Loving Our Maker Loving Our Mate...

Making a love relationship work WELL can be quite challenging. How rewarding it is when we have a rich relationship with God! Just as a love relationship is between us and the Lord is rewarding, so it is for a married couple when they take the time to invest in a rich relationship with each other. I have witnessed too many marital relationships that have become too stale, strained and fractured from the stresses of everyday life when obsolete of God’s divine guidance and Lordship, no longer loving, no longer caring. Continually trying to withdraw from an overdrawn account of love without ever taking the time to put back or sow into it.  The marriage can truly become a balancing act to navigate through the emotional landmines!

Yet paralleling the two relationships offers us a continual life lesson that we must often be reminded of. The two most critical relationships of my life; must be centered in the Lord. My life and my relationship with my life love must be centered in His Word and grounded in prayer every day in every way!

I especially like how the Amplified Bible puts it... "The Lord your God is in the midst of you, a Mighty One, a Savior [Who saves]! He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest [in silent satisfaction] and in His love He will be silent and make no mention [of past sins, or even recall them]; He will exult over you with singing. (Zeph. 3:17)

Also in Colossians 3:1-5 it speaks of the new life we have in Christ when we make Him THE priority, "If then you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God^.  And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.  For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God.

When we look at our eternal creator through the scope of a greater picture...We become open to receive from the Lord precious truths and guidance that save us from the turmoil, divisiveness, and senseless arguments of the world....  In other words, when we delight in the Lord, God will take delight in us and even cause us to reap of His presence, in turn guidance, and joy as He rejoice over our lives with singing.

I certainly want my spouse to view me from that same type of spiritual scope as it speaks of in Zephaniah! I want to encourage you to begin each day with a morning of acknowledging God, and His Presence. Maintain a thankful, open heart that accommodates for a rich relationship with a Great Savior and in return accommodates for a great relationship with your Spouse!

Break Every Chain!

There is power in the name of Jesus
There is power in the name of Jesus
There is power in the name of Jesus

To break every chain
Break every chain
Break every chain (2x)

All sufficient sacrifice
So freely given
Such a price
Bought our redemption
Heaven's gates swing wide

     What a powerful song! You know  when we take God's Word seriously it is a weapon and a shield against life's circumstances! And weapons are used to fight against the daily wiles and tactics of the enemy. When we approach God's Word casually, we get casual results. However when we approach God's Word seriously, we get serious results, and we not only get serious results, but we gain a victorious life and lifestyle! I want to challenge you today- never let any temporary circumstance or distraction get your eyes off the mark of His high calling for your life! Utilize the Word of God by speaking it in trying times! It is one thing to speak the Word when you are well, it is a totally different level to speak the Word in the midst of a storm!

We must exercise our faith over existing in idleness.  Faith without works is dead, and if we settle for just going through the motions of life without a greater pursuit in the Lord, we shortchange ourselves! We must choose every single day to be that army that it speaks of in the same song that will rise up and see the chains of bondage, despair, and sin broken off of not only our lives, but our family's lives. It is up to us!

Hebrews 4:12 - 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.

2 Timothy Chapter 316 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
 

I want to encourage you today. Seek the Lord in His Word; and not only seek Him, but activate your faith through speaking the Word over your circumstance and praising Him for His faithfulness in advance. Trusting Him in All I DO! \0/

I lift my voice, that my soul may rejoice!

I love you, Lord, and I lift my voice

To worship You, Oh, my soul, rejoice!

Take joy my King, in what you hear

Let it be a sweet, sweet sound

In Your ear!

I exalt thee! I exalt thee! I exalt thee!

Oh Lord!

I exalt thee! I exalt thee! I exalt thee!

Oh Lord!

     You know as I sung this song to the Lord this morning, what came to heart was that our life is to be a continual song before the Lord! Not just when we sing along in a church service, or sing along to a praise song on the radio. 

     Though we can find praise and be inspired to worship daily through these times, Ephesians 5:19 (AMP) says to, “Speak out to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices [and instruments] and making melody with all your heart to the Lord,” What that means is we should get to a place so much so in the Lord that our heart is founded within a well or source of peace in knowing that our Lord is enough to meet all of our needs ALL BY Himself. Where the joy we experience is not based on some outward circumstances. You will never find JOY that way. That is actually called happiness! And happiness at its best is a temporary high- if that!

But when our lives are drawing from a greater source found in communion with the Lord and His Word THAT brings true JOY! This world cannot offer to us what is intended to only be received from our heavenly Father. He alone provides that security and source of fulfillment, and when we yield to the Lord in the midst of our circumstances whether good or bad and offer to Him a song of love, a song of joy, a song of praise despite our circumstances we experience a great blessing. Because what we offer to the Lord is not dependent on what we see circumstantially outside of us, but more so what we know He has promised from inside His Word!  

When our heart is hid in God, we can find rest in our soul through our trust in the Lord. We must, however, worship Him over worry, we must put faith in Him over fear, we must decide for Him over distraction, doubt, and disbelief. And then we can know and come to experience that blessing of rest in the Lord every day, when we make this conscious choice! It is up to us!

