The Savage Five

The Faithfulness of God

2011-08-29T08:44:00.003-04:00

I stand amazed and in awe of God once again. He is such a faithful and mighty God! He is not quick to answer many times the cries of our heart because He know Oh too well the fruit that will be produced in and through us as we endure hardships. He knows all too well what He is doing and He is very systematic in His approach that to our feeble minds seems so disjointed and haphazard. His timing is impeccable and He will never give us more than we can handle.

James 1
2 eCount it all joy, my brothers,2 when you meet trials fof various kinds, 3 for you know that gthe testing of your faith hproduces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be iperfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Beloved, His purpose behind his perceived delay is perfection! Count is ALL joy! He is perfecting that which is His own. You are not your own!

I Peter 2

9 But you are za chosen race, aa royal bpriesthood, ca holy nation, da people for his own possession (KJV reads peculiar), that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you eout of darkness into fhis marvelous light. 10 gOnce you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

11 Beloved, I urge you has sojourners and exiles ito abstain from the passions of the flesh, jwhich wage war against your soul. 12 kKeep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, lthey may see your good deeds and glorify God on mthe day of visitation.

We are exhorted in Titus 2 to Declare these things!

11 For hthe grace of God ihas appeared, bringing salvation jfor all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and kworldly passions, and lto live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in mthe present age, 13 nwaiting for our blessed ohope, the pappearing of the glory of our great qGod and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 rwho gave himself for us to sredeem us from all lawlessness and tto purify for himself ta people for his own possession who are uzealous for good works.

15 Declare these things; exhort and vrebuke with all authority. wLet no one disregard you.

Be encouraged today that the Lord is faithful to those who are faithful to Him and His ways.

Psalm 145:13

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

[The Lord is faithful in all his words

and kind in all his works.]1

Isaiah 25:1
O Lord, you are my God;
I will exalt you; I will praise your name,
for you have done wonderful things,
plans formed of old, faithful and sure.

Be confident in the Lord today as His plans for you have been formed long ago and they are nothing but faithful and sure!

I watched a elderly man baptized yesterday at church and I listened as the pastor spent 15 minutes explaining how his wife had been a picture of faithfulness in her comittment to the Lord and the body of Christ. I stood sobbing as I remembered how the Lord broke through to my husband and I was so thankful that we were afforded a life time of raising our sons in the nurture and admonition of the Lord but my tears were also for the man being baptized. Tears of joy that he was still able to stand and declare before the people his salvation through Jesus Christ. What a day of rejoicing and years of perceived delay has developed such strength for this woman and her husband in the latter years of their lives!

Praise God for His faithfulness and how he is perfecting you! For when His work is complete you will be as pure gold before you maker and what a beautiful treasure to lay before your king! He is so worth any amount of suffering we might endure on earth as we will live eternally and the things that we receive from Him here on earth for our faithfulness will never fade away, He is so faithful!

I Peter 2

2011-08-26T09:16:00.000-04:00

A Living Stone and a Holy People

2 jSo put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 kLike newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual lmilk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—3 if indeed you have mtasted that the Lord is good.

4 As you come to him, a living stone nrejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 oyou yourselves like living stones are being built up as pa spiritual house, to be qa holy priesthood, rto offer spiritual sacrifices sacceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture:

t“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,

a cornerstone chosen and precious,

uand whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

7 So the honor is for you who vbelieve, but for those who vdo not believe,

w“The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone,”

8 and

x“A stone of stumbling,

and a rock of offense.”

They stumble because they disobey the word, yas they were destined to do.

9 But you are za chosen race, aa royal bpriesthood, ca holy nation, da people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you eout of darkness into fhis marvelous light. 10 gOnce you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Submission to Authority

13 nBe subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution,2 whether it be to the emperor3 as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him oto punish those who do evil and pto praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, qthat by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 rLive as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but sliving as servants4 of God. 17 tHonor everyone. uLove the brotherhood. vFear God. Honor the emperor.

18 wServants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, xmindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But yif when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For zto this you have been called, ybecause Christ also suffered for you, aleaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 bHe committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 cWhen he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, dbut continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 eHe himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we fmight die to sin and glive to righteousness. hBy his wounds you have been healed. 25 For iyou were straying like sheep, but have now returned to jthe Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

We are called to build the foundation of the body as lively stones, full of exuberant life as we grab our head Christ Jesus and hold fast to the preeminence (Superior to or notable above all others; outstanding) of Christ in everything we will fall into His perfect order.

It is time to rebuild the temple of God, The Body of Christ!

2011-08-25T07:23:00.001-04:00

The Command to Rebuild the Temple

1 aIn the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet to bZerubbabel the son of cShealtiel, governor of Judah, and to dJoshua the son of eJehozadak, the high priest: 2 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.” 3 Then the word of the Lord came fby the hand of Haggai the prophet, 4 g“Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while hthis house lies in ruins? 5 Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: iConsider your ways. 6 jYou have sown much, and harvested little. kYou eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who learns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.

7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: iConsider your ways. 8 Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that mI may take pleasure in it and that nI may be glorified, says the Lord. 9 jYou looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, oI blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house hthat lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. 10 Therefore pthe heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. 11 And qI have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on rthe grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and son all their labors.”

The words of the prophet Haggia are just as true for today's church as they were for God's people in the past. Church as we know it has become nothing more than a half hearted attempt to win people to the gospel when we tell them to come to church and they encounter God and the people of God are too concerned with their own lives, homes, possessions and are not willing to pour into the lives around them in order to truly function as a the body of Christ.

The American church is not placing Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone. Their works have become more important and as a result they do not operate out from under the of the banner of His love over their lives. Without the true leadership of Jesus as chief in the body, without a grasping of the head being first and foremost, the church functions as the world functions.

God is very clear that nothing works unless we our under the headship of Christ. God will actually remove His spirit and allow a people to continue in their path of self reliance. We as the church need to repent and ask the Lord to restore Christ's leadership within the body as a whole or this world will never experience the spirit of God when they encounter the church. This is a shame. I have had many friends over the years that want nothing to do with the church and I realize this is the reason. If Christ reigned supreme and was placed as the chief cornerstone, then everything the church touched would prosper and blossom. Their would be an over abundance of fruit as we lead others under this context.

The Lord is calling to His church to rise up and become the bride, passionate lovers of Jesus Christ, so that Christ's spirit can be poured out over His body and they can in turn step into their destiny as the bride- passionately desirous to see His spirit manifest on earth through His people.

7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: iConsider your ways. 8 Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that mI may take pleasure in it and that nI may be glorified, says the Lord.

So pray today that God would restore the headship of Christ Jesus in the church. Pray for you leaders to return to their first love so that all other areas of ministry would be effective and bear much fruit and fruit that remains. As He is high and lifted up He will draw men unto himself! This makes our job easy!

Isaiah 57

14 And it shall be said,

m“Build up, build up, prepare the way,

remove every obstruction from my people's way.”

15 For thus says nthe One who is high and lifted up,

who inhabits eternity, whose name is oHoly:

p“I dwell in the high and holy place,

and also qwith him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,

rto revive the spirit of the lowly,

and to revive the heart of the contrite.

16 sFor I will not contend forever,

nor will I always be angry;

for the spirit would grow faint before me,

and the breath of life that I made.

John 12

32 And I, cwhen I am lifted up from the earth, dwill draw eall people to myself.”

Even when the storm is raging I am encouraged and filled with hope!

2011-08-24T09:28:00.000-04:00

The Lord is teaching me that many times after an intense time of fasting and prayer the enemy tries to come in like a flood. But I love that the Lord raises up a standard against him. If we can keep our eyes open to the tactics of our enemy, the devil, then we will have an advantage when the battle starts raging around us.

Two of the biggest tools of the enemy against God's people are distraction and discouragement. So I guard my heart and my mind and measure everything that happens in the natural against the light of His truth. Yesterday the enemy reared his ugly head through my oldest son and for a moment I was fearful and the Lord quickly reminded me to trust Him. I vocalize out loud that I trust Him and then I begin to battle on behalf of my children because I recognize the devil seeks to kill, steal and destroy everything that God has planned for their lives. He also desires to sift them as wheat. That word sift comes from the greek word siniazo which means to shake in a sieve by inward agitation to try one's faith to the verge of overthrow.

So I lift my child to the Lord and place him on the alter of God's heart and relinquish my control over his life so that God can do what He would do and I do not get in His way. I recognize more clearly than ever before that there is a battle raging around my family for their lives and I stand firm in the promises and provision over our lives established through God's word. I read aloud and come into agreement over my children's lives and resist the devil and he must flee!

So here is the word that the Lord spoke to me about my children today and He wants me to pray this over their lives.

Zechariah 9:14-17

The Lord Will Save His People

14 Then the Lord will appear over them,

and ohis arrow will go forth like lightning;

pthe Lord God will sound the trumpet

and will march forth in qthe whirlwinds rof the south.

15 The Lord of hosts swill protect them,

and tthey shall devour, uand tread down the sling stones,

and vthey shall drink and roar as if drunk with wine,

and be full like a bowl,

drenched wlike the corners of the altar.

16 On that day the Lord their God will save them,

as xthe flock of his people;

for ylike the jewels of a crown

they shall shine on his land.

17 zFor how great is his goodness, and how great his beauty!

aGrain shall make the young men flourish,

and new wine the young women.

I am so encouraged by the strength, might and jealousy of my God!

2011-08-23T06:10:00.001-04:00

The benefits of this fast have already been obvious. One of the things I was praying for was that God would remove any and all pride from me. I do not ever want to give satan an opportunity to make a mockery of what God is doing in my life. I have realized over the years that pride is the single most destructive tool of the enemy that defiles the effective ministry of Jesus Christ.

I not only want to be found faithful I want to be effective in all that I do for the Lord. As I see the hand of God move in profound ways through prayer and fasting the enemy comes knocking and tries to tempt me to share the glory with the Lord. God has been so gracious to me in protecting me from this temptation but I realize that no one is above the temptation of pride and for this purpose I fasted and prayed.

Proverbs 29
eOne's pride will bring him low,

fbut he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.

I want nothing more than to obtain honor for God and His kingdom. I also have a great desire to see the prince of the power of the air to be brought low and put to shame through my life.

Isaiah 13

Behold, nthe day of the Lord comes,

cruel, with wrath and fierce anger,

to make the land a desolation

and rto destroy its sinners from it.

10 sFor the stars of the heavens and their constellations

will not give their light;

tthe sun will be dark at its rising,

and the moon will not shed its light.

11 I will punish uthe world for its evil,

and the wicked for their iniquity;

I will vput an end to the pomp of the arrogant,

wand lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless.

12 I will make xpeople more rare than fine gold,

and mankind than the ygold of Ophir.

13 Therefore zI will make the heavens tremble,

and the earth will be shaken out of its place,

at the wrath of the Lord of hosts

in the day of his fierce anger.

14 And like a hunted gazelle,

or like sheep with none to gather them,

aeach will turn to his own people,

and each will flee to his own land.

15 Whoever is found will be thrust through,

and whoever is caught will fall by the sword.

16 bTheir infants will be dashed in pieces

before their eyes;

their houses will be plundered

and their wives ravished.

Ephesians 4:27-30

27 and xgive no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather ylet him labor, zdoing honest work with his own hands, so athat he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29 bLet no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give cgrace to those who hear. 30 And ddo not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, eby whom you were sealed for the day of fredemption.

God promises that when we humble ourselves He will exalt us and that is just what He has been doing in my life in the past couple of days. He was bragging about me in front of an entire congregation and although I felt a little uncomfortable I knew what He was doing and I accepted His honor because I know that when He does it it is the perfect way to keep me from pride but to show others that He has honored me in a distinct way.

I had another situation where a friend was sharing with me how some of her family members were leary of some of the things that I did and said. She told me that my accusers came to accuse me and they could not find any fault and now her family knows that I have found favor with God and with man! I am so excited because this is what happened to Daniel too! I love how He encourages me through relationships! You are wonderful Lord I love YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Daniel 6
3 Then this Daniel became tdistinguished above all sthe other high officials and rsatraps, because uan excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned vto set him over the whole kingdom. 4 Then sthe high officials and rthe satraps wsought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, xbut they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, xand no error or fault was found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.”

Finishing The Fast

2011-08-22T07:14:00.000-04:00

I Corinthians 10
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or uwhatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Jesus was tempted immediately after his fast so we can be assured that we will be too. I have already been tempted to eat more than vegetables and water but today I have resolved to eat fresh fruit only. I did not really stumble in eating anything inappropriate but my portions were too large.

We need to recognize that the enemy is lurking during this time to rob of us the physical rewards of our fast. He cannot rob us of our spiritual rewards but if we are weak he can make us feel like we failed and I do not want to give him any place in my life.

So I ask Father in the name of Jesus once again for grace as I slowly break my fast. I commit to you to only eat fruit and water today and for the next week help me to eat tiny portions and not over indulge in the lust of the eyes and the lust of the flesh. I ask that you I not be lead into temptation but that you would deliver me from the evil one today and the next several days. Amen.

Day 21 of a 21 Day Fast

2011-08-21T15:23:00.003-04:00

Joel 2

Return to the Lord

12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord,

i“return to me with all your heart,

jwith fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;

13 and krend your hearts and not lyour garments.”

Return to the Lord your God,

mfor he is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;

nand he relents over disaster.

14 oWho knows whether he will not turn and relent,

and pleave a blessing behind him,

qa grain offering and a drink offering

for the Lord your God?

15 rBlow the trumpet in Zion;

sconsecrate a fast;

call a solemn assembly;

16 gather the people.

tConsecrate the congregation;

assemble the elders;

ugather the children,

even nursing infants.

vLet the bridegroom leave his room,

and the bride her chamber.

17 wBetween the xvestibule and the yaltar

zlet the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep

and say, “Spare your people, O Lord,

and make not your heritage a reproach,

a byword among the nations.1

aWhy should they say among the peoples,

‘Where is their God?’”

This time has been a time of consecrated prayer for the body of Christ to be raised up into there calling as we are very near the return of the Lord. Fasting returns the people to wholeheartedness in their worship and adoration of Yeshua. I am blessed beyond measure as I have seen God's hand move profoundly during this fast but sense that He has only just begun and the fruit of this fast is only just begun to be produced. I anxiously await the manifestation of His glory in and through His bride as we are wooed into sacred assemblies and continued consecration may the Lord prepare His Joel 2 army to do great exploits for His kingdom through prayer and fasting!

