Let Everything That Has Breath, Praise the Lord (3.28.22)

Faith Family,
Many times, many of us do not recognize our blessings because they do not happen how we expect them to happen. Sometimes, too many of us are frustrated or disappointed; and this often clouds our ability to be grateful and appreciate the blessings of GOD. We must come to the point, in our walk with the Lord, that we realize that GOD is the one who sees the total picture.

We must stop seeing our delays as denials.
We must stop feeling as if we are alone and forsaken.

GOD Is a Loving Father who does not neglect His Children. GOD's ways are not our ways and GOD's thoughts are not our thoughts. We often try to figure out solutions to our situations, according to what we see. Nevertheless, when we trust GOD, He may cause things to go in a different direction to avoid a disaster we cannot see.

We must trust GOD no matter what and
     stop trying to take things into our own
     hands, before we discern His Will.

We should always "live a life of praise and thanksgiving" to the Lord. GOD no longer desires lip praises; He Wants heart praises. David said, let everyone that has breath praise the Lord. Yes, you are hurting, but praise GOD anyway. No, you do not see the money for the rent or the mortgage, but praise GOD anyway. So, what, you got a negative report from the doctor, but praise GOD anyway. I know the boss is being very unfair, and it seems like the person with poor performance is getting a promotion, but praise God anyway. We may not understand it, but GOD is working things out for our good.

So, praise His Holy Name.

We must come to a point, in our walk with the Lord, where we understand and believe, that what GOD has for us - no man can take from us!  And that when GOD opens a door for us, no man can shut it! We all have our 'seasons,' and the Bible tells us that what each of us goes through, is common to man. There is nothing unique about our trials. Your fire might not be my fire, but fire is fire.  And all fire burns. So remember, the Grace of GOD is more than sufficient to see us through.

Why should we thank GOD when it may seem like things are just getting worse? We should thank GOD for holding back the fire; and for making a way of escape. We should thank GOD for being our deliverer. We should thank GOD for being our refuge and our strength.  We should thank GOD for being our very present help in time of trouble.

Regardless of what it looks like, we should thank GOD and know that He IS GOD.  And that He IS still in control.

He Knows about the situation. 
He Hears your cries. 
He Sees your pain.

He Is a Mighty GOD, Who has promised not to give you more than you can bear.

He Is always with you even, when it seems like you are all alone.

Today, I encourage you to rise up and bless the Lord.

Give GOD Thanks and give Him praise.
GOD has been good to you.
If it had not been for the Lord....

Who was on your side?  Where would you be? It is because of the mercies of GOD that you are not consumed. GOD Is a loving GOD. He loves you.  He cares about you. Give GOD thanks and praise today.

Read and Meditate on God's Word 

1 Chronicles 23:30 - And to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even;

Psalm 34:1 - I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 

Psalm 115:18 - But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the LORD.

Psalm 150:6 - Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. 

Psalm 124:2-6 - If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us: Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us: Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul: Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth. 

Isaiah 55:8-9 - For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 

Lamentations 3:22 - It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed because his compassions fail not.

1 Corinthians 10:13 - There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but GOD is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 

1 Peter 4:12-13 - Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 

#ScriptureReflection - Nahum 2:1-4 (3.27.22)

Nineveh to Fall

¹  An attacker advances against you, Nineveh.
    Guard the fortress,
    watch the road,
    brace yourselves,
    marshal all your strength!

²  The Lord will restore the splendor of Jacob
    like the splendor of Israel,
though destroyers have laid them waste
    and have ruined their vines.

³  The shields of the soldiers are red;
    the warriors are clad in scarlet.
The metal on the chariots flashes
    on the day they are made ready;
    the spears of juniper are brandished.
⁴  The chariots storm through the streets,
    rushing back and forth through the squares.
They look like flaming torches;
    they dart about like lightning.

Source: NIV (New International Version)

#ScriptureReflection - 1 Corinthians 16:13-24 (3.26.22)

 Exhortation and Greetings.

¹³  Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. ¹⁴  Your every act should be done with love.

¹⁵  I urge you, brothers—you know that the household of Stephanas is the firstfruits of Achaia and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the holy ones— ¹⁶  be subordinate to such people and to everyone who works and toils with them. ¹⁷  I rejoice in the arrival of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, because they made up for your absence, ¹⁸  for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. So give recognition to such people.

¹⁹  The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca together with the church at their house send you many greetings in the Lord. ²⁰  All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

²¹  I, Paul, write you this greeting in my own hand. ²²  If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be accursed. 

Marana tha.

²³  The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. ²⁴  My love to all of you in Christ Jesus.

