“WE OUGHT TO OBEY GOD RATHER THAN Men/Women…” Acts 5
“The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof the world and them that dwell therein, He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the floods…” Psalm 24
“Stand fast in the liberty where CHRIST has set you FREE and be not entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Galatians 4
Pray daily & Seek God above all!!!
Abba Heavenly Holy Father,
We acknowledge you today and everyday as the KING of Kings & the LORD of Lords. You are the ALPHA & the OMEGA the beginning & the end, the first & the last. Lord truly you are; “THE GREAT I AM!” Above You there is no other! Lord God, You are the Father of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob. You are the Father of us. Thank You Father for being in the midst of us and for your omnipresence. Thank you for keeping us on the path of righteousness for your namesake.
We know without doubt that CHRIST JESUS is the Head of Your Church for this we thank you. Thank You for Your precious Holy Spirit Your Comforter. Thank you Father for your everlasting love. Lord we know that you are preparing your Church for the return of our Lord & SAVIOR CHRIST JESUS. Father God, our faith, hope & trust is forever in You. Therefore, we pray and beseech you in Jesus Name; Lord may Your Word continue to boldly go forth all throughout the world…
GOD IS MORE THAN ABLE!
As the world grows colder to the truth of God’s Word know it is on a “slippery slope.” Many of the ways of the world have also nested themselves in the midst of many places of worship… Allow God His place within your life. He will meet you right where you are and take you where you need to be as you learn to trust HIM… This is why it is so very important for you to know God’s Word for yourself. Therefore, spend time with God in His Word. He can bring peace to your life… Please be aware, be sober, be alert and see what is happening all around us. Know we are living in a spiritual war zone.
There is always hope in the Lord. God says: “REPENT!!!
“HEAVEN IS GOD’S THRONE & The Earth Is HIS Footstool!”
Pray wherever & whenever you are out and about in the world, at work or at home. And yes also during worship turn your mind towards the Lord. Whenever and wherever you worship know this; “GOD IS A SPIRIT AND THEY THAT WORSHIP HIM MUST WORSHIP HIM IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH!” John 4 Commit daily to worship the Lord in Spirit & in Truth. Always seek the will & way of the Lord above all. Above all follow JESUS!
“BE GOD’S CHURCH EVERYDAY & EVERYWHERE!”
“PRAY WITHOUT CEASING…” I Thessalonians 5 Give thanks to God throughout your day. And take praise breaks all throughout your day. Recharge your soul and enjoy having your own personal worship. It can be refreshing. Invite the presence of the Lord all around you as well as in your home. Daily embrace God’s Word. For He will place it within your heart. Stay adorned daily in the spiritual armor. See Ephesians 6
“DRAW NIGH TO GOD AND HE WILL DRAW NIGH TO YOU.” Matthew 15
GOD CAN WHEN NO ONE ELSE CAN
God is sovereign He is the Giver and sustainer of life. Everything that you will ever need you can discover in Him. In the Lord you can become whole. An ongoing growing relationship with Christ Jesus can and will tremendously enrich your life in every way. Christianity is a daily lifestyle. Therefore, EVERYDAY; “LIVE OUT LOUD THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST JESUS!” Be led by His Holy Spirit. Seek to live a responsible well balanced life. Embrace truth! Know God and His Word for yourself. For we serve an omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God! We can always and forever trust God and His Word. You can call upon the Lord 24/7. Oh what an awesome wonderful Savior!
Almighty God is able to lift you and anyone else from anxiety, anger, depression, doubt, fear, hate, oppression, prejudiceness, poverty and anything else that is not of Him. “GOD IS LOVE!” Know that life is a precious GIFT from GOD. HE LOVES You and has a plan for your life. It is your choice to seek Him above all else to discover everything that you will ever need for life, daily living and eternal life… Embrace God and His Word daily.
If you really want to be FREE know this;
” …If ye continue in My Word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free! ” John 8
Then;
“Seek ye first the Kingdom of GOD and HIS righteousness and everything else will be added unto you…” Matthew 6
Know that You are not alone for God is Omnipresent!
How are you when you are alone? Know that you are never really alone because everywhere you are God is present. God’s omnipresence is wonderful! Spending time alone with God can be refreshing. This is a time to build spiritual intimacy and grow in His Word. A time to pray and release your burdens to Him. But most of all a time to Thank Him for being GOD! This also is a great time to get your JOY back!
If you are lonely you need to connect more with the Lord. God really is everywhere you are. He can fill the void in your life. He has placed in each of us a space only He can fill. You can reach out to the Lord wherever you are. Momentarily lay aside whatever is distracting you. Become cognizant of what is happening around you as you then invite the presence of the Lord all around you. Take this time to pray and seek His direction.