Day 20 of a 21 Day Fast

2011-08-20T07:30:00.001-04:00

Daniel 10

2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for fthree weeks. 3 I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I ganoint myself at all, for fthe full three weeks. 4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing hon the bank of the great river (ithat is, the Tigris) 5 jI lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, ka man clothed in linen, lwith a belt of fine mgold from Uphaz around his waist. 6 His body was like nberyl, his face olike the appearance of lightning, phis eyes like flaming torches, his arms and qlegs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and qthe sound of his words like the sound of a multitude. 7 rAnd I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision, but a great trembling fell upon them, and they fled to hide themselves. 8 So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and sno strength was left in me. My radiant appearance was fearfully changed,2 tand I retained no strength. 9 Then I heard the sound of his words, uand as I heard the sound of his words, I fell on my face in deep sleep uwith my face to the ground.

10 And behold, va hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11 And he said to me, “O Daniel, wman greatly loved, xunderstand the words that I speak to you, and ystand upright, for znow I have been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. 12 Then he said to me, a“Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you bset your heart to understand and bhumbled yourself before your God, cyour words have been heard, dand I have come because of your words. 13 eThe prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me ftwenty-one days, but gMichael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, 14 dand came to make you understand what is to happen to your people hin the latter days. For ithe vision is for days yet to come.”

Be encouraged today as our fast comes to an end! Daniel encounter the pre-carnate Christ after his fast! This is only just the beginning of your new encounter with the Lord. The fast has been difficult but so encouraging and rewarding as we see the Lord break in to the hearts and minds of the people we have been praying for. My friends and I are praying for a specific fellowship of believers and last night she called and said that there had been breakthrough!

Lord You are so faithful and we are excited to see how You manifest Your glory and Your presence through our lives and the lives of the people we have lifted before you these 20 days so far. We thank you that You gave us Daniel to encourage and strengthen us in our pursuit of You and we realize that with the prayers comes much resistance from the enemy but YOU ARE ALWAYS VICTORIOUS! We thank you and Love you Lord Jesus and we bless you for Your beauty today! AMEN!

Let Us See You Jesus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Day 19 of a 21 Day Fast

2011-08-19T08:39:00.001-04:00

My heart is overflowing with a good theme! Although the battle is raging literally all around me I have been saturated with the peace of God like never before in my life. I have a distinct awareness of the love and provision of Adonai over my life right now. He has provided sanctuary for me not only in His rest but in a literal manner as well.

I feel God's everlasting love for me and am overwhelmed. Today everything seems very clear and the sky is magnificent and the flowers are blooming in fragrant array. I love you so much Lord!

God's Everlasting Love Romans 8

31 What then shall we say to these things? pIf God is for us, who can be9 against us? 32 qHe who did not spare his own Son but rgave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? sIt is God who justifies. 34 tWho is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—uwho is at the right hand of God, vwho indeed is interceding for us.10 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

w“For your sake xwe are being killed all the day long;

we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than yconquerors through zhim who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Walk in the Way of Love Today! I Corinthians 13

13 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have aprophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, bso as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 cIf I give away all I have, and dif I deliver up my body to be burned,1 but have not love, I gain nothing.

4 eLove is patient and fkind; love gdoes not envy or boast; it his not arrogant 5 or rude. It idoes not insist on its own way; it jis not irritable or resentful;2 6 it kdoes not rejoice at wrongdoing, but lrejoices with the truth. 7 mLove bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, eendures all things.

8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For nwe know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but owhen the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For pnow we see in a mirror dimly, but qthen face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as rI have been fully known.

13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Day 18 of a 21 Day Fast

2011-08-18T10:06:00.000-04:00

Daniel 9

Gabriel Brings an Answer

20 xWhile I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my plea before the Lord my God for ythe holy hill of my God, 21 while I was speaking in prayer, the man zGabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, acame to me in swift flight at bthe time of the evening sacrifice. 22 cHe made me understand, speaking with me and saying, “O Daniel, I have now come out to give you dinsight and understanding. 23 eAt the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, fand I have come to tell it to you, for gyou are greatly loved. Therefore consider the word hand understand the vision.

In Daniel 9 we see an exemplary example of an intercessor. Daniel and consecrated, holy man of God fully devoted to His purposes, yet he humbled himself and repented on behalf of his people taking responsibility for the sin of the nation.

Then we see the Lord is so pleased and wanted Daniel to know this so He sends Gabriel while he is still praying. He came to give Daniel insight and understanding and to assure him that at the very beginning of his pleas for mercy a word went out, AND to tell him that he was greatly loved!

The Lord is so good to us He has shown us through Daniel's life how He delights in us as we fast and pray. I love that a word went out as soon as he began praying and that Gabriel came to him before he even finished praying! Wow that is a powerful picture.

Ask the Lord to send angels to minister His love and delight over you so that you have understanding and insight. We thank you Father for what you are doing through this fast. I very clearly see that the enemy is raging because he knows his time is short so we thank you and bless you for moving on our behalf as we humble ourselves through prayer and fasting. We love you so much help us to feel Your manifested love in our mortal bodies today. Saturate us with your delight over what we are doing on behalf of your people, In Jesus name AMEN!

Day 17 of a 21 Day fast

2011-08-18T10:05:00.000-04:00

The Lord reminded me today that although we feel weak during our fast that the opposite is true as we press in and pray because in our weakness He is strong and as we humble ourselves in prayer and fasting He looks upon us with intent eyes and He leans in to hear what we are saying.

From the very first day of our fast He has heard us and although we feel powerless our prayers are power-packed. I have seen such great turmoil as well as great breakthrough in a few of the people that I have been praying for during this fast. I am so encouraged and reminded that while fasting the enemy would like you to get distracted by your physical state (frankly my clothes are hanging) or the turbulence that is kicked up in the spirit realm as a result of our fasting and pressing in to the Lord with resolution and perseverance. I have encountered much warfare in my home through this fast and the Lord will have me go and get on my knees and pray and He has been keeping me focused on the task and not getting wrapped up in the emotions that are trying to pervade my environment.

I want my time during this fast to be effective and have lasting fruit so I bring my will and my emotions and my body into subjection to Christ. I crucify my flesh that He might live in and through me. I do not want my efforts to be in vain. I want to run the race before me with integrity, diligence and perseverance. I don't want to be disqualified after preaching to others so LORD HELP US!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I Corinthians 9

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives sthe prize? So trun that you may obtain it. 25 Every uathlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we van imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I wdo not box as one xbeating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and ykeep it under control,2 lest after preaching to others zI myself should be adisqualified.

Day 16 of a 21 Day Fast

2011-08-17T10:44:00.001-04:00

Father in Heaven you are sooooo amazing and your son Jesus is so beautiful and I love you for the way you are moving profoundly through this time of fasting and prayer.

The Lord has really been moving over lives that I have been interceding for in a powerful way. This does not come without much spiritual warfare of which I will not discuss because we are to focus on pure things. But be assured that when you enter into an intense season of prayer and fasting there will be opposition but it is because the enemy knows his time is short and he is going about LIKE a roaring lion but he cannot stop the Lion of Judah!

Psalm 27:3
lThough an army encamp against me,

my heart shall not fear;

though war arise against me,

yet1 I will be confident.

Isaiah 59:19

vSo they shall fear the name of the Lord from the west,

and his glory from the rising of the sun;

wfor he will come like a rushing stream,2

which the wind of the Lord drives.

According to Revelation 12:11 we overcome by the blood of the lamb and word of our testimony. So testify today! Call out to the Lord for deliverance! Read Matthew 6:9-13 ALOUD and Psalm 144! Your God is faithful to deliver you from the evil one and from temptation of evil so act on His TRUTH today, NOW! Do not allow the enemy to run you through the ringer today!

We thank you Father for your Word- Jesus who is the faithful and true witness who agrees with the fulfillment of His word over our lives as He is seated at your right hand and we too are seated in heavenly places, and so we agree with Heaven today over any area of our lives that the enemy has tried to infiltrate and we STAND against this attack confident in the blood of Jesus and our access to Your throne. We praise you because you are a brilliant Father and we bless you today and forever...... and we cannot wait to see you! Wave Your right hand over the enemy of our lives today in the name of Jesus drive the evil one out headlong!

Day 15 of a 21 Day fast

2011-08-15T08:09:00.001-04:00

Stewards of God's Grace I Peter 4:1-6

4 Since therefore zChrist suffered in the flesh,1 aarm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for bwhoever has suffered in the flesh chas ceased from sin, 2 dso as to live for ethe rest of the time in the flesh fno longer for human passions but gfor the will of God. 3 For the time that is past hsuffices ifor doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of jdebauchery, and kthey malign you; 5 but they will give account to him who is ready lto judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is why mthe gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

God continues to give me grace during this fast an although I have not been perfect during this time in my fasting for the most part I am not craving things and I do not have the feeling of missing out on things that I would normally partake in.

I am amazed at how He sustains us and when we pray and how he does what you ask if you ask according to His purposes. So today I want you to ask him to remove temptation or take away the desire for the lusts of the flesh for the remainder of this fast so that you might live in the spirit the way that God does!

Day 14 of a 21 Day Fast

2011-08-15T08:04:00.002-04:00

Daniel 1:11-21

11 Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Test your servants for vten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat kthe king's food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.” 14 So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate kthe king's food. 16 wSo the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them xvegetables.

17 As for these four youths, yGod gave them learning and zskill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had aunderstanding in all visions and dreams. 18 At the end of bthe time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore cthey stood before the king. 20 And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all dthe magicians and eenchanters that were in all his kingdom. 21 And Daniel fwas there until the first year of gKing Cyrus.

I am considering extentding this fast to make it 24 days because as I read in Daniel this past week I noticed that when He ate only vegtables and water for 10 days the Lord gave Him understanding in all dreams and visions. I want that! So I am going to continue through the next 10 days on no more than vegtables and water and see what God will do!

Day 13 of a 21 Day Fast ~ Testimony!

2011-08-15T07:21:00.000-04:00

Friday is the day of the week that I normally fast. The Lord really moves on these days and has me pray for very specific things as well as gives me words for the church and as if that is not enough He encourages me very much in my fasting.

This past Friday was no acception! Thursday morning I had started praying for my husband to get a study bible because he is really pouring over the word of God and studying and I could see this would be a wonderful tool for him to grow in the knowledge of the Lord. So I began to pray and throughout the day I just reminded God about my request.

I had looked on the internet and found one for $47 but was not about to go ahead of God in this area. So I just kept saying "study bible" to the Lord.

Well Friday morning the Lord told me to look on the book shelf of the food pantry where I drop off donations but I knew from previous experience that there was not a study bible on the shelf. Before I left I said out loud, " I need to check your bookshelf for something", then for some reason I said out loud, " I am looking for a study bible."

There was a lady sitting with the director of the pantry going through the financial interview to verify her need for food and she spoke up and said, " I have a brand new study bible at home if you can wait here for a little while I will run home and get it and it is still in the box."

As you can imagine I was elated and gladly waited! How awesome is our God! He truly is tuned to our voices when we seek Him earnestly and when we pray according to His will and purposes He responds powerfully!

Be encouraged!

Day 12 of a 21 Day Fast

2011-08-14T07:21:00.000-04:00

Today has been such an encouraging day in the Lord that I wanted to share briefly how the Lord has not only answered prayers quickly and miraculously but through this has shown me once again how He is always ready to answer as we pray according to His will.

I have had many recent answers to prayer when I have asked specifically for a bible. In the past month I have had two specific answers on Fridays and this is the day that I practice the discipline of fasting during the week.

About a month ago I was thinking about one of the bibles I use on a regular basis and realizing it was falling apart I remembered that a church where I serve on Fridays had the same bible brand new on their shelf and it had been there for several months. I had asked the cost of the bible and they had told me that it was $5. On this particular Friday I was headed to the church to serve and I remembered the bible and realized I did not have the $5 needed to purchase it. So I told the Lord, well I guess I won't be getting that bible.

When I arrived at the church this man offered to help me carry the desserts in that were provided by a gourmet grocery store in the area. When we got inside where the shelves were for the desserts, Holy Spirit told me to give him a really nice dessert for helping me. As soon as I did that the lady that helps at the food pantry asked me if I had gotton the book I wanted. I told her that I did not have the money for the bible yet. She told me to take it and to not worry about paying her for it!

Psalm 37

1 uFret not yourself because of evildoers;

be not venvious of wrongdoers!

2 For they will soon wfade like xthe grass

and wither ylike the green herb.

3 zTrust in the Lord, and do good;

adwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.2

4 bDelight yourself in the Lord,

and he will cgive you the desires of your heart.

5 dCommit your way to the Lord;

ztrust in him, and he will act.

6 eHe will bring forth your righteousness as the light,

and your justice as fthe noonday.

7 gBe still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;

hfret not yourself over the one who iprospers in his way,

over the man who carries out evil devices!

8 jRefrain from anger, and forsake wrath!

hFret not yourself; it tends only to evil.

9 kFor the evildoers shall be cut off,

but those who wait for the Lord shall linherit the land.

10 In mjust a little while, the wicked will be no more;

though you look carefully at nhis place, he will not be there.

11 But othe meek shall inherit the land

and delight themselves in pabundant peace.

12 The wicked qplots against the righteous

and rgnashes his teeth at him,

13 but the Lord slaughs at the wicked,

for he sees that his tday is coming.

14 The wicked draw the sword and ubend their bows

to bring down the poor and needy,

to slay those whose vway is upright;

15 their sword shall enter their own heart,

and their wbows shall be broken.

16 xBetter is the little that the righteous has

than the abundance of many wicked.

17 For ythe arms of the wicked shall be broken,

but the Lord zupholds the righteous.

18 The Lord aknows the days of the blameless,

and their bheritage will remain forever;

19 they are not put to shame in evil times;

in cthe days of famine they have abundance.

20 But the wicked will perish;

the enemies of the Lord are like dthe glory of the pastures;

they vanish—like esmoke they vanish away.

21 The wicked borrows but does not pay back,

but the righteous fis generous and gives;

22 for those blessed by the Lord3 shall ginherit the land,

but those cursed by him hshall be cut off.

23 The isteps of a man are jestablished by the Lord,

when he delights in his way;

24 kthough he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,

for the Lord lupholds his hand.

