Dreambusters!

“You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty …. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands …. And the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.” (1 Samuel 17:45-4)

How do you defeat the giants that are keeping you from being the man God wants you to be? How do you defeat the fears that keep you from being the woman God wants you to be?

If you want to be a person of great faith with a great dream and a great life work, you do the very things that David did to defeat the giants of delay, discouragement, disapproval, and doubt.

Remember how God has helped you in the past. David says in 1 Samuel 17:37, “The LORD who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” When you remember the ways that God has helped you in the past, it gives you confidence for the future.

Use the tools that God has given you now. David used the tools that God provided that utilized his strengths: “Then Saul gave David his own armor …. ‘I can’t go in these,’ he protested to Saul. ‘I’m not used to them.’ So David took them off again. He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag” (1 Samuel 17:38-40a). Don’t wait for something you don’t have — money, education, or connections. Use the tools God has already given you to face your giants with confidence.

Ignore the dreambusters. Later in life, when others were speaking against him, David had to encourage himself in the Lord: “David was seriously worried, for in their bitter grief for their children, his men began talking of killing him. But David took strength from the Lord” (1 Samuel 30:6). When you encourage yourself in the Lord, it’s not just a positive mental attitude. There is a bedrock trust in God’s grace, provision, security, and power.

Expect God to help you for his glory. David stormed the battlefield, shouting, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty …. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands …. And the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel” (1 Samuel 17:45-46).

One day I got down on my knees and said, “God, I’m not the smartest person, the best educated, or the most talented. But I’m going to trust you. And I will do anything, anytime, anywhere in faith, even when it doesn’t make sense to me.” And what an adventure my life has been! He uses me daily because I allow Him to use me. God will use anybody who will trust him and expect to be used by him — not because of who you are, but for his glory.

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When my Heart is Overwhelmed, Lord lead me to the Towering Rock of Safety!

No matter where we are, no matter how far we are from home, we can cry to Him for help and God will hear our cry. Wherever we are, we have access to the throne of grace where we will find help in the time of need. That’s a promise, one that will lead us to the Rock every time there’s a need.That which separates us from our other comforts should drive us so much the nearer to God, the fountain of all comfort. Even when we are around strange surroundings. God never abandons us. His all-surpassing strength is always with us. Have a wonderful day as you remain in the presence of the towering rock of safety.

When my Heart is Overwhelmed, Lord lead me to the Towering Rock of Safety!

“From the ends of the earth will I cry to you for help, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the towering rock of safety.” Psalm 61:2

No matter how overwhelmed our heart may feel at times, it must be lifted up to God in prayer. There is no other solution for life’s problems, and He’s always there with arms opened wide; many times He’s waiting for us just to ask for His help.

The next time you’re at the end of your rope, or your circumstances seem to be swallowing you up, or problems are overwhelming you, be sure to run to Him in prayer . . . no amount of wishing and hoping and positive thinking will rescue you like the arm of the Most High reaching down and guiding you to the path of deliverance from your situation.

Remember, if He leads you to the rock (and He will), you will be on top of your problems and see your circumstances from a far different perspective. This Rock is Christ, and we are safe if we are in Him.

Father, thank You for reminding us that You are always near, that we can, at any moment, reach out to You and You will concern Yourself about our business. Father, at times there are many that are reading this that feel overwhelmed, but I thank You and praise You for the assurance that there is a Rock that is higher than we are. It is Your desire to meet our every need regardless of where we are, what the situation is, and how difficult the circumstances are. Lord, thank You for all You’ve done . . . Amen!

Have you messed up?

“So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:21

Maybe you have messed up. Maybe you have made a mistake and have done a wrong thing. Guess what? We serve the God of second chances. So you can come to Him and say, “Lord, I have really messed up. Can you help?”

His answer is yes. God will come and redeem the mistakes we have made. Even Christians can wander away from the Lord. Even Christians can make bad decisions and do really bad things. We are effectively capable of doing anything, even as followers of Jesus, because we still have free wills and old natures. However, if you are a true Christian, even when you have blown it or gone astray, you always will come home again. The good news is that God can forgive you and give you a second chance. So even if you have messed up, God still can turn it around.

