#ScriptureReflection - Luke 1:67-80 (1.31.20)

Zacharias’ Prophecy

⁶⁷ Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:

⁶⁸ “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel,
For He has visited and redeemed His people,
⁶⁹ And has raised up a horn of salvation for us
In the house of His servant David,
⁷⁰ As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets,
Who have been since the world began,
⁷¹ That we should be saved from our enemies
And from the hand of all who hate us,
⁷² To perform the mercy promised to our fathers
And to remember His holy covenant,
⁷³ The oath which He swore to our father Abraham:
⁷⁴ To grant us that we,
Being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
Might serve Him without fear,
⁷⁵ In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.

⁷⁶ “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest;
For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
⁷⁷ To give knowledge of salvation to His people
By the remission of their sins,
⁷⁸ Through the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;
⁷⁹ To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

⁸⁰ So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

When God Speaks..... (1.30.20)

Faith Believers,
Are you accustomed to hearing GOD speak to you?

GOD, our Heavenly Father, communicates with His Children. He Initiates conversation. To be able to hear GOD is crucial for our spiritual lives. When GOD speaks, we are responsible to listen and hear Him.

There are always four voices competing for our attention - the voice of GOD, the devil, others, and our own. We must discern which is which. By faith, we can hear GOD and distinguish His Voice. By faith, we can receive GOD's Word and live by it. By faith, the Children of GOD are enabled to hear the Divine Truth and convert that truth into action.

GOD Speaks to us in several ways. He speaks primarily through the Bible. The Holy Spirit Speaks to us by impressing GOD’s Word and GOD's Will upon our hearts and minds. GOD also Speaks through God-ly ministers and speakers - such as pastors, preachers, teachers, and evangelists. GOD even Speaks through our circumstances.

Regardless of the method, when GOD Speaks, He Expects a response from us. He Expects us to hear His Voice, adjust our lives to Him, and obey.

GOD Speaks clearly and compellingly, and we must obey His Word quickly. When GOD Speaks to a person, that person has encountered the Prince of Peace and the Holy One. Jesus tells us in John 14:6 that He is “the way, the truth and the life." 

An encounter with GOD requires a response immediately.

  ~ Prayer ~
Righteous Father,
Your Word is a Lamp to my feet and a Light
     for my path.

Give me a deep desire to be still and listen, as
      You reveal more of Yourself to me.

May I obediently respond when You Call me to step into things that I might be uncomfortable with; but which will bring You Great Glory.

Help me to hear You Speak through The Word, through godly friends and mentors, through my circumstances – good and bad, and even through the lovely created world around me.

May I lean towards Your Voice, and yield
     in obedience, to whatever You Call
     me to be or to do.

Amen

A 'More Love' #LetterPrayer to Our Father (1.29.20)

~ Prayer ~

Father,
Help me to be confident that I will see Your Goodness, in the land of the living.

Help me to wait for You. 
Help me to be strong.
And take heart. 
And to wait.

I ask that my life would increasingly become a proclamation
     of Your Greatness and Your Goodness.

Make me fearless in the face of trials.

Strengthen me, I pray, to stand firm and release my lips to worship You - for You Are great and awesome, O GOD! You alone are GOD, Creator of Heaven and earth; and I join with all creation, and praise Your Holy Name!

Holy! Holy! Holy!
Lord GOD Almighty, who always has always been,
     who is here right now, and who is coming!

Forgive me for withholding my praise and adoration, for sometimes being silent, and even sullen; and for those times where I have lost sight of Your Greatness and Glory.

For in doing so - in that moment - I allowed You to become small in my eyes, and often took situations and concerns into my own hands, instead of trusting You.

Father GOD, You have said that "the one who trusts in man, and depends on the arm of flesh, for his strength is cursed." Father, forgive me for all of the ways that I have trusted in others, or my own strength, instead of trusting You.

Increase my faith, Lord. May I become like a tree planted by the water that does not fear when heat comes; but whose leaves are always green.

I choose now to cast my cares on You . . . for the relationships in my life that are fractured, for those who are close to me who have yet to call on Your Name, for the weariness of finances, for the broken-ness of this world.

O Lord, increase my faith!

Enable me, by Your Holy Spirit, to speak Your Word
     with great boldness - into every situation of my life
     - regardless of what is happening around me.

I choose, again, to put my trust in You and to put my hope
     in Your Unfailing Love, for You are my strength and
     those who hope in You will not be disappointed.

Thank You that You are at work on my behalf!!
Thank You that nothing is too difficult for You!!
Nothing!!!!