25 I have been young, and now am old,

yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken

or his children mbegging for bread.

26 He is ever nlending generously,

and his children become a blessing.

27 oTurn away from evil and do good;

so shall you pdwell forever.

28 For the Lord qloves justice;

he will not forsake his rsaints.

They are preserved forever,

but the children of the wicked shall be scut off.

29 The righteous shall inherit the land

and pdwell upon it forever.

30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,

and his tongue speaks justice.

31 tThe law of his God is in his heart;

his usteps do not slip.

32 The wicked vwatches for the righteous

and seeks to put him to death.

33 The Lord will not wabandon him to his power

or let him xbe condemned when he is brought to trial.

34 yWait for the Lord and keep his way,

and he will exalt you to inherit the land;

you will look on zwhen the wicked are cut off.

35 aI have seen a wicked, ruthless man,

spreading himself like ba green laurel tree.4

36 But he passed away,5 and behold, che was no more;

though I sought him, he could not be found.

37 Mark the blameless and behold the upright,

for there is a future for the man of dpeace.

38 But etransgressors shall be altogether destroyed;

the future of the wicked fshall be cut off.

39 gThe salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;

he is their stronghold in hthe time of trouble.

40 The Lord helps them and idelivers them;

jhe delivers them from the wicked and saves them,

because they ktake refuge in him.

Day 11 of a 21 day fast

2011-08-11T17:42:00.000-04:00

II Timothy 2:11-12

11 The saying is qtrustworthy, for:

rIf we have died with him, we will also slive with him;

12 tif we endure, we will also reign with him;

Through fasting we are partaking in suffering that Christ was a part of while on earth. I have been thinking about that the past few days and I have come to realize that I am not suffering at all. The first week of the fast I was on a Daniel Fast in which I included grains,nuts, vegtables, fruits and flat bread or crackers. The second week I am eating only fruit and vegtalbes. I find that although there is not much I can eat I am still nowhere near the suffering the Lord endured while fasting for 40 days in the wilderness. I am planning on doing a full fast for the last week and I am asking the Lord to prepare me now to be able to withstand the temptations that will inevitably come.

When we endure through temptations we are promised a crown of life. James 1:12 says:

12 uBlessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive vthe crown of life, wwhich God has promised to those who love him.

This crown of life is a mark of royal or exalted rank, an ornament of the reward of righteousness and honor to one who endures. So as we suffer and crucify our flesh as in Galatians 2:20,
We partake in suffering so that we can become partakers of His blessings and rewards. We choose the uncoruptible over the coruptible so that when we see Him we have a glorious crown to throw before His feet because He is worthy! I Corinthians 9:25-27 says:

25 Every uathlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we van imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I wdo not box as one xbeating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and ykeep it under control,1 lest after preaching to others zI myself should be adisqualified.

Not only do we receive a crown but we also are able to run the race more efficiently and effectively in every area. This includes areas of intercession as well. As we discipline our bodies through prayer and fasting we are able to present ourselves as a qualified example of Christ because we are engaging in His plans and purposes for our lives and this inevitably has an effect on everyone we encounter.

I am extremely encouraged and comforted by my friends who are fasting along side me for breakthrough at our church as well as in our own lives and the lives around us. II Corinthians 1:7 testifies of this:

7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you lshare in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
Be encouraged today my friends by Philippians 4:1

4 Therefore, my brothers,1 whom I love and jlong for, kmy joy and lcrown, mstand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

Stand firm today and throughout the rest of this fast!

Day 10 of a 21 day fast

2011-08-10T07:45:00.001-04:00

1 Corinthians 9:22-27 (Listen)

22 oTo the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. pI have become all things to all people, that qby all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, rthat I may share with them in its blessings.

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives sthe prize? So trun that you may obtain it. 25 Every uathlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we van imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I wdo not box as one xbeating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and ykeep it under control,1 lest after preaching to others zI myself should be adisqualified.

More to come later in the day...........

Day 9 of a 21 day fast

2011-08-09T05:19:00.005-04:00

Matthew 16:21-28

Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

21 pFrom that time Jesus began to show his disciples that qhe must go to Jerusalem and rsuffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on sthe third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord!5 This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, t“Get behind me, Satan! You are ua hindrance6 to me. For you vare not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him wdeny himself and xtake up his cross and follow me. 25 For xwhoever would save his life7 will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For ywhat will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or zwhat shall a man give in return for his soul? 27 aFor the Son of Man is going to come with bhis angels in the glory of his Father, and cthen he will repay each person according to what he has done. 28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not dtaste death euntil they see the Son of Man fcoming in his kingdom.”

Jesus is asking you if you will deny yourself and take up your cross and follow him. When we partake in suffering for the sake of the kingdom we give God something to work with. He longs to honor us and place a crown of glory on our heads. Let us partake of the cup of suffering by denying our flesh today. As we deny our flesh we are sowing to our spirit and as we sow to the spirit we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.

Our suffering is really nothing compared to what the Lord endured for us. We are humbled by our God as we fast and pray because we recognize just how weak and needy we are and we realize how God knows that about us and delights in us despite our pitiful nature.

We love you today Lord in all our brokenness and in all our meager attempts to suffer for your sake. We say that You are worth it today and every day. We give you this day and our appetites and we ask that you work with us today in a way that would rid us of the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. We want to be a pleasing fragrance to you Lord and we know that you delight in our weakness. So we choose you over our earthly desires today and ask that you help us to walk in the spirit so we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. You are so worth it Jesus! It is all for you! In your name we ask all these things......... AMEN!

Day 8 of a 21 day fast

2011-08-08T09:47:00.000-04:00

I Peter 2:21-23

21 For zto this you have been called, ybecause Christ also suffered for you, aleaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 bHe committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 cWhen he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, dbut continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

We are called to suffer because Christ left us an example of crucifying our flesh to gain eternal life as we fast we are actively partcipating in this calling. In this suffering we are allowing God to do a greater work in our hearts and minds. He not only notices what we are doing but He is very pleased with our meager attempts at voluntary suffering.

If we volunteer then we are built up in a manner that will be lasting and will help us endure when real suffering is thrown our way. We are given the opportunity to follow Jesus's example and in so doing we have access to the same fruit that His suffering produced. Through Christ's suffering:

* He did no sin
* No guile was found in His mouth
* Did not revile others when He was reviled
* Did not threaten when He suffered
* He committed himself to God

What an amazing example He has set for us. What amazing results from His suffering. Help us today Lord, we want to be like Jesus and we need You and your grace.

I Thessalonians 3:1-5

Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing dto be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and we esent Timothy, four brother and God's coworker1 in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, 3 that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that gwe are destined for this. 4 For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, hjust as it has come to pass, and just as you know. 5 For this reason, iwhen I could bear it no longer, iI sent to learn about your faith, jfor fear that somehow kthe tempter had tempted you and lour labor would be in vain.
Father, we love you and adore you and thank you for sending your son to set an example of suffering for us so that we are not alone but we can have lasting fruit produced through our suffering just as Christ did. We ask Lord that you establish us and exhort us in our faith today so that we are not moved by our afflictions and so that the tempters tempting will not be in vain but it will produce today in us a hunger and thirst for righteousness and create in us clean hearts establishing us in our faith through Jesus Christ in whos name we ask all these things.

AMEN!

Tomorrow's Scripture

Following Jesus is a call to suffering, embrace it and see what God will do in and through you!

Day 7 of a 21 day fast

2011-08-07T23:44:00.000-04:00

Throughout the past year and a half the Lord has had me fast quite a bit and one thing that He showed me that is incredibly important prior to going on a fast and during your fast is to ask Him for the grace to be able to fast.

I am so amazed when I do this just how intimately He responds. One day while I was fasting I was really thinking about wanting a juicer but knew that I could not afford to purchase one. However, my Father in heaven owns the cattle on a thousand hills and He heard my heart! The very same day when I went to my friend's to deliver some food, she had purchased me a brand new (retro 70's) juicer! You can only imagine how I felt when it had just been hours before hand that I was in prayer and talking with the Lord about a juicer. This is just one of many examples where the Lord has encouraged me and sustained me through my pursuit of deeper intimacy with Him.

This evening I received a call from a friend of mine who the Lord is pursuing very intensely and she asked if I wanted some of her vegan gumbo. Tomorrow just so happens to be the week that I am only eating vegetables! He not only confirms how He wants me to carry out my fast but he encourages me in my commitment. He is such a good God! ( I love you Lord!)

So if that is not enough to encourage you to pray for the grace to walk out these next couple weeks let me give you some insight into what exactly grace refers to.

Hebrews 12:28

28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving ra kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus slet us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,

This word grace comes from the Greek word charis

* that which affords: joy,pleasure,delight,seetness,charm,loveliness: grace of speech

* Good will, loving kindness,favour

* Of merciful kindness by which God, exerting His holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith and knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the excercise of the Christian virtues.

Pretty profound huh?

Well charis comes from the root word chairo

* To rejoice, be glad

* To rejoice exceedingly

* To be well, thrive

Do you get the idea? Be encouraged today! God has not only given us abundant grace but there is more for the asking! We have not because we ask not! So by all means ASK! He is faithful!

John 1:16,17

16 For from hhis fullness we have all received, igrace upon grace.1 17 For jthe law was given through Moses; kgrace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

That word fullness come from the Greek word pleroma which means:

*That which is or has been filled

*That which is filled with the: Presence,Power, Agency, Riches of God and of Christ.

Thank you Father for Your awesome provision of grace that You have already bestowed on us and we bless you for who you are and how you love us and give us everything we need. We are asking for an over abundance of Your grace throughout the next two weeks. We thank you for the richness of Your word may it take up residence in our hearts and minds and bear fruit that remains so that we can walk in the presence, power and riches of Christ Jesus our Lord. We ask this in His precious name...... the name to which every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord to the glory of God the Father........ Yeshua!

Day 6 of a 21 Day Fast

2011-08-06T08:32:00.002-04:00

Philippians 4:11-13

11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be acontent. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and bhunger, abundance and cneed. 13 I can do all things dthrough him who strengthens me.

Luke 14:11

11 For xeveryone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Luke 18:14

14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For neveryone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Matthew 23:12

12 mWhoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

The picture is clear, those who choose to humble themselves will be exalted. Scripture is clear that God wants us to go low so that He can lift us up. When we are looking for exaltation in any other way this is pride. As we fast and pray and bow low before the Lord, He can't help but take notice and in His timing we will be exalted. His rewards are far greater than anything in this world and they are lasting. So we fast not to be exalted but to please the Lord and follow the example of our Lord who is our example of humility.

When we humble ourselves for the cause of Christ He is exalted in our lives and as He is exalted He will draw men unto himself:

John 12:32

32 And I, cwhen I am lifted up from the earth, dwill draw eall people to myself.”

Fasting is a tool we can use in preaching the gospel. As we humble ourselves Christ is exalted through our lives and people will be drawn to us by Jesus. What a powerful tool for kingdom purposes. Be encouraged today in your fasting that as you are submitting your will to the Lord and choosing to empty yourself, He will draw men and women to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Praise the Lord! He makes it so easy. Well maybe not easy but worth it! He is worth it today!

Father we love and adore you and we declare that you are good and holy and just and true! You have given us grace and mercy in abundance and You are truly worth it! We give ourselves to you today as living sacrifices. We say have Your way in our hearts, minds and bodies today. Do what you do best and transform us from the inside out! We love you and thank you for all that you are doing and we bless You. We ask in the name of Jesus that you would prepare us for the greater works of your kingdom. We see that there is a great need for salvation among men and women on this earth and we ask that by your power through us you would bring in the harvest of souls. We desire to see your Word established on the earth and we recognize that in order to be used mightily we have to die to self. Thank you for giving us a clear picture of humility to follow while on earth. We ask for an abundance of grace to walk the rest of our fast out in a manner that would be pleasing to you. We ask all these things in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Day 5 of a 21 day fast

2011-08-05T09:42:00.001-04:00

Philippians 2:6-11

6 pwho, though he was in qthe form of God, did not count equality with God ra thing to be grasped, 7 but semptied himself, by taking the form of a tservant, ubeing born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by vbecoming obedient to the point of death, weven death on a cross. 9 xTherefore yGod has zhighly exalted him and bestowed on him athe name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus bevery knee should bow, cin heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and devery tongue confess that Jesus Christ is eLord, to the glory of God the Father.

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ gives us a clear picture of humility as he took on human flesh, he humbled himself and was obedient to the point of death. He emptied himself! We are emptying ourselves through this fast and denying our flesh and becoming weak but no where near the point of death.

Thank you Lord for your sacrifice and your humility that you displayed for our souls. We love you Lord Jesus. Help us to love you more today as we empty ourselves before you. Have your way in our hearts and minds today we pray, In Jesus name AMEN

Encouragement from a Fasting Partner

2011-08-04T17:00:00.003-04:00

Psalm 84

⁵ What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord,
      who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
⁶ When they walk through the Valley of Weeping,
      it will become a place of refreshing springs.
      The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.
⁷ They will continue to grow stronger,
      and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.

⁸ O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, hear my prayer.
Listen, O God of Jacob.

¹¹ For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.
      He gives us grace and glory.
   The Lord will withhold no good thing
      from those who do what is right.
¹² O Lord of Heaven’s Armies,
      what joy for those who trust in you.

This hit me because I feel like our fast is a journey, pilgrimage. Yesterday I was really in the valley of weeping and today I feel like a new person! He has given me strength and joy!!

Day 4 of a 21 day fast Humbling yourself before your God

2011-08-04T07:19:00.000-04:00

Daniel 10:11-13

¹¹ And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling.
¹² Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. ¹³ But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.

Fasting is an active was to humble yourself before the Lord.

What a great day for Daniel. Jesus appears to him and tells him that:

"for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words."

Know that when we choose to humble ourselves through prayer and fasting we get God's attention. He comes to us and He hears our words!!!!!!

The all powerful, all knowing, eternal ONE listens and responds to your voice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Selah! (stop and think about that today)

That is all there is to say!

Father, I thank you and bless you for turning your ear and attention on us when we choose to humble ourselves through prayer and fasting. We are expecting major breakthrough in our lives and the lives of those around us during this time. Continue to pour out your grace upon us we ask so that we are able to walk out these days with resolve like Daniel did. We ask that the Spirit of the Lord would rest on us today and throughout this time in a tangible way, the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding and Knowledge and the Fear of the Lord in a profound way so that we can walk with integrity as Jesus did while on earth. We thank you for the opportunity to fast and become more like Jesus while we are here on earth. We ask all these things in the precious name of Jesus,
Amen!

