#ScriptureReflection - Mark 5:1-20 (NIV) (1.19.18)

Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man

5 They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. ² When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. ³ This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. ⁴ For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. ⁵ Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

⁶ When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. ⁷ He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” ⁸ For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”
⁹ Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” ¹⁰ And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.

¹¹ A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. ¹² The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” ¹³ He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

¹⁴ Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. ¹⁵ When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. ¹⁶ Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. ¹⁷ Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

¹⁸ As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. ¹⁹ Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” ²⁰ So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

God Has Not Failed - Take Him at His Word (1.18.19)

My Child,
I know that this trial is causing you to feel like all is lost; however, I have not failed you.  Stop being fearful, have faith. I Am the GOD that can bring new life out of apparent death.

Although you may not understand why something like this happened, do not give up. I Can bring ultimate good out of what you are going through. And that is what I Am doing at this very moment.

Even though you are facing what appears to be hopeless, I Have you in the midst of a glorious time of restoration. I Have not abandoned you, so do not allow fear to invade your spirit. Do you honestly think that I would abandon you?  The one I love so much? My child, I would not. I call you this day to have faith in this midnight hour.

Remember My constant faithfulness and mercy to you over the years; then let your faith rise up.

Do not turn back and do not give in to despair or discouragement. You are My Child and I want you to act like My Child by having faith in Your Father in this dark hour.

No matter what you feel, proclaim
     this to be a day of victory,
     not of defeat.

Again, I say to you, I have not failed you. Have faith and you will surely see My salvation, blessing, and glory in this situation.

READ AND MEDITATE ON GOD'S WORD
Numbers 23:19 - GOD is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good

Psalm 121:3 - He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

Isaiah 55:11 - So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 

Mark 4:40 - And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 

John 15:7 - If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 

2 Timothy 1:7 - For GOD hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 

That Impossible Situation (1.17.19)

Faith Believer,
You know beyond the shadow of a doubt that the Lord has blessed you.

Then, you begin to look around at your circumstance, and they appear to be contradicting what should be happening. Therefore, doubt enters your mind and convinces you 'it is impossible, and your situation is hopeless.'

Of course, it looks hopeless; for you are not looking at it through faith.

And today, The Lord has a word for you.

 -  Marilyn

My Child,
Stop looking at your situation with your natural eyes.

Trust and believe that I, the One who made the lame to walk and caused the blind to see, has already worked things out for you. Allow Me to turn around your impossible situation. I want you to believe and know I have you securely in My Hands. I will not forsake you or let you down. I know all about your needs and desires. I knew about them before you were born.

Fear not, My Child.  I Am working on your behalf, bringing to pass that which would lift this burden from you. Am I not able to do all things? Is it not written in My Word that you are more precious than the birds in the air and the lilies of the field? Then, why are you worried about your situation? If you keep your eyes on Me, you would not have time to worry or fear; because there is so much that needs to be done for the Kingdom.

That is why the enemy is trying to cause you to fear. His desire is to keep you from progressing in the Kingdom. Stop him from tormenting your mind. You know, if I care for the birds and the lilies, every single day, then you have nothing to fear what tomorrow will bring.

Oh, ye of little faith. My precious child, allow Me to look after you.  Isn’t that what a Father is supposed to do?

If you knew how much I love you and care for you, that impossible situation would not keep you up at night anymore.

Now, be still, and know that I have
     taken care of tomorrow's needs.

 

READ AND MEDITATE ON GOD'S WORD

Jeremiah 32:27 - Behold, I am Jehovah, the GOD of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?

Matthew 6:26-34 - 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?  Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if GOD so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of GOD, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 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.

Luke 18:27 - And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with GOD.

Rise Above Circumstances, Things that have Held You Back or Kept You Down (1.16.19)

Faith Believers,
Let's rise above our circumstances and ask our Almighty, Loving Father to bless us this day.

It is time that we rise above the things, which have held us back or kept us down.
It is time to rise to a new level!

We are to shine for our Master!
We are to be radiant with the Glory of the Lord, for 'Our Light' has come; and the Glory of the Lord has risen upon us. Isaiah 60:1

        

How often do we tend to focus on negative situations?  Letting it hold us down, when really, we should rise above that circumstance and ask GOD to bless us....  Even while we are going through this trial.