In Your Son, Jesus’ Name.

Amen

Scripture Reflections:
 ~  Psalm 27:13  ::   Acts 4:23-31  ::   Isaiah 6:3
 ~  Jeremiah 17:5, 7-8  ::   Psalm 55:22  ::   Acts 4:29
 ~  Habakkuk 3:17-19  ::   Isaiah 49:23  ::   Luke 1:37

#ScriptureReflection - 2 Samuel 12 (1.28.20)

Nathan Rebukes David

12 The Lord sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, “There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. ² The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, ³ but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.

⁴ “Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him.”

⁵ David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, “As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must die! ⁶ He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.”

⁷ Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. ⁸ I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. ⁹ Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. ¹⁰ Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’

¹¹ “This is what the Lord says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight. ¹² You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’”

¹³ Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”

Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. ¹⁴ But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the Lord, the son born to you will die.”
¹⁵ After Nathan had gone home, the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill. ¹⁶ David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and spent the nights lying in sackclot^h on the ground. ¹⁷ The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them.

¹⁸ On the seventh day the child died. David’s attendants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, “While the child was still living, he wouldn’t listen to us when we spoke to him. How can we now tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate.”

¹⁹ David noticed that his attendants were whispering among themselves, and he realized the child was dead. “Is the child dead?” he asked.
“Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.”

²⁰ Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.

²¹ His attendants asked him, “Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!”

²² He answered, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.’ ²³ But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”

²⁴ Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and made love to her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The Lord loved him; ²⁵ and because the Lord loved him, he sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah.

²⁶ Meanwhile Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal citadel. ²⁷ Joab then sent messengers to David, saying, “I have fought against Rabbah and taken its water supply. ²⁸ Now muster the rest of the troops and besiege the city and capture it. Otherwise I will take the city, and it will be named after me.”

²⁹ So David mustered the entire army and went to Rabbah, and attacked and captured it. ³⁰ David took the crown from their king’s head, and it was placed on his own head. It weighed a talent of gold, and it was set with precious stones. David took a great quantity of plunder from the city ³¹ and brought out the people who were there, consigning them to labor with saws and with iron picks and axes, and he made them work at brickmaking. David did this to all the Ammonite towns. Then he and his entire army returned to Jerusalem.


Source: NIV (New International Version)

 

A "Keep Us, Protect Us & Bless Us" Prayer (1.27.20)

Heavenly Father,
It is so easy Lord, to fall into the trap of trying to attract attention, even when we are serving You.

Forgive me when I strive for the approval of men, rather than Your approval.

Help me not to use worldly means to accomplish Heavenly goals. I want all that I do, to be in the power of Your Holy Spirit. So many false prophets claim to have come in the name of Jesus, to preach the Word; but yet their motives are of the enemy.

Father, I know you will expose them in Your Timing.

Bless and protect those who have believed in and followed these false prophets. Open their eyes Lord, so they can see and hear the truth. Send Your Holy Spirit to teach them to read Your Word for themselves.

The Word of the Lord will not be mocked; and those who misuse Your Word will have to give an account to You, for their actions.

Send Your Angels Lord, to keep us and protect us from the tricks and snares of the enemy; which have infiltrated the church, to cause confusion however they can.

You are not the author of confusion nor wickedness; but You are our loving Father, who has promised to protect us from the enemy and guide us through this wicked world.

Keep us Lord, as this world continues to submit to the will of satan.

This prayer I pray in the Name of Your Son, Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

Amen

He Prayed for You. He Delivered You. He Suffered for You. He Died for You. JESUS!!! (1.26.20)

Beloved,
You have asked so many times “Lord, do you remember me?" 

How could I forget you?
When I Was Praying in the Garden,
    I Prayed not only for Myself, but I Was
    also praying for you.

I Prayed for your healing.
I Prayed for your protection.
I Prayed for your peace.
I Prayed for your joy.
I Prayed for your faith. 

I PRAYED FOR YOU.

You came through trials and tribulations that you never thought you would make it through. Trials, which put your faith in Me, to the test. Trials that made you weep in the night. A night you thought would never end, and yet you made it. You felt cast down, shaken, torn to pieces... and your pieces torn to shreds.

I Had to allow you to suffer and I Had to allow you to be tested. It was the process I Had to take you through, for you to be delivered.

I Was there all the time. 

I DELIVERED YOU.

You talk about how much you have suffered. You are not alone. I See wives and husbands suffering for their unsaved companions. I Even See children; yes, children, suffering for their unsaved parents. I Know you have suffered. I Know they have suffered; but because of your suffering, many lives have been saved.