Source: NABRE (New American Bible Revised Edition)  

Be Still, and Watch What God Will Do (3.25.22)

My Child,

Oh, be still and watch Me Position you into a place - a high place, an amazing place, a beautiful place - to laugh at the enemies who have been blocking your path.  This joy will help you to recognize that what you perceived as "mistakes" have been washed in My Son's Blood, and you are forgiven. This release of joy will come, as you become still in your spirit, before Me.

When you do this, you will receive the help you need to get you through your storms. My Joy will give you the strength to overcome the enemies you have been battling.

I Know that some of you may not recognize this tactic, but stillness can be one of the greatest warfare weapons to defeat your enemies. Stillness occurs when you become One with Me. When you are aligned with Me (the Father), My Son, and My Holy Spirit; no weapon formed against you will ever prosper.

I Want you to become One with Me; because, for many of you, your emotions right now are unsettling. I Want to calm your emotions, so that your mind will think of Heavenly things. Allow Me to minister to you, and heal your emotions; so that you won’t miss any of your blessings. My Child, if your emotions aren’t healed, you might "strike the rock," instead of "speaking to it."

Quiet your soul.
Set aside some time to talk with Me each day.
And allow Me to still your heart and your spirit.

Do not allow any thoughts of failure and/or defeat, keep you in a constant season of conflict.  Rise above all of this, My Child.  Seek My Face in the stillness of the day. Seek Me and watch what seemed invincible, fall before you.

Be quiet, be still, and watch Me Move.
 

Read and Meditate on God's Word
Job 37:14 - Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of GOD.

Psalm 46:10-11 - Be still, and know that I am GOD: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; the GOD of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Psalm 62:1-2 - Truly my soul waiteth upon GOD: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved. 

Isaiah 30:15 - For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. 

Isaiah 54:17 - No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. 

John 15:11 - These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 

#ScriptureReflection - 1 Corinthians 11:23-34 (3.24.22)

Tradition of the Institution.

23  For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, ²⁴  and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁵  In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” ²⁶  For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.

²⁷  Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord. ²⁸  A person should examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink the cup. ²⁹  For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself. ³⁰  That is why many among you are ill and infirm, and a considerable number are dying. ³¹  If we discerned ourselves, we would not be under judgment; ³²  but since we are judged by [the] Lord, we are being disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

³³  Therefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. ³⁴  If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that your meetings may not result in judgment. The other matters I shall set in order when I come.

Source: NABRE (New American Bible Revised Edition)     

#ScriptureReflection - 1 Corinthians 11:17-22 (3.23.22)

 B. The Lord’s Supper

An Abuse at Corinth.

¹⁷  In giving this instruction, I do not praise the fact that your meetings are doing more harm than good. ¹⁸  First of all, I hear that when you meet as a church there are divisions among you, and to a degree I believe it; ¹⁹  there have to be factions among you in order that [also] those who are approved among you may become known. ²⁰  When you meet in one place, then, it is not to eat the Lord’s supper, ²¹  for in eating, each one goes ahead with his own supper, and one goes hungry while another gets drunk. ²²  Do you not have houses in which you can eat and drink? Or do you show contempt for the church of God and make those who have nothing feel ashamed? What can I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this matter I do not praise you.


Source: NABRE (New American Bible Revised Edition)   

Fill Your Heart With God's Love (3.22.22)

Everyone,
The Lord has commanded us to love one another the same way He Loves us. Because we are humans, sometimes it is hard to let go of extreme hurt and pain; but we must come to the Lord and abide under the shadows of His Wings - and He will give us rest. People do, and say, things to hurt others because they are hurting and need deliverance. Pray for their deliverance; and when necessary, love them from a distance, until the Lord moves in their life.

 ~ Marilyn

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My Child,

When you are lonely, why do some of you turn to so many other things; in the hope that those other things will fulfill your needs?  Perhaps, for a time, they do. However, just as suddenly as those things came into your life, they leave. Then you find that the loneliness is still there.  Then you realize that the loneliness never left.  It was just hidden for a season. Why won't you come to Me? Why not allow Me to fill you with My Love, so that you are 'full to overflowing' with My Love, and you won’t ever be lonely again.

My Precious, don’t you know that when you cry, I Cry too? Please let Me help you. Take My Hand and let Me Lead you to the place where you can clearly see your way. What do you have to lose by taking My Hand? The only thing you will lose is loneliness and frustration. Do not fret.  I Will not force you to accept what I Have to offer. I Give freely, and I Want you to accept it the same way.

I just want you to remember that when the night is dark, and your way seems lost; you don’t have to do this alone. I Am right there at your side. Even if you don’t call My Name, your tears will tell Me what I need to know. Whenever you decide to let go, I will be ready to catch you.  My Arms will hold you, and My Love will surround you.

I won’t let you fall.

I Am always there waiting to hold you; waiting to love you; and waiting to fill your lonely heart with everything you need. 