     Psalms 28:6, 7 states, “The Lord is My Strength…6Blessed be the LORD, because He has heard the voice of my supplication. 7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him. 8 The LORD is their strength; And He is a saving defense to His anointed.…” 

I want to encourage you today. Seek the Lord in worship and song. Choose to trust, and find rest for your soul!

He will never fail YOU!

Every day presents a new day of challenges, bumps, unexpected circumstances and even blessings when we keep on living in this thing called life! Just over a week ago, I experienced a test that not only caused me to assess my own heart and attitude, but tested me to my core- causing me to dig out God's Word at another level to know and trust that He will never fail us. Not only was it a process of seeking Him, but going to His word for solace!  

In that moment, I read the gospel of John 16:33 where the Word reassures, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." What a great comfort!

Through scriptures like these, I learned, and we can learn that we are to not let our circumstances make or break us. Instead I can develop the habit of asking the Lord how He would have me to respond to these circumstances when they come to try us as the most difficult times. Did you know that 10% of our successes in life is what actually happens to us, but 90% of our successes in life is well we respond to those same circumstances?

All that to say is your life events does not have to define you or your outlook on your life. The Word of God should be your defining moment and factor used every day in how you function, operate, plan, and respond. No matter how long we have been in the Lord, this lesson is worth hearing, acting upon, and repeating in our hearts every day- that we don't lose sight of the victories that are promised to us in His Word!

In 1 Corinthians 10:13 it states, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” That means no matter how challenges of life come at you, it will never be more than what He has equipped you to handle!

It goes on to say in Deuteronomy 20:4, “For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory."

I want to encourage you today to continue to trust in the Lord. We can always call on and depend on our faithful Lord and Savior who never changes, never reneges on His Word, never abandons, and never forgets US- who truly cares for us in every situation! \0/ 

So I encourage, you, "He will never fail YOU!” God bless you!

Let Go and Let God!

How often do you feel like life can break you down?  Often there is a perfectly good reason!  Consider all the significant change that occurs every day-financial, emotional, spiritual, technical, ethical, moral and the list goes on and on...!  So, can one ever manage to "feel secure, even in the midst of cataclysmic changes?"  By being more and more aware of Christ's "continual Presence." By learning to "let go," releasing "more and more things into (His) care." (Jesus Calling)

It is so important -when we think of change that happens in everyday life, that we remember the fact that Jesus is always a constant we can depend upon!

I must release my worry, my cares, so that I can look upon the one who cares for my burdens. He is my burden bearer! It is truly now unto HIM – Jesus- who is able to keep us from falling and present us faultless before His presence with exceeding Joy (Jude 1:24), even when it seems odd that we can have His joy in adversarial circumstances. When we loosen our hold on controlling our lives, and let the Lord be our fence, our strength, and our guide; we can learn to live at another level of trust in the Lord, and as a consequence be victorious in life as well.  

I want to encourage you today to also trust in the Lord. The only variable that never changes in life is the presence of change itself; however we can trust in another constant- that being our faithful Lord and Savior who never changes, never reneges on His Word, never abandons, and never forgets US- who truly cares for us in every situation! \0/  

So I encourage, you, “Let Go and Let God on today!”

PRAISE Him at ALL Times! \0/

When is the best time to make a joyful noise by praising God? The best time to praise God is all day, everyday to the greatest extent we can, with joy in our heart, and with a song on our lips. Too many of us easily fall into the trap of just existing in the mundane (accepting the world's attitude about life) 'Blue Monday', 'Hump' Wednesday, 'TGIF' (Thanking God Only on Fridays) throughout our weeks on end- of work, rest, play, family time and worship. When we do this, we not only mistake opportunities to have God's outlook on life, but we shortchange ourselves in the very being and nature God has called us to live EVERYDAY. Worship and praise should be into the fabric of everything we do not only on Sunday morning.

Joyful Noise is PRAISING Jesus with a joyful Heart!

Today find a little more time to lift your concerns to God in prayer, and make a JOYFUL noise to Him for all that He has done! \0/

Psalm 100 (KJV)
100:1 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

No FEAR!

 Fear is one of Satan's favorite weapons. When you start to feel afraid, affirm your trust in the Lord. Speak out...Resist the devil in His Name, and he will slink away from you. Refresh yourself in His holy Presence. 

Our lives are filled with moments of weakness, painful insults, unforeseen catastrophes, unfair persecutions, and mounting pressures that can overwhelm the best of any saint...but I am so grateful that...My God is Greater Than My Fears!

2 Peter 1:3-4 states, "For His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness...He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them (we) may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world..." 

Living in His Presence is like "living in two realms simultaneously." To be an overcomer, I must 'come over' and capture more and more of His Divine Nature through the application of His "great and precious promises!"

Christ's power resides in us...in weaknesses, in insults, in catastrophes, in persecutions, and in pressures, for 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 states, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. Yet, when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Cor.12:9-10)

We must not become weary in well-doing nor walk in FEAR (trust in false evidence appearing real) what can go wrong, when God has called us into His marvelous light and caused us to triumph in every good work. What is your challenge on today? I dare you to give it over to the Lord and trust that His strength is being perfected within your process of life. Pursue, Praise, Pray, and purpose in your heart that today will be a different day!  \0/