I Know what you are going through....
 I Suffered too.

Will you remember Me?

I SUFFERED FOR YOU.

With all that we have talked about, all that you have gone through, do you really think I Could ever forget about you? How could I Forget about My Beloved? Remember, Greater Love hath no man than this - that he lays down his life for his friends.

My Love for you is unconditional. 

I DIED FOR YOU and
      My Beloved, I Love you!



READ AND MEDITATE ON GOD'S WORD:
Deuteronomy 32:7 - Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders and they will tell thee.

Psalm 77:11 - I will remember the works of the LORD: surely, I will remember thy wonders of old.

Psalm 105:5 - Remember his marvelous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;

Psalm 143:5 - I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.

#ScriptureReflection - Mark 16:15-18 (1.25.20)

Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them:
“Go into the whole world
and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved;
whoever does not believe will be condemned.

These signs will accompany those who believe:
in my name they will drive out demons,
they will speak new languages.

They will pick up serpents with their hands,
and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them.
They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

#ScriptureReflection - Mark 3:13-19 (1.24.20)

Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted
and they came to him.

He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles,
that they might be with him
and he might send them forth to preach
and to have authority to drive out demons:

He appointed the Twelve:
Simon, whom he named Peter;
James, son of Zebedee,
and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges,
that is, sons of thunder;
Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew,
Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus;
Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean,
and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.
 

Walk in Victory (1.23.20)

My Child,
I Know it has been a very long journey, but it
      was a much-needed experience.
The process of teaching you to trust Me has
      been a worthwhile experience.

My Child, you have done well.

You experienced My Goodness, My Mercy and My Faithfulness; and embraced Me fully. It is time to walk forth, being confident in Me, and fully assured that you have the Victory.

Nothing will be as you think; however, it will be as I Have ordained for you. For the thoughts and plans I Have for you, are for your success.

I Only want good and perfect for you.
I Have so much planned for you.

It is time to embrace the new opportunities ahead of you, for I have placed My Wisdom and My Understanding within you.

It is time to walk in your victory.

Do not procrastinate, and no longer are you to be passive. It is time to be aggressive and to use those things I Have placed within you. I Will send a Helper, which is the Holy Spirit, to keep you on the Path I Have chosen.

All stumbling blocks that hindered your walk with Me - have been removed, Beloved.

I Am your GOD, and I Will supply all of your needs.
I Am faithful, so take no thought for how the outcome
     will be tomorrow.

There is much that awaits you.
So stand, knowing that I Am GOD,
     and I Will not disappoint.

READ AND MEDITATE ON GOD'S WORD

Psalm 92:4 - For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.

Psalm 71:16 - I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.

Matthew 6:34 - Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

1 Corinthians 15:57 - But thanks be to GOD, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ

Hebrews 6:12 - That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promise

 

 

 

Remaining in, Abiding in & Communing with Jesus (1.22.20)

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. -  John 15:4


Faith Believers,
What do you suppose it means to remain in Jesus?

The King James Version of the Bible uses the word “abide,” which according to Dictionary.com means “to remain; continue” and “to have one’s abode.” It includes the idea of sustaining, withstanding, accepting without opposition or question, and even suffering for and submitting to.

All those ideas seem to fit a right relationship with Christ.

Maybe the best way to understand what Jesus is asking of us is to consider how He used the word “remain.” We are to relate to Him as a branch relates to a vine. Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:5–8).

Jesus speaks more fully about His Intent as we remain in Him: “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:9–11). Jesus tells us that remaining in Him also means to remain in His Love. By obeying His Commands, we remain within the Love of Jesus; which results in the Joy of Jesus being made complete in us.

As important as it is to abide in Him, it is equally devastating to disobey His Command.

We are not only unproductive and ineffective in trying to bear fruit for Him in our own strength; but we wither and are cast aside like a dead branch, that is thrown into the fire. If you are a Christian who is out of fellowship with Christ, I urge you to come back to a close relationship with Him, by confession and repentance. Then commune with Him daily by prayer and Bible reading (two vital and important ways to remain in Him).

He Longs to welcome you back.

  -   Marilyn

~ Prayer ~
Lord Jesus,
How encouraging it is to hear Your Words of
     invitation to abide in You.
I accept!

With all my heart, I long to abide in You, to dwell
     always with You and in You.

Thank You for the picture of the vine and the branches.

Through Your Precious Holy Spirit, I choose to stay
      attached and allow Your Life and You Power to flow
     in me and through me. 

