https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%202:20&version=NIV

Galatians 2:20 says it all about the Christian walk.  The bottom line is that our walk involves dying to the old man. We have been resurrected in Christ, and now can experience His life and power.

This subject was addressed in a devotional my husband and I listened to this morning. The host was emphasizing the fact that we should be focusing on God the first thing in the morning.  It is so easy for us as humans to believe that the only way for us to succeed is for us to go full steam ahead, not considering what the Spirit has to reveal. We end up falling down relying on our human pride, Proverbs 16:18.

Solomon, the author of much of Proverbs, was asked by the Lord what he wanted in 2 Chronicles 1:7-14. Solomon proceeded to thank God for allowing him the privilege of ruling the people. His desire was to have knowledge and wisdom in his reign.  Since David’s son wasn’t mentioning wealth or honor, God granted him these things along with the knowledge and wisdom. Later on, since Solomon lost focus of who gave him the recognition and wealth, that was how his life got messed up.

Proverbs 3:6 states that in everything we do we need to acknowledge His presence. When that is done, we will experience the Spirit’s anointing and strength. What the Lord  planned, it is going to come about. Isaiah 55:11 talks about the Word of the Lord always coming true. The plans of Christ will come about. I amen the song of Micah Tyler’s, “Different!” Our desire should be for the Lord to complete the work started on the cross.  How wonderful it is when the world notices we are different, and there is the desire for them to get to know God!  Lord, may we see you in our lives this week!

Isaiah 26:3

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

I sure needed this beautiful Scripture and uplifting song this week!  I don’t know about you, but I was beside myself at how many people around me were going through life’s changing events!  I am going to try to briefly share about those around me who need to have the supernatural direction and healing of the Holy Spirit.

For one thing, my husband and I are trying to get back on our feet from his hospital stay.  This has caused a setback not only in his health, but also in getting paid for about 4 weeks.  It has made us really sit down together and try to fine-tune our budget.

Not only have we as a couple had to seek the Lord and each other as to what to do, but my parents and sister have experienced situations that are driving them to the Lord.  My parents are encountering a situation where my mom has fallen a couple of times within the last three weeks. They are asking God if it is time for them to get a place without stairs.  In my sister’s case, she and her husband are having to move to a hotel because of unreasonable rent increases.  On top of this, her husband is in need of much assistance due to having a history of strokes.

The last person I will bring up is the elder Alan and I have been meeting with on Zoom, Tuesday evenings.  He and his wife are still grieving over the loss of their daughter.  While they are going through this loss, they are wondering if it is the right time to sell their place and relocate.  While we and all of you might be asking ourselves what is going on, it is not the time to believe we are going to fall apart.  It is the time to truly run to God and believe that He holds our breakthrough in His hands!  God bless you this week as you believe in His rescue!

On the subject of strokes, the last month has been one of our pastor and parents’ assistant pastor going through them.  Our prayers are that our pastor will have successful PT and OT treatment here in the future, and that God will reveal to him and his wife what should be done about pastoring. In the case of my parents’ assistant pastor, it is especially difficult because he is fairly young and has younger children.

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Psalm 37:23-24

fhttps://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2037%3A23-24&version=NIV

In the Psalms, David made a point of acknowledging Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Psalm 37:23-24, portrays Christ as steadying us as we cherish His ways. The Father makes sure His daughters and sons don’t fall along life’s difficult paths. Another time that the Lord is brought up as being near is Psalm 23:4. The sheep have the assurance that they will be directed and guarded every step, even in the darkness of death. Death is just a valley we will cross through with the Savior.

Life is not meant to be handled by oneself.  We are to go through it holding the Father’s hand. We should spend our efforts praising Him for who He is, and for getting us through every obstacle in the past.  I noticed that in Jon Reddick’s song, “Holding On,” it shows him building a little stone altar.

That reminded me of what God wanted the Children of Israel to do. Joshua 4:9 tells of the time Joshua set up a pillar of twelve stones at the Jordan. The exact place that the priests had been, as they had carried the Ark of the Covenant to dry land. The instructions of God given to Moses were in the Ark. Respect and worship are due His name! He wants us to recall the times Christ has carried us through.

This week, I wanted to start by praising God for providing for our June rent! Let us spend time respecting what God has shown us to do through His Word and through the people of God. We have plenty of reasons to worship Him, as represented in 2 Chronicles 20:20-21. Jehoshaphat set up worshippers before them as they went into battle. It is setting down our self pride, and is in exhalting His holy name. Amen! I wanted to close by inviting you to share those times Jesus has provided, in the comment section below. God bless us as we hold onto His hand!

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3 John1:2,3

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=3%20John%202&version=KJV

When reading 3 John 1:2-3, John was sharing the Spirit’s desire for us to be well in the whole man. Our cry is for Christ to have our whole person. We understand how we are made new when trusting Christ as Savior; but since we live in a fallen world, many of us have bodies that are deformed or sick. The key to this is to acknowledge God’s goodness, and to turn ourselves over to Him daily in an offering, Romans 12:1.

On the topic of commiting ourselves to Christ, I heard an excellent posting from Joni Earekson Tada. She stated that she came to the place of daily giving herself to the Spirit’s direction and help. She has to be candid and share with Jesus that by herself she cannot live with quadrapeligia. It is all in our attitude, friends! God understands us and will meet us where we are at, Romans 8:32. He died for us, so it is proof His nature is to take care of us constantly.