[Run to You by Third Day]

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  Run to You by Third Day

  Artist: Third Day featuring Lacey Mosley (from Flyleaf) Song: Run to You Video created by:…

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Listen to God’s Voice!

 This should be our heart’s plea and desire. That God will be ever-present in our heart and lives so that we will hear His voice when He speaks to us and tells us which path to walk on. And if we don’t? If we should get on the wrong path? Then with everything in us, our prayer would be that God would direct us back to the right path. Are you feeling overwhelmed and in need of some sense of direction standing at a crossroads unsure of where to turn?  If only you could see what lies ahead on either path, the choice would be much easier to make. If this is where you are today I hope and pray this passage and message will ministry to you in your time of need.

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it.”~  Isaiah 30:21

Some of you are standing at a crossroads. Where you are overwhelmed by the challenges you face and wonder where in the world God is taking you as you journey through this life. As you face the uncertainty of what lies ahead, you may struggle to gain a sense of direction from many sources – the encouragement and experiences of friends, your own failures and successes, and whatever might feel good at the moment. But are you truly seeking God’s direction for your lives?

So do you contend yourself with devoting your energies to what you’re currently doing and serving others in a part-time job, or do you press forward into doing what God’s plan for you is with the hope that you will make a difference for God using the gifts He has given you?(and yes He has given us all special gifts to use for His glory) The upward path is difficult and uncomfortable for you. It would be much easier to let go of a dream and settle for what is familiar and comfortable, but is that truly God’s plan for you life?

God has given us His Word as a road map and is willing to navigate us through every treacherous turn if we are inclined to hear His voice. As long as we keep our eyes fixed on the Morning Star, we can travel with certainty that we will reach the destination He has mapped out for us. The journey won’t be easy. We will encounter many obstacles along the way. But God has promised that He will be with us always, “even to the end of the age” Matthew 28:20.

God’s Plan!

Good morning everyone I wanted to share something with you this morning. So many people go through life not knowing God and having a personal relationship with Him, and fully utilizing the gifts and talents He gives them. I know that I spent the best part of my life (prior to 7 years ago) not knowing what God’s will was for me. I was not interested during my earlier years in getting to know God and did not give Him the opportunity to reveal His plan for my life to me. Therefore I feel I lost much valuable time in being able to witness for God to others during this lost time. But don’t you just love how God will make beauty out of ashes and how He will restore that the locust has taken away.

God’s Plan!

Since I have known Jesus in my heart, I have had true peace and joy in my life, and I am so thankful that I will have the rest of my life to experience the joy that God can bring. Sometimes we do know God’s will, but we really don’t trust Him enough to want it implemented in our lives. Satan begins to interfere in us and keeps us from implementing God’s will. We develop a lack of trust in God, as we develop a sense of doubt and unbelief. But I believe God has a time planned for each of us when He will begin to fulfill His plan for us.

Time is a tool that God uses to mold, and make us into the vessels He wants to do his will. Our spiritual maturity over the passage of time gives the assurance that we are in His plan, and walking according to His plan. Ecclesiastes 3:1 “There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven.” We don’t know how life will turn out or where it will take us. We will spend our days on earth and beyond, either in God’s wonderful plan or we will be penalized for rejecting it. We all have things we want in life, but we must trust God and His timing to get them. A major part of God’s plan is patience and waiting for God to reveal His plan to us. God’s timing is different than our timing, as many things we want and desire are not granted us, because we are not ready to receive them. God needs to mold us and shape us to be able to receive them, and then to use them for His glory. God has a plan for each of us, a plan that will give us a hope and a future.

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Have a wonderful as you remain in God’s presence. Love you all and please share with others.  I long to have many be encouraged in their walk with the Lord!  God bless you for following and for sharing!  ❤

Lonely but never alone!