Amen

Who Can Stop Your God Given Blessings?? (1.21.20)

My Child,
You are on the brink of a very big blessing!!
Rejoice in this day, because today is the day
       that I Have made.

You have believed Me for this breakthrough and I Am about to deliver. The closer you get to receiving this blessing, the enemy is going to try and attack you.  Rebuke any and all thoughts you might have about not being blessed. Who can stop My Blessings? No one!

When the enemy tries to lay a trap for you, and may cause you to stumble, I Will pick you up and carry you over his trap. No one can stop My Hand, Beloved. I Have the Power to turn any situation around; regardless of what you see with your natural eyes.

You have a huge blessing coming soon, and again, this is something you have believed Me for; and I Am going to come through for you.

There is one thing you should start doing right now, and that is to start praising Me in the midst of your blessings. My Word says to praise Me in all situations, whether good or bad.

I Speak Blessings over you right now in the Mighty Name of My Son, Jesus!

The things you have believed Me for, will come forth soon.
____________

Today is the day the Lord has made.
     Rejoice and be glad in it!!

Thank God for what you have,
Trust God for what you need.
      -  Marilyn

Believe That You Can (1.20.20)

My Child,

Believe that you can accomplish all things
     through Me.
I Want you to believe that you can.

Believing is the first step.
It is the foundation step.
It is the most important step.

Yes, there are other steps; but if you don't believe, you won't take a step.  Just concentrate on believing, My Child. You must believe that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.  

Am I not able to do what is necessary to get you through a time of leanness?

Yes, I Am.

My Power is more than enough to see you through, but you must believe that it is. Do not allow difficult conditions, do not allow negative reports, to undermine your faith in what I Am able and willing to do on your behalf. 

Do not allow your fear to override faith in My Provision.

Yes, unbelief will come knocking, but do not let it come in. I Say again, rebuke all unbelief.  Do not yield to the fear of deprivation. Face every challenge with faith, in the strength of My Holy Spirit. 

Stop wavering and start trusting.

And stagger not at my promises through unbelief, but have strong faith; knowing that I Am able to do all that I Have promised.  Put your trust in Me, and I Will bless you and meet your needs. 

Trust and believe in Me completely.

 

READ AND MEDITATE ON GOD'S WORD:

Mark 9:23 - Jesus said to him, If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.

Mark 11:23-24 - For truly I say to you that whoever shall say to this mountain, Be moved and be cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he said shall occur, he shall have whatever he said. Therefore, I say to you, all things, whatever you ask, praying, believe that you shall receive them, and it will be to you.

John 14:1 - Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in GOD, believe also in me.

Romans 4:3 - For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed GOD, and it was counted to him for righteousness."

Romans 4:20-21 - He did not stagger at the promise of GOD through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to GOD, and being fully persuaded that what GOD had promised, He was also able to perform

Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 

Philippians 4:19 - But my GOD shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus

#ScriptureReflection - Isaiah 49:1-6 (1.19.20)

The Lord’s Servant Commissioned

49 Listen to me, all you in distant lands!
    Pay attention, you who are far away!
The Lord called me before my birth;
    from within the womb he called me by name.
² He made my words of judgment as sharp as a sword.
    He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand.
    I am like a sharp arrow in his quiver.

³ He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel,
    and you will bring me glory.”

⁴ I replied, “But my work seems so useless!
    I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose.
Yet I leave it all in the Lord’s hand;
    I will trust God for my reward.”

⁵ And now the Lord speaks—
    the one who formed me in my mother’s womb to be his servant,
    who commissioned me to bring Israel back to him.
The Lord has honored me,
    and my God has given me strength.
⁶ He says, “You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me.
    I will make you a light to the Gentiles,
    and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”

Source: NLT (New Living Translation)

Now is the Time.... God Will Raise You Up!! Stand on Faith, Shed No More Tears & Glorify His Name! (1.18.20)

My Child,
Look to Me when all seems lost in your life, and when your hope seems to fade.

My Child,
Now is the time that I Will raise you up, and allow you to move in My Power. 

Now is the time for My Glory to produce all that I Have desired for you to do in your life.
 

You may not have the strength to get up, but I Will raise you up. 

It has never been up to you to take control and accomplish all that I Have desired to do throughout your life.  It has always been up to Me.  Stand in faith, on the promises that I Decree before you, and you will see them come to pass; for I Am the GOD of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 

I Am the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.
I Make the impossible become possible,
     and I Will part the Red Sea in your life.
 

