Words of Inspiration BlogInspirational and Uplifting

Proverbs 15:13b – …but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

 Dear Friends – No matter where you may be at this moment, no matter what your circumstances and the effects of such may be dictating to you, God has not left you or forsaken you. God has not given up on you. Perhaps in the overall analysis of  one’s seemingly hopeless situation, which we do over and over to the  point of exhaustion on any given day, the fact of a loving God’s faithfulness to His children has been overlooked. In times of extreme distress, overwhelming sorrow and despair, we as mere humans become fatigued and restless. Questions begin to plague us such as where we might have made a wrong turn, a bad decision, a careless error. But ultimately at some point as we come up for air in stressful times we may just ask ourselves if God hasn’t left us and we haven’t left God, perhaps what we consider brokenness and hopelessness is actually a gift, a blessing in disguise, could it really be?

I have read many articles lately on the aspect of letting God have His way in our lives. In hard times we begin to complain. In tough times we start looking for new ideas and new paths. In the darkness we grope for answers never stopping to consider that God, our loving and faithful Savior, is right there with us. Scripture tells us God is with us in all that we do and wherever we go. If we soar the heights of heaven, He is with us. If we make our bed in hell, even there scripture says He is with us with  unending mercy and love. So what can we say then, if God never leaves us and we at times feel lost and alone, broken and hopeless, where is our God when it hurts?

God is all knowing, all powerful, present everywhere. On a recent church billboard I read “Jesus knows me, this I love”. Yes, He knows us, deeply, intimately, better than we know ourselves or are known by anyone. And if He knows us and we trust He is leading us and molding our lives, can we let Him lead through the pain? Can we trust Him enough to give Him our brokenness knowing of a truth we are blessed, truly blessed, even in this condition? There are extremes in life we struggle to understand, extreme loss, extreme heartache, extreme confusion. But in all these things God is no less God, no less loving, no less faithful, no less attentive and caring of His children. Yes, I love that He knows me when no one else truly does. I love that He knows me and loves me anyway!!

So where as mere humans do we miss it and get so deeply entrenched in gloom, despair and agony rather than the joy that is deposited on the inside of each believer that Christ in us is our hope of glory? I believe we hear a lot today about how God just wants to bless us continually, bigger this, more of that, and from the depths of my being I believe His desire is to bless us exceedingly abundantly above all we could ever ask or think. But there are exceeding abundant blessings in trials and tribulations. When He is all we have we find He is more than enough. When nothing else satisfies or has any lasting value He offers us eternal life. When all else fails He is faithful as He promised.

Our lives are being molded and formed by the God that created the Universe. He sent His Son to die that we might be reconciled back to Him once and for all. The sin debt was paid on the cross and He sent His Holy Spirit in our hearts to comfort us and help us. We are in reality never alone, never rejected, never out of His hands, though we may feel as though we are at times. We can take our lives and make a terrible mess of them but God can change our course with just one word. God can heal the brokenness or use that brokenness for His glory, but either way we’re in His hands and in His will if we are trusting Him. Rather than remain on the run from pain and sorrow, might we stop and ask ourselves just what God may be trying to show  us? Who around us will benefit from our steadfastness and trusting God even when it hurts and we do not understand?

Sorrow of the heart does break the spirit, but scripture says a broken spirit God accepts, and a contrite heart He will mend. We have to be absolutely submitted and trusting in the dark night of the soul. We may have been in the furnace heated seven times hotter but we weren’t alone. We may feel broken beyond recognition but God is pruning away all the unfruitful  parts of our lives. God is burning away all the dross that is of no benefit to us and harmful at times. The bottom line is GOD IS, God is busy in our lives, God is working in our lives, God is leading us and guiding us, God is loving  us and protecting us, God  is and always will be working things out for our good and His glory.

If you’re drowning in a sea of doubt and despair, be encouraged in your inner man today. Ask God to open the eyes of your heart to see His marvelous work in your life. Ask the Holy Spirit to comfort you, to aid you, to allow you to feel His presence. Fellowship with Him, spend time in prayer. As you begin to look to Him, to focus on His love and care, His lovingkindness and tender mercies, less of the pain and heartache will be seen and felt. Less of the world and it’s stranglehold of cares and concerns will so easily trip us up if we keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

If you have lost heart, dear ones, take hold His hand again and allow Him to mold you again, again. Nothing is too difficult for God. No need is above Him. He knows what we need and how to provide it. He is not looking for perfection. He is looking for submission. In rebelliousness we lose our way so quickly. In stubbornness we miss His best plan. But in submission, a quiet and peaceful trust that He will show us the way when we just can’t seem to get on the right track, will bring a new outlook on life, a refreshing we surely thought would never be felt again.

