathize with our weakness,

                for He was in always tried and tested Himself [Heb. 4:15]

And, as part of the triune nature of God, I know He is Omnipresent,

                Everywhere at the same time

We know – without doubt that the LORD has comforted us in our journey

The famous poem ‘Footprints’ captures it perfectly, noting the LORD’s reply to one of His hurting children: “My precious, precious child, I love you and would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”

Such a stunning depiction of grace, provision, mercy, protection and COMFORT –

Even still, there are countless individuals who have cried out the LORD in the midst of trial,

‘LORD, do you not care that we are perishing?’

‘Why LORD do you stand afar off? Why do you hide Yourself in time of trouble? Psalm 10:1

‘How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will You hide your face? Psalm 13:1

Yet, in every instance, comfort was supplied

The Comforter responded with gentle but unmistakable assurance,

‘I AM HERE …’

However, sometimes as human beings walking this earth,

                We need ‘Jesus with some skin’

This is where you and I come into the picture

The LORD desires that we would demonstrate similar levels of love and commitment,

                of support, of caring and of comfort which He has shown us

‘Let this mind which was in Christ Jesus, also be formed in you.’ Philippians 2:5

Let this heart of compassion and willingness to be a comfort to those in need,

be formed in you

You see –

The LORD God Almighty does not comfort us solely that we would be comforted, but that we would become comforters

Sometimes, the circumstances can be so intense that it is overwhelming;

Indeed, even Jesus questioned during His most severe time of trial,

‘Eli, Eli lama sabachthani?’

‘My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?’  Matthew 27:46

We all need comfort from time to time –

And there are countless opportunities for you and I to:

§  Pay close attention to those in need

§  Be present during their times of challenge – to not stand far away

§  Let people know they are remembered and that someone cares

I would challenge you –

Think on all the ways the LORD has provided you comfort,

                Whether by His Spirit or by sending comfort you way.

Then make a decision to partner with Him and to:

Be His hands and heart in the earth,

Be mindful of those needing comfort,

Make a firm commitment to becoming a comforter

I promise –

You will not ever regret being ‘Jesus with some skin’ to someone who is hurting

Have a Blessed Day!

‘Praise be to the God and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ,

the Father of compassion and God of all comfort,

who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble.’

II Corinthians 1:3-4

Cling to the Sword!

‘And after him was Eleazar … one of the three mighty men with David … He [Eleazar] arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.’ II Samuel 23:9-10 (KJV)

What an image!

This mighty man of valor fought so hard and long that his hand ‘clave unto the sword’. The word for clave in the Hebrew is ‘dabaq’ which means: to cling, stick, stay close, cleave, keep close, stick to, stick with, follow closely, join to…

He was so determined in his fight against the enemy that his hand clung to the sword. It stuck to and with the sword. It stayed close to the sword. It cleaved unto the sword. His hand kept close to the sword. His hand followed closely and joined to the sword.

‘And the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.’

Because he remained focused, diligent and persistent – because he clung to the sword – the LORD brought about a tremendous victory. And the only thing left to do when it was all over was to collect the spoils from the enemy.

•Do you need tools to fight the battle you are in?
•Do you have a desire to annihilate the enemy?
•Do need a TODAY victory where you can take back all enemy has stolen from you and others?

DO WHAT ELEAZER DID … CLING TO THE SWORD!

Ephesians 6:13-18 tells us to put on the full armor of God when going into battle. But I especially like verse seventeen which tells us, ‘take … the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God’.
• As I stick to (and with) the sword, it enables me to cut down the enemies which have surrounded me
• As I embrace the truth of God’s Word and apply it to my life, I am equipped for an unrelenting battle
• I am empowered as I keep my hand close to the ‘sword, which is the word’ – as I allow it to direct the works of my hands, my actions
• When I am joined to and follow closely the Word of God, which is the sword of God, I have everything I need

The victory is sure if I will but cling to the sword of God, to the Word of God!

Understand, however, that dogged determination is not enough…

My determination must be accompanied by His sword, by His Word, by His Spirit.

This is the word of the LORD: ‘It is not by force nor by strength, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.’ Zechariah 4:6 (NLT)

CLING TO GOD’S SWORD – CLING TO HIS WORD
DESTROY THE ENEMY … WIN THE BATTLE … COLLECT THE SPOILS!

*Re-Post 4/12/19. Originally posted on this site 04/29/10

Keep Marching Forward ...