Some of you reading this at times in your life you have felt very lonely. Jesus described this scenario of being left alone, but not being alone. He verbalized to His disciples how they were about to be scattered and how Jesus would be left by Himself to face His accusers. In Christ’s greatest time of need those He needed most fled from His presence. As Jesus faced His arrest, trial and death the disciples’ fear superseded their loyalty to Christ. Jesus was left alone by many who loved Him the most, yet He was not alone. His Father was with Him. Loneliness can strike down the most devout followers of the Lord, but they are not alone.

“A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.” John 16:32

Have you been left alone by those you thought would never leave you? Have life’s pressures driven people from your presence? If you are in a season of loneliness, do not be surprised if some do not remain with you. Friends can be fickle when you face adversity. Family can grow silent when they don’t know what to say. In fact, it is during your hardest times that you learn who loves you the most. Do not fall into a pit of pity. Rise above self-pity with your focus on your heavenly Father. When you get down, let God’s grace get you up. You are not alone when the Lord is with you!

It’s in our loneliness that the Lord can become the most real. Our ‘aloneness’ is our opportunity for authenticity. We see our true faith when solitude strips away the trappings of trust. As long as we are sucked in by stuff’s distractions and the world’s noise, we become deaf to the deeper things of God. Our spiritual ears eventually close when waxed by constant stimulation. Hence loneliness, especially during painful periods, is our divine appointment to commune with Christ. Trust learned at this level of desperation is not soon forgotten. We may be lonely, but we are not alone!

Finding Hope in The Lord!

I believe of the biggest problem we have in the world today is there are so many people who have lost hope. There seems to be so many hurts, problems, sicknesses, troubles, financial woes, family problems, world issues, political concerns, etc. It seems the world has no hope. Apart from God, it is an awful, hopeless place. But with God’s help, we can make it. I want you to know that whatever situation you find yourself in at this moment, there is hope. You may not be able to see or feel the hope, but it is there for you. How do we find the hope? There is only one place where hope can be found, and that is in Jesus Christ.

 

“Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.” Psalm 31.24

David found himself in situations many times and had to remind himself that Hope is Real. It comes from God. Trust God. He wants you to trust Him. You need to agree with God about your situation. What does God say about who you are and what His will is for your life? Don’t go by your feelings. Instead we should remind ourselves that God only has plans for us that are good. Jeremiah helps us remember what God has to say about us. “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

We do not need to be disappointed and feel alone. We can have hope! God’s love in our hearts will ignite the flames of hope we have buried deep inside our hearts. God’s Word can encourage us as we read it with great anticipation and faith.

I hope and pray this message brings life to you. Pray out loud the words of hope into your life and your situations. I have hope! My hope is in the Lord! I will be strong and wait on the Lord. I trust God with my life and the life of my family. Speak these words every day. Hope Is Real. It comes from God! He has placed it in your heart. Speak it out and watch what God will do for you.

Have a wonderful day and put all your hope in the Lord. Love you all.

Be still my child….

This morning God clearly gave me these words “Be Still my child” and led me to one of my favorite scriptures to meditate on . As I meditated on this verse, I saw that “be still” could be translated “cease striving” or “let go, relax.” Have you been doing everything you know to do, everything you could do, in order to get whatever you’re waiting for – and then came the Word of God: “Be still, cease striving… know that I am God.” If you are to walk in faith, if you are to live by faith, you have to cease striving. You and I have to shut your mouth and quit trying to teach, to instruct, to straighten out, and you are to know God. He sits as sovereign on His throne; He hasn’t moved. And you haven’t seen “the rest of the story.” Our part in this situation is simply “to be still” rather than “to do.”

“Be still and know that I am God! ~~ Psalm 46:10

So many times I feel the Lord saying these words… “Just wait my child…” I would love for Him to finish that sentence lol. Let me know what I’m waiting for and possible who and how long should I wait, and when can I be done waiting! I would assume waiting is not most of our strong suits. But this is where God has me and I’ve learned to welcome the wait as I know the wait will be so worth it and even though I continue to go to Him in prayer and the answer continues to be, “Just wait my child…”

Really, that’s it! Just wait! I would love a little more information please, but it’s not coming. Not at this time! God has a plan and I’m know in my heart it’s going to so incredible because I will have to wait, as only He knows what’s best.