Encouragement from Partner in Fasting

2011-08-03T12:04:00.000-04:00

Ok, ladies, I spent an amazing time with the Lord last night at the Vineyard and came home with an overwhelming sense of how much He loves me! I am sure fasting has made me sensitive to his spirit and I pray that you are overwhelmed with His love today!

Here is what the Lord gave me this morning and I pray it is a blessing to you! I changed the him/his to her to give the full effect. And I added underlining.

I hope you're blessed:)

Psalm 21

    For the director of music. A psalm of David.
¹ The king rejoices in your strength, LORD.
   How great is her joy in the victories you give!
² You have granted her her heart’s desire
   and have not withheld the request of her lips.
³ You came to greet her with rich blessings
   and placed a crown of pure gold on her head.
⁴ She asked you for life, and you gave it to her—
   length of days, for ever and ever.
⁵ Through the victories you gave, her glory is great;
   you have bestowed on her splendor and majesty.
⁶ Surely you have granted her unending blessings
   and made her glad with the joy of your presence.   Yes Lord!
⁷ For the king trusts in the LORD;
   through the unfailing love of the Most High
   she will not be shaken.

⁸ Your hand will lay hold on all your enemies;
   your right hand will seize your foes.
⁹ When you appear for battle,
   you will burn them up as in a blazing furnace.
The LORD will swallow them up in his wrath,
   and his fire will consume them.
¹⁰ You will destroy their descendants from the earth,
   their posterity from mankind.
¹¹ Though they plot evil against you
   and devise wicked schemes, they cannot succeed.
¹² You will make them turn their backs
   when you aim at them with drawn bow.

¹³ Be exalted in your strength, LORD;
we will sing and praise your might.

Day 2 of a 21 Day Fast Journal

2011-08-02T13:20:00.000-04:00

Tear Down Strongholds Today by Walking in the Spirit and Not fulfilling the Lusts of your flesh

II Corinthians 10:4-7

⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, ⁵ casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, ⁶ and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

Reality of OUR Authority!

⁷ Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even so we are Christ’s.

Because we are Christ's we have the ability through the Holy Spirit to walk in the spirit and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. We have the ability to pull down strongholds

1) a castle, stronghold, fortress, fastness

2) anything on which one relies

a) of the arguments and reasonings by which a disputant endeavours to fortify his opinion and defend it against his opponent

One of the greatest tools of the devil against God's people is distraction. If he can get you reasoning things out in your mind he can actually set up a mighty fortress of arguments that exalt themselves above the truth of God's Word and His character. We have to actively bring every thought captive to the obedience of the Lord Jesus Christ. As we fast and press in to God and His purposes it is no mistake that this battle becomes very obvious if we are guarding against it. Be ready today to punish and thought that is contrary to God's Word, ways and character.

Read Galatians 5 to refresh yourself about Christian Liberty , Love fulfilling the law and Walking in the Spirit.

The fruit of God's spirit will shine the light on any thought that is contrary to the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you have peace, joy, love as you are contemplating all the thoughts in your head or is the enemy erecting a stronghold in your mind that is in direct defiance to the knowledge of God?

21 Day Fast - Journal

2011-08-01T21:57:00.001-04:00

Isaiah 58

⁶ “ Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
      To loose the bonds of wickedness,
      To undo the heavy burdens,
      To let the oppressed go free,
      And that you break every yoke?
       ⁷ Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
      And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
      When you see the naked, that you cover him,
      And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
       ⁸ Then your light shall break forth like the morning,
      Your healing shall spring forth speedily,
      And your righteousness shall go before you;
      The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
       ⁹ Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer;
      You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’

      “ If you take away the yoke from your midst,
      The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
       ¹⁰ If you extend your soul to the hungry
      And satisfy the afflicted soul,
      Then your light shall dawn in the darkness,
      And your darkness shall be as the noonday.
       ¹¹ The LORD will guide you continually,
      And satisfy your soul in drought,
      And strengthen your bones;
      You shall be like a watered garden,
      And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
       ¹² Those from among you
      Shall build the old waste places;
      You shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
      And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach,
      The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.
       ¹³ “ If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath,
      From doing your pleasure on My holy day,
      And call the Sabbath a delight,
      The holy day of the LORD honorable,
      And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways,
      Nor finding your own pleasure,
      Nor speaking your own words,
       ¹⁴ Then you shall delight yourself in the LORD;
      And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth,
      And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father.
      The mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

Many people in the church do not fast on a regular basis. Fasting goes against everything in our flesh. Our spirit is willing but our flesh is weak. But if we can stay single eyed and focused on what God promises to His people when they fast then we can endure temptation. It is very important to be consuming the Word of God during a fast because we will fail otherwise.

As we feed our spirit with the Word of God our spirit man has the ability to overpower our soulish fleshly man. If I sow to the spirit I will reap of the spirit but if I sow to the flesh of the flesh I will reap.

As we interceed during our fasting we have the ability to partner with God to bring His purposes to fruition. Just think about that for a minute. Through fasting we can partner with God to:

Loose the bonds of wickedness
Undo the heavy burdens
Let the oppressed go free
Break every yoke

Then:
Your healing shall spring forth speedily,
      And your righteousness shall go before you;
      The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
      Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer;
      You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’

See how important it is to fast and pray! God makes seeing His kingdom purposes accomplished through His people easy. All we have to do is die to self! It may be difficult but he rewards are lasting and He is soooo worth it!

Galatians 2:20

²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Father we thank you for Your grace that you pour out on your people when they ask so we are asking that you pour out your grace over us during this 21 day commitment to humble ourselves and pray and seek your face. We ask Lord that You rout out any and all pride that may hinder our time of fasting. We bind any and all attitudes or thoughts that would try to infiltrate our minds to convince us that our flesh is worthy of our time. We give you our flesh Lord, and ask that you help us to crucify it daily for Your purposes in our lives and the lives of those we are interceding for during this time. We take every thought captive to the obedience of the Lord Jesus Christ and ask that You establish our hearts during this time. We ask all this in the precious name of Jesus, the One who is worthy of our sacrifice. I thank you that our prayers are a sweet smelling fragrance to you and they you collect them in bowls in the throne room of God. I thank you that we have witnessed the tipping of those bowls as you answer the prayers of the saints. So Father we are asking that during this time you would prepare to tip the bowls in heaven to answer the prayers that we offer up to you during this time to see Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,

AMEN!

Psalm 40

2010-10-05T09:44:00.001-04:00

Psalm 40

A David Psalm

^1-3 I waited and waited and waited for God. At last he looked; finally he listened.
   He lifted me out of the ditch,
      pulled me from deep mud.
   He stood me up on a solid rock
      to make sure I wouldn't slip.
   He taught me how to sing the latest God-song,
      a praise-song to our God.
   More and more people are seeing this:
      they enter the mystery,
      abandoning themselves to God.

^4-5 Blessed are you who give yourselves over to God,
      turn your backs on the world's "sure thing,"
      ignore what the world worships;
   The world's a huge stockpile
      of God-wonders and God-thoughts.
   Nothing and no one
      comes close to you!
   I start talking about you, telling what I know,
      and quickly run out of words.
   Neither numbers nor words
      account for you.

⁶ Doing something for you, bringing something to you—
      that's not what you're after.
   Being religious, acting pious—
      that's not what you're asking for.
   You've opened my ears
      so I can listen.

^7-8 So I answered, "I'm coming.
      I read in your letter what you wrote about me,
   And I'm coming to the party
      you're throwing for me."
   That's when God's Word entered my life,
      became part of my very being.

^9-10 I've preached you to the whole congregation,
      I've kept back nothing, God—you know that.
   I didn't keep the news of your ways
      a secret, didn't keep it to myself.
   I told it all, how dependable you are, how thorough.
      I didn't hold back pieces of love and truth
   For myself alone. I told it all,
      let the congregation know the whole story.

^11-12 Now God, don't hold out on me,
      don't hold back your passion.
   Your love and truth
      are all that keeps me together.
   When troubles ganged up on me,
      a mob of sins past counting,
   I was so swamped by guilt
      I couldn't see my way clear.
   More guilt in my heart than hair on my head,
      so heavy the guilt that my heart gave out.

^13-15 Soften up, God, and intervene;
      hurry and get me some help,
   So those who are trying to kidnap my soul
      will be embarrassed and lose face,
   So anyone who gets a kick out of making me miserable
      will be heckled and disgraced,
   So those who pray for my ruin
      will be booed and jeered without mercy.

^16-17 But all who are hunting for you—
      oh, let them sing and be happy.
   Let those who know what you're all about
      tell the world you're great and not quitting.
   And me? I'm a mess. I'm nothing and have nothing:
      make something of me.
   You can do it; you've got what it takes—
      but God, don't put it off.

Behold My Face

2010-07-07T08:22:00.000-04:00

The Lord has been speaking to me and saying, Behold My Face, Behold My Face, Behold My Face.....

⁷ Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice!
         Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
⁸ When You said, “Seek My face,”
         My heart said to You, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.”
⁹ Do not hide Your face from me;
         Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
         You have been my help;
         Do not leave me nor forsake me,
         O God of my salvation. (Psalm 27:7-9, New King James Version)

I did a search for the phrase My Face and found that in most references the Lord is speaking to the people and telling them that He has turned His face or hid His face from them because of their sin. Or another example is the reference made by individuals who were not able to look at His face because of the sin that they had allowed in their lives.

I long to see His face because as we behold His face we are changed from glory to glory as we are in His presence.

¹⁸ But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:18, New King James Version)

In His presence is fullness of JOY!

¹¹ You will show me the path of life;
         In Your presence is fullness of joy;
         At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11, New King James Version)

That means NOTHING is able to keep us from His fullness and we will have pleasure for Him!

Psalm 21

2010-07-01T08:43:00.002-04:00

¹ The king shall have joy in Your strength, O LORD;
         And in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
² You have given him his heart’s desire,
         And have not withheld the request of his lips.  Selah

³ For You meet him with the blessings of goodness;
         You set a crown of pure gold upon his head.
⁴ He asked life from You, and You gave it to him—
         Length of days forever and ever.
⁵ His glory is great in Your salvation;
         Honor and majesty You have placed upon him.
⁶ For You have made him most blessed forever;
         You have made him exceedingly glad with Your presence.
⁷ For the king trusts in the LORD,
         And through the mercy of the Most High he shall not be moved.

⁸ Your hand will find all Your enemies;
         Your right hand will find those who hate You.
⁹ You shall make them as a fiery oven in the time of Your anger;
         The LORD shall swallow them up in His wrath,
         And the fire shall devour them.
¹⁰ Their offspring You shall destroy from the earth,
         And their descendants from among the sons of men.
¹¹ For they intended evil against You;
         They devised a plot which they are not able to perform.
¹² Therefore You will make them turn their back;
         You will make ready Your arrows on Your string toward their faces.

¹³ Be exalted, O LORD, in Your own strength!
         We will sing and praise Your power. (Psalm 21, New King James Version)

King David is so confident in the Lord's salvation because He has seen him through so many trials and tribulations. David has seen the faithfulness of God amidst many battles. He cannot help but declare the greatness of His glory and His salvation!

How many of you have gone through difficult situations and the Lord brought you through? Maybe not in the way that you envisioned but in the end you are able to see the sovereignty of your God.

David understood that the Lord was on his side! No matter the circumstance you are facing you can be assured that if your enemy (either the devil or man) is after you, The Lord will find them because if they intend evil against you, God's child, then they intend evil against Him and His word says although they devised a plot, they are not able to perform it.

Rejoice today in knowing that God is on your side and He is warring on your behalf in the unseen realm. Sing and praise the power of the Lord!!!! He is always victorious!

Be Encouraged!!!!!!

Another Excerpt from Shaping History through Prayer and Fasting

2010-04-21T07:31:00.000-04:00

God has recently taken me on a journey of fasting. I have fasted in the past but this time He has revealed to me His purpose and intent in this discipline and what I have seen occur has been so incredible that it leaves me once again astonished by the power of my Lord and Savior.

Fasting is the secret weapon of any Christain that wants to experience the power and authority that God says we have through Jesus over principalities and spiritual wickedness.

Derek Prince says that many of God's choicest provisions for His people lie within the realm of fasting and prayer and that is exactly what I have been witnessing with my own eyes.

Here is what he says about fasting on p. 103:

It is important to understand that fasting changes man, not God. The Holy Spirit being God is both omnipotent and unchanging. Fasting breaks down the barriers in man's carnal nature that stand in the way of the Holy Spirit's omnipotence. With these barriers removed, the Holy Spirit can work unhindered in His fullness through our prayers.

I would encourage anyone who wants more of God's fullness to begin a life of fasting and I know that you will be totally amazed at how God answers your prayers!

Jesus expected us to fast.

¹⁵ But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
¹⁶ “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. ¹⁷ But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, (Matthew 6:15-17, New King James Version)

Here are more scriptures on Fasting:

¹⁹ And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. ²⁰ But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days. ²¹ No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; or else the new piece pulls away from the old, and the tear is made worse. (Mark 2:19-21, New King James Version)

² Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar” (which is En Gedi). ³ And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. ⁴ So Judah gathered together to ask help from the LORD; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.
(2 Chronicles 20:2-4, New King James Version)


²¹ Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. ²² For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, “The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him.” ²³ So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer.
²⁴ And I separated twelve of the leaders of the priests—Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them— (Ezra 8:21-24, New King James Version)

¹ “Cry aloud, spare not;
      Lift up your voice like a trumpet;
      Tell My people their transgression,
      And the house of Jacob their sins.
       ² Yet they seek Me daily,
      And delight to know My ways,
      As a nation that did righteousness,
      And did not forsake the ordinance of their God.
      They ask of Me the ordinances of justice;
      They take delight in approaching God.
       ³ ‘ Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen?
      Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?’

      “ In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure,
      And exploit all your laborers.
       (Isaiah 58:1-3, New King James Version)

Exploit the devil today through prayer and fasting! Set an ambush for him and his ways like Jehoshaphat did!

II Chronicles 20

An Exerpt from Shaping History Through Prayer and Fasting by Derek Prince

2010-03-03T10:10:00.001-05:00

In the past 6 months God has really placed a desire in me to incorporate fasting as a regular part of my prayer life and all I can say is ........ I stand amazed!