Good Morning Friends!

It has been quite some time since I have written

Hard to believe that it is the last day of March 2019

And just like that – one-fourth of this year is gone …

It is a good time to reflect on goals that have been set for the year

It is a great time to check our progress in moving toward the things God has for us

Personally, I am in the middle of self-development project

It is one aimed at forcing myself out of my comfort zone

As an introvert, it is very difficult for me to socialize with people

Therefore, I have been taking deliberate and intentional steps to overcome this area

In daily interactions and on social media, I am pushing myself ...

To engage more with others and be more interactive

But I faced a significant setback this week –

Even as I have taken steps to be more social and engaging

Someone came up behind me at work and struck my chair really hard

Now, this might not be a big deal to most people

However, given the climate and my history – it had a significant impact on me

I had a full-fledged anxiety attack – hands trembling and an endless flow of tears

I was so disappointed – in my reaction

Understand, I did nothing wrong.

The wrong was on the part of the individual who struck my chair.

Yet – I was disappointed because it felt like I took three steps backwards

Immediately, I could feel the walls going back up

But then I had to remind myself of my goals and of all the progress I have made

Therefore I have decided – I will not let Friday’s incident veer me off course

I will continue to march forward – unmoved by the enemy’s attempt to derail me

There is more of this year out ahead of me than what has passed

Perhaps you have faced some challenges with goals you have set for yourself this year

There is more of this year out ahead of you than what has passed

And so I offer this reminder –

No matter what may happen, no matter what ‘they say’, no matter what you tell yourself

Remember, at all points, and despite any challenges this year

You are –

Perfectly Purposed

‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I set you apart’

Jeremiah 1:5

Timelessly Treasured

‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness’

Jeremiah 31:3

Sovereignly Selected

‘You are my servant; I have chosen you and have not rejected you.’

Isaiah 41:9

Divinely Defended

'Do not fear for I am with you. Do not be dismayed for I am your God; I will defend you.’

Isaiah 41:10

‘No weapon formed against you shall prosper’

Isaiah 54:17

There is more of this year out ahead of us than what has fallen in the rear-view window

Keep marching forward!

Praying You Have a Blessed Day

Wishing You Much Love …

LOVE: WHEN YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND

Hi there friends!

I pray your day went well

I know – this is actually my second post today.

However, in all fairness, my aim was to get yesterday’s post up yesterday

But, it ended up going on the page just past midnight.

Why? Have you ever had one of those days – after a long day of working – where you say to yourself, ‘I’ll just sit/lay here for a moment to rest my mind and my eyes’? Well – that was me yesterday. And a few hours later I woke up and realized … that might not have been the best idea J

And, wouldn’t you know – it happened again … tonight!

However, I was not taking a ‘quick rest’ tonight. I started out talking to the LORD, and then crying to the LORD, and then singing to the LORD, and then listening … and then sleeping under the sweet presence of the LORD. Fittingly, when I awoke, I had a text message waiting for me from my very best friend. She said she was thinking about me and just wanted to check and make sure everything was ok. What a perfect segue into our discussion on – PHILEO LOVE!

PHILEO LOVE – it is often referred to as brotherly love.

However, it most accurately noted as a love shared between friends.

In the context of a family, storge love often comes first;

And, if you are fortunate, you can eventually have phileo love as well.

On the opposite side – with friends, you can start out with phileo love;

And, if you are extremely fortunate, it can develop in to a bond so deep that one would think it was storge.

Scripture tells us, there is a friend which sticks closer than a brother (Prov. 18:24). And, we all have the opportunity to know Jesus as that friend. His presence was very tangible to me this evening – before I fell asleep and even while I slept [that would take too much time to explain]. Yet even with that, the LORD reminds me of the special gift that He has given me in a friendship based upon phileo love with my dear friend. Jesus is great ... however, sometimes you need Jesus that you can see – to go to Starbucks with, to help with moving, to be a shoulder to cry on, to go bowling with, to go to a restaurant just for dessert & coffee, or to receive a text message from ... and who you can text back.

YES – I believe there are those unique relationships which the LORD allows to enter our lives where the individual sticks by our side closer than any family member ever could/would - and you do the same.

