Let Our Difficult Times, Triumphs & Faith be a Testimony to Help & Uplift Others (7.9.15)

When he summoned a famine on the land and broke all supply of bread, he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave. His feet were hurt with fetters; his neck was put in a collar of iron; until what he had said came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him. The king sent and released him; the ruler of the peoples set him free; he made him lord of his house and ruler of all his possessions, to bind his princes at his pleasure and to teach his elders wisdom - Psalm 105:17-22

Faith Believers,
Let us focus on Joseph’s trial in Genesis. His jealous brothers bound him and left him to die. He was sold into slavery, but lived. GOD eventually raised Joseph up to be second only to the King, and just when his brothers needed him the most, during a time of famine. Because of Joseph’s wise reliance and trust in GOD, Egypt had obediently stored grain away in advance.

People ask why bad things happen to good people, or to be more precisely, believers. Yes, it is because of free will in a fallen, broken world. Tragedy may teach us to depend more on Him. But this part of Psalm 105 gives another reason. Perhaps, it is because someone else will go through something similar. Through our triumph and faith, we can help release their bounds and bind them to GOD's love.

When tragedy hits us, we may feel bound by circumstances and shackled by tragedy. But if we stay in His Word and trust GOD enough to listen to Him; we will make it through and the lessons we learn during that time will be stored up inside us.

GOD knows there will someday be someone experiencing the same tragedy. He may prompt us to be there to help someone through their famine of hurt, anger, doubt and loss. We can be the nourishment they need, because GOD has stored it up in us.

Preparing us for just that time.

Dear Lord,

We are bound to experience  
unfairness in our lives. 

Teach us that You
can turn evil happenings, 
into good results.

Use us, and our experiences, 
to draw close to You;
 so we can then be free 
to draw others as well. 

In the name of Jesus 
Amen.

Once again turn your pain over to GOD for His use. 

Ask Him to reveal to you someone who may 

benefit from your trials.

Be Thou Faithful, Keep Your Hand to the Plough & Do What God has Called You to Do (7.8.15)

My Child,
Do not be surprised at the battle coming against you.
The enemy is attacking your mind, and this is not a natural battle;
therefore, do not try to fight it in your natural strength.

Fight it in the Spirit; for it is a spiritual attack against your thinking patterns.
It is an attack designed to produce fear and anxiety in your life.
This attack is designed to move you to try to take care of yourself,
instead of trusting Me to take care of you.
Be thou faithful and trust Me.

If you try to fight this battle in the natural, you will not overcome,
because this is a battle in the Spirit.
You cannot change your thinking patterns through your own strength.
You cannot eliminate your fear without surrendering your mind to Me.

Allow Me to renew your mind and a right Spirit within you.
Be thou faithful and trust in Me to keep My Word.
Be thou faithful, keep your hand to the plough,
and do what I have called you to do.

Do not stop My Kingdom's Work to store up for yourself.
Just as My Son was about His Father’s business, I want you to be about taking care
of My Kingdom, and I will take care of you.

Be thou faithful and fear not.  For I am with you, always.

My heart is for those whose hearts are for Me.
Those who diligently seek after Me.  Who serve Me and trust in Me completely.
I am mighty. I am capable.

I am a loving Father, and I will take good care of you.
Turn to Me, be thou faithful, and I will flood you with
My Peace, in the midst of what seems like perilous times.

You can win this battle, but only if you do it My Way.
And be thou faithful to Me, unto the end.
 

MEDITATE ON GOD'S WORD:
Psalm 51:10 - Create in me a clean heart, O GOD; and renew a right spirit within me.  

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 - (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through GOD to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
 
1 Peter 4:12 - Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
 
Luke 9:62 - And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of GOD.
 
Revelations 2:10 - Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Speaking Faith Fillled Words. It's Time. (7.7.15)

My Child,
It is time to put on the mind of Christ.  To stop thinking about what "feels" right or good, and to start focusing on My Will. It's time to let go of the past.  Take hold of the future and the plans I have for you. It's time to stop thinking of yourself as a victim, and start focusing on what My Word says, and do it.

Oh My Child, it’s time to let this mind be in you and stop neglecting the faith you should have in Me.