What about today?  Whatever you are facing today, ask our Loving Father, who has blessings untold for you, to bless you. Ask for His Favor wherever you go today, and in all that you do; despite the trial(s) that you may find yourself in.

       

Today, can you rise above your circumstance(s)??

If we only knew what GOD has waiting for us, we would reach up to our Loving Father and change our depression (or weakness), into joy and strength.

How can GOD lavish His Wonderful, Loving Blessings upon His Children that live downcast and can't seem to lift up their face to call upon Him. 

He wants to bless us in great abundance!

       

It is so much easier to ask for our Father to bless us when we take time to acknowledge Him for Who He Is! So we need to stay focused on GOD. You can't go wrong by choosing, even in the midst of your circumstance, to give praise and worship to Him.

Cry out to Him and ask to be blessed today!
He loves that cry!

       

Will you, today?
Lift your face to GOD...
and acknowledge Who He Is?

Tell Him you love Him and trust Him.
Then ask for His Blessings and
     His Favor on your life today!

  - Marilyn

Rise Up from Your Place of Complacency, Loose Yourself from the Chains, Decree, Declare, Be BOLD & Take the Next Steps!!! (1.15.19)

My Child,
Rise up from your place of complacency and be about your Father’s business.

When you’re complacent, you open the door for the enemy to bind you and render you powerless. I Speak to those who have given up in certain areas with an attitude that whatever you do, doesn't matter, or make a difference.

Don’t you know everything you do matters to Me?
Therefore, break free from the yokes of the enemy,
     and praise your way to freedom.

I say to you, shake yourselves awake.  Loose yourself from the chains which bind you. Decree that you will live and not die, to declare the Works of the Lord. Be bold and take the next step. 

I Call you to activate Your Will
     in agreement with My Spirit.  

Pray that My Will is done in your life.
Rejoice in what is good and acceptable
      in My sight.

Be sensitive to the leading of My Spirit and be active in My Kingdom; as I direct you. There is much work to be done, and I need real players, not spectators. 

It is time to get off the sidelines of life and stir up the gifts I imparted in you. 

Press through your comfort zone and step into territory that is unfamiliar; so that you can move to a higher level.  My Child, I Am about to release a new level of anointing in your life. 

What I Am about to pour out cannot be received where you are.  Therefore, you must be able to receive.

Rise up, and do not allow discouragement and disappointment to bind you; or rule your life.

For whom the Son sets free, is free indeed. 
And there is no condemnation to those in Christ. 

I Have called you into the light and into freedom.

Therefore, shake off the shackles of complacency, unbelief, depression, and discontent. Refuse to allow self-pity to confine you.

Today is a new day and there is
     much work to do in My Kingdom. 

Now, do what Paul and Silas did in the dungeon.
And praise your way to freedom.
And you shall be free. 

Read and Meditate on God's Word

Romans 13:11 - And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

Galatians 5:1 - Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Psalm 118:17 - I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.

2 Timothy 1:6 - Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of GOD, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

Isaiah 52:2 - Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.

John 8:36 - If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Romans 8:1 - There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Acts 16:25-26 - And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto GOD: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed

#ScriptureReflection - Isaiah 42:1-9 (1.14.19)

The Servant of the Lord

42
 “Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
    my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
    and he will bring justice to the nations.
² He will not shout or cry out,
    or raise his voice in the streets.
³ A bruised reed he will not break,
    and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
⁴     he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth.
    In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”

⁵ This is what God the Lord says—
the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,
    who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,
    who gives breath to its people,
    and life to those who walk on it:

 
⁶ “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;
    I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
    to be a covenant for the people
    and a light for the Gentiles,
⁷ to open eyes that are blind,
    to free captives from prison
    and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

⁸ “I am the Lord; that is my name!
    I will not yield my glory to another
    or my praise to idols.

 
⁹ See, the former things have taken place,
    and new things I declare;
before they spring into being
    I announce them to you.”

God Will Fulfill His Word (1.13.19)

My Child,
Some of you are giving up because you can’t see any outward sign of progress. Why are you letting go of the dreams which I gave you?  Don’t you know that’s what the enemy wants you to do?  My Word is true, and I Will fulfill that which I have spoken to you.  This is a promise. 