My husband just followed through with a 40 day fast that our pastor encouraged us to participate in at the beginning of the year. God spoke very directly about what He was to fast and throughout that 40 days I can tell you the daily evidence of transformation was astounding. Our marriage has not only been strengthened but God answered so many of my prayers for my husband on a daily basis. It was truly amazing!

So, I just recently started reading this book by Derek Prince and I came across a powerful paragraph that I am compelled to share. This statement really encompasses what I have seen transpire in the last year. Miracles upon miracles on a daily basis so much so that I am in awe and here is why and how we as Christians can impact the world around us through prayer and fasting.

p. 25
In Philippians 3:20, Paul specified the government that, as Christians, we represent. He said, "Our conversation [literally, our citizenship] is in heaven." Two other translations render this as: "We are citizens of Heaven" (PHILLIPS), and "We... are citizens" (NEB). Thus, our position on earth is that of ambassadors representing heaven's government. We have no authority to act on our own, but as long as we carefully obey the directions of our government, the entire might and authority of heaven are behind every word that we speak and every move that we make.

So, as we come into alignment with God's authority He literally opens heaven to His ambassadors when we are careful to give Him all the glory and honor due His name.

I would encourage you to ask God to show you how to become His ambassador here on earth and be prepared to stand amazed before your God!

Forgiveness

2010-02-10T11:52:00.000-05:00

Yesterday my oldest son Elijah and my middle son Caleb were outside enjoying time together in the snow. They were building a snow fort. Suddenly they burst into the house, Caleb crying and Elijah obviously furious. They both began to spew incriminating evidence against the other. From what I gathered they were both at fault but Caleb's action had caused retaliation by Elijah.

Elijah announced very emphatically that, "I am NEVER going to play with you outside again!!!!!", and he stormed off to his room. Caleb was hurt and standing there naked and so I instructed him to get dressed. As I prepared dinner the Holy Spirit brought to my attention the fact that Elijah was not going to forgive Caleb. I quickly remember several scriptures:


²⁵ “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. (Mark 11:25, New King James Version)


²⁰ If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? ²¹ And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. (1 John 4:20-21, New King James Version)


²¹ Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
(Matthew 18:21, New King James Version)

² It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. ³ Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. ⁴ And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” (Luke 17:2-4, New King James Version)

¹⁸ If I regard iniquity in my heart,
         The Lord will not hear. (Psalm 66:18, New King James Version)

I called Elijah out and told he and Caleb that they were going to my bedroom to sit on the bed and talk and they were not allowed to come out until they had worked it out. As they were in the room I thought maybe I should let them know that if they are having a difficult time forgiving each other that they should pray and ask God to help them to forgive one another.

Before I could intervene they emerged from the bedroom with humility on their faces. They informed me that they prayed before they started to talk it out!!!!! I was soooooo pleased that the Holy Spirit had prompted them to pray and that in that act of obedience He enabled them to forgive!!!! I love God!

Forgiving others is serious business for all Christ followers as roots of bitterness and resentment can quickly become strongholds in our lives. I am trying to teach my boys that unforgiveness has no place in the life of a Christian and as we seek God for help He is Faithful and Just to provide us with the ability to forgive supernaturally!!!!!!

²² Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. ²³ For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”
²⁴ Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.”
(Acts 8:22-24, New King James Version)

The Power of the Gospel

2010-02-08T06:44:00.001-05:00

² We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, ³ remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, ⁴ knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. ⁵ For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.
⁶ And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, ⁷ so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. ⁸ For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. ⁹ For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, ¹⁰ and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:2-10, New King James Version)

I am continually reminded that Jesus Christ is in the business of radically changing lives as I watch my husband of nearly 15 years be continually transformed before my very eyes. He has been saved now for a little over a year and in the last 30 days I have seen the most growth in him as he has committed to 40 days of prayer and fasting.

I, many times over the years, felt as though my unbelieving friends could not be convinced that Jesus Christ is the one true God but after having a conversation with one of them recently the Holy Spirit reminded me that He is the only God who is in the business of radically changing lives. I am very blessed to have a direct view of His transformation power as I have been living with a new believer. What an amazing God we serve. I love Him more and more everyday!

My husband has been humbly coming to me and asking me to forgive him of many past offenses and all though I know that my part in the process is minimal at this point I know that God heard years and years of heart cries and I can say that He has answered more than I could have ever hoped for and He continues to baffle my mind.

So be encouraged this day if you are praying for someone and take heart that God is hearing and is faithful to answer your prayers on your behalf.

¹⁵ And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. ¹⁷ Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. (James 5:15-17, New King James Version)

Waiting with a sense of expectancy about what God is going to do!

2010-01-10T15:52:00.000-05:00

    ⁵ “ Look among the nations and watch—
      Be utterly astounded!
      For I will work a work in your days
      Which you would not believe, though it were told you.
       (Habakkuk 1:5, New King James Version)

⁴ “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! ⁵ You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
⁶ “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. (Deuteronomy 6:4-6, New King James Version)

In your presence Lord we are made righteous...........

2009-11-24T07:58:00.002-05:00

Hosea 10:12

Sow for yourselves righteousness;
Reap in mercy;
Break up your fallow ground,
For it is time to seek the LORD,
Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.

Lord God,

Show me the fallow ground that lies in my spirit so that through acknowledging it you will rain your righteousness down on me and in so doing you enable me through your son Jesus Christ to sow righteousness today so that I may reap your mercy.

In Jesus' name I pray.......

Amen

Isaiah 64
1 OH, THAT You would rend the heavens and that You would come down, that the mountains might quake and flow down at Your presence--

2 As when fire kindles the brushwood and the fire causes the waters to boil--to make Your name known to Your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at Your presence!

Peace be Still and know that I am God!

2009-11-23T08:54:00.000-05:00

³⁹And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. (Mark 4:39, King James Version)

¹⁰ Be still, and know that I am God;
         I will be exalted among the nations,
         I will be exalted in the earth!
          (Psalm 46:10, New King James Version)

Today God is telling us just be still and KNOW that I AM (YHWH)God!

In revealing his mysterious name, YHWH ("I AM HE WHO IS", "I AM WHO AM" or "I AM WHAT I AM"), God says who he is and by what name he is to be called. This divine name is mysterious just as God is mystery. It is at once a name revealed and something like the refusal of a name, and hence it better expresses God as what he is - infinitely above everything that we can understand or say: he is the "hidden God", his name is ineffable, and he is the God who makes himself close to men.

2009-11-12T10:59:00.001-05:00

¹ Arise, shine;
      For your light has come!
      And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.
       ² For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
      And deep darkness the people;
      But the LORD will arise over you,
      And His glory will be seen upon you.
       ³ The Gentiles shall come to your light,
      And kings to the brightness of your rising.
       ⁴ “ Lift up your eyes all around, and see:
      They all gather together, they come to you;
      Your sons shall come from afar,
      And your daughters shall be nursed at your side.
       ⁵ Then you shall see and become radiant,
      And your heart shall swell with joy;
      Because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you,
      The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you.
       ⁶ The multitude of camels shall cover your land,
      The dromedaries of Midian and Ephah;
      All those from Sheba shall come;
      They shall bring gold and incense,
      And they shall proclaim the praises of the LORD.
       ⁷ All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together to you,
      The rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you;
      They shall ascend with acceptance on My altar,
      And I will glorify the house of My glory.
       ⁸ “ Who are these who fly like a cloud,
      And like doves to their roosts?
       ⁹ Surely the coastlands shall wait for Me;
      And the ships of Tarshish will come first,
      To bring your sons from afar,
      Their silver and their gold with them,
      To the name of the LORD your God,
      And to the Holy One of Israel,
      Because He has glorified you.
       ¹⁰ “ The sons of foreigners shall build up your walls,
      And their kings shall minister to you;
      For in My wrath I struck you,
      But in My favor I have had mercy on you.
       ¹¹   Therefore your gates shall be open continually;
      They shall not be shut day or night,
      That men may bring to you the wealth of the Gentiles,
      And their kings in procession.
       ¹² For the nation and kingdom which will not serve you shall perish,
      And those nations shall be utterly ruined.
       ¹³ “ The glory of Lebanon shall come to you,
      The cypress, the pine, and the box tree together,
      To beautify the place of My sanctuary;
      And I will make the place of My feet glorious.
       ¹⁴ Also the sons of those who afflicted you
      Shall come bowing to you,
      And all those who despised you shall fall prostrate at the soles of your feet;
      And they shall call you The City of the LORD,
      Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
       ¹⁵ “ Whereas you have been forsaken and hated,
      So that no one went through you,
      I will make you an eternal excellence,
      A joy of many generations.
       ¹⁶ You shall drink the milk of the Gentiles,
      And milk the breast of kings;
      You shall know that I, the LORD, am your Savior
      And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
       ¹⁷ “ Instead of bronze I will bring gold,
      Instead of iron I will bring silver,
      Instead of wood, bronze,
      And instead of stones, iron.
      I will also make your officers peace,
      And your magistrates righteousness.
       ¹⁸   Violence shall no longer be heard in your land,
      Neither wasting nor destruction within your borders;
      But you shall call your walls Salvation,
      And your gates Praise.    ¹⁹ “ The sun shall no longer be your light by day,
      Nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you;
      But the LORD will be to you an everlasting light,
      And your God your glory.
       ²⁰ Your sun shall no longer go down,
      Nor shall your moon withdraw itself;
      For the LORD will be your everlasting light,
      And the days of your mourning shall be ended.
       ²¹ Also your people shall all be righteous;
      They shall inherit the land forever,
      The branch of My planting,
      The work of My hands,
      That I may be glorified.
       ²² A little one shall become a thousand,
      And a small one a strong nation.
      I, the LORD, will hasten it in its time.” (Isaiah 60, New King James Version)

Praising God today for His awesomeness!!!!!!

2009-11-06T08:22:00.000-05:00

Wow! So much has been happening and I am eager to share that my brother Wade has been going to church with his friends!!!!! This is huge in that only a couple of months ago he was denying that God was real! How could this be if he was raised in the same home that I was where God's hand was evident on a daily basis. Many times we were able to drive on an empty gas tank, food was provided in unprecidented ways as well as the fact that we were in the midst of the charismatic movement of the 1980's when God's spirit was moving in the supernatural realm and it was evidenced by radical healings and salvations and life changing moments all of which we witnessed as children.

I have been praying that God would surround him with Christians and draw him into a church where he fit perfectly where there would be an amazing worship team. He is enjoying the worship services as he told our mom that they play the drums and there are other musical instruments...... Wow talk about amazing God!!!! I love Him more and more and I am soooo full today as His hand has been soooo apparent all week in even the littlest ways.

Praise you Lord Jesus Christ as you alone are worthy of our praise!!!!!!

¹ Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
² Serve the LORD with gladness;
         Come before His presence with singing.
³ Know that the LORD, He is God;
         It is He who has 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 to Him, and bless His name.
⁵ For the LORD is good;
         His mercy is everlasting,
         And His truth endures to all generations. (Psalm 100, New King James Version)

Deuteronomy 33:26-30

2009-11-04T08:06:00.001-05:00

God is so amazing and personal. He gave me this scripture last week and I am just basking in it! Enjoy what God has promised to you as His children!

²⁶ “There is no one like the God of Jeshurun,
      Who rides the heavens to help you,
      And in His excellency on the clouds.
²⁷ The eternal God is your refuge,
      And underneath are the everlasting arms;
      He will thrust out the enemy from before you,
      And will say, ‘Destroy!’
²⁸ Then Israel shall dwell in safety,
      The fountain of Jacob alone,
      In a land of grain and new wine;
      His heavens shall also drop dew.
²⁹   Happy are you, O Israel!
      Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD,
      The shield of your help
      And the sword of your majesty!
      Your enemies shall submit to you,
      And you shall tread down their high places.” (Deuteronomy 33:26-30, New King James Version)

Continuation from Yesterday

2009-10-22T06:42:00.000-04:00

My husband has been a witness at work. This goes against who he was in every way. He no longer cares about what people think of him and actually he voiced to me recently that as his 1 year anniversary was just around the corner he was feeling like a hypocrite because he had not shared his new found faith at work. He has continually confessed his faults to me and now God has given him an amazing boldness.

He has been sharing and discussing God with a Jewish man at work who is quite challenging and when he comes home it is amazing to hear how the the Holy Spirit kept him grounded and secure in his stance. He also hunts in his bible for confirmation and checks with me as to the standpoint from where he is coming from to make sure he is being consistent and accurate.

All I can say is WOW it sure is fun to be around a new believer because not only do you see the radical change but you see the spiritual growth and it is truly supernatural!

Please pray for Shannon as God gives him opportunities. There are about 4-5 other people who have overheard or been involved in the conversation with this man at work. Also pray for his physical health as the enemy will attack as individuals are posing a threat to his authority in over the people of this world. Shannon is not going to work today because he is not feeling well. Please pray!

¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ¹⁸ praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— ¹⁹ and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, (Ephesians 6:14-19 , New King James Version )

What God is up to........

2009-10-21T08:48:00.000-04:00

Let me tell you today how wonderfully amazing God is. My husband is coming up on his first anniversary as a Christian. Within this year I have seen amazing growth. We have also come under much attack from the enemy. Most recently we can see that as the words leave our mouths they are distorted before they reach the ear of the hearer. We are now commiting to be a united front against the enemy.

I prayed heavily for my husband for the past 12 years. One of my prayers that I thought was sooo out of reach but that did not prevent me from asking......... My husband and I have been getting up to read our Bible together!!!!! I am ever reminded of how important it is to put on the whole armor of God....... This is the passage of scripture we read together this morning!

God you are an amazingly good God! Thank you for hearing and answering my prayers!

¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ¹⁸ praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— ¹⁹ and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, (Ephesians 6:10-19, New King James Version)

Psalm 118

2009-10-20T10:14:00.001-04:00

Know that you serve a loving and merciful God today who longs to bestow His mercy and grace on you!
All of the prayer requests for Ruby have come to pass!!!!!!!!! Hallelujah! Thank you Jesus you are an awesome God!!!!

¹ Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
         For His mercy endures forever.

² Let Israel now say,
         “His mercy endures forever.”
³ Let the house of Aaron now say,
         “His mercy endures forever.”
⁴ Let those who fear the LORD now say,
         “His mercy endures forever.”