“Praying without ceasing” is a state of mind. You do not even have to utter a word. You simply discipline yourself to shift your focus upon the omniscient God. This is also what keeps you connected to Him as well. God is the Creator and Sustainer of life.
There needs to be a balance in your life
The point here is that there needs to be a balance in your life. For all this to happen you must begin to relate to the Lord differently. GOD is a SPIRIT! As you develop an intimate relationship with the Lord He reveals Himself to You more and more.
All the books in the world cannot totally explain GOD and HIS infinite wisdom and knowledge. The Word of God gives us a factual spiritual account of who He is. God has given us His Holy Spirit who can and will open our spiritual understanding. He will bring His Word to our minds as we study and embrace it within our hearts. We can continuously grow in His grace. KEEP IN MIND GOD KNOWS ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING! In the Lord you really can discover everything that you will ever need for life, daily living and eternal life.
Worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth!
There is nothing I enjoy more than a marvelous Spirit filled Worship service. God should always be the main attraction in and during worship. Some come to be entertained, socialize and need an escape? Some because they need a quick fix? Some often simply come out of habit? Some will come because they do not know God and are searching? Some sincerely come because they want to worship and praise the Lord. They know that God really is everywhere that they are.
It is important to always be aware of what is going on around you regardless of where you worship. Too much has entered into worship from the world. Worship is no longer sacred to many. GOD KNOWS why we all do what we do as well as why we worship Him. Think about it for a moment. Is the objective of worship to make everyone feel good? Or, Is it to make them want to give? God is continually revealing Himself to us. As we diligently worship Him we can better understand and realize that life and living really is all about God.
I Thank & Praise God for His Living Word Christ Jesus and His Holy Spirit! Truly God is the Most High God! God deserves the Preeminence! He is due our sincere worship and praise. God will provide whatever it is we need in order to fulfil His purpose within our lives. Have Faith in God we can forever trust him. To please the Lord we must always worship GOD in SPIRIT and in TRUTH!
Life is full of many experiences
Life brings about a plethora of experiences. But through them all the Lord is present. Yes, at some time we all are going to experience a degree of anxiety, conflict, sickness, disappointment, grief or turmoil at some point in our lifetime. A little anxiety is actually healthy because it helps you to put yourself in check. As followers of Christ Jesus God has told us that we are going to have tribulations while in this world, but through Christ Jesus we can always emerge victoriously! Not because of who we are, but because of who’s we are.
Get to know God intimately
You should want to daily develop a closer walk with the Lord. It is important to get to know God intimately especially since you say you want to spend eternity with Him in Heaven. God is able to keep us in any situation. Knowing this in advance will help you to prepare for what’s ahead. Everyday on this side of Heaven is a precious GIFT from the Lord.
It is important to acquire some preventative coping skills, so you can become better prepared as you go through any turmoil and not become stagnated. See this as a time to allow the Lord to strengthen you. There is much spiritual warfare to undermine the importance of growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. To oppress, depress and distract you from daily drawing closer to the Lord. Reach out to the Lord. God has promised to be with us always! This is a promise you can believe and stand upon. God is willing and able to help us in every situation.
Know God and His Word for Yourself
Once the enemy knows and realizes that you “GET IT” that you are aware of his many entrapments, he will do all he can to harness and undermine your good intentions and influence and solicit others to try and help disrupt your life. You become a treat as well as a target. He will use those who are not believers who are weak to try and pull you down. He will also use believers who have been misinformed. Pray for Discernment!
Remember he loves darkness. Therefore he slips around behind you in the dark lurking to undermine your sincere efforts to shed LIGHT to a world that is ignorant of his many devices. But get this; he can not do anymore than the Lord allows. “Resist the devil and he will flee…” Fear not keep your focus upon the Lord and remember He can keep you in perfect peace. It is important to know God and His Word for yourself.
Put yourself in check and daily adorn yourself with God’s Spiritual Armor.
There is VICTORY in CHRIST JESUS!
CHRIST JESUS has the VICTORY over life, living, death and the grave! He did not die for us to live unhappy lives. Wherever you are and whatever you have been through the Lord knows. Our Lord wants us to have abundant lives in every way. He wants to daily multiply and manifest the Fruit of HIS SPIRIT within us who believe. We are to “Walk by Faith!” His Word is the necessary spiritual food to help us and His Joy is available to strengthen us. God wants to “supply all of our needs according to HIS riches in CHRIST JESUS!” Philippians 4
Always be willing to receive correction from the Word of God. Always be willing to readily repent whenever necessary.