Do not lack faith in My Ability to deliver you through your present crisis.  It is within My Power and My Authority to cause the righteous to prevail.  Nothing is more important than knowing that My Plan will come to pass in your life.
 

Do not fear the raging rivers or storms that you see. 

You might see them as an obstacle, but I seem them as an opportunity for Me to be Glorified.  I Will make a way through all the obstacles that stand before you.  I Will make a way where there is no way.  So, shed no more tears over what has happened in your life, and/or for the things you’ve lost; for I Am The GOD of Restoration, and I Will restore to the righteous all that was lost.

 

Read and Meditate on God's Word:

Psalm 9:10 - And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

Psalm 34:17 - The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

Psalm 34:19 - Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

Psalm 37:25 - I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

Psalm 55:22 - Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Joel 2:25-26 - And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

Philippians 4:19 - But my GOD shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

#ScriptureReflection - Mark 2:1-12 (1.17.20)

Chapter 2

The Healing of a Paralytic. ¹ When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. ² Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. ³ They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. ⁴ Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. ⁵ When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven.”

  ⁶ Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, ⁷ “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?” ⁸ Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? ⁹ Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’?

¹⁰ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth”— ¹¹ he said to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.” ¹² He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”

God is Always There for You. Stand on the Power of His Word & Come to Him in Faith..... (1.16.20)

Beloved,

I Am more than able to keep you, and protect you, from the evils of this world.

Reach out to Me and I Will lift you up, this day.  I Will lift you far above anything that the enemy will try to send your way. Remember, he came to steal, kill and destroy; and he will use any means necessary.

I Am there for you.
I Also have given you power over all
     the works of the enemy.
Use the tools I Have given you.

When you stand on the Power of My Word, I Am always right there to make sure that My Word will  not return void. My Son, the Name JESUS, is a Powerful Name; and nothing can stand against it!!

All evil must flee at the mention of My Son's Name.  

My Children sometimes perish, because they try to stand against the enemy in their own power. Sometimes I Am the last choice; when I Should be the first.

Come to Me in prayer, and talk with Me about the things that are grieving you. I Truly Am the only One that can do anything about your trials.

Come to Me in faith, knowing that I Will move every mountain out of your path; and give you victory over anything that has come against you.

I Am your Father, and I Love you, unconditionally.
I Will make every crooked place, straight.

Now stand!!
Stand in the Mighty Name of My Son Jesus!!
Stand in the Mighty Name of JESUS, this day!!!!

Are You Giving Away, Shortchanging God, on His Praise? (1.15.20)

Beloved,
I Am a jealous GOD! 

Every time you complain about your problems, or you vent your frustrations over what you don’t have and what you are going through; you take away from the praise you should be giving Me. 

My Word says to give thanks always for all things. Yes, you are to praise Me while you are going through your trials and tribulations.

Take your mind off things which are not of Me.  I See all that you are going through. I Know your needs. I Am preparing you for greater things.  You must be prepared for the work I Have called you to do.

I Have not forgotten about you,
     nor the things that surround you. 
Have you forgotten who I Am?

I AM THE ONE who sent My Son, Who suffered and died, so that you may have life; and have it more abundantly. You will not have a life filled with abundance if your mind is focused on your problems, circumstances, and situations. Yes, I Promised you blessings; however, your mind must be focused on Me and My Word.  If you follow My Instructions and meditate in My Word, day and night,  then you will defeat the enemy.

So stop giving away My Praise!
There are no blessings in complaining
     and worrying, so why waste your time
     doing things that are not of Me?

Lift up My Name, sing Songs of Praises to Me - in the midst of the storm(s).  I Have shown you how much I Love you; now show Me how much you love Me and stop giving away My Praise.




Read and Meditate on God's Word
Psalm 34:1 - I will bless the lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth

Joshua 1:8 - This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

John 10:10 - The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Ephesians 5:20 - Giving thanks always for all things unto GOD and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

#ScriptureReflection - Mark 1:21-28 (1.14.20)

Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers,
and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught.
The people were astonished at his teaching,
for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.

In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit;
he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?
Have you come to destroy us?
I know who you are–the Holy One of God!”

Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet!  Come out of him!”
The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him.

All were amazed and asked one another,
 “What is this?
A new teaching with authority.
He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.”

His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

It is Time to Seek the Lord..... (1.13.20)

Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers His righteousness on you - Hosea 10:12

Faith Believers,
It is time to seek the Lord.