⁵ I called on the LORD in distress;
         The LORD answered me and set me in a broad place.
⁶ The LORD is on my side;
         I will not fear.
         What can man do to me?
⁷ The LORD is for me among those who help me;
         Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me.
⁸ It is better to trust in the LORD
         Than to put confidence in man.
⁹ It is better to trust in the LORD
         Than to put confidence in princes.

¹⁰ All nations surrounded me,
         But in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
¹¹ They surrounded me,
         Yes, they surrounded me;
         But in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
¹² They surrounded me like bees;
         They were quenched like a fire of thorns;
         For in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
¹³ You pushed me violently, that I might fall,
         But the LORD helped me.
¹⁴ The LORD is my strength and song,
         And He has become my salvation.

¹⁵ The voice of rejoicing and salvation
         Is in the tents of the righteous;
         The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.
¹⁶ The right hand of the LORD is exalted;
         The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.
¹⁷ I shall not die, but live,
         And declare the works of the LORD.
¹⁸ The LORD has chastened me severely,
         But He has not given me over to death.

¹⁹ Open to me the gates of righteousness;
         I will go through them,
         And I will praise the LORD.
²⁰ This is the gate of the LORD,
         Through which the righteous shall enter.

²¹ I will praise You,
         For You have answered me,
         And have become my salvation.

²² The stone which the builders rejected
         Has become the chief cornerstone.
²³ This was the LORD’s doing;
         It is marvelous in our eyes.
²⁴ This is the day the LORD has made;
         We will rejoice and be glad in it.

²⁵ Save now, I pray, O LORD;
         O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity.
²⁶ Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!
         We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.
²⁷ God is the LORD,
         And He has given us light;
         Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
²⁸ You are my God, and I will praise You;
         You are my God, I will exalt You.

²⁹ Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
         For His mercy endures forever. (Psalm 118 , New King James Version )

Amazement

2009-10-19T07:29:00.000-04:00

I have been continually and utterly amazed at how God answers our prayers. He is such an active, living and personal God!

My husband and I have been praying about our communication and as we do that we have had to deal with much pride and misunderstanding.

Do not doubt for a minute that the enemy of your soul hates unity in marriage and he will either try to twist what each person says or distort it before it gets to the other persons ear. How do I know? I have been a witness to this in my marriage on a continual basis.

NO LONGER! God is so faithful and in the past two weeks my husband and I have really sought after God in this area. What have I seen happen?

Well I see us both immediately self analyze how we say things and instantly correct them as to not bring division and contention. Only God Almighty can change people who have been in a relationship for 18 years. Old things are past away all things are made new!

God spoke very specifically about reading Ephesians. Here is what we read together this morning about Unity:

¹ I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, ² with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, ³ endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Peace is key to unity. If we are to walk in Unity we need to seek after the peace of God and let nothing disrupt it and this takes purposing in our hearts and minds to bring every word and thought under submission to the Lord Jesus Christ. I WANT GRACE in my marriage! When you are submitted to God and give up your right to be right, He will honor you and the devil will flee from you!

⁵ Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for

“ God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”
(1 Peter 5:5 , New King James Version )

Be a walking testimony of God's grace

2009-10-16T11:00:00.001-04:00

This is from a friend at my church who is sending out daily prayers and scripture for our body.

Friends, always keep it in mind that your life is a testament of God's grace. The enemy would cause you to compare your life and experience to others and tell you that you should keep quiet. But if you have been touched by His grace, someone, somewhere needs to hear what great things the Lord has done for you.

1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." 13 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled." 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
________________________________________________________________________________

Interesting that today's scripture and word were about grace. I am currently reading the Final Quest by Rick Joyner. I read today a portion of the vision that God gave him. The author is ascending the "Holy mountain " and has a conversation with "Wisdom". They are discussing how he is safe from the attacks of the enemy as long as he wears the cloak of humility. Because the author is robed in this cloak God gives him grace. Wisdom tells him that No evil weapon can penetrate this mantle, because nothing can overpower His grace. He goes on to explain that as long as he wears this cloak, he is safe from any attack of the enemy in the form of Pride which is the most difficult attack of the Christian as it is the hardest to see. Pride sneaks up from behind (where no armor is present ) and the Christian who has reached the greatest heights in their ascent of the holy mountain are in the greatest danger of falling from the mountain. Wisdom warns that he (the author and the Christian) are susceptible to falling at any level of their walk. "Strong Delusion" has come upon the church in the form of pride.

Here is a direct excerpt from the book:

Rank in the Kingdom
I was left standing in the midst of the great company of angels who were ministering to the wounded on the level of "Salvation." As I began to walk past these angels, they bowed to one knee and showed me great respect. I finally asked one of them why they did this, as even the smallest was much more powerful than I was. "Because of the mantle," he replied. "That is the highest rank in the kingdom."

"This is just a plain mantle," I protested.
"No!" the angel protested. "You are clothed in the grace of God. There is no greater power than that!"

The author goes on to comment about the fact that his glorious armor was under the cloak of humility and if it had been exposed then the angel's statement and behavior would have fed his pride.

Here are my thoughts. Take every opportunity to share with those around you your struggles ,temptaions and weaknesses. Run to the places where you feel embarrassed at times and less then in your walk with the Lord. This exposure allows us to obtain God's grace. How? Well in our weakness He is strong and through this repositioning of self others see HIM!!!!!! Amazing!

James 4:9-11 (New King James Version)

⁹ Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Do Not Judge a Brother

¹¹ Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.

1 Peter 5:4-6 (New King James Version)

⁴ and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

Submit to God, Resist the Devil

⁵ Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for

“ God resists the proud,

But gives grace to the humble.”

⁶ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,

Another Post via my dear friend!

2009-10-14T05:49:00.002-04:00

Sometimes I get discouraged because I don't see a situation working out the way I think it should. The people involved aren't doing things the right way, or they aren't following through, or maybe its just not fast enough. Or, maybe they turn and go the other way when I hoped they would stay in one direction. Its easy to lose hope when that happens.

John 2:23-25 (New International Version)

²³Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. ²⁴But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. ²⁵He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.

Its a lot easier to keep a positive attitude when you keep you focus on the right person. When we trust things to man (man's nature) we will be disappointed or hurt. People aren't perfect. But when we trust God to work things out, He always does it perfectly. God never fails! We should love our neighbors, but trust God.

From my friend!

2009-10-13T05:52:00.002-04:00

Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

James 4:2 (NKJV)

...Yet^a] you do not have because you do not ask.

Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV)

²⁰ Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

So tell me again why we worry and don't ask for God to take control?!?!

All three of these verses came to me today. The last two were my devotional. How perfect they are for today! I had just gotten off of the phone with you asking you to pray when I read these. God wants to bless us in ways that we cannot imagine. All we have to do is ask. But are we asking for mole hills when God wants to give us Mountains? (That happened to me last weekend! I asked for just a little and God gave me a lot!) Lets be bold and ask for the best things we can imagine and know God's ways are better than ours. He wants to give us "exceedingly abundantly above"! We also know that God works all things together for our good. Why not ask for mountains?!?! He wants us to believe for huge things that only He can do!

A word for Shannon and me! Praise God!

2009-10-12T07:57:00.000-04:00

Ephesians 2

19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Another Post via my dear friend!

2009-10-09T09:31:00.000-04:00

I realized the other day that I was feeling a little down. Not really depressed, but just not myself. It was a little gray, cold and drizzly outside and it would have been a great day to stay in bed. I managed to get to work, but I just wasn't upbeat like usual. After some time in prayer, I remembered that if I stay in that state of mind, the devil will take advantage. He loves when our attitudes are even just a little out of line. I couldn't quite figure out why I felt the way I did. I just knew I didn't want to stay that way.

John 14:16 (Amplified Bible)¹⁶And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever--

I read this verse and remembered that whatever I was feeling, God is bigger! These are a few of His names. No matter what I was facing that day, one of these characteristics of God was the answer. It was interesting that as the day went on, I needed him in different ways. God is so good! He knows exactly what we need and He always provides at exactly the right time!

From me....

God is interceeding on our behalf. Jesus sits at the right hand of God making intercession for us! Can you believe that?!?

Romans 8:26

²⁶ Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (Romans 8:26, New King James Version)

Romans 8:27

²⁷ Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
(Romans 8:27, New King James Version)

A Post from my dear friend......

2009-10-08T06:48:00.000-04:00

I am in a place where God has moved and ordered some things in my life. I am waiting for Him to work out a few more details in a situation. I know there is nothing I can do during this time - except to trust Him! Last Sunday the Pastor spoke about having a right relationship and sometimes that means waiting for God to work it out. He spoke from Ruth.

Ruth 3:18 (NIV)¹⁸ Then Naomi said, "Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today."

This really hit me. I need to "wait", but the problem is that waiting is not something I do well. So, I asked God if there is anything I can do in the mean time. This verse came to me a day later:

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV) ¹⁶Be joyful always; ¹⁷pray continually; ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

I love this. Just a couple of months ago, I found my self at a different waiting point in the same situation. At that time, God gave me Romans 12:12 (NIV)

"¹²Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."

These verses sound pretty similar. Its pretty clear that when we find ourselves waiting for God to work out our siturations, we should pray, be joyful and thankful, and trust Him!

Psalm 94

2009-10-07T05:35:00.001-04:00

God the Refuge of the Righteous

¹ O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongs—
         O God, to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth!
² Rise up, O Judge of the earth;
         Render punishment to the proud.
³ LORD, how long will the wicked,
         How long will the wicked triumph?

⁴ They utter speech, and speak insolent things;
         All the workers of iniquity boast in themselves.
⁵ They break in pieces Your people, O LORD,
         And afflict Your heritage.
⁶ They slay the widow and the stranger,
         And murder the fatherless.
⁷ Yet they say, “The LORD does not see,
         Nor does the God of Jacob understand.”

⁸ Understand, you senseless among the people;
         And you fools, when will you be wise?
⁹ He who planted the ear, shall He not hear?
         He who formed the eye, shall He not see?
¹⁰ He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct,
         He who teaches man knowledge?
¹¹ The LORD knows the thoughts of man,
         That they are futile.

¹² Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O LORD,
         And teach out of Your law,
¹³ That You may give him rest from the days of adversity,
         Until the pit is dug for the wicked.
¹⁴ For the LORD will not cast off His people,
         Nor will He forsake His inheritance.
¹⁵ But judgment will return to righteousness,
         And all the upright in heart will follow it.

¹⁶ Who will rise up for me against the evildoers?
         Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
¹⁷ Unless the LORD had been my help,
         My soul would soon have settled in silence.
¹⁸ If I say, “My foot slips,”
         Your mercy, O LORD, will hold me up.
¹⁹ In the multitude of my anxieties within me,
         Your comforts delight my soul.

²⁰ Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law,
         Have fellowship with You?
²¹ They gather together against the life of the righteous,
         And condemn innocent blood.
²² But the LORD has been my defense,
         And my God the rock of my refuge.
²³ He has brought on them their own iniquity,
         And shall cut them off in their own wickedness;
         The LORD our God shall cut them off.

Psalm 93

2009-10-06T21:34:00.000-04:00

The Eternal Reign of the LORD

¹ The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty;
         The LORD is clothed,
         He has girded Himself with strength.
         Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved.
² Your throne is established from of old;
         You are from everlasting.

³ The floods have lifted up, O LORD,
         The floods have lifted up their voice;
         The floods lift up their waves.
⁴ The LORD on high is mightier
         Than the noise of many waters,
         Than the mighty waves of the sea.

⁵ Your testimonies are very sure;
         Holiness adorns Your house,
         O LORD, forever.

Psalm 1: 1-3

2009-10-05T07:59:00.000-04:00

Here is what I want for all the boys and men in my life and ultimately all the men that God has called according to His purpose

Isaiah 50

2009-10-02T08:38:00.000-04:00

¹ Thus says the LORD:

“ Where is the certificate of your mother’s divorce,
Whom I have put away?
Or which of My creditors is it to whom I have sold you?
For your iniquities you have sold yourselves,
And for your transgressions your mother has been put away.
² Why, when I came, was there no man?
Why, when I called, was there none to answer?
Is My hand shortened at all that it cannot redeem?
Or have I no power to deliver?
Indeed with My rebuke I dry up the sea,
I make the rivers a wilderness;
Their fish stink because there is no water,
And die of thirst.
³ I clothe the heavens with blackness,
And I make sackcloth their covering.”
⁴ “ The Lord GOD has given Me
The tongue of the learned,
That I should know how to speak
A word in season to him who is weary.
He awakens Me morning by morning,
He awakens My ear
To hear as the learned.
⁵ The Lord GOD has opened My ear;
And I was not rebellious,
Nor did I turn away.
⁶ I gave My back to those who struck Me,
And My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard;
I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.
⁷ “ For the Lord GOD will help Me;
Therefore I will not be disgraced;
Therefore I have set My face like a flint,
And I know that I will not be ashamed.
⁸ He is near who justifies Me;
Who will contend with Me?
Let us stand together.
Who is My adversary?
Let him come near Me.
⁹ Surely the Lord GOD will help Me;
Who is he who will condemn Me?
Indeed they will all grow old like a garment;
The moth will eat them up.
¹⁰ “ Who among you fears the LORD?
Who obeys the voice of His Servant?
Who walks in darkness
And has no light?
Let him trust in the name of the LORD
And rely upon his God.
¹¹ Look, all you who kindle a fire,
Who encircle yourselves with sparks:
Walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks you have kindled—
This you shall have from My hand:
You shall lie down in torment.

2009-10-02T05:26:00.001-04:00

Psalm 116

¹ I love the LORD, for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry for mercy.

² Because he turned his ear to me,
I will call on him as long as I live.

³ The cords of death entangled me,
the anguish of the grave came upon me;
I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.

⁴ Then I called on the name of the LORD :
"O LORD, save me!"

⁵ The LORD is gracious and righteous;
our God is full of compassion.

⁶ The LORD protects the simplehearted;
when I was in great need, he saved me.

⁷ Be at rest once more, O my soul,
for the LORD has been good to you.

⁸ For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling,

⁹ that I may walk before the LORD
in the land of the living.

¹⁰ I believed; therefore I said,
"I am greatly afflicted."

¹¹ And in my dismay I said,
"All men are liars."

¹² How can I repay the LORD
for all his goodness to me?

¹³ I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the LORD.

¹⁴ I will fulfill my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people.

¹⁵ Precious in the sight of the LORD
is the death of his saints.

¹⁶ O LORD, truly I am your servant;
I am your servant, the son of your maidservant ;
you have freed me from my chains.