There is always “HOPE” in the Lord! For our Lord is available 24/7 wherever you may be. God’s joy is not contingent upon the approval of others or on our situation. God is omnipotent therefore He is more than able. It is written: “Draw nigh to GOD and HE will draw nigh to you!” James 4 We can always and forever depend upon God and His Word. “And you shall know the TRUTH and the TRUTH shall set you FREE!” John 8 Always remember; GOD IS THE “SPIRIT OF TRUTH!”
You can experience GOD’S JOY!
Joy runs deep when you know that God is your source of strength. Joy is a by product of focusing on God which will or can give you a wonderful peaceful sense of well-being. When you spend time daily in prayer, praising and studying God’s Word I guarantee you, you will experience great joy! It will give you a different perspective in your time of need.
You can overcome any adversity
The Apostle Paul endured many adversities. Yet he chose to use those adversities to develop a deeper relationship with the Lord. Paul did not seek to be elevated by a title although he had every right to pull rank on the religious hierarchy. God’s grace was fully sufficient for Paul. Paul grasped something that few people ever really understand or attain. Paul delighted and found joy in the Lord regardless of what was going on about him. From an outward appearance this was not always apparent to his onlookers. Paul and Silas together sang and prayed so fervently that even the doors to prison were opened for them. This is one of the many examples of the difference God makes when we invite HIM into our lives.
We serve an Omnipresent Almighty GOD!
God’s presence and comfort is near and dear. God is never far from any of us. Believing, knowing and actually applying God’s Word will transform your mind to think spiritually when faced with grief or any trial or situation that comes into your life. Now this does not mean being in denial; quite the contrary. Knowing the Truth is so very powerful. It increases your discernment!
Man looks on the outside. God looks at the heart. According to God’s Word spiritual things can not be understood by the natural or carnal man. There are those who think so carnally you have to proceed with caution. There is a reason why the Word says; “lay your hands on no man suddenly…” There is a spiritual transference when laying on hands. Be careful who you let lay hands on you. Anger begats anger & Peace begats peace. The Laying on of hands is NOT for show. The power of suggestion is real and some will respond simply because they are easily led.
It is so very important to KNOW GOD & HIS WORD for yourself! Seeking the Truth brings Light into our lives. Quickly release the things that are not true. This also allows less room for any darkness to penetrate the Spiritual Armor. Allow God’s Light to shine in your heart, mind and soul in the midst of grief. Know that the The Kingdom of God resides within the committed believer. Luke 17 Therefore regularly take some time to; “Be still and know!” Let God direct and comfort you. His Holy Spirit is the Awesome Comforter. God’s Word will be a Light unto your path in every situation. Through Christ Jesus we have been blessed with the opportunity to overcome life as we live to please God.
It is written;
God’s Word says; “Now this I say, brethren that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has out on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory…” Revelation 15: 50-55.
CHRIST JESUS conquered life, sin, death and the grave!
Yes we all will experience grief to some extent within our lifetime. But remember when a believer dies he/she goes to Heaven. As a believer although it is an enemy, death is not to be feared. Nor is it something anyone should choose as an option. Our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus conquered life, sin, death, and the grave for us. He sacrificed His life and atoned for the sins of the world. We are to reach to HIM! We have been given the gift of “Eternal Life.” We who truly believe and have accepted Jesus into our hearts have been blessed. We will transition this earth to live with God in Heaven throughout eternity. Romans 8 emphatically teaches us, there is absolutely nothing that can separate us from the love of God, not even death. God is awesome!
We will never fully understand many things. There are daily many world wide tragedies about us. God said that before the end of time many will be deceived and believe a lie. That many would take pleasure in unrighteousness.
The Perilous Days are upon us
In these “Latter Days” the Scriptures are being fulfilled. Many all throughout the world are grieving the loss of love ones daily. Due to the Coronavirus and other pestilences and plagues, death, diseases, suicide, violence, crime, terrorist attacks, war, hurricanes, floods, fierce monsoon rains and furious tsunamis. Millions have died.
Just imagine what the original flood was like. God is speaking. WE all must ge better at listening. Keep in mind we know through God’s Word that the end of time as we know it will not be via water. It will be by fire!
God sets the rainbow in the sky as a reminder of His promise. He reminds us by this that He will not destroy the world again with a flood. We also know that God is fully aware of everything that ever happens everywhere in the world. We serve a miracle working God! He is more than able. God has promised that He would always be with us.
Knowing and focusing on God during your grief or any other difficult situation you may be going through will result favorably. It may not always be easy for you. But, by exercising self-control and reaching out to God it is possible. This does not mean you will not be hurt, saddened, cry or feel abandoned. It is how you feel that let’s you know you are alive. You may even choose to walk away from God. But please know: “God will never forsake us!” So come what may; hold on to Him.