In Cece Winan’s song, “Goodness of God,” it is so uplifting to sing along in thanksgiving.. Shouldn’t we do what creation is already doing, Psalm 19:1? He placed us here, in His circumstances and timing, in order to be witnesses of His goodness.

We can go forward this week knowing that God has our backs and is just and pure. I have found in my life that sometimes our hardships are allowed to accomplish the plans of the Creator. He is the potter, and we are the clay, Isaiah 64:8. He is the Heavenly Father, without any of the imperfections we may have experienced through authority figures or parents, Matthew 7:11 and Luke 11:13. Let us magnify His name! Amen!

https://www.asp4hisglory.com/

Happy Memorial Day!

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians%203%3A23&version=NIV

Colossians 3:23 is an excellent way to live your life successfully!  When you do your living unto the Lord, it enables you to have purpose. It opens you up, also, for many blessings unimaginable. If we are going through our day-to-day in order to please ourselves or others, we end up many times not living up to expectations. We become discouraged. After all, we are still in a fallen world.

In order to get everything out of the days that we have, Ephesians 5:15-16, it takes faith. I know in my head, it is hard for me to step forward if I don’t feel one hundred percent.  It takes putting aside the present and focusing on what the future outcome will be. The days are not getting better, but are getting more ungodly. We do not want to lose out on the opportunities God has given us today!

As I viewed Laren Daigel’s video, “These Are the Days,” the picture of children playing came into my mind. Children have a way of coming out with their intents without hiding any underlying motives. They are confident that their parents have everything under control. They are not second guessing everything they attempt.

Yes, my prayer is that we ask Jesus about all of our plans; it is not in blindly stepping out. Lord, help us to come before your throne boldly, Hebrews 4:16, knowing you will accept us; help us to not waste time by trying to figure life’s path out on our own.  Thank you that you are the Great Shepherd!  Amen!

1 Corinthians 13:12 (ESV)- For now we see in a  mirror dimly, but- Bible Gateway

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2013%3A12&version=ESV

When I asked the Lord what to share about this week, He laid the topic of trusting Him on my heart. Just because we don’t understand all of the underlying factors of life, that doesn’t mean we should panic. We have an all knowing God that is taking care of us, amen!?  1 Corinthians 13:12, is an encouragement that one day what has been blurry here on Earth will be revealed in His light.

We will be able to grasp what His masterpiece was intended to be. It gives us hope that even though we see many flaws now, we will understand what His full purpose was for creating us. We won’t be uncertain about anything, when we are in His presence.

Even now, as Passion’s “The Lord Will Provide shares, we can be assured of the Father being able to take care of us. Jesus shared, in Matthew 6:26-34, that the birds of the air aren’t fretting about their food. God is their feeder. The lilies of the field aren’t concerned about their clothing, since Jesus has given them gorgeous attire.

This doesn’t mean we can kick back and not work for food and clothing. It does show how God understands what we are capable of, and what we are in need of.  Let us go with that reassurance this week. When we try to assess everything, let us ask for the Holy Spirit’s view on things. I know that when I am crushed in spirit, I usually am looking through warped lenses. Lord, please give us clarity of sight! Amen

I wanted to give a shout out and let everyone know that my Husband and I just got our website setup, and a QR code attached for donations. The Non-Profit will be assisting Veterans in the Kent area, those who are having a struggle with addictions. We are setting up a funding source by studio songs we are putting together. Please look us up! God bless you as you follow His Son!

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2010%3A31&version=NIVg

The question I have been asking myself this week has been, “What is the best way to worship God?” The Spirit has been confirming an answer by giving me 1 Corinthians 10:31, and by sharing Phil Wickham’s “Our God is an Awesome God.”

1 Corinthians 10:31’s emphasis is on the heart as we carry on with life. Our lives should be reflecting that we have the joy of the Lord, that we are honoring Him. That joy comes as we dwell on the awesomeness of the Savior. Like this morning, when I listened to a message of CS Lewis,’ the author brought up the fact of things shifting in us as we thank Jesus.

We end up realizing that we are not alone. We have someone awesome in control. He is not transitory; but, He is always there. It is His desire to have fellowship with us, which is so beautiful.

Let us spend the coming week praising God, and joining in with creation worshipping Him. It is not in whether or not we are feeling wonderful or surrounded by happiness; rather, it is acknowledging that He is worthy of all glory! As CS Lewis stated, praise is not primarily the ending to having things go the way we want them. The attitude of gratitude opens us up to doing what we were created to do, worshipping and having communion with the Creator!

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2032%3A8&version=NIV

This week, in contemplating the April Birthdays of the Family and the beginning of our 21st Anniversary, it made me realize that God brings life and meaning to our years. He is waiting for all of us to slow down and stop trying to figure everything out in our own ability.

Psalm 32:8 is a beautiful passage from the Bible. It is God promising to bring direction in our lives. He reassures us that He will show us what steps to take, because He is our loving Hevenly Father. He is truly an attentive God! He showed us, through the Son, how to live this life. He then proceeded to send His Spirit to be with the following generations.

In reference to the direction of the Spirit, I wanted to share Tauren Well’s new song, “Breathe on It.” It really is the place God wants us to be at, seeking the Spirit’s help in not following our own understanding.  We need to put aside the unfruitful pursuit of our own satisfaction.

We should hunger and thirst to know what the Spirit is wanting to share with us. He has not forgotten us, or stopped caring. That is the old man, with the pride of believing he knows everything.  Let us look forward to what is going to be revealed to us, for the inspiration to go on.  Amen!7