Let that refreshing flow over your life today and all it consists of, your body, your mind, your spirit. Feel His strength begin to surge back into the limp hands and weak knees. For all you may have given up on, God was faithful. He will restore. Trust Him today to do just that. Baby steps at first if that’s what it takes, then leaps and bounds, but scripture says they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, and so you shall, my beloved, so you shall.

I pray these words of encouragement have blessed you. I pray these words of inspiration have motivated  you to absolutely humble your heart, come to God in total submission of your will, and allow Him to help you. Allow Him to bless you in over-the-top, most unexpected ways. Scripture says God is able to make all grace abound toward you that you always having all sufficiency may abound to every good work. Yes GOD IS, whatever you need. GOD IS ABLE, He’ll fix this for you with ALL GRACE from His infinite supply.

In His Love, 

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Whatsoever Things Are Lovely

Philippians 4:6-9 -  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Dear Friends – Staying in peace in times of turmoil and stress, how hard it is. Settling it in your heart, what you’ve believed and received, is a must in today’s world, and certainly the foundation of a peace-filled existence. Scripture exhorts us to be anxious for nothing. But often we display just the opposite characteristics. I believe that the mind with its constant barrage of questions, concerns, doubts and fears, trips us up quicker than any other storms we may face in life. Staying in peace is both physically and mentally rewarding in that when fear and doubts come we know what we have believed and with our mouth we confess it. It sounds like a simple enough task, a rather menial endeavor, but think again. Staying in peace takes extreme discipline for even the most committed of followers. When the storms are raging in life it’s easy to start to focus on the waves. It’s easy to take our eyes off the Savior and begin to fret. And as the boisterous waves of life’s calamities and hard places continue to pick up strength and speed, it becomes even harder to stand.

But stand we must. Stay in peace at all costs. Run to God at these times and get alone with Him. He knows your heart before you call. He is aware of your needs before the prayer is spoken. But in your time alone with Him pour out your requests and supplications, make them known to Him heart to heart, then thank Him that He’s heard and will answer. How precious that no matter our problems, no matter what troubles us and keeps us on the run, we have a Savior that is ever at our side, looking for fellowship with us, to comfort us and settle us, to establish us in His way.

Yes staying in peace is a precious gift. That is why scripture says it “passeth all understanding”. For we ask ourselves how can we stay in peace in the torrential onslaught of mental and emotional turmoil? How can we stay in peace in the face of physical distress? Can we stay in peace in the midst of financial difficulties, for ourselves, for others? What about wars and rumors of wars? It is possible to truly trust God so much that these things don’t distress us and cause us to fall? Can we trust Him to such a degree that we spend our days looking for ways to comfort and strengthen others rather than worrying unceasingly about our own difficulties. This is the peace which passes understanding. This is the peace we experience through Christ Jesus, knowing He will keep our hearts and minds because they are committed to Him.

It seems impossible at times to stand believing, committed, trusting in Him at all costs, but to experience that peace that passes understanding, I promise you the end result will leave you strengthened, refreshed, encouraged, with a new perspective on your circumstances and the possible outcomes. What good is worrying about so much in life when in reality we can usually change very little? And so much time spent worrying about things that may never even happen can steal the moments we could be living, laughing, helping others, all of which have much more benefit than pacing the floor and wringing our hands in dismay when we have allowed problems or people to overwhelm us and send us reeling out of control.

No, we must not allow ourselves to lose another moment of this precious gift of life so lovingly bestowed on us by our Savior. It may not make sense to some lost in pain and despair. Some may ask how can just staying in peace change the situation or the outcome of such? First of all, it passes understanding, meaning we as mere humans can’t really understand how God can bring peace in troubled times just because we are trusting Him. But this loving Savior does bring peace when we choose to walk in it and above all stay in it. I actually put this to the test in my personal life. First I gave God a week, just baby-steps. In prayer I decided to trust Him with issues in my life that seemed too big to ever be resolved, with people that were difficult, and with situations I had no answers to and felt it had become my lot in life to just suffer through every day rather than walk in victory. One week. That’s how it all started and I can say it was the best decision of my life.