¹⁷ I will sacrifice a thank offering to you
and call on the name of the LORD.

¹⁸ I will fulfill my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people,

¹⁹ in the courts of the house of the LORD—
in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Praise the LORD.

Psalm 115

2009-10-01T07:31:00.001-04:00

¹ Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us,
But to Your name give glory,
Because of Your mercy,
Because of Your truth.
² Why should the Gentiles say,
“So where is their God?”

³ But our God is in heaven;
He does whatever He pleases.
⁴ Their idols are silver and gold,
The work of men’s hands.
⁵ They have mouths, but they do not speak;
Eyes they have, but they do not see;
⁶ They have ears, but they do not hear;
Noses they have, but they do not smell;
⁷ They have hands, but they do not handle;
Feet they have, but they do not walk;
Nor do they mutter through their throat.
⁸ Those who make them are like them;
So is everyone who trusts in them.

⁹ O Israel, trust in the LORD;
He is their help and their shield.
¹⁰ O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD;
He is their help and their shield.
¹¹ You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD;
He is their help and their shield.

¹² The LORD has been mindful of us;
He will bless us;
He will bless the house of Israel;
He will bless the house of Aaron.
¹³ He will bless those who fear the LORD,
Both small and great.

¹⁴ May the LORD give you increase more and more,
You and your children.
¹⁵ May you be blessed by the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.

¹⁶ The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s;
But the earth He has given to the children of men.
¹⁷ The dead do not praise the LORD,
Nor any who go down into silence.
¹⁸ But we will bless the LORD
From this time forth and forevermore.

Praise the LORD!

Psalm 77

2009-09-29T07:50:00.000-04:00

To the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph.

¹ I cried out to God with my voice—
To God with my voice;
And He gave ear to me.
² In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord;
My hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing;
My soul refused to be comforted.
³ I remembered God, and was troubled;
I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah

⁴ You hold my eyelids open;
I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
⁵ I have considered the days of old,
The years of ancient times.
⁶ I call to remembrance my song in the night;
I meditate within my heart,
And my spirit makes diligent search.

⁷ Will the Lord cast off forever?
And will He be favorable no more?
⁸ Has His mercy ceased forever?
Has His promise failed forevermore?
⁹ Has God forgotten to be gracious?
Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies? Selah

¹⁰ And I said, “This is my anguish;
But I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.”
¹¹ I will remember the works of the LORD;
Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.
¹² I will also meditate on all Your work,
And talk of Your deeds.
¹³ Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary;
Who is so great a God as our God?
¹⁴ You are the God who does wonders;
You have declared Your strength among the peoples.
¹⁵ You have with Your arm redeemed Your people,
The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah

¹⁶ The waters saw You, O God;
The waters saw You, they were afraid;
The depths also trembled.
¹⁷ The clouds poured out water;
The skies sent out a sound;
Your arrows also flashed about.
¹⁸ The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind;
The lightnings lit up the world;
The earth trembled and shook.
¹⁹ Your way was in the sea,
Your path in the great waters,
And Your footsteps were not known.
²⁰ You led Your people like a flock
By the hand of Moses and Aaron.

See you at the pole scripture

2009-09-23T12:00:00.000-04:00

2 Kings 22

Josiah Reigns in Judah

¹ Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. ² And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.

Hilkiah Finds the Book of the Law

³ Now it came to pass, in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the scribe, the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the house of the LORD, saying: ⁴ “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may count the money which has been brought into the house of the LORD, which the doorkeepers have gathered from the people. ⁵ And let them deliver it into the hand of those doing the work, who are the overseers in the house of the LORD; let them give it to those who are in the house of the LORD doing the work, to repair the damages of the house— ⁶ to carpenters and builders and masons—and to buy timber and hewn stone to repair the house. ⁷ However there need be no accounting made with them of the money delivered into their hand, because they deal faithfully.”
⁸ Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. ⁹ So Shaphan the scribe went to the king, bringing the king word, saying, “Your servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of those who do the work, who oversee the house of the LORD.” ¹⁰ Then Shaphan the scribe showed the king, saying, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king.
¹¹ Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he tore his clothes. ¹² Then the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Michaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king, saying, ¹³ “Go, inquire of the LORD for me, for the people and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for great is the wrath of the LORD that is aroused against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.”
¹⁴ So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. (She dwelt in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter.) And they spoke with her. ¹⁵ Then she said to them, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘Tell the man who sent you to Me, ¹⁶ “Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants—all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read— ¹⁷ because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. Therefore My wrath shall be aroused against this place and shall not be quenched.’”’ ¹⁸ But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, in this manner you shall speak to him, ‘Thus says the LORD God of Israel: “Concerning the words which you have heard— ¹⁹ because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,” says the LORD. ²⁰ “Surely, therefore, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place.”’” So they brought back word to the king.

Psalm 66 (Amplified Bible)

2009-09-22T07:06:00.001-04:00

¹MAKE A joyful noise unto God, all the earth;

²Sing forth the honor and glory of His name; make His praise glorious!

³Say to God, How awesome and fearfully glorious are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power shall Your enemies submit themselves to You [with feigned and reluctant obedience].

⁴All the earth shall bow down to You and sing [praises] to You; they shall praise Your name in song. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

⁵Come and see the works of God; see how [to save His people He smites their foes; He is] terrible in His doings toward the children of men.

⁶He turned the sea into dry land, they crossed through the river on foot; there did we rejoice in Him.

⁷He rules by His might forever, His eyes observe and keep watch over the nations; let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

⁸Bless our God, O peoples, give Him grateful thanks and make the voice of His praise be heard,

⁹Who put and kept us among the living, and has not allowed our feet to slip.

¹⁰For You, O God, have proved us; You have tried us as silver is tried, refined, and purified.

¹¹You brought us into the net (the prison fortress, the dungeon); You laid a heavy burden upon our loins.

¹²You caused men to ride over our heads [when we were prostrate]; we went through fire and through water, but You brought us out into a broad, moist place [to abundance and refreshment and the open air].

¹³I will come into Your house with burnt offerings [of entire consecration]; I will pay You my vows,

¹⁴Which my lips uttered and my mouth promised when I was in distress.

¹⁵I will offer to You burnt offerings of fat lambs, with rams consumed in sweet-smelling smoke; I will offer bullocks and he-goats. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

¹⁶Come and hear, all you who reverently and worshipfully fear God, and I will declare what He has done for me!

¹⁷I cried aloud to Him; He was extolled and high praise was under my tongue.

¹⁸If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me;

¹⁹But certainly God has heard me; He has given heed to the voice of my prayer.

²⁰Blessed be God, Who has not rejected my prayer nor removed His mercy and loving-kindness from being [as it always is] with me.

Psalm 35

2009-09-21T07:57:00.000-04:00

¹ Plead my cause, O LORD, with those who strive with me;
Fight against those who fight against me.
² Take hold of shield and buckler,
And stand up for my help.
³ Also draw out the spear,
And stop those who pursue me.
Say to my soul,
“I am your salvation.”

⁴ Let those be put to shame and brought to dishonor
Who seek after my life;
Let those be turned back and brought to confusion
Who plot my hurt.
⁵ Let them be like chaff before the wind,
And let the angel^a]"> of the LORD chase them.
⁶ Let their way be dark and slippery,
And let the angel of the LORD pursue them.
⁷ For without cause they have hidden their net for me in a pit,
Which they have dug without cause for my life.
⁸ Let destruction come upon him unexpectedly,
And let his net that he has hidden catch himself;
Into that very destruction let him fall.

⁹ And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD;
It shall rejoice in His salvation.
¹⁰ All my bones shall say,
“LORD, who is like You,
Delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him,
Yes, the poor and the needy from him who plunders him?”

¹¹ Fierce witnesses rise up;
They ask me things that I do not know.
¹² They reward me evil for good,
To the sorrow of my soul.
¹³ But as for me, when they were sick,
My clothing was sackcloth;
I humbled myself with fasting;
And my prayer would return to my own heart.
¹⁴ I paced about as though he were my friend or brother;
I bowed down heavily, as one who mourns for his mother.

¹⁵ But in my adversity they rejoiced
And gathered together;
Attackers gathered against me,
And I did not know it;
They tore at me and did not cease;
¹⁶ With ungodly mockers at feasts
They gnashed at me with their teeth.

¹⁷ Lord, how long will You look on?
Rescue me from their destructions,
My precious life from the lions.
¹⁸ I will give You thanks in the great assembly;
I will praise You among many people.

¹⁹ Let them not rejoice over me who are wrongfully my enemies;
Nor let them wink with the eye who hate me without a cause.
²⁰ For they do not speak peace,
But they devise deceitful matters
Against the quiet ones in the land.
²¹ They also opened their mouth wide against me,
And said, “Aha, aha!
Our eyes have seen it.”

²² This You have seen, O LORD;
Do not keep silence.
O Lord, do not be far from me.
²³ Stir up Yourself, and awake to my vindication,
To my cause, my God and my Lord.
²⁴ Vindicate me, O LORD my God, according to Your righteousness;
And let them not rejoice over me.
²⁵ Let them not say in their hearts, “Ah, so we would have it!”
Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up.”

²⁶ Let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion
Who rejoice at my hurt;
Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor
Who exalt themselves against me.

²⁷ Let them shout for joy and be glad,
Who favor my righteous cause;
And let them say continually,
“Let the LORD be magnified,
Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”
²⁸ And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness
And of Your praise all the day long.

Psalm 135

2009-09-19T07:10:00.000-04:00

¹ Praise the LORD!

Praise the name of the LORD;
Praise Him, O you servants of the LORD!
² You who stand in the house of the LORD,
In the courts of the house of our God,
³ Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;
Sing praises to His name, for it is pleasant.
⁴ For the LORD has chosen Jacob for Himself,
Israel for His special treasure.

⁵ For I know that the LORD is great,
And our Lord is above all gods.
⁶ Whatever the LORD pleases He does,
In heaven and in earth,
In the seas and in all deep places.
⁷ He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth;
He makes lightning for the rain;
He brings the wind out of His treasuries.

⁸ He destroyed the firstborn of Egypt,
Both of man and beast.
⁹ He sent signs and wonders into the midst of you, O Egypt,
Upon Pharaoh and all his servants.
¹⁰ He defeated many nations
And slew mighty kings—
¹¹ Sihon king of the Amorites,
Og king of Bashan,
And all the kingdoms of Canaan—
¹² And gave their land as a heritage,
A heritage to Israel His people.

¹³ Your name, O LORD, endures forever,
Your fame, O LORD, throughout all generations.
¹⁴ For the LORD will judge His people,
And He will have compassion on His servants.

¹⁵ The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
The work of men’s hands.
¹⁶ They have mouths, but they do not speak;
Eyes they have, but they do not see;
¹⁷ They have ears, but they do not hear;
Nor is there any breath in their mouths.
¹⁸ Those who make them are like them;
So is everyone who trusts in them.

¹⁹ Bless the LORD, O house of Israel!
Bless the LORD, O house of Aaron!
²⁰ Bless the LORD, O house of Levi!
You who fear the LORD, bless the LORD!
²¹ Blessed be the LORD out of Zion,
Who dwells in Jerusalem!

Praise the LORD!

2009-09-18T08:46:00.000-04:00

Psalm 35

A Psalm of David.

¹ Plead my cause, O LORD, with those who strive with me;
Fight against those who fight against me.
² Take hold of shield and buckler,
And stand up for my help.
³ Also draw out the spear,
And stop those who pursue me.
Say to my soul,
“I am your salvation.”

⁴ Let those be put to shame and brought to dishonor
Who seek after my life;
Let those be turned back and brought to confusion
Who plot my hurt.
⁵ Let them be like chaff before the wind,
And let the angel of the LORD chase them.
⁶ Let their way be dark and slippery,
And let the angel of the LORD pursue them.
⁷ For without cause they have hidden their net for me in a pit,
Which they have dug without cause for my life.
⁸ Let destruction come upon him unexpectedly,
And let his net that he has hidden catch himself;
Into that very destruction let him fall.

⁹ And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD;
It shall rejoice in His salvation.
¹⁰ All my bones shall say,
“LORD, who is like You,
Delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him,
Yes, the poor and the needy from him who plunders him?”

¹¹ Fierce witnesses rise up;
They ask me things that I do not know.
¹² They reward me evil for good,
To the sorrow of my soul.
¹³ But as for me, when they were sick,
My clothing was sackcloth;
I humbled myself with fasting;
And my prayer would return to my own heart.
¹⁴ I paced about as though he were my friend or brother;
I bowed down heavily, as one who mourns for his mother.

¹⁵ But in my adversity they rejoiced
And gathered together;
Attackers gathered against me,
And I did not know it;
They tore at me and did not cease;
¹⁶ With ungodly mockers at feasts
They gnashed at me with their teeth.

¹⁷ Lord, how long will You look on?
Rescue me from their destructions,
My precious life from the lions.
¹⁸ I will give You thanks in the great assembly;
I will praise You among many people.

¹⁹ Let them not rejoice over me who are wrongfully my enemies;
Nor let them wink with the eye who hate me without a cause.
²⁰ For they do not speak peace,
But they devise deceitful matters
Against the quiet ones in the land.
²¹ They also opened their mouth wide against me,
And said, “Aha, aha!
Our eyes have seen it.”

²² This You have seen, O LORD;
Do not keep silence.
O Lord, do not be far from me.
²³ Stir up Yourself, and awake to my vindication,
To my cause, my God and my Lord.
²⁴ Vindicate me, O LORD my God, according to Your righteousness;
And let them not rejoice over me.
²⁵ Let them not say in their hearts, “Ah, so we would have it!”
Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up.”

²⁶ Let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion
Who rejoice at my hurt;
Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor
Who exalt themselves against me.

²⁷ Let them shout for joy and be glad,
Who favor my righteous cause;
And let them say continually,
“Let the LORD be magnified,
Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”
²⁸ And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness
And of Your praise all the day long.

I Peter 1:13-16

2009-09-17T06:42:00.000-04:00

¹³ Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; ¹⁴ as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; ¹⁵ but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, ¹⁶ because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

A Post from my friend.....................

2009-09-16T05:01:00.001-04:00

I was thinking about tomatoes this morning. It seems that everywhere I turn right now, there is someone giving away tomatoes. Then I was thinking about someone who has a couple of tomato plants, but they are still green. He doesn't think they are going to turn and even if they do, he isn't sure they are going to be good. Its because he planted the seeds, but then wasn't around to water and take care of them during the growing season. Now, at harvest time, there won't be a harvest, or at most a very sparse one. It could have been wonderful.