It’s time to stop throwing pity parties. The only purpose they serve is to bring you deeper into despair, and cause your focus to be on the things that have gone wrong in your life.

It's time to start having praise sessions. 
It's time to start celebrating the blessings in your life.
It's time to rejoice over the tests that turned into testimonies. 
It's time to rejoice and celebrate the victories we won.

Oh, I know it might "feel" right to give up because you don’t see anything happening, but is it My Will for you to give up and allow the enemy to win? No it's not!!  Because giving up means that you have absolutely no faith in Me to do what I promised.  When you don’t have faith in Me, it is impossible to please Me; and if you are not pleasing Me, then you are giving glory to the enemy.  Why would you want to glorify someone who steals from you and delights in destroying your life?

My Child, it’s time to stop speaking out of your flesh, and start speaking faith-filled words.

Remember, whatever you confess, whatever is consuming your mind - that is what you shall receive. Therefore, if you choose to continue to dwell upon what you don’t have, and confess the wrong words; you will fill your life with everything you don’t want.  My child, stop allowing the enemy to make you feel like a victim, and let this mind, My Mind, be in you so that your life will be filled with My blessings.

 

Meditate on His Word
Philippians 2:5 - Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
 
1 Corinthians 2:16 - For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
 
Hebrews 11:6 - But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
 
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 migh

God is Proud! Stand on His Word, Stand Your Ground & Push Through (7.6.15)

My Child,
Do not despair when trials and tribulations
seem to overcome you and create chaos.
 
Because out of the chaos, I will establish order in your life.

I see the great effort you have put forth
to break through these attacks
the enemy has launched against you.

Stand on My Word and push through.
I am so proud of you for standing your ground.

I know the enemy is doing all he can to keep you from moving forward....  But do not despair.  Every single word he is whispering into your ear has, and always will be, a lie.

Do not give up and do not despair.
                                                          
The only thing that will stop the blessing I have for you is you. 

If you stop believing and trusting in My promises, you will miss the blessing.
Put the enemy under your feet.
I have given you the authority over the enemy, so use it.

Rebuke him in the name of Jesus!!!!
Lift up your voice and speak faith over the situation.

Do not give up, My Child, and do not despair!

Meditate on God's Word:  2 Corinthians 1:20 and Hebrews 11:6

  A Prayer Confession  
Dear Heavenly Father, 

I will not give up! 

I will press my way through this storm and hold on. 

I know that what I am going through will pass,
just like all other storms.

I will not give up,
and I will not despair,
knowing that you have my back.
In the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ 
I pray. 

Amen

Understanding the Importance of Patience (7.5.15)

My Child, 

I have been patient with you in many things,
now I ask you to be patient with Me.

I am more than able to bless you with what you’ve asked for; however, it is My desire for you to grow in wisdom and love, and to understand the importance of patience, before you receive your blessing. When you allow patience to work fully in your life, it will help you to realize that I have a greater blessing waiting for you.

Patience allows you to see things that you cannot see without it. Patience is the key to waiting on Me and receiving a greater blessing.  My child, be patient and wait upon Me with humility of heart and tenderheartedness.  And while you are patiently waiting, demonstrate your love for Me, and let it be seen.

Let the work that I am doing in your life shine through you
and to spill into the lives of others.
Spending time in My presence will empower you to do that.

I know patience tries the heart; therefore, learn to love patience, in the same way that you love good attributes. Let the fruit of patience overflow in your heart and draw you into My presence. And if you need more patience to wait for your blessing, just think about the times I extended mercy and grace to you while I patiently waited for you to surrender all to Me. 

When you reflect upon the many times this happened,
you will realize that your wait has not been that long.

Good things are coming.
Be patient and wait for Me.

Meditate on His Word:

Hebrews 10:36 - For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of GOD, ye might receive the promise.
 
Hebrews 12:1 - Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
 
James1:4 - But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 

Showing Everyone Unconditional Love (7.4.15)

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. - Luke 5:44-45

Faith Believers,

Jesus want us to not only love, but to love unconditionally.

To care for, and show kindness, to people we like and dislike.  