Circumstances may not have changed that much but I changed. My perspective on life changed. The realization of what was important and what was not changed. Trying to justify myself and my feelings changed. For ultimately God forgives us our frailties and failures and expects us in turn to forgive others. Let the sin debt be paid, friends, yours and others with whom you have to do. And those “others”, well they changed too because they saw the glorious work God had done in me. I started with baby-steps and am now experiencing leaps and bounds on my spiritual journey.  And all because I made the quality decision to trust God and stay in peace.

At the end of the first week, I found myself at a crossroads. Would I pick up the old life of worry, anger, fearfulness, or would I go on for another week of staying in peace? It wasn’t a hard decision. I was definitely feeling “lighter”. The old baggage had been tossed aside so I decided another week would be good. At the end of the second week, well I was no longer at a crossroads asking what I should do. No, I knew I was on a bountiful path that could only lead me to beautiful new beginnings. Since this “staying in peace” journey began I have 3 books on amazon.kindle and 3 books on amazon in print. Amazing that what I had been trying to do in my own strength for so many years miraculously turned around because of that baby-step week. I say none of these things would have come my way had I continued in struggling, worrying, unforgiveness, and all that entails. I trusted God and He met me at every need. I trusted God and He gave me a new life, a new purpose, and truly joy unspeakable and full of glory.

Truly, it has passed all understanding. I would not trade the old life with it’s worries, concerns, failures, uncertainties and drama, yes, always drama, for the peace I have found in Christ alone. I’ve been blessed, truly blessed, above and beyond anything I expected at the outset of my little baby-steps. My heart is at rest, my mind is at rest. It was an even more surprising  life-changing event because I’ve always been somewhat of a worrier. Now when thoughts trouble me, when I feel that urge to pick up the old life and take matters into my own hands, I commit it to Him. I commit it to Him knowing He is taking care of all things much better than I ever could. I commit it to Him knowing He is for me and not against me, and that all things are working together for my good. I commit it to Him, take my hands off, walk away in peace, that peace that passes understanding, and focus on the good that I can do, those that I may help in some way, or just relaxing and living the life God has called me to live. It’s gloriously liberating and freeing.

I pray these words of inspiration have encouraged you to stay in peace today, my friends, and begin to live the abundant life Jesus died to give us.

In His Love,

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For Such A Time As This

Dearest Friends – For such a time as this you were created! Scripture says “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now” (Romans 8:22). You may be groaning under the weight of your load. You may be faltering, stumbling, unsure of your footing in troubled times. But the sufferings of these times are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

You ask how can this be? How can our lives, that at times seem so dark and hopeless, be in reality a beacon of hope to a lost world? Because you are being led by the Spirit of God and you are the sons and daughters of God. You can shrink back in fear in troubled, chaotic times. You can run from life and hide your gifts and talents from the world rather than believe God to do a beautiful work in you and through you. But in all these things God’s word tells us we are MORE than conquerors through Him that loved us (Romans 8:37). We are in essence children of God, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus if so be that HE is truly our Lord and Savior.

When we are overwhelmed by life the Spirit helps our infirmities. When we don’t know how to pray the Spirit makes intercession for us. God has provided a way where there might not seem to be a way in your life. If He spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not then with Him freely give us all things? (Romans 8:31-32). Freely! His only requirement is that we believe Him; believe Him that He is able, believe Him that He will do what He said He would do. The Way is the only way in yesterday’s world, today’s world, and tomorrow’s world for He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

If your heart is broken from hurts of the past He has you covered and will bring miraculously good things out of it if you will commit them to Him. If you are living in fear of today’s turmoil, today’s pain, today’s seeming harshness and helplessness, He is the God of your today. He will hold you and help you without fail and without condemnation. And if your thoughts constantly run to tomorrow and where you will be, what you will do, what of your loved ones, that too is covered. For the whole of creation rests in the palm of God’s hands and we as His beloved children are above all safe, saved, delivered and redeemed from our own destructions and downfalls.