Those who are in periods of spiritual dryness often look for answers in many places. GOD’s Word directs us to seek the Lord, for He is the only source for the renewing rain of Heaven. You may argue, 'But I’m already a Christian.  Why should I seek the Lord?'  The sad truth is that we all have a tendency to slowly move away from His Presence. By doing this, we find ourselves spiritually dry and wonder why such a thing could happen to a believer.

The Lord’s Presence must be continually sought after. Complacency, and a natural tendency for becoming distracted by the affairs of this world, require us - again and again -  to put aside matters, so that we may seek after the Lord.

Whenever there is spiritual drought in the land, and rain is being desired, the response should be, “It is time to seek the Lord!”

Seeking requires effort. It should not be a vague desire, but a consuming passion. And it requires persevering prayer.
  -  Marilyn

 

~ Prayer ~

Gracious Father, 

It is so easy to become distracted by the things of this world; when my heart should be set upon seeking Your Face.

Fill me with a  renewed passion, within my heart, to seek Your Face; and to live in Your Presence continually.

Amen

Jesus Sends the Holy Spirit to Use & Speak Through His Chosen Vessels..... Us!!! (1.12.20)

Beloveds,
Some of you have been in a cycle of sadness for quite a while now.

Stop looking down.
Instead, look toward the Heavens.
Fix your eyes upon the things above.

I Say unto you, lift up your head!! For you are the Vessel that I Am using, for many to receive spiritual nurturing.

I Choose whom I Will to nurture those in need of hearing of The Word.  I Will send the Holy Spirit to SPEAK through My Chosen Vessels.  It is My Holy Spirit that will comfort you, and give you guidance. Listen and obey, My Beloved.

Lately, some of you have been dealing with sadness and depression. Beloveds, this is a trick from the enemy to make you doubt My Word. the enemy does not want anyone to hear the Word of GOD; so that he can keep you in a sad and depressed state. the devil is a lie!

Do not be sad or depressed, but know that My Word says that I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Now STAND and do what My Holy Spirit
     is prompting you to do.
Keep your eyes lifted up towards Heaven,
     from whence cometh your help.

Your strength will come from Me, Jesus Christ; and our Father, the Lord Our GOD, who has made heaven and earth. I Am your strong tower and there is nothing that can stand against Me. I, Jehovah, I Have all power!!!! Know this and declare who I Am, in My Mighty Name, Jesus Christ of Nazareth! 

 

 READ AND MEDITATE ON GOD'S WORD:

Psalm 22:19 - But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.

Psalm 24:9-10 - Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

Psalm 18:2 - The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my GOD, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

Psalm 42:5 - Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in GOD: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

Psalm 121:1-2 - I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. 

#ScriptureReflection - Genesis 1:6-19 (1.11.20)

⁶ Then God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” ⁷ Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. ⁸ And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day.

⁹ Then God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so. ¹⁰ And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

¹¹ Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so. ¹² And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. ¹³ So the evening and the morning were the third day.

¹⁴ Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; ¹⁵ and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. ¹⁶ Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. ¹⁷ God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, ¹⁸ and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. ¹⁹ So the evening and the morning were the fourth day.


Source: NKJV  (New King James Version)

 

#ScriptureReflection - Genesis 1:1-5 (1.10.20)

The History of Creation

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ² The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

³ Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. ⁴ And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. ⁵ God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.


Source: NKJV (New King James Version)

 

God's Throne (1.9.20)

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need - Hebrews 4:16


Faith Believers,
Access to the Throne of GOD is the foundation of all prayer.
All prayers must be placed upon the throne.

Every true believer is welcome there. Having access to GOD’s throne is an amazing privilege. When we approach The Throne, we are placing ourselves in the presence of our All-Powerful, Holy Ruler of the universe.

What a privilege to be welcomed into His Presence!

GOD’s throne - we are reminded - is a Throne of Grace, not a throne of judgment. This means that if we have come into His Presence, through the Blood of Christ, we are accepted by Him. GOD does not scrutinize us to screen out unworthiness. He extends His Hand of Welcome. We are invited to approach, with complete confidence, knowing that our Father Loves us, and wants to hear our prayers.

There are no closed doors on The Throne.
We will not have to beg, nor negotiate, to get in.

GOD is expecting us.
He Is glad we have come.
  -  Marilyn

~ Prayer ~
Loving Father,
It amazes me, that when I open my mouth to pray,
I am standing in the very throne room of Heaven. 

What an astonishing privilege You have given me. 
Thank You for this precious gift of grace!

Father, teach me how to pray for everything,
as Your Word has encouraged us to do;
so that we can be in Your Presence at the Throne. 

