Year: 2017

"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that yes might be filled with all the fullness of God" Ephesians 3:27-19

In a world filled with so much hate it becomes even more difficult to truly comprehend the love of Christ, as the ever increasing need of this understanding grows exponentially the problem exists within the heart, the writer tells us in this Ephesians passage, "to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge" . . . The love of Christ is beyond the realm of knowledge, it's not something you can study in a book or learn from the wealth of knowledge that exists in libraries and universities. The love of Christ is a matter of the heart !!!! Until we see Christ as He truly is with our heart, until we spend time in His presence pouring out our heart before Him, seeking to understand His heart. . . Until then we will never understand the breadth, length, depth nor height of Christ's love for us and the world around us; and until that moment, we will not be filled with the fullness of God in our lives.

We look at the world around us in puzzled bewilderment wondering what has happened to create this insane movement of hate and destruction . . . It's a matter of the heart . . . They do not know the love of Christ!!!!!! Until we show them who Christ really us, until they experience that life changing moment in time when He gives them a new heart, hate will continue to grow !!!! They need a new heart . . .

"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statues, and he shall keep my judgements, and do them. Ezekiel 36:26-27

To Know the Love of Christ . . . Starts in the heart !!!!! We have a mission and it starts in our hearts !!!

We live in a world filled with so much, yet there is the continual search for meaning.  So many continually striving to accomplish more, achieve more, acquire more . . . still at the end of the day they find themselves empty. Just like Naomi who said,”I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home again empty” (Ruth 1:21a), we find ourselves in pursuit of so many things only to find them meaningless. The devil goes about trying to fill our lives with so many things, so many diversions that rob us of what is real; yet the only true meaning in life can be found in the one who gives life. “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

To have life more abundantly we need to focus on what we are seeking after  . . .In the stillness of the night when we come to the end of our day and we feel that overwhelming sense of emptiness, the Lord is ever present  . . . longing for us to reach out to him . . . longing for us to seek his face among the chaos of life  . . . “When thou saidst, Seek ye my face: my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord will I seek.“ Psalm 27:8

Aa we we turn to seek him, he has promised that we will find him. “But if from thense thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” Deuteronomy 4;29 He has also promised that he will never forsake us if we seek to find him. “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.” Psalm 9:10

So in the moments when we come to the end of who we are and all the failures of what we had hoped to accomplish, we will find him and the strength that comes from him alone.  “Seek the Lord, and his strength: seek his face evermore.” Psalm 105:4

In reflection, I smile as I am reminded that not only will he be there, not only will he never forsake me, not only will he give me strength . . . .  but when I seek him waiting for him, he will be “good” unto me. “The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. ” Lamentations 3:25 Even though I deserve nothing but his condemnation, he has promised so much to me . . . “Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men.” Psalm 31:19  . . . . and so I will glory in his name, I will rejoice in him as I seek his face . . . “Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord. Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually.” I Chronicles 16: 10-11

Thy face Lord will I seek . . .

When I feel small and when I feel the day ahead is just too big for me to handle. When I feel week . . . Jesus speaks to my heart.

” And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. ” 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10

When I am weak, He is my strength. When the way is unclear He is my clarity. When I’m not sure how to move forward, He is my guide. When I am alone, He is with me. When the way ahead is overwhelming, He is there to give me peace. When I am weak, He is my strength. 

“But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea , and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. “…I Corinthians 1: 27-31

Though I am not mighty, though I am weak, He is mighty . . . He is my strength 🙂

“Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee” I Chronicles 29:11-13

Who am I that I would think of myself as something that I am not? I am nothing within myself and all that I have comes from God. I stand amazed by His presence, the power of His might and the majesty of who He is gives me pause to wonder at all that He has given.  Nothing that I give unto Him comes from within me, it all comes from Him working through me and providing for me that I might give.

“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him, and he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”  Colossians 1; 16-17

In moments that I find myself feeling more than I am, I return to this thought and am reminded that all I am or have is of Him. He has created all things and by Him are all things. Then I am faced with the humbling reality that I am nothing in me, but all in Thee !!

“For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why doest thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” I Corinthians 4:7

Nothing in me, but all in Thee. . . .

“Thou are worthy; O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Revelations 4:11

“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:2-3

When we prepare things for someone’s arrival, we take much thought and put forth much effort to make sure things are just right because we care deeply for that person who is coming. We pay close attention to every detail making it special just for them. Jesus is preparing a special place for us in heaven because he deeply loves us. 