Wherever we are we can always reach out to God
God already knows our hearts. He is well acquainted with grief. Therefore, daily begin to partake in His spiritual fruit. The fruit of God’s Spirit are accessible. Self control will help you not to be controlled by your thinking, despair, others or feelings. God’s Word tells us we can even be angry yet not sin. We must yearn to yield to God’s way of reacting and responding. One never knows what a day may bring. But we do know that GOD is OMNIPRESENT! We can always and forever reach out to HIM anywhere 24/7! It is in HIM lone can we always & forever find true “Security & Significance!”
Every Word of God is true. One must only learn how to use and properly implement it and apply it wisely. It is our spiritual sword that is sharper than a two edged sowrd. It cuts both ways. Wisdom comes from God.
I thank & Praise the Lord that we have the victory even in death. How is that? Remember; Christ Jesus has overcome death and the grave. He atoned for the sins of the world upon the cross. He was crucified, died and was buried. Then He miraculously rose with all power!
Begin thinking and looking at life from a spiritual perspective. God’s children are the “apple of His eye.” God loved us so much that He allowed His only begotten Son to die for us. God is so much more than our little finite minds can imagine. God wants to walk with you through this valley of the shadow of death. He always wants us to be victorious when we are walking in TRUTH!
We serve an Omniscient Almighty GOD
Nothing ever happens in any of our lives and in the world that gets by God. God our Father and Creator ultimately always has everything under His control! Carefully read the biblical history of Job. This is why it is so very important to accept “Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior!” Jesus is the only door to heaven. God’s Word tells us that there is no other name by which you can be saved.
“It is written;
“As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has on those who fear him; for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust.
As for a man/woman his/her days are like grass, he/she flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.
But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness with their children’ s children- with those who keeps His Covenant. and remember to obey His precepts. The Lord has established His throne in Heaven, and His Kingdom rules over all…” PSALM 103 NIV
However, you must accept Jesus into your heart if you plan to spend eternity with God. He is the only Door to God and there is no other way to heaven. Living out loud His Word daily will give you the strength to go through this valley of the shadow of death. We can be or become confident in God’s Word! You can learn to “Walk by Faith!” God has showed us what is good and what He requires of us. And that it is the whole duty of man/woman to; “Do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.” Micah 6
Grief is natural
Life here on earth is just a mere passage way to our soul’s eternal resting place. Grief is natural. You have a right to be sad. You have a right to cry and grieve. But you do not have to live here. You can find comfort in the Lord. The Valley of the Shadow of death is real. But allow the Lord to take you through your grief not stay there forever. Stay in touch with all your feelings. But, don’t let them rob you from embracing and reminiscing upon the precious memories you shared with your love one. Allow room for joy and peace. Let this motivate you to live life to its fullest in an even better way.
Time is precious! Therefore moving forward it is important not to take it for granted. Yes initially there is a period of heaviness that might dwell with you. But daily learn to give your heavy Lord over to the Lord. Yes, you may still sometimes or annually experience this grief as well. Grief is experienced differently by each individual. At times it comes in waves. It can creep up on you. It happens randomly. But allow the precious moments in as well.
Invite the presence of the Lord all around you
When your heart is heavy freely cry and release your emotions. Get you a soft comfy pillow and turn on some good Gospel Music and let it rip. Let the tears go. But, also try singing, praying, praising and or giving thanks to God. Try just being still. Don’t run! Invite the presence of the Lord around you. Now take some time and meditate upon the Word.
Now you are ready to freely dwell upon the great moments and happy times you have shared with your love one. People do not belong to us they are not ours to keep. When the appointed time comes to transition this life we must release them back to the Lord. Remember how God has blessed you. Be Patient. Know with the Lord there will always be more time with them who believe in Him on the other side of Heaven. There will be a ” Sweet Heavenly Reunion.” They are in fact; ” absent from the body, but present with the Lord.” But know; This is only true if they accepted Christ Jesus into their hearts as their Lord and Savior.
If your love one did not believe grieve and intercede for their soul perhaps in those lasts moments they actually accepted Christ Jesus into their heart. You never know how your life impacted their life. This will also help you to stay focus on Him instead of your grief or situation at hand as you place them in the Lord’s hand. Your security and significance must rely upon God who is the amazing incredible “Solid Rock Foundation!” For He is greater than anything that will ever happen within our lives.
We never know what each day may bring. We are living in perilous times and some of everything is happening and will happen. Living for God is not just a Sunday thing. It is a daily lifestyle. We the people are His Church. Our body is the Temple where HIS HOLY SPIRIT resides. We are supposed to live each day as though we are really expecting our Lord to return. Daily welcome His infilling presence within you and all around you!