Amen

Have Faith and Do Not Give Up (1.8.20)

My Child,
The thought has crossed your mind to give up. 

Do not start the new year focusing on your failures. Your thoughts are remaining too long on the failures of your past. It is good to recognize failure, and to learn from it; but do it quickly, and move on. Then take your thoughts captive to the Blessings that I Have already set aside and bestowed upon you. It is in your best interest to stop worrying, and to start putting your trust in Me. 

This isn't the first time that the thought of giving up has crossed your mind. 

However, I Am telling you, "do not give up."

I Know lately, for some of you, it has been hard, and the circumstances have been almost debilitating; but do not give up. I Am aware of everything you’ve gone through. Beloved, you WILL become what you focus on.

So now focus on Me and the times I Have brought you through, to success. Focus on the times I brought you through, when the enemy thought that his schemes were successful; but, as always, I Put him to shame.  Causing him to flee.

Be sensitive to My Leading, and do not rely on your own thoughts and desires. 

I Know what is best for you.  Have faith and focus on the positive things that are happening in your life. Think of how I Have blessed you in the past; and the trials and tribulations that I Have brought you through.

I Want you to read and meditate on My Word everyday.  Spend quality time with Me, Beloved, so that you can hear My Still Small Voice; and I Will give you a peace that will surpass all understanding.

Read and Meditate on God's Word
Joshua 1:8 - This book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it by day and by night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall act wisely.

Proverbs 23:7 - for as he thinks in his heart, so is he;

Philippians 4:8 - Finally, my brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are right, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, think on these things. 

#ScriptureReflection - Mark 8:22-26 (1.7.20)

Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida

²² They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.

²³ He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”

²⁴ He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”

²⁵ Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. ²⁶ Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.”


 Source: NIV (New International Version)

Be At Peace, Remain Calm & Do Not Lose Control (1.6.20)

My Child,
Be at peace and remain calm, regardless of the problems and trials you may be facing. 
 

If, or when, you lose control - confess your sins to GOD and forgive all who were involved.  Losing control and being overwhelmed only escalates a problem. Save yourself the agony of disappointment and discouragement by trusting that I Will bring you through every challenge. 

Come to Me, and be still before Me, as I Restore peace to your soul.  Your circumstances will require My Wisdom and My Direction; and all you have to do is ask Me. When you do not know what to do, or where to go; ask Me for My Wisdom.

You should come to Me first.  Always.... 

Look to Me for help and direction.  Do not lose control, My Child, and do not be afraid to ask Me for My Direction and My Wisdom. Beloved, I Know all things before they happen, and while they are happening. Nothing by any means catches Me off guard or surprises Me.

I Am the beginning, and the end, of all things concerning you.

I Promised, in My Word, that I Would never leave you nor forsake you. Now, stand, dust off and square your shoulders - as you stand on My Word, declaring victory over all the works of the enemy. 

Fret not, for I Am with you, in all things. 

 

 

READ AND MEDITATE ON GOD'S WORD

Psalm 61:2 - From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Psalm 91:15 - He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

Matthew 11:29 - Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

John 16:24 - Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full

James 1:6 - But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

Hebrews 4:16 - Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. 

Do Not Fear, God Has A Plan (1.5.20)

My Child,
Your complete surrender has enabled Me to do more through you than you can imagine. 

However, your absolute surrender and faith in Me has also made you a target for the enemy, but do not fear his attacks. No matter what he throws at you, his weapons will not prosper.  My Son has already overcome him, and I Have a divine plan for you.

Stay on the designated course and
     you will find all that you need.

I Am the answer to all your questions. I Am The One who loves you, I Am The One who watches over you, and I Am The One who gave you the authority to destroy the works of the enemy.

Therefore, do not be fearful and weak.
Speak My Word over your situation.
Stay fully submitted to Me.
Resist what the enemy is trying to do,
     and he will flee.

Do not allow him to hinder My Plans for you.

You have the Greatest One watching over you, to provide you with hope in a hopeless world. Therefore, do not allow the enemy to make you feel small and helpless.

Rise and rebuke the spirit of fear.
Boldly speak forth My Word.

You are more than a conqueror, and you are mighty in Me. 

Trust in every Word I Have Spoken. 
I Will do what I promised. 
Do not be fearful. 

Look to Me...
For I Have a plan for you.

READ AND MEDITATE ON GOD'S WORD:

Deuteronomy 31:6 - Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy GOD, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. 