Truly, beloved, there is nothing that can separate us from the love of Christ, nothing. Romans 8:38-39 says ”For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. These times may be troubling but NO THING and NOTHING can separate us from the love of God. God has called us into His family, and who He calls He also justifies, and those He justifies He also glorifies (Romans 8:30). It’s powerful beyond what man can reason in his finite mind. It takes simple faith and trust in Jesus to believe that no matter what kind of dire straits we may find ourselves in God is right there with us. Nothing is too difficult for our God. His arm is not shortened that it cannot help. His ears are open to our cries. And when we are without strength there is no greater time to let go of our efforts, our worries, and just experience a free-fall right into His loving arms, for scripture says in Deuteronomy 33:27 “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms…”. What a beautiful expression of total Love and care for us. He’s our refuge, and if we fall, we fall right into His everlasting arms. Think of it. That thought of falling into the everlasting arms brings the phrase “Let Go and Let God” into virtual focus. Let go today precious ones, and let God show you a true and better way. He will not fail you and He will not leave you.

I heard a song long ago that goes something like “In times like these, we need a Savior. In times like these, we need an anchor. Be very sure, yes very sure, your anchor holds, and grips the solid rock”. Jesus is the Rock that is higher than we are. Jesus is the anchor of our souls. So may these words of encouragement touch your heart today and inspire you to be sure, be very sure, that for such a time as this you are trusting in the Anchor of life, the Love that is unconditional, and in so doing your Anchor WILL hold. For in times like these nothing material, nothing secular, nothing of this world and its goods shall be able in any wise to save you, it is in Christ alone that we are saved, in Christ alone.

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. Numbers 6:24-26.

In His Love,

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The Holding Pattern

Ecclesiastes 3:1 – To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

Dear Friends – Victim or Victor? That is how we may perceive our situations and circumstances when we are in a holding pattern. You have the choice to be a victim of life or a victor in Christ. Often we feel a great pressure, maybe even some confusion in life when we have done all we know to do and things just don’t change in the way we hoped. God owes us nothing but He paid for us with the blood of His Son, Jesus. How precious we must be in His sight!  God owes us nothing but He gives us all things according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. What we allow to become a victim mentality, and this is by choice, is a missed opportunity to learn what God may be teaching us, both about ourselves and about others.

The holding pattern is a time we should use to grow spiritually. This holding pattern, though it may try our patience, can be in reality a great gift. So often we want instant relief, instant change, instant answers to prayer, especially when the heat has been turned up. But these are the times God calls us to trust Him for both guidance and protection. His provision is there if we are relying on Him, though it may not be the provision we desired. I saw on a church billboard this statement – God is never there when you need Him but He’s always on time. Yes beloved, that would be His time and not ours. There is a season and a purpose to all He does in our lives. In our limited understanding and finite minds, we may fail to grasp the true meaning of God’s purpose and plan both for the moment at hand and our lives in general. Perhaps we fail to see the bigger picture. After all, we are a part of God’s great tapestry and we are being woven into the lives of others just as we are being woven into Christ. What an opportunity for blessing others! For God is not as interested in our comfort as our character “for the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

If your life is in a holding pattern and you feel frozen in time, unable to move those mountains or seemingly affect their impact on your life whatsoever, believe that God is very much at work in your life. Scripture says in Hebrews 10:36-37 ”For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry”.  So what character can He develop in us through these circumstances?  What patience and virtue can come from trials and tribulations that are met with a welcome mat rather than taking the first road out? If God has allowed a situation into your life His intention is to bless you and others in the process. His word says He does not give us more than we can handle without providing a way of escape. But often our way of escape is to run away.

So when we run away, where are we going, for wherever we go, there we are. And just as we remain the same after trying our own escape maneuver, alas we look up only to find the problem remains the same also. As Martin Luther King once said, “Carve a tunnel of hope through a mountain of despair”. This would be God’s way of handling a situation.  There is no quick fix for most of life’s problems, but we do not have to view them as victims for which there is no hope and no help. For God is a very present help in times of trouble. Scripture says in Isaiah 58:11 “And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not”.

Yes even when things look dry and lifeless around you God is guiding you continually. We can be prosperous in lean times when we are trusting Him. And to be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters fail not, think of the possibilities. For folks around you are feeling dry and lifeless as well.  What a blessing to be used of God in such a time as this to minister to others in these times of great need. What a testimony one could have if God is allowed to bring His plan to fruition without our bailing before the work is done.