This makes me think of a couple of things. First of all, I am so thankful that when God plants seeds in us, He takes the time to develop and grow them into a beautiful harvest. He never leaves us alone. He is with us every step of the way giving us exactly what we need! He cares enough to make sure His carefully planted seeds will mature into the wonderful people He created us to be! How awesome is He that He cares that much about us!

Second, I am reminded that just as soon as we finish one season, we move onto the next in a continuous cycle. This is something we are all aware of, but we tend to forget when we are in the waiting season. The seeds have been planted in the dark ground and it can be several weeks before we see anything happen on the surface. This hit me this morning. I feel like I have just come through a wonderful harvest season with a friend. I have seen some amazing things God has done in the last month. Then I realized there were a few more seeds planted in that person in the last few weeks. This morning I was wondering why I haven't seen any changes recently. Its because I am in that time when God is working below the surface. He is preparing the seed to spring open to something new. I am anxiously awaiting to see God's work in this situation! Its so much easier to hope and wait when you realize which season you are in!

Matthew 13:31-32 (NIV)

³¹He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. ³²Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."

I am waiting to see my friend and others turn into these great trees. This then brings me to another verse about a mustard seed. I have leaned on this one several times over the last few months. I have seen God move mountains! It just takes a little faith, patience and a watchful eye! Nothing is too hard for God!

Matthew 17:20-21 (NIV)

²⁰He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

God is so awesome! Over the last couple of days, I haven't felt like God has spoken anything specific to me. I have spent lots of time in prayer, but not too much time in the Word. Last night I picked up my Bible and God spoke! Then today, as soon as I opened the Word, everything is jumping out at me! Its amazing. I could go on forever today!

Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)

¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Matthew 6:33 (NIV)

³³But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Fear

2009-09-15T05:03:00.002-04:00

Lately, I have been really trying to weed out anything that would hinder me from doing what God is instructing me to do. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom however all other fear is a deceptive tool of our enemy.

Think about it. If your enemy can keep you fearful (and not just blatant fear but underlying "normal" or "healthy" fear) then he can keep God's people from stepping out of their comfort zone.

Here is an example from this summer. I was in the thrift store shopping and I was by myself. This women that worked their started to wring her hands and audibly express her pain. It was very obvious to me. God prompted me to pray for her. I did not listen because I was fearful. Was I afraid for my life? No. What was I afraid of? The enemy convinced me that I would appear stupid or she would not receive my attempt to pray or that my prayer would not be answered immediately.

Doesn't God's word say that a prayer done in faith can bring healing?! What did I really have to lose? Not my life but my PRIDE got in the way of what God was instructing me do.

Proverbs 11:2

² When pride comes, then comes shame;
But with the humble is wisdom.

God has been shining His light on those areas in my heart where fear resides and some of them are very deeply rooted as well as appear to be minute in their presence but when those tiny roots have the ability to manipulate or control your actions they need to be eradicated no matter how insignificant they may seem.

I am not living under any condemnation for my choice that day however, I am asking God to weed out all fear. I do not want to be hindered in my ability to serve Him.

~Psalm 56~

¹ Be merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up;
Fighting all day he oppresses me.
² My enemies would hound me all day,
For there are many who fight against me, O Most High.

³ Whenever I am afraid,
I will trust in You.
⁴ In God (I will praise His word),
In God I have put my trust;
I will not fear.
What can flesh do to me?

⁵ All day they twist my words;
All their thoughts are against me for evil.
⁶ They gather together,
They hide, they mark my steps,
When they lie in wait for my life.
⁷ Shall they escape by iniquity?
In anger cast down the peoples, O God!

⁸ You number my wanderings;
Put my tears into Your bottle;
Are they not in Your book?
⁹ When I cry out to You,
Then my enemies will turn back;
This I know, because God is for me.
¹⁰ In God (I will praise His word),
In the LORD (I will praise His word),
¹¹ In God I have put my trust;
I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?

2009-09-14T07:35:00.000-04:00

James 5:15-17 (New King James Version)

¹⁵ And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. ¹⁷ Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.

Grab onto this truth!

I have prayed over my lifetime from this passage in scripture asking God to make me that righteous women who's prayers avail much! I want nothing more than to see the hand of my God in action so that I might express His glory to others!

Well, I am here to say that the key to this is in humbling yourself. If you have never asked God to do that in you I entreat you now to do so. As we are humble and expose our weakness to others He is just to forgive us our sins but then it does not stop there!

Your prayers will avail much! I promise! God's word is truth!

Wow! We serve a Mighty God who wants to bestow this gift on us as we seek His face and humble ourselves just sit back and watch!

Isaiah 44:1-5

2009-09-13T05:44:00.001-04:00

God’s Blessing on Israel

¹ “Yet hear me now, O Jacob My servant,
And Israel whom I have chosen.
² Thus says the LORD who made you
And formed you from the womb, who will help you:

‘ Fear not, O Jacob My servant;
And you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
³ For I will pour water on him who is thirsty,
And floods on the dry ground;
I will pour My Spirit on your descendants,
And My blessing on your offspring;
⁴ They will spring up among the grass
Like willows by the watercourses.’
⁵ One will say, ‘I am the LORD’s’;
Another will call himself by the name of Jacob;
Another will write with his hand, ‘The LORD’s,’
And name himself by the name of Israel.

Isaiah 43:1-7

2009-09-13T05:42:00.002-04:00

The Redeemer of Israel

¹ But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel:

“ Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
² When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.
³ For I am the LORD your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I gave Egypt for your ransom,
Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
⁴ Since you were precious in My sight,
You have been honored,
And I have loved you;
Therefore I will give men for you,
And people for your life.
⁵ Fear not, for I am with you;
I will bring your descendants from the east,
And gather you from the west;
⁶ I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
And to the south, ‘Do not keep them back!’
Bring My sons from afar,
And My daughters from the ends of the earth—
⁷ Everyone who is called by My name,
Whom I have created for My glory;
I have formed him, yes, I have made him.”

Psalm 17 (The Amplified Bible)

2009-09-11T08:10:00.000-04:00

A Prayer of David.

¹HEAR THE right (my righteous cause), O Lord; listen to my shrill, piercing cry! Give ear to my prayer, that comes from unfeigned and guileless lips.

²Let my sentence of vindication come from You! May Your eyes behold the things that are just and upright.

³You have proved my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and find nothing [no evil purpose in me]; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

⁴Concerning the works of men, by the word of Your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent (the paths of the destroyer).

⁵My steps have held closely to Your paths [to the tracks of the One Who has gone on before]; my feet have not slipped.

⁶I have called upon You, O God, for You will hear me; incline Your ear to me and hear my speech.

⁷Show Your marvelous loving-kindness, O You Who save by Your right hand those who trust and take refuge in You from those who rise up against them.

⁸Keep and guard me as the pupil of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings

⁹From the wicked who despoil and oppress me, my deadly adversaries who surround me.

¹⁰They are enclosed in their own prosperity and have shut up their hearts to pity; with their mouths they make exorbitant claims and proudly and arrogantly speak.

¹¹They track us down in each step we take; now they surround us; they set their eyes to cast us to the ground,

¹²Like a lion greedy and eager to tear his prey, and as a young lion lurking in hidden places.

¹³Arise, O Lord! Confront and forestall them, cast them down! Deliver my life from the wicked by Your sword,

¹⁴From men by Your hand, O Lord, from men of this world [these poor moths of the night] whose portion in life is idle and vain. Their bellies are filled with Your hidden treasure [what You have stored up]; their children are satiated, and they leave the rest [of their] wealth to their babes.

¹⁵As for me, I will continue beholding Your face in righteousness (rightness, justice, and right standing with You); I shall be fully satisfied, when I awake [to find myself] beholding Your form [and having sweet communion with You].

2009-09-10T21:44:00.002-04:00

Isaiah 64 (Amplified Bible)

¹OH, THAT You would rend the heavens and that You would come down, that the mountains might quake and flow down at Your presence--

²As when fire kindles the brushwood and the fire causes the waters to boil--to make Your name known to Your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at Your presence!

³When You did terrible things which we did not expect, You came down; the mountains quaked at Your presence.

⁴For from of old no one has heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen a God besides You, Who works and shows Himself active on behalf of him who [earnestly] waits for Him.

2009-09-09T05:00:00.003-04:00

James 4 (Amplified Bible)

¹WHAT LEADS to strife (discord and feuds) and how do conflicts (quarrels and fightings) originate among you? Do they not arise from your sensual desires that are ever warring in your bodily members?

²You are jealous and covet [what others have] and your desires go unfulfilled; [so] you become murderers. [To hate is to murder as far as your hearts are concerned.] You burn with envy and anger and are not able to obtain [the gratification, the contentment, and the happiness that you seek], so you fight and war. You do not have, because you do not ask. [I John 3:15.]

³[Or] you do ask [God for them] and yet fail to receive, because you ask with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motives. Your intention is [when you get what you desire] to spend it in sensual pleasures.

⁴You [are like] unfaithful wives [having illicit love affairs with the world and breaking your marriage vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world's friend is being God's enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God.

⁵Or do you suppose that the Scripture is speaking to no purpose that says, The Spirit Whom He has caused to dwell in us yearns over us and He yearns for the Spirit [to be welcome] with a jealous love?

⁶But He gives us more and more grace (^a]">power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it).^B)">

⁷So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you.

⁸Come close to God and He will come close to you. [Recognize that you are] sinners, get your soiled hands clean; [realize that you have been disloyal] wavering individuals with divided interests, and purify your hearts [of your spiritual adultery].

⁹[As you draw near to God] be deeply penitent and grieve, even weep [over your disloyalty]. Let your laughter be turned to grief and your mirth to dejection and heartfelt shame [for your sins].

¹⁰Humble yourselves [feeling very insignificant] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up and make your lives significant].

¹¹[My] brethren, do not speak evil about or accuse one another. He that maligns a brother or judges his brother is maligning and criticizing the Law and judging the Law. But if you judge the Law, you are not a practicer of the Law but a censor and judge [of it].

¹²One only is the Lawgiver and Judge Who is able to save and to destroy [the One Who has the absolute power of life and death]. [But you] who are you that [you presume to] pass judgment on your neighbor?

¹³Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a city and spend a year there and carry on our business and make money.

¹⁴Yet you do not know [the least thing] about what may happen tomorrow. What is the nature of your life? You are [really] but a wisp of vapor (a puff of smoke, a mist) that is visible for a little while and then disappears [into thin air].

¹⁵You ought instead to say, If the Lord is willing, we shall live and we shall do this or that [thing].

¹⁶But as it is, you boast [falsely] in your presumption and your self-conceit. All such boasting is wrong.

¹⁷So any person who knows what is right to do but does not do it, to him it is sin.

Examine your hearts....... Let the Holy Spirit speak to you and shine the light in those areas of your life, as little as you may think they are, that bear pride........Humble yourselves......

You are Chosen

2009-09-08T07:49:00.000-04:00

1 Peter 2

¹ Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, ² as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

The Chosen Stone and His Chosen People

⁴ Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, ⁵ you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶ Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,

“ Behold, I lay in Zion
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”

⁷ Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,^c]">[c]

“ The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone,”

⁸ and

“ A stone of stumbling
And a rock of offense.”

They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.
⁹ But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; ¹⁰ who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

Psalm 1

2009-09-05T23:18:00.002-04:00

The Way of the Righteous and the End of the Ungodly

¹ Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
² But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
³ He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.

⁴ The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
⁵ Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

⁶ For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

My husband is this man and his sons are like trees planted by the rivers of water that are bringing forth fruit in it's season! I love to watch God transform lives! What a joy ride!

The Savage Five

The Faithfulness of God

Psalm 145:13

Isaiah 25:1

I Peter 2

A Living Stone and a Holy People

Submission to Authority

It is time to rebuild the temple of God, The Body of Christ!

The Command to Rebuild the Temple

Even when the storm is raging I am encouraged and filled with hope!

The Lord Will Save His People

Finishing The Fast

Day 21 of a 21 Day Fast

Return to the Lord

Day 20 of a 21 Day Fast

Day 19 of a 21 Day Fast

God's Everlasting Love Romans 8

Walk in the Way of Love Today! I Corinthians 13

Day 18 of a 21 Day Fast

Gabriel Brings an Answer

Day 17 of a 21 Day fast

Day 16 of a 21 Day Fast

Day 15 of a 21 Day fast

Day 14 of a 21 Day Fast

Day 13 of a 21 Day Fast ~ Testimony!

Day 12 of a 21 Day Fast

Day 11 of a 21 day fast

Day 10 of a 21 day fast

1 Corinthians 9:22-27 (Listen)

22 oTo the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. pI have become all things to all people, that qby all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, rthat I may share with them in its blessings.

Day 9 of a 21 day fast

Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

Day 8 of a 21 day fast

Day 7 of a 21 day fast

Hebrews 12:28

Day 6 of a 21 Day Fast

Day 5 of a 21 day fast

Encouragement from a Fasting Partner

Day 4 of a 21 day fast Humbling yourself before your God

Daniel 10:11-13

Encouragement from Partner in Fasting

Psalm 21

Day 2 of a 21 Day Fast Journal

Reality of OUR Authority!

21 Day Fast - Journal

Galatians 2:20

Psalm 40

Psalm 40

A David Psalm

Behold My Face

Psalm 21

Another Excerpt from Shaping History through Prayer and Fasting

An Exerpt from Shaping History Through Prayer and Fasting by Derek Prince

Forgiveness

The Power of the Gospel

Waiting with a sense of expectancy about what God is going to do!

In your presence Lord we are made righteous...........

Peace be Still and know that I am God!

Praising God today for His awesomeness!!!!!!

Deuteronomy 33:26-30

Continuation from Yesterday

What God is up to........

Psalm 118

Amazement

Be a walking testimony of God's grace

James 4:9-11 (New King James Version)

Do Not Judge a Brother

1 Peter 5:4-6 (New King James Version)

Submit to God, Resist the Devil

5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for

“ God resists the proud,

But gives grace to the humble.”

Another Post via my dear friend!

From my friend!

A word for Shannon and me! Praise God!

Another Post via my dear friend!

A Post from my dear friend......

Psalm 94

God the Refuge of the Righteous

⁵ Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for