 

 

 

Read and Meditate on God's Word 

Psalm 118:8 - It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

Proverbs 8:21 - That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures. 

Jeremiah 31:3 - The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

John 15:9 - As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 

Romans 5:8 - But GOD commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

#ScriptureReflection - 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 (3.21.22)

¹  Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

IV. Problems in Liturgical Assemblies

²  I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold fast to the traditions, just as I handed them on to you.

A. Women’s Headdresses

Man and Woman.
³  But I want you to know that Christ is the head of every man, and a husband the head of his wife, and God the head of Christ. ⁴  Any man who prays or prophesies with his head covered brings shame upon his head. ⁵  But any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled brings shame upon her head, for it is one and the same thing as if she had had her head shaved. ⁶  For if a woman does not have her head veiled, she may as well have her hair cut off. But if it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should wear a veil.

⁷  A man, on the other hand, should not cover his head, because he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. ⁸  For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; ⁹  nor was man created for woman, but woman for man; ¹⁰  for this reason a woman should have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels. ¹¹  Woman is not independent of man or man of woman in the Lord. ¹²  For just as woman came from man, so man is born of woman; but all things are from God.

¹³  Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head unveiled? ¹⁴  Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears his hair long it is a disgrace to him, ¹⁵  whereas if a woman has long hair it is her glory, because long hair has been given [her] for a covering? ¹⁶  But if anyone is inclined to be argumentative, we do not have such a custom, nor do the churches of God.

Source: NABRE (New American Bible Revised Edition)     

Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled (3.20.22)

My Child,
For some of you, your hearts are so very heavy over some recent things that have happened. Some of you were hoping that things would have gone a different way, but they didn’t.  And now some of you are wondering what to do. My Children, let not your hearts be troubled.

In this life, disappointments will happen.
However, they are only temporary.

Remember this, there are times that I Will allow a door (or doors) to close, to direct you in a new direction. And there are times that I Will allow tests to come, to reveal what is in your heart, what is in the hearts of others, to see whether you will discern what is My Will, to see if you truly do honor and love Me (or only say that you do); and if you will be obedient through the hard times.

You may think or feel like you are disappointed now, but go deeper, look deeper, grow & look again.  There is no disappointment when you walk with me.  Increase your awareness.  Look at the situation again, but this time, with your spiritual eyes.  Exercise your discernment, spiritual awareness muscles.  And move in Joy.  My Son died on the Cross for your salvation, for your Victory.  So look for that, for it exists, if you chose to see it and not wallow in "disappointment."  For if you look to Me, trust Me, praise Me and remain faithful, I Will point you to the new windows and doors - the unbounding abundance - that I Have Prepared for you, and now opened for you, in your life. 

I Know that some of you need time to grieve over what happened. I Understand; I often weep too. However, as your Father, you must learn from Me, Child.  Note that I do not allow My grief, anger or disappointment to consume Me; it never consumed My Son, Jesus Christ; and neither should it consume you. Learn from Our Examples.  Release the pain that you are feeling - let it go, and release it to Me.  Fully hand it over.  Because there is much work to be done. Much, much work to be done.  I love you. So, pray.  Then Praise Me.  Praise My Son.  Praise the Holy Spirit.  And then release everything to Me. Let every bit of the pain go.  It will not serve you.  It will hinder you.  Even now I Am dispatching My Angels, so that they will intercede for you. Selah.  Selah.  Selah.

Let go.
And you will feel My Peace come over you.

Allow My Holy Spirit to minister healing to you.

Yes, all is well.
Take some time to praise Me.

I know that some of you may not feel like it, but those of My Children that have consistently walked with Me, know that it will help you, in many ways, including to release the pain.

You have My Word.
It won’t always be this way.

Trust Me.
Lift your head up. 
And watch Me turn your sorrow into joy.

Believe in Me.
And let not your heart be troubled.

Read and Meditate on God's Word

Deuteronomy 8:2 - Remember how the LORD your GOD led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.

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

John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

John 16:20 - Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 

Romans 8:18-19 - For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of GOD. 

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 - For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 

#ScriptureReflection - Psalms 84:1-5 (3.19.22)

Prayer of a Pilgrim to Jerusalem

¹  For the leader; “upon the gittith.” A psalm of the Korahites.

I

²  How lovely your dwelling,
    O Lord of hosts!
³  My soul yearns and pines
    for the courts of the Lord.
My heart and flesh cry out
    for the living God.
⁴  As the sparrow finds a home
    and the swallow a nest to settle her young,
My home is by your altars,
    Lord of hosts, my king and my God!
⁵  Blessed are those who dwell in your house!
    They never cease to praise you.
              Selah

Source: NABRE (New American Bible Revised Edition)