Scripture says in Psalms 28:7 “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him”.  Truly if we are trusting Him, He is helping us, and if He is helping  us our heart will be greatly rejoicing. To feel His presence in our lives gives reason to break out into singing for there is no love like God’s love, unconditional in all respects, deeply fulfilling. It changes us from the inside out to such a degree that the problems that once overwhelmed us lose their bite. God makes all things beautiful in His time and a temporary holding pattern is part of the process. But it is a richly rewarding process. We learn to appreciate the things in life that really matter rather than continuing to focus on little annoyances or even major catastrophes. Of course there is heartache in life, and a lot of heartache man cannot fully understand, but God knows and is working things out for the good of all in your life.

If we trust Him His word says we shall never be ashamed. If we run ahead and try to get things done or change things in our way and in our time, then we become responsible for the outcome, and not just the outcome for us but the resultant backlash that may be heaped on those around us, albeit that was certainly not our original intention. If things get worse, who can we blame but ourselves? For our lack of patience and rush to judgment comes with a price. I would rather know that Jesus is right there with me, guiding every step, and remain in a holding pattern until God moves me out, than let my impatience foil an exceeding abundant work of the Holy Spirit in my life.

In James 1:17 God’s word says that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning”. I believe that these gifts from God, things like deliverance after a long battle with illness or extreme difficulty, financial gain in times of severe lack, times of peace and love in place of turmoil and hatred, are just a sign of God’s great love for His children and His desire to bless us ultimately rather than watch us die in some self-made slime pit for which we can find no way of escape. I believe the fruits of the Spirit including love, kindness, patience, etc., are much more to be desired than material blessings and instant gratification, for they work a far greater reward in our lives than we could have ever imagined.

Our spiritual journey will be full of pitfalls, twists and turns, and uncertainty, but God will send spiritual discernment through faith and trust in Him. And this spiritual discernment in turn will lead to spiritual growth. God will speak to His children in His way and in His time about particular matters, but the Bible is full of words of wisdom, words that are full of life and life-changing. Take time to receive daily inspiration and Godly exhortation by reading His word, asking Him to open your eyes to see His working in your life. Ask Him to open your heart to feel His presence, His love, and to give you a heart for others around you, to see their needs and have a willing spirit to minister His life and love through the gifts He has given you.

Yes, dear ones, your life may be in a holding pattern, but this is only temporary. His word says in Proverbs 14:26 “In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge”. No matter how dire your circumstances seem to be you can have a strong confidence in the Lord that He will come through for you. He has not forgotten you or forsaken you. This feeling of being in a holding pattern is just God at work in your life so let patience have her perfect work and when patience is allowed to have her perfect work you will find you are entire, wanting nothing. What a blessed place to be! You waited on God and He did not disappoint.

In His Love,

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Proverbs 18:24 - A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Scripture says there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. This friend is Jesus. When one considers the closeness of brothers, brothers biologically, brothers in combat, brothers in tragedy, a bond is realized that lasts for a lifetime. This is the bond that Jesus wants to have with each of us. He gave His life to do away with the separation between man and God, to close the chasm, if you will.

He brought us the dispensation of grace, the new covenant, and man never has to feel separated from God anymore. For His grace covers all our sin, past, present and future, and His love is eternal and unconditional. We only have to believe Him and receive Him into our hearts today and as we walk with him and fellowship with Him, faith leads us to our divine purpose and ultimately our heavenly home.

Dear friends-If you don’t know Jesus, I invite  you to take a moment right now and ask him into your heart. Let Him be the Lord of your life, give him first place in everything. You’ll begin a journey to last a lifetime that is full of life and love.

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God’s Design

Jeremiah 16:17-20-Lord, you are my strength and fortress, my refuge in the day of trouble!…Can people make their own god? The gods they make are not real gods at all!

Dearest Friends – My Webster’s defines fickle as changeable or unstable in affection, interest, loyalty, etc. It also mentions to deceive, akin to betrayal or deceit. Scripture states in Jeremiah 17:9-10 (NLT)-The human heart is most deceitful and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I know! I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives.

 Beloved, I want to be found faithful in all things regarding my life as a whole, as I am sure most would say they agree, but there are times in every life, in every sincere love walk, that we find we have been fickle in our actions, thoughts, words and/or deeds. And this perhaps solely was done unawares and without malicious intent or a conscious desire to deceive anyone. Have you not experienced periods of time, perhaps gone through seasons lasting longer than we desire, when the stresses of life seem to take a toll on us and before we know it our passion for Christ has dimmed? At times we may feel a lukewarmness toward the things of the Lord, or just a weariness in general.