Salvation is truly God’s wonderful plan for us. God extends salvation to all that sincerely accept Jesus Christ into their hearts as Savior and Lord. One must truly believe, for Jesus Christ is the “Door ” to heaven. “JESUS saith unto him, I am the WAY the TRUTH ad the LIFE: no man cometh unto the FATHER; but by ME.” John 14 This is key to unlocking your faith & trust in the Lord. For this secures our heavenly residence with the Lord. He can give us hope in the midst of grief, death, persecution and longsuffering. Truly deliverance from all evil is possible. YES LORD! THANK YOU FATHER GOD FOR YOUR PRECIOUS HOLY SPIRIT!
“But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, but beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you to salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ…” Thessalonians 2: 13-14.
GOD WILL GET YOU THROUGH THIS!
This is why His Word says in everything give thanks. God di not say that life would always be easy. Regardless how things look; there is always & forever HOPE in the LORD! GOD is strong, sovereign and mighty. Above HIM there is no other. GOD CAN bring you through this. Lean on the Lord and keep believing and trusting in Him. Let Him lead you upon the Path of Righteousness for His Name sake. For He is more than able. Again do invite the presence of the Lord all around you. Spend time with the Lord in His Word. FOR ONLY GOD CAN GIVE YOU HIS PEACE THAT SURPASSES THE UNDERSTANDING of Man/Woman.
GOD IS HOLY! HE IS A GREAT GOD. “PRAY WITHOUT CEASING” all throughout your day. This helps you learn how to keep your focus upon GOD. CALL UPON JESUS & YES EVERYDAY; PRAISE HIM & BLESS HIS HOLY NAME!
When you receive something that was mailed or sent to you; you “get it.”
Many week after week, month after month and yes sometimes year after years seek deliverance from a situation or… Break the cycle! God wants you to be free. But not to be free to continue in sin. Sin separates you from God. Don’t let what has happened keep you apart from God. Readily repent of any unconfessed sin and accept God’s forgiveness. What happened was beyond your control… Whoever or what ever hurt you or whoever you hurt cannot be undone. But you can move forward starting today! Allow time to release you from the trauma of the incident or situation by embracing the fact that God loves you and wants you to walk in the Path of Righteousness. Embrace the TRUTH of HIS WORD and the cleansing POWER of HIS WORD!
“All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of GOD.” We ALL forever need Jesus as Lord and Savior!
Therefore when you understand the situation that has been bogging you down clearly, you also “get it!” You can then move forward and take control rather than let it take control of you. You must come out of denial and acknowledge that it occurred. Now you have decided to move forward but you will not allow it to consume your attention anymore. You will let your mind reflect on the cleansing Power of the WORD and on the HOLY SPIRIT’S POWER to transport you to move to higher ground. Spiritual cleansing is welcomed and it is here you build new memories that transcend what has been. You make way for more of GOD’S LOVE! Whenever the unpleasant memory or pain of it resurfaces you pray & “FOCUS” your attention elsewhere. You do not go into denial but embrace The Joy that comes from having the Lord in your life and walking in your growing “self-control.”
Many seek worldly ways and means to deal with resentment rather than first consult with the Lord. God’s Way is always superior!
What is so amazing about the Lord is you do not have to experience what others have experienced to have compassion or understanding. We all have experienced a degree of hurt, pain, disappointment, rejection… Understanding comes from God. You do have to rely upon His Holy Spirit in order to be an instrument to facilitate bringing forth healing.
The Lord wants to Lighten your load. If you do not deal with the problem it will or can eventually lead you to physical and mental issues if not dealt with. If this is the case you should seek proper medical attention. If you continue to carry the heavy burden it is an indication that you have not released it to the Lord. Each time it surfaces give it less time. If necessary time how long you will ponder upon it. Then switch to something else. Know that you have actually taken control of it by releasing it to the Lord and now you are all the wiser because of the experience. You know where you do not want to go; and its not backward!
You can choose to become whole! Depression wants to consume your today and tomorrow and rob you of JOY! Don’t blame others when you allow it to steal today’s JOY. See it for what it is. Sometimes you may have to grieve momentarily to validate your feelings. As you take control, you will less and less allow your emotions to get the best of you. It is important to remember that depression surfaces when you allow your unresolved anger to turn inward. Resentment means to feel again. Instead of letting go you hold on to the hurt and pain which fuels unhealthy emotions and holds you captive. Understanding what is gong on helps you to “Break Free!”
You no longer will allow the resentment to hinder you from moving forward to becoming a “better you!” You refuse to get or stay stuck! Time is precious and you do not want to spend too much of it in regrets. Tomorrow is not promised so waste less todays. You can now see the experience as having gained some deeper insight because of that particular “Life Lesson.” You do not always need to explain why, because your understanding has matured and your healthy self-esteem has begun to flourish since you take responsibility for your own emotional responses. Nor do you live in denial. You do not let unpleasant what has been overtake what you have begun to build anew.