·         AGAPE LOVE – is an act of the will, which may or may not be reciprocated 

·         STORGE LOVE – is often rooted in where you have been assigned, the family where God decided to plant you. Yet, it too may or may not be reciprocated

·         PHILEO LOVE – however, is a mutual, or shared affection between two people

We talked about the concept of phileo love briefly when we discussed storge love. You will recall how we discussed the love shared between David and Jonathan – a love which was stronger than family [I Samuel 18:1]. This was phileo love which blended [at least in intensity] with storge love. It is an amazing thing!

If you are blessed to have such a relationship [or several relationships], you are no doubt aware of what an awesome gift it is to you and your friend. Sadly, however, if you do not have this type of relationship, you are probably painfully aware of the void it can leave in times when you need Jesus in a tangible form.

But all hope is not lost. There is a saying that one who desires friends should show him/herself friendly. So take some time to build connections with people. It may not always develop into a friendship based upon PHILEO LOVE. But, you never know … it could! 

I pray tonight that the LORD would bless you with one such friend.

If He has already blessed you with such a friend, I pray that you would never take that friendship for granted.

Praying You Have a Blessed Evening!

Wishing You Much Love …

‘Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up.’ Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

The People Who Know Their God ...

‘… but the people who know their God, shall display strength and take action.’ Daniel 11:32

ššššš

It has been quite some time since I have taken time to write – with work, school, taking care of my mom, launching my book … and being sick on top of it all … it has been extremely challenging.

Yet, it is an absolutely beautiful day here in Virginia Beach, VA! The sun is shining, it is an unseasonable 74-degrees and there is a gentle breeze. I absolutely love it! I just finished taking my little dog for a walk and I could have stayed out there forever.

However, even as I walked in all that beauty, my thoughts fell on those who are not experiencing peace and bliss this morning, those who are wrought with fear over the condition of our world. It is perfectly understandable. Why just this week alone, the headlines have been littered with absolute nightmare situations:

• 298 lives lost as a result of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 being shot down
• A child predator beat unconscious by a father who found him sexually abusing his son
• A rookie cop fatally shot in the head while responding to a report of an armed robbery
• Typhoon Rammasun claims 77 lives in the Philippines

And that is but a handful of news stories. Therefore, it is understandable why so many are concerned. Yet, the concern, and frequently accompanying worry, are not inevitable – especially for the people of God.

‘The people who know their God shall display strength …’

It does not state that they shall display fear, worry, anxiety, confusion or hopelessness. No – it says they shall display strength: power, depth, fortitude, courage, resilience and GRIT. And, what is this display based upon? Is it rooted in self-assurance and self-reliance? No! Is it fueled by self-confidence and arrogance? Absolutely, Not!

It is only made possible because of an overwhelming confidence in the LORD God Almighty. It is not ruled by circumstances, however daunting and horrific they may be. It looks past what can be viewed with the natural eye and locks in on the images of God. It does not deny the reality of what is occurring all around, yet it is not consumed by it either.

You see, the people who know their God are fully convinced:

‘It is not by force nor by strength, but it is by the Spirit of the LORD’ Zech.4:6 YLT

They have heard the voice of God which declares:

‘You will succeed, not by military might or by your own strength, but by My Spirit.’ Zech.4:6 GNT

Make no mistake – we are living in perilous times, which seem to growing darker and darker. However, we have a hope – one which is not just for eternal salvation through Jesus Christ, but one which provides hope and strength for today.

In my newly published book When Storms Rage, I note:

“Storms [challenges of life] are indiscriminate, taking no account of race, upbringing, socio-economic standing or spiritual position. They simply come – to the young and old, rich and poor, wise and foolish. The rains descend, flood waters rise and winds blow and beat – testing our faith and growing us in our relationship with God”

In this life we will have trouble – but we may take heart for Christ has overcome the world

And we have this promise, like the children of Israel had all those years ago, which declares:

‘You … are My servant … My first choice … I pulled you in from all over the world, called you in from every dark corner of the earth, telling you, ‘You’re my servant, serving on My side. I’ve picked you. I haven’t dropped you.’ Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.’ Isaiah 41:10 MSG

If you know Him as your LORD, as your God and King –

     rest in the security of that relationship

If you do not know Him as LORD & Savior, your God and King –

     get to know Him

Despite the challenges of life, and even in the midst of the most trying of circumstances, there is a peace which passes all understanding and it facilitates uncommon strength and resolve. The people who know their God truly shall display strength and do mighty exploits.

Have a Blessed and Faith-Filled Day!