It has been my experience, dear friends, that even the most zealous for His word, the most impassioned for Christ, the greatest of servants have moments when they realize they have failed. Our hearts are fickle at times not because we have lost our desire for God and all the beauty and love that we can’t even put into words or have space to talk about here, but because we have fallen into the trap of trying to do all things ourselves, on our own, and without truly and wholeheartedly relying on God daily. What looks to some as hypocritical and fickle is merely an overzealous attempt on our part to do God’s job as well as our own, which when put into practice, beloved, will  not bring one success to say the least.

God allows us to wake up some mornings and ask, “What has happened and where am I”, and more painfully, “O God, where are You?”, so that we become aware we have moved away from Him in all our busy-ness, rather than drawn closer to Him. His desire is to fellowship with us. His desire is to allow us to know Him as we are known by Him. No task is generally so important, or a desire of the heart so pressing, as to have no time to seek God concerning the issues that can send us scurrying off into cyberspace or elsewhere looking for help and direction, when our faithful God was there all along, waiting with the answer, and a good rest for the soul along with it. It surely must make God laugh to see us in our moment of seeming triumph, thinking we have it all figured out, only to realize in amazement our way won’t work at all.

Scripture says in Jeremiah 17:14-17 (NLT)-O Lord, you alone can heal me; you alone can save. My praises are for you alone! 15 People scoff at me and say, “What is this ‘message from the Lord’ you keep talking about? Why don’t your predictions come true?” 16 Lord, I have not abandoned my job as a shepherd for your people. I have not urged you to send disaster. It is your message I have given them, not my own. 17 Lord, do not desert me now! You alone are my hope in the day of disaster. Well, sadly I have had people ask me, “how can you write like you do and your life be such a mess?”. What others fail to realize or take the time to understand is man is a triune being. We are created a spirit, a physical body, and a soul which consists of the mind, will and emotions. My physical body may be fine, but my mind and emotions may be a mess or vice versa. But the spiritual man devoted to living for Christ will always succeed. What may appear to some to be hypocritical on our part or deceitful at times, unstable even in their critique, is just a work in progress in our lives. When we come to God and make Jesus the Lord of our lives we are not at that moment made perfect in man’s description of “perfect”, rather we are covered in Jesus’ blood, given the robe of righteousness, a crown of glory, and the Holy Spirit to comfort us and teach us. We begin a life-long journey on this side of heaven to learn to be all and do all God desires for us, and the journey at times takes us through some pretty rough terrain.  There may be times we despair of even our very lives, but through it all God will be there with us, and beloved, if God be for us, who dare be against us?

I do not say the journey will always be easy, or the life lived for Christ a rose garden, but I do say He is faithful to bring you through the hardest of times, in peril or in the deep, through the flood and the fire, and you will come out of each experience richer, sweeter, stronger, more alive than ever before, with wisdom you never knew existed, and a trust in God that is priceless.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NLT) But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. 8 They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deepinto the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by the long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing delicious fruit.

So be blessed today friends. Continue to trust in the Lord even when nothing makes sense and friends start to abandon you. Let the Lord be your hope and confidence, for worldly hope and confidence are fickle at best, unstable and deceitful. I encourage you with these words of inspiration to “be the tree” – the planting of the Lord, for He knows what you need and He has promised to never leave you or forsake you.

In His Love,

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The Peaceful, Restful Arms Of The Spirit

1 Corinthians 3:3 -  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

Dear Friends – The love of God is so all-encompassing in one’s life. There is nothing we can do, think, say or feel that is hidden from Him. And if we are seeking Him and desirous of a more intimate relationship with Him, His presence becomes even more evident in our everyday lives and circumstances. Scripture says in Luke 17:21b the kingdom of God is within you. Beloved, I say to you, when the kingdom of God resides on the inside of you your whole world is going to change. Where once you walked in hopelessness and despair, the word of God brings hope and glory. If you live in darkness and isolation, the Holy Spirit will come alongside to comfort you, and the Lord shall enlighten your darkness. There is no greater love this side of heaven, no truer friend, and no greater promises than God’s promise to us of eternal life through faith in Jesus, His Son, and the finished work of the cross.

Dear ones, today we must ask ourselves are we operating in the flesh or in the spirit? It seems like a harmless enough question. Perhaps it seems hardly worth considering if we are doing our utmost to be the best we can be for God, for others, and allowing God to transform us with the beautiful light of His love. But I recently had a first-hand experience with how easy it is to end up in the flesh and not even realize it.