You are moving towards and choosing to live to please God and your confidence in Him is now growing as well. Always remember everywhere you are God is! Make it a goal to let no one come between you and the Lord. Invite the Lord into whatever is going on in you are around you. Learn for yourself what Ephesians 6 says about spiritual warfare. Hold it dear to your heart not just to quote but to embrace its POWER! Get your Spiritual Armor on and keep it on. Remember HIS WORD is necessary Spiritual Food for your soul!
Yes, you can, Believe & say; “I CAN DO ALL things through CHRIST who strengthens me!” Philippians 4
Yes, You can move forward. Some unconsciously choose to stay “stuck.” Some simply don’t care either way they have grown so accustomed to abuse and anxiety. Stop letting fear control you. It has become and unhealthy “insecurity blanket!” Rather than let the resentment go they may elect to anesthetize themselves with drugs, alcohol, smoking, promiscuity, gossip, over or under eating or some other reckless behavior or distraction. This unhealthy behavior will only lead to further disappointment and possibly more addictions rather than freedom. Abusive outbursts and out of control undisciplined behavior and resentment is the unhealthy response rather than deal with the inner pain. You can break the cycle. But it takes work & dedication!
Know that GOD wants you to be Happy. He wants you to experience the Fruit of His Spirit. See Galatians 5. Jesus overcame sin in the flesh for us! We are not to make anyone else responsible for our happiness. Being happy is each individual’s own personal responsibility. As a believer God’s Holy Spirit is always there to help us at all times. Sin is what separates us from God! We must humbly submit and be willing to readily repent of any sin. Then we can keep moving forward to wholeness! THANK GOD for your DELIVERANCE!
The Word of God teaches us that “We are more than conquerors” When we conquer something we master it! We become better because of it, rather than letting it overtake us. The Word is “Alive & Powerful!” It is a mighty spiritual weapon that cuts and yields healing! It is effective when we believe it, embrace the intended principles and actually implement it within our daily lives. As we trust God the fear of whatever it is, diminishes and there goes the resentment. You can at times even smile at well learned life lesson. We are then able to begin to step out on Faith and trust God to lead us through whatever it may be differently.
How will I know that I have given up the resentment?
You will realize that you have been delivered from the resentment once you do not let it unfavorably trigger your emotions.
You no longer hold unto it like a useless security blanket that is full of holes.
You now elect to respond or not respond by instead embracing self-control.
You do not let the situation or incident dictate your feelings.
You do not allow it to trigger your emotions by remote.
You do not allow your pride to take the forefront and govern your actions. Nor do you reach for something outside of you to numb and dull your senses.
You are now committed to moving forward. Once you have genuinely let the resentment go you accept that you have constructively confronted the issue(s) head on. It is no longer acceptable to once again allow yourself to be pulled into despair.
One must commit to take the higher road and focus upon the Lord by; Shaking yourself loose & put yourself in check!
God has no grandchildren. He is the ultimate Father that always knows what is best for us. He is the Most High God. So at whatever age you may be, know that you will always need to be willing to humble yourself and submit to His Will & His Way! We submit as an obedient child does to an honorable parent but we are not to be childish. We daily strive to growing onward towards spiritual maturity. Healthy boundaries are important. You should begin reprogramming your mind to reach to God first. We must be willing to eat more “humble pie” as we embrace humility which is a part of the Fruit of His Spirit.
In these “Latter Days” many of the ways of the world have nested itself among GOD’S CHURCH. Instead of the CHURCH setting the examples they embrace and pattern a lot of their activities after the world. They allow a secular influence to take center stage. Then justify whatever they do because it is done in the Name of God. LORD HELP US! Fewer and fewer really take personal time in the WORD of GOD. The Sacredness of God is often left in the shadows. It is so very important to KNOW GOD’S WORD for yourself.
We can better build stronger benevolent character within ourselves as we submit to God’s way and relinquish our own way. This is a lifelong process. God calls us to separate ourselves from this world. It is evil and sinful to think that we know better than God. Sin is what separates us from God. There is no true inner peace apart from God. We are totally transparent to God. He knows us all from the inside out. The goal is to seek to please the Lord every day. NOT to follow the ways of this world. When You do I assure you that you will be a lot happier!
“HAVE FAITH IN GOD!” For without FAITH it is IMPOSSIBLE to please GOD!