He loved us enough to die on a cross to pay for our sins, He arose from the grave and now He is in Heaven preparing for us to join Him. In the beginning of time God prepared a special place for man to live and grow. 

“And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” Genesis 1:31

The world in which we live was beautifully prepared with every thought to detail, it’s beauty is completely breathtaking. But one day we will go to the place that is being prepared for us in glory and nothing we have ever know will be compareable to its magnificent beauty. 

“But as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” I Corinthians 2:9

As we prepare for Easter Sunday, let’s be reminded of the preparations that have been made on Calvary and the preparations that continue still to be taking place in Heaven for our arrival one day. Let’s take the time to contemplate all that this truly means . . . Let’s spend time preparing our hearts to meet with God this Easter Sunday !!!!

“But now they desire a better country, that is heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He hath prepared for them a city. ” Hebrews 11:16

How Beautiful Heaven must be . . . 

In the quiet of the morning,
In the still of the day,
I come before your Presence
Lift my eyes to you and pray

I seldom know the words to say,
Or how to speak Your name
I feel Your presence ever near me
And I’m never quite the same.

Your Goodness and Your Mercy
Your Love and Your Grace
The wonder of it all
As I lift up to You my face

In praise I come before You
To honor Your great name
For ever there before me
The wonder that You came.

For in Mercy You looked down
As in Love You reached out to me
While in Grace You covered me
As in Goodness you surround me.

For in the quiet of each morning
And in the still of every day
I find you ever ready
To guide me as I pray.

Amid the overflowing piles of laundry, the ever constant dirty dishes in the sink, and the overwhelming demands of life in general we often lose sight of the joy that we possess in Christ. We allow our focus to zoom in on all that is before us, losing sight of what lies within us.

“These things have I spoken unto you that my joy might remain in you and that your joy might be full.” John 15:11

Looking back at the words prior to this passage we see that Christ gives us the “directions” whereby we can live a “life full of joy“.

1.)  We are to abide in Christ and to bear fruit through Him, not of ourselves because without Him we can do nothing. (John 15: 5)

2.) We are to remain in His word, coming before Him with our prayers which He has promised to answer. (John 15:6-7)

3.) Everything that we do should be done to glorify the Father, bearing fruit for Him. (John 15:8)

4.) We are to remain in Christ’s love, keeping His commandments which command us to love God with all our hearts, minds and soul. (John 15:9-10)

5.) We are to love others, seeking to bring them to an understanding of the love of God through salvation. (John 15:10)

“Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.” Isaiah 12:3

We have a constant supply of joy available, living water for the renewal of the soul. In God we can find the path of life and experience the joy that He has available for us.

” Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11

Christ sits at the right hand of God, every ready to make intercession for us with the Father. Regardless of what situation or set of circumstances that we might be facing we can find joy in coming before our Heavenly Father rejoicing in Him.

“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” Habakkuk 3:18

“But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy because though defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.” Psalm 5;11

No matter what we might face, or who might stand against us, we can trust in our Father and experience fullness of joy in Him.

“And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in His salvation.” Psalm 35:9

Amid the chaos that we face daily, we can focus our  hearts and minds on Christ through time spent in His word; holding to the promises that have been given to us that we might have “a life full of joy” in Him.

Every where we turn they are there standing right in front of us needing so much more than we take the time to give. At the grocery store we rush about without a second glance, pumping gas we neglect to see the person standing next in line, we bustle here and we bustle there as moments tick by and souls slip off into eternity right before our eyes . . . and yet we do not see.

“They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it” Job 4:20

Do we see them? Right before our eyes a world is perishing, slipping off into an eternity without so much as a glance we make. Our hearts are full with this and that without regard for the soul with eyes staring back at us longing for just one word, one word of acknowledgment . . . one word of hope that points them to the one who heals all and longs for us to see as he sees, a world that needs a Savior. 

“Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” John 4:35

Do we see them? Do we hear their hearts cry? Oh that we might see them. Please Father give me eyes that see !!!!

“They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.” Matthew 20:33

Do we see them starring back at us with eyes in desperation . . . longing for a glance . . . a simple word of hope . . . a message of a Savior who died to set them free!!