I had been experiencing deep emotional pain for some time. I had been relationally injured but truly had sought God’s will in this. Earnestly prayed for help and guidance. Ultimately under the weight of the pain and turmoil, I went to speak with a dear pastor friend of mine in another city, followed by a phone conversation at a later date. I had not seen him in quite some time but our meeting was as if it had been divinely orchestrated, and in retrospect, circumstances told me it was. I always greet him when I see him as “the man of God”. He always smiles at me when I say this,  but this greeting hardly does him justice. For he always has just the right “word” for any circumstance. His words are sharper than any two-edged sword and able to divide asunder between flesh and spirit for his words are always God’s words, aiming straight for the heart and never missing their mark. Sure enough after a few moments of explaining my dire circumstances, he told me I was in the flesh.

Now wait a minute, I had been doing all I knew to get right and stay right, how could I have slipped into the flesh? I reiterated the pain and all the circumstances of how I wasn’t fighting with anyone else, just myself, thinking maybe he had misunderstood my first dissertation, and looking for some sort of empathy. But alas, he simply said to me again I was operating in the flesh. Yep, after explaining 1 Corinthians 3:3 to me it was as if I had never read that scripture before. Suddenly my eyes were opened and my heart understood. I might have been beating myself up for it but I was angry and my emotions were out of control. Yes I was trying to be stoic, perhaps even robotic, but this isn’t the life God desires for us, and isolating oneself in painful situations is hardly profitable. The battle was within me, the turmoil was simply a refusal to accept a hurtful situation, deal with it, and move on. For in isolating ourselves we create divisions, and divisions in turn create strife and the list goes on. So if you are struggling in any area today, ask yourself could it be you have slipped over into the flesh, gotten out of the peaceful, restful arms of the Spirit, and created an atmosphere of strife and division in your life? May these words of inspiration encourage you that there is a way back. If you are seeking God’s help, trust that your “man of God” is on the way. It may come in  another form but it will be the answer  you have been seeking from a true and faithful God.

So be encouraged today my friends. Understand that life hurts sometimes and sometimes life hurts unbearably. But God will make a way of escape. God will see you through your darkest hour. The greater your suffering, the greater will be the blessing when He brings you safely through and gives you a new song to sing. Remember this verse of scripture 1 Corinthians 2:9 – But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

In His Love,

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2 Corinthians 1:8 - For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired of even life.

Dear Friends – There are times in life when situations and circumstances become overwhelming. Perhaps you’ve been praying and standing in faith. You may have even felt a tug in your spirit that everything would work out okay if you could somehow  just be patient a little longer. Beloved, these are hard times, pressing times. These are times when endurance is put to the test and we may begin to look around for a way of escape. Scripture says in 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.

So first of all know, no matter what you are going through it is a common malady of the human race. But grasp the most important phrase of that verse of scripture “God is faithful”. Yes God is faithful to help us in all circumstances. He is aware of our human frailties, weaknesses, and sometimes even our own stupidity. But for all that we feel we lack, whether in endurance, wisdom or faith, God still loves us and His grace still covers all. He understands that life’s problems can become debilitating and life’s frustrations can bury us in a sea of emotional turmoil. If we are seeking Him He will not allow our circumstances to destroy us or become a load greater than we can bear. Yes there are times when we think we have reached the end of the road. There are times when we feel we can not bear situations and circumstances one more minute, but these are our feelings from our perspective in a somewhat weakened condition. The truth is God is faithful, and the reality is He will make a way of escape. He will be faithful to come and deliver you.

But I believe we are allowed to linger in negative circumstances to allow God time to show us just how much we are capable of with His help, and just how much we really can endure when we are rooted and grounded in His love. He is wanting to lead us into  a more intimate and trusting relationship, a closer walk with Him, and sometimes the only way to accomplish this is through hard times. We don’t like it of course, but in the end, on the other side, we are usually grateful for the learning experience and the new wings that now allow us to soar where we once could not even stand, and take us much farther than before.

When we reach a point of despairing of even life, dear ones, and absolutely no strength with which to continue even if we wanted to, God is still faithful and still in control. Scripture says His strength is perfect when our strength is gone and so it is. You get a beautiful revelation of His love and care for  you when He is all you have. You can grasp the beautiful picture of God literally carrying you in His arms because you are too weak to walk. Yes the way may be difficult and the toiling seems much too long. But hang on to the phrase above “God is faithful”, and He will make a way of escape for you.