Now that I am over fifty I can really look at things through my Mother’s eyes. My compassion has grown. My Faith & Trust in The Lord is immense and surely He has certainly Blessed me in a plethora of ways. It is such a gorgeous day. I know Mom would have loved this brilliant sunshine and stunning blue skies. Today we took her some beautiful flowers to place on her grave site. My Mom always loved fresh flowers, especially roses. She will always be alive in my heart. There are times that I miss her dearly; but I have peace knowing that she is resting and happily present with the Lord. I can look back and be thankful of the times I spent with her.
In her later years my Mom gradually began to say what I now call a “Slow Goodbye…”
My Mother was a very strong willed Christian woman. I was her only daughter among my many brothers. I will always remember how she reminded me that she prayed that the Lord would give her a daughter. I am beyond thankful to say that I have always felt loved! It was actually just abreast a few months of her forth decade in life that I was born.
I believe that by this time she had a pretty good handle on being a parent since I was her ninth child and as I said before her first and only daughter.
Love expressed by action
My handsome Father worked diligently many hours away from home providing for our family. First in furniture sales, then for the San Francisco Municipal Railways as a Street Car Driver then Night Supervisor. Then he became one of the first bi-racial men of color to manage, operate and run, a Richfield Atlantic Service Station. He was organized, skillful, talented, neat and liked everything in its place.
He was raised by a Methodist Woman Minister/ Rev. Lady of God. My father was always kind to me. One thing he was firm on I was not to ever pump gas. Or spend much time at the Service Station unless I was in the office. Back then there were only male uniformed attendants to service your automobile. Whenever you purchased gas or had your automobile serviced they checked your oil/ water and washed your windows.
My how times have changed. My father worked very hard. Yet, He also thoroughly enjoyed fishing and going out on the lake in his boat. He also took the time to take my brothers to the lake on fishing trips.
My Mother adorned me with all the girly trimmings for as long as I can remember. Frilly Priscilla Crisscrossed Sheer curtains festooned my bedroom windows along with my white high standing white wrought iron bed an antique white wardrobe chest.
I think I wore pink nylon and silk organza dresses with embroidered flowers with matching bloomers and matching satin ribbons to adorn my hair seems like forever to Church. Let’s not forget to mention how I had to stay up while she pinned curled my hair with bobby pins on Saturdays for long dangling curls on Sunday. This was almost until I was thirteen years old. I eventually was able to turn in my white socks for cinnamon colored stockings to go along with my French hilled patent leather dress shoes.
My Mother was born in the early 1900’s and that was the thing to do way back then for a girl child. I was especially elated that she spent many hours laboring at her much loved Singer Sewing machine fabricating me a plethora of uniquely designed everyday dresses. When school started there was one for each day of the week. She even made me a fashionable red plaid side buttoned Dr. Kildare dress. She even allowed and encouraged me to design many of my own clothes. Every winter she purchased me a lovely camel & or fur collared wool coat.
Quality you know it when you see it
Quality and originality was something she always stressed and impressed upon me. “Quality you know it when you see it!” It was not so much the clothes but the love and concern that she had for me. She made sure that I yearly attended the Church conferences held during summer as a delegate and there was also my piano lessons and my first photography class in third grade… These are just a few of the many things she did out of love. I can remember her up and about sewing more nights than I ever remember her ever sleeping and resting. I now realize the many sacrifices she made for me. Coming from humble yet compassionate beginnings makes you really appreciate the preciousness of time.
A DESTINY PROPOSAL
Years later on another occasion I can remember the day my husband asked her if he could marry me. Since we were so young I was a bit queasy as to how she would respond. He has always been very strong and certain of himself and never intimidated by anyone. Coming up in the midst of brothers makes you quite strong so I always admired this quality about him. He was always mature and he had actually graduated early from high school at sixteen. So I had chosen not to be present when he presented the proposal.
My Mother was in her late 20’s when she married. Here I was a mere 17. I could only wonder what she would say. I had participated in advanced GATE classes since 3rd grade. She had already planned that I go on a college tour and……… But whatever my then, husband to be said to her, he won her heart over, from that moment on. He assured her that we both would continue on with our higher learning… It was at that time that they bonded. He became another son to her. We were engaged for one year. We married the following year.
When our very own daughter was born she adorned her with the same delicately made pink embroidered dresses. It was a Blessing that the Lord Blessed us with a girl first since I came up with so many brothers. Each time one of my children were born (we had four more sons) she came to our home for an extended visit. We spent many nights just enjoying the company of one another. I always appreciated the way she respected and loved our children and my husband. She was always so proud how well behaved and respectful our children were and how well they also all excelled in school and loved to attend worship services.