I’m not sure where you are at in life right now, but I promise your period of waiting is just a season just like mine. This is another opportunity to lean on God and His Word. This is another opportunity to watch God do incredible things. Really all we have to do is wait. Maybe that’s not so bad in the context of all that God can do when we simply choose to wait on Him.

So here it is, I will be still. No matter how difficult it is! I will choose to pray, seek God and His Word. I will wait on Him, for the blessings He has in store for me I want Him to be in control. If that means waiting, then waiting I must do! Will you wait with me? Will you allow God to come through in His timing and not yours?

When the Way Gets Tough!

Today I want you to focus on this statement that many have heard. “Life is hard, but God is good.” Just because something is cliché doesn’t mean it’s not true. Life is hard. Pain comes to us all. Adversity and trials are par for the course. Each of us will encounter those places in the journey when it becomes extremely tough. We will be tempted to quit. To give in to the despair and give up. To cast aside our faith as something meaningless and ineffectual. But during those times we need to remember the second part of the phrase. Yes, life is hard. But God is good. All the time. Hold fast to your faith. More importantly, hold fast to Him. The clouds may have grown dark in your life. The wind may be blowing and the rain is pouring down. But I promise you that He will not fail you. More importantly, He promises you that He will not fail you. He is a very present help in your time of trouble.

 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change…” Psalm 46:1-2

If you have walked the road of life for any length of time, you have encountered your share of bad news, dark days, and tough places in the road. All of us have had to deal with pain at some point (some more than others). The sun doesn’t always shine. The flowers don’t always bloom. The harvest is not always plentiful. Night comes. Winter comes. Seasons of famine come. To all of us. Much like our God, pain and adversity are no respecter of persons. Young or old. Rich or poor. Male or female. We will all encounter those tough places in the journey of life.

In fact, the Bible tells us it to us like this in 1 Peter, “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.” On this side of eternity we will experience trials, testings and temptations. We shouldn’t be surprised when our turn comes. But that doesn’t mean we can’t make it through the tough places and the difficult times.

Tough times do not minimize the reality of God. Rather, they magnify our need of Him. When the tough times come don’t make the mistake of turning away from God. Don’t turn inward. Don’t allow the adversity to turn you against Him. Rather, turn to Him. He is our refuge when the storm winds blow. He is our strength when the bad news has knocked us down. He is a very present help in our times of trouble.

Jesus ~ the same yesterday, today and forever!

We must keep our eyes on Christ, our ultimate leader. He has been and will be the same forever, in a changing world we can trust our unchanging Lord. I know God is God, and He always will be God.’ We often try to dis-engage ourselves from the spiritual way of thinking – seriously! We tend to think the way man thinks; after all, we are still in the flesh. As believers the Spirit within us keeps prodding our minds, wanting us to relinquish our whole being to the Lord. But, we keep overriding the Holy Spirit and go on our merry way. And, we get in trouble!

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and to day, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8

The enemy would have us think that we don’t need God, that we can do anything on our own. And, some believe his lies. We have to guard against the enemies words by keeping the Word of God closely in our hearts. God is always God, but, we sometimes get complacent in our spiritual lives. This is when the enemy steps in, gets your mind all muddled up with the world’s way of thinking, and you find yourself headed down the wrong path, and don’t know how you got there.

God never changes. He has always has been, is, and always will be the same. It’s us that change. We go on, day to day, either walking with the Lord, or going on our separate ways. We don’t realize we’ve separated ourselves from God, until we come across a problem that’s too hard for us to handle. We need help, so we turn to God. He’s there waiting for His children to come to Him, to sit at His feet, and learn of His ways. When He chastises His children, it’s because He loves us. He has always wanted the best for His children, from the time of Adam and Eve in the garden, until today. He never changes!

If you’ve become complacent, found yourself not growing, or perhaps completely separated from God, why not call His name? He is the same, yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He loves you as He did the first day you called upon Him to save your soul. He wants to be FATHER in every facet of your life. He can give you the peace you long for, and the love you may never have had. No matter how much you change, God is always the same. He LOVES you!