Throughout my childhood, I valued the opinion of my father  . . .  I strove to make him happy and to see him smile. I sought out opportunities to capture a few moments of time in which I could hold his complete attention and share a moment that would belong to only the two of us. I treasured those moments, but as much as I sought out these opportunities, I spent an even greater amount of time trying to become that which would make my mama proud. Even at an early age I sensed within my mama a strength that I knew existed, but one that I did not understand. Her inner strength was something that I sensed, something that early on I knew I wanted to achieve.

“Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.” Proverbs 31: 25

“Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. ” Proverbs 31: 28

As a child I knew that my mother although inwardly strong, outwardly had a weakness within her body that inhibited her from doing many of the things that she would have like to have been able to do. I sensed her frustration and watched her struggles, but I never saw her give up. She simply would not give in, even when it would have certainly been much easier for her to just let life progress as it seemed determined to do. Even though she did not understand the weakness that grew within her body, she fought it. She did not accept “no” and did not allow “I can’t” to take up residence in her vocabulary. I remember watching her fall, only to see her pull herself back up and try again. I internalized all of this and found the desire within me to be as strong as my mother one day. It would take years of watching her as she dealt with a life of difficulties that would have caused so many others to give up the fight, to come to understand the strength she possessed as a characteristic I knew I wanted to possess. In her outward weakness I saw the true depth of the inner strength she possessed and it become something that I wanted more than anything else. I wanted to be strong, I wanted to possess what I saw inside of my mother. This became a pursuit of so much more than just that of inner strength.

“That he would grant, you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.” Ephesians 3:16

It wasn’t until later in life that we would discover that my mother had the disease known as MS, a diagnosis that would provide so many answers and explanations for all that she had faced for so many years. It spoke of the great inner strength and determination that she had within her that had enabled her to fight as long and as hard as she had throughout my whole lifetime. Her fight was a testimony to the source of her inner strength. The inner strength that she had lived as a living testimony that resulted in one of the greatest lessons I ever learned from my mother. The lesson of the true source of our strength.

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” II Corinthians 12:9-10

Today as I look back over my life and the life of my mother, I see her true price so much higher than that of the price of rubies. I see that within my life I was able to find the strength to live amidst circumstances that might otherwise have caused me to falter along the way. I see that by watching the true meaning of inner strength and the source of that strength in the life of my mother I was given the ability to develop inner strength that enable me to become who I am today, “no” and “I can’t” weren’t part of my vocabulary. In moments when I found my life crumbling around my feet I knew where to go for the source of true inner strength to pick myself back up and put the pieces of my life back together. Because of the strength I saw in the life of my mother I have been able to achieve a life far greater than the price of rubies. Happy Birthday Mama . . .  Please know that your price is far above rubies, and because of your life and the strength that I have watched in you through your life . . . . I came to possess an inner strength through the source of all strength and I have a life with a price far above rubies !!  I love you so. . . upon this Earth, you are my hero !!!

“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. she girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.” Proverbs 31: 10-31

In reflection of the past year and contemplation of the new year, I asked myself the question . . . “What will be my driving focus in 2017? ” What would I change about 2016 if I was able to erase and redo? As I look back and gaze forward, I find that my answer would be that I might “Be Still” and “Let God Move Forward”. In all of my reflection backward I see a clear pattern of my successes and failures in 2016. All of my successes can be found to have started with quiet, still moments of time listening to God and waiting for Him to move; while all of my failures stem from moments of rash decision in which I was the driving force behind the resulting wreckage that occurred.

“For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept; then had I been at rest.” Job 3:13

“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

In 2017, I want to sit still and see what God will do. I want to pause and learn what He has to say to me, so that He might be able to work through me. I want to wait for Him to move, watching as He orchestrates the notes that will set to music His perfect plan in my life.

“Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.” Ruth 3:18

In 2017, God has a plan for me . . . He has all of the pieces in place, He knows all of the connections that need to be made, He has complete control of every situation that I will face. It is in His plan to bring about His perfect will in and through my life, if only I am still.

“Ye shall not need to fight in this battle; set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you.” II Chronicles 20:17

“For I know the thoughts that I have toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6

In 2017, I want to “sit still while God moves forward”.  I want to remove my thoughts from the equation and see His thoughts as they unfold revealing that which pleases Him in and through my life.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55: 8-11

In 2017, I want to spend more time sitting still . . . waiting quietly for God to work through me. I want to see His plans as they unfold, having complete confidence that in Him and by Him all things can and will be accomplished just as He has purposed . . .  Sitting Still While Moving Forward.

“The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand.” Isaiah 14:24

“Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth: even in him.” Ephesians 1: 9-10