Do not give up.

Dear child, I know that this season has been a test of faith, waiting for the fulfillment of My Promise, which has not come.  Must I remind you that I work according to My timing, not yours? I Am not slack concerning fulfilling My Word. I Will perform that which I Have spoken, and I Will do it in the manner which I have purposed. 

I Am that I Am.
I Will perform My Word.

The words which I speak shall not return to Me void. 

Despite the surrounding situation, trust in what you know is true; My Word.  Has quitting ever accomplished anything? No, and it never will. 

Why not put your faith in the One Who is always faithful?

Believe that I Am faithful,
     and I Will fulfill My Word.

Read and Meditate on God's Word:

Psalm 119:160 - Your Word is true from the beginning, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever. 

Isaiah 55:11 - So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Hebrews 10:23 - Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 

1 Thessalonians 5:24 - Faithful is He who called you, who also will do it. 

2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

#ScriptureReflection - Matthew 2:1-12 (1.12.19)

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
in the days of King Herod,
behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
"Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage."

When King Herod heard this,
he was greatly troubled,
and all Jerusalem with him.
Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people,
He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea,
for thus it has been written through the prophet:
And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
since from you shall come a ruler,
who is to shepherd my people Israel."

Then Herod called the magi secretly
and ascertained from them the time of the star's appearance.
He sent them to Bethlehem and said,
"Go and search diligently for the child.
When you have found him, bring me word,
that I too may go and do him homage."
After their audience with the king they set out.
And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them,
until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.

They were overjoyed at seeing the star,
and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures
and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,
they departed for their country by another way.

True Faith (1.11.19)

My Child,
True faith in Me is the cure for all of your anxiety and the things that you are constantly battling with. 

True faith in Me is your shield against the attacks of the enemy coming against your mind. 

When the enemy tries to whisper harassing and tormenting words into your ear, true faith in Me will drown out the lies of the enemy every time. 

When you look around and see in the natural that your circumstances appear to be hopeless, that’s when true faith in Me will reveal to you that things are not what they seem. 

True faith in Me will tell you that I Am doing the miraculous in the spirit realm, and what you see is temporary.

True faith in Me should tell you that I have already given you all the weapons you need to have victory over the enemy.  

Use the weapons of warfare to pull down every stronghold of the enemy, rise with the 'Sword of the Spirit' in true faith, and stand in authority. You have the power in your hands to speak with faith, and to subdue all your enemies before you.  
There is no mountain that will not move at the sound of My Name.  

Now, rise up in true faith and take back what the enemy has stolen from you.  

I have given you this power, so use it and watch as I cast the mountains into the sea and out of your life. 

No longer allow discouragement to rule in your heart, rise as the victor with having true faith in Me.
 
 

READ AND MEDITATE ON GOD'S WORD

Romans 4:20-21 - He staggered not at the promise of GOD through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to GOD; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able to perform.

Mark 11:22 - And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in GOD.

2 Corinthians 10:4 - For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through GOD to the pulling down of strongholds

Hebrews 10:23 - Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he who promised is faithful. 

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.

 

 

 

A Time of Transition (1.10.19)

My Child,
You are in a time of transition.

Oh, what a glorious place to be.

Be watchful and allow no one to cloud your mind with confusion or cause you to believe you’re going in the wrong direction.

Please do not allow yourself to linger on negative thoughts. 
Waste no more unnecessary time and energy over things
     for which you have no control.

Let go completely and trust Me.

During this time of transition, it is important that you remember to spend time abiding in My Presence by reading My Word and simply meditating in prayer. 

If not, you might become weary and view this time in a negative way. Spending time with Me will strengthen you, so you can quickly recover from any stress and pressure you encounter. 

If you follow My Leading, this transition will go as I’ve planned and will bring a resolution to the things you are concerned about. 

  

READ AND MEDITATE ON GOD'S WORD

Isaiah 30:21 - And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

Romans 12:2 - And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of GOD. 

Philippians 4:6-7 - Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell GOD what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience GOD's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 4:9-11 - There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of GOD. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as GOD did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.