Those who love us back, and those who treat us unfairly or cruelly.  

The same passage in Luke goes on to say “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?  And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others?  Do not even pagans do that?”  By contrast, GOD lets everyone enjoy the warmth of His sun, that life-giving, life-enabling source of energy and joy. 

It may not seem fair, but that’s how GOD works.

Do you ever find yourself withholding love or rewards from people
because you don’t like them? 

Have you ever wondered what it might be like to show kindness
to people who are your enemies?

GOD said to love your enemies and do good to those
that hate you and despise you. 

He will repay evil, said the Lord.

            - Marilyn

Dear GOD, 

I can learn so much from Jesus’ teaching
that You warm the backs of evil people and good folks alike.

Help me love everyone too,
even my enemies.
Amen

Rest in Faith & Know it is All in God's Hands (7.3.15)

My Child,
When everything around you is chaotic,
and you can’t make sense of why it’s happening,
take your hands off the situation, give it to Me and rest.

Stop stressing over the situation and rest.
Rest in faith and allow Me to bring what you can’t, to completion.

I will lead you into the peace that is needed to calm the storm.
Let Me relieve you of your burdens.
And I will do what you cannot do.

I am your place of safety, your refuge in times of trouble,
but you must rest in faith.

Allow the peace that I provide to assure you that all is well.
So, remember this the next time things are beyond your ability to perform.

Just turn it over to Me and rest in faith,
knowing that it all is in My hands.

MEDITATE ON HIS WORD

Psalm 37:7 - Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him:

Psalm 91:2 - I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Psalm 107:29 - He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. 

Thanking God for the Closed Doors (7.2.15)

Faith Believers,
We need to learn to thank the Lord for closed doors, as we do an open door.

The reason GOD closes doors is because He has not prepared anything over there for us. If He didn't close the wrong door, we would never find our way to the right door. Even when we don't realize it, GOD directs our paths through the closing and opening of doors.

When one door closes, it forces us to change our course. Then another door closes, and it forces us to change our course yet again. Then finally, we find the open door, and we walk right into our blessing. But instead of praising GOD for the closed door (which kept us out of trouble), we get upset because we judged by the appearances of the door that was not good for us. Sometimes in our own arrogance or ignorance, we insist that we know what is right.

We have a very Present Help in the time of need, who is always standing guard. Because He walks ahead of us, He can see trouble down the road and He sets up roadblocks and detours accordingly.

But through our lack of wisdom, we try to tear down the roadblocks or push aside the detour signs. Then the minute we get into trouble, we start crying "Lord how could this happen to me?"

We have to realize that the closed door was a blessing.
Didn't He say "No good thing will He withhold, from them that love Him?"

Trust in the Lord's decision
when He closes a door
that you thought should be open.

 

God Loves You (7.1.15)

My Child,

Do you know how much I love you?
And how precious you are to Me?

I love you so much that I know the very number of hairs that are on your head.  And each time that you brush or comb your hair, I know when the count changes. I keep track of every hair, because that’s how precious you are to Me. Therefore, do not allow the lies of the enemy to deceive you and cause you to think that I don’t care about you.

I know what you are going through.
It is My Love that is sustaining you.
And I do care.

My Child - I know it’s hard.  And although you may not always feel like praising Me while you are going through hard times, your actions will not affect My Love for you. I love you and care about you on the days when you don't do a single thing for My Kingdom. I love you on the days when you get so busy, that you forget to pray or read My Word. I even love you on the days when you don’t whisper My Name.

I love you, and the reason that I love you,
is because you are more precious to Me
than you can imagine.

So, come now My precious one, and allow the warmth of My love to settle over you and draw you away from the lies of the enemy. 

Come and draw near to Me and allow Me
to shower you in My goodness
and remind you just how precious you are to Me.

Allow Me to impart more of My love, peace and joy
so deep within you that you will never listen
to another lie of the enemy again.

I love you.
You are so precious to Me.
And I do care.

MEDITATE ON HIS WORD:

Matthew 6:26 - Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
 
John 15:9 - As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
 
John 15:13 - Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 
 
1 Peter 5:7 - Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
 

July Cover Photo (2015)