So be encouraged today, feel renewed in your mind and spirit. If you feel you are at the end of yourself and ready to give up, take heart beloved. You may seem to be lacking whatever is needed to be delivered, but God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we could ever ask or think.   It is my prayer that these words of inspiration will motivate you to take hold the hand of God, rise up in the inner man, and allow your hope to be renewed as you allow faith and trust to lead you on a peaceful path and give you rest. If you are looking to God and are at the end of yourself that is a most blessed place to be. For when God makes a way of escape the journey is not soon forgotten, and the blessings will far outweigh the pain.

In His Love,

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Thinking Outside The Box

Psalms 77:13-14 – Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God. 14 Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou has declared thy strength among the people.

Dear Friends – With God’s help today,  I invite you to think outside the box, just for a moment, and ponder the thought that your emotional pain and frustration may actually be your friend.  The overwhelming pain you have been relentlessly suffering due to circumstances seemingly beyond your control probably have deep and loving messages attached. God often uses the trials and tribulations we endure in our spiritual journey to draw us closer to Him. He wants us to trust Him more, love Him more intimately, and fellowship with Him without reservation. Scripture says in 1 Peter 5:6-7 – Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care  upon him; for he careth for you.  So often we are so burdened and so weary, so distracted by the cares of this world, but that is exactly where God is waiting to meet us. He’s right there with you in the fire awaiting your cry for help. He’s carrying you through the flood, holding your head up when you no longer can. And His words to you are to cast it all on Him. He is able to handle it when we don’t know the way anymore and have not the strength to bear it any longer.

I read this short paragraph by Oswald Chambers and was struck by the absolute truthfulness of the statement, as if God sent a personal word. He says “It is not so true that “prayer changes things” as that prayer changes me and I change things. God has so constituted things that prayer on the basis of Redemption alters the way in which a man looks at things. Prayer is not a question of altering things externally, but of working wonders in a man’s disposition”.- Oswald Chambers. And there it is – truth in its most basic form. For our God does not always come when we call and change our circumstances. In His most loving way and with great tenderness and compassion on us, there are times when He is not out to change things for us but to change the heart and mind in us. When our hearts are broken and calling out to Him in desperation and what we receive seems to be silence, we must think again.  Scripture says in 1 Peter 4:19 – Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. Let this stir your soul, dear ones, and open your heart to His wisdom, His will and His way. For what He chooses for us is ultimately, infinitely better, exceedingly more powerful, and certainly more lasting and beneficial than things we would choose for ourselves.

Think of recurring issues in life that continue to bring us pain and distract us from all the things we could be enjoying. Would it not be more beneficial to allow God to change how we perceive life, situations, and people? This change of heart, or change of mind, or change in perception doesn’t leave us open to the next problem to arise with our weaknesses still intact and thriving. No this change is inside of us, orchestrated by God, and completed by God. The divine wisdom has been received and with joy and a renewed passion we move on, to bigger conquests, greater victories. Yes, precious ones, a change in our disposition will go a lot farther than a change in our external circumstances.

In a fast-food society, we want instant relief or we want it our way. But when God is involved it becomes evident our way leaves us needing more and more fixes, more and more help, and because of His involvement He usually allows us to come to that realization in His time frame and not ours. What great love for man that He would have so much patience with us when we usually have so little for Him.  Scripture says in Isaiah 55:9&11 – For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 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. Think on that for a moment beloved. God doesn’t think like we do, He doesn’t act like we do, but He sends His word and accomplishes what He will, and what He wills will prosper in the situation and brokenness to which He sends it. Established in righteousness? With God it’s possible.

So think outside the box and get a glimpse today of just how big God really is, how great and precious are His promises. Let the painful circumstances in your life lead you to God who is ready to take you on, a special project of sorts, to rebuild, repair and ultimately restore you to all He created you to be. Make Jesus the Lord of your life today. Read His word and receive every bit of its inspiration and encouragement into your life and your circumstances. Set about to stay the course with God and live your life on His time schedule and not  your own. If you want to learn and grow in the things of God His door is always open, His arms are there to welcome you, and the Holy Spirit will come alongside to comfort you. It’s a win-win deal but it can’t be rushed or dictated – only lived out to the ultimate until we all come into the fullness of Christ.

In His Love,

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