Jeremiah 29:11-12 - For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 

Romans 8:37 - Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

James 4:7 - Submit yourselves therefore to GOD. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

1 John 4:4 - Ye are of GOD, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

#ScriptureReflection - Ephesians 3 (1.4.20)

The Mystery Revealed

3 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— ² if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, ³ how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, ⁴ by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), ⁵ which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: ⁶ that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, ⁷ of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.

Purpose of the Mystery

⁸ To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, ⁹ and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; ¹⁰ to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, ¹¹ according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. ¹³ Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

Appreciation of the Mystery

¹⁴ For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, ¹⁶ that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, ¹⁷ that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— ¹⁹ to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.


²⁰ Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, ²¹ to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.


Source: NKJV (New King James Version)

 

Keep Praying (1.3.20)

My Child,
You have so much on your mind. You are praying fervently about something you need to do. It is good that you are seeking My Wisdom and My Guidance for the next step. Continue to pray and press your way. 

However, I Want to assure you, I Have heard your prayer. 

Now, I Want you to quiet yourself so that you can hear Me. I Will show you why it should be done; then I Will show you what, where, and when to do it.

It is good to pray, but it is very important to listen, after you pray. Therefore, stay before Me, stay in close communion with Me after you pray. This will reassure you of My Love for you. This will strengthen your faith and you will see evidence that I Heard you, and I Have not left you to solve this matter alone. 

I Know you donʹt know the outcome of how others will respond, but that is not for you to worry about. I Will work with all involved, leave them to Me.

I Am working on all that concerns you, and you will be so relieved and renewed.  Keep your focus on Me, and let your prayers become prayers of thanksgiving for the things I Am doing.  And there will be so much thankfulness and joy in your heart afterward. 

So, keep praying. 

Read and Meditate on God's Word

Luke 18:1 - And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

Daniel 9:3 - And I set my face unto the Lord GOD, to seek by prayer and supplications,

Colossians 4:2 - Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

Romans 12:12 - Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

1 Thessalonians 5:17 - Pray without ceasing.

James 1:5 - If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of GOD, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 

James 5:16b - The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Jude 1:20 - But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

A New Beginning (1.2.20)

Faith Believers,
When we think about January, we often think of it as a time of renewal, a time for a new beginning, a time to let go of the past and move on. 

So, as we reflect upon what the Lord brought us through, let us be reminded that nothing is too hard for the Lord. 

He has brought us through trials, circumstances, and situations that we thought we would not survive. He has opened doors that were once impossible for us to open. He has opened doors that were closed in our faces, time and time again; and then He closed doors that we did not have the strength to close. 

Our Lord and Savior reminds us there is nothing too difficult for Him. He is on His Throne, and His Holy Spirit is within us.  He Can break through our cloudy days and cause the sun to shine in our darkest night. 

All we must do is have faith in His Word; for when the Lord Decrees a thing in your life, there is nothing that can stop His Word from coming forth. He Is more than able to watch over His Word and will bring it to pass, regardless of how the situation may look.  He Is the GOD of possibilities. 

Be faithful to the Word He has spoken, and do not let the enemy talk you out of your promise.

GOD will accomplish all He has said to you. 
GOD is for us, and not against us. 
He will never forsake us or leave us.

Fear not, stand firm and declare the glory of the Lord in your life.

GOD delivered you in the past and He Has
     plans to do even more for you in the future.
Jesus Christ Is the same yesterday, and today,
     and forever.

GOD never changes.

Jesus Christ never changes.
The Holy Spirit never changes.

  -  Marilyn Chaney

READ AND MEDITATE ON GOD'S WORD

Isaiah 43:18-19 - Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.  Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it?  I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
 
Philippians 3:13-14 - Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of GOD in Christ Jesus.

#ScriptureReflection - John 1:1-18 (1.1.20)

In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing came to be.
What came to be through him was life,
and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.

A man named John was sent from God.
He came for testimony, to testify to the light,
so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light,
but came to testify to the light.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world,
and the world came to be through him,
but the world did not know him.
He came to what was his own,
but his own people did not accept him.

But to those who did accept him
he gave power to become children of God,
to those who believe in his name,
who were born not by natural generation
nor by human choice nor by a man's decision
but of God.

And the Word became flesh
and made his dwelling among us,
and we saw his glory,
the glory as of the Father's only-begotten Son,
full of grace and truth.

John testified to him and cried out, saying,
"This was he of whom I said,
'The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.'"
From his fullness we have all received,
grace in place of grace,
because while the law was given through Moses,
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God.
The only-begotten Son, God, who is at the Father's side,
has revealed him.

 

 

 

January Cover Photo (2020)