MOM’S HOMEGOING TRIBUTE
My husband Elder/Minister of Music is multifaceted. He had also became an upper management executive with Pacific Bell at the early age of 21. We had together founded; Alpha 7 Ministries. ” WORLDWIDE MINISTRY BEYOND & INSIDE THE WALLS!” Our parents were very proud of us. I knew somewhat, but it was not really until her “Homegoing” celebration that I realized just how special her relationship was with my husband. My husband paid a tribute to her by playing an organ solo of one of her favorite hymns “His Eye Is On The Sparrow.” It was at that moment he shared with the many guests that were present, that in over thirty years, the many times spent together, there had never ever been a cross word between the two of them. My husband is a very strong compassionate man of God. I don’t know many son-in–laws that can say that! These are just a few of the many memories that I cherish to this day. There are so many many more.
Little did I know until much later on in life how those memories would get me through the changes, challenges and transitions that her life encountered. Age has a way of creeping up on you. It gradually robbed her of all her much adored independence, gifts, talents and strength that she profusely exuded. My Mom was always a strong figure in my life. I always felt as a child that she was sort of stern and protective but not overbearing. She did not “beat me” as most say. Nor did my father ever raise a hand to me.
MOM’S JOURNEY
I was raised to be feminine & ladylike yet strong. But this also made me see the benefits of being disciplined. This of course is understandable since I was her one and only daughter. She was a very intelligent an educated woman. She was well respected by her academic colleagues. It was when I was in Jr. High that she entered into teaching. She wore many hats as a wife, Mother, teacher and actively took on many roles and a list of responsibilities at her place of worship. Church was her life. She was an advisor and confidant to many pastors & elders. Let’s not forget her excellence as a seamstress, gourmet cooking skills and passion for reading and gardening!
I said all of this to give you a poignant illustration of what was…
I can remember her telling me how she was beginning to feel strange in this body of hers. That that person looking back at her in the mirror was beginning to be quite interesting. How her body just would not do the simple tasks as she wanted. After she retired and well into my adult years she continued to sew, cook and garden. But her last few years on this side of Heaven; slowly and surely her strong physical stature begins to slightly so ever bow. I would drive up and spend the day with her often.
I can remember her equilibrium suddenly changing and her many falls. Osteoporosis gradually began to take its toll on her ever shrinking frame. Her once tall and grand stance resembling a somewhat shorter humbled slight bowing position. Which was relevant in a sense since she was a woman of much prayer. The occasional scuffs on her arms and head. But thank God no fractures or broken bones! She would jokingly say her hard head now came in handy. But she remained determined. I can remember the garage door falling on her. I asked her “What were you thinking of? You don’t even drive!” Here our roles begin to reverse.
My Mom loved to write and faithfully would journal her daily thoughts and dissipating activities. Her memory filled cherished journals and her original Elementary Primers are some of my most treasured remnants. It was in her journals I have her recorded memories of her much expressed LOVE for me, her long gone sister, brothers and parents. Who all went on before her, expressions in regards of her many friends and acquaintances, as well as my brothers and especially her loving relationship and many visits with me, my husband and our children.
My Mom as I said was articulate and had no problem expressing herself, in anyway. She was strong yet humble and could even discuss the sports statistics with my husband; as well as discuss God’s Word or any current or past News topic. Her home filled with memorabilia and a library of books along with an assortment of brilliant various of well taken care of nursery foliage inside and out. As time began to take its toll she asked me in a very cognizant moment to promise to allow her to stay in her own home until the Lord called her home.
She did not want to loose that part of her independence. Her home was a place for any and all to come to and enjoy her wonderful cooking, delicious cakes, pies, desserts and company. I lived an hour away so she would come for weeks and stay and visit with my family. But no matter how much she enjoyed herself “there was no place like home“. My mother never learned to drive therefore she had to be chauffeured and transported. I spent many hours up and down the freeway taking her to the Dr., shopping and to run errands. This is also how I also learned to be very independent. She enjoyed spending time at the design & Fabric shops. I had a brother who lived right around the corner from her and one that actually lived with her. But since I was her only daughter that would not do. At times it was okay. I did not mind because that was time I looked forward to spending with her.
As time passed her health began to decline. Her physical condition began to deteriorate after major surgery, to the place that she sometimes lost control of her bodily liquids. Rendering the necessity of subscribing to adult disposable undergarments just in case. This is what happens often when one reaches their later silver years, especially so after having bore eleven children. One of our adult sons who lived fifteen minutes away would frequently drop off a supply for me from Costco and visit with her. He would also give me an update on her condition. I share this not to undermine her as a women but to again give a real picture of what life often presents.
Gradually Mom had succumb to cocooning and not venturing outdoors much. Her infrequent falls finally made her yield to a cane. I can remember taking her to the Dr. for therapy so they could assist and teach her how to use a much dreaded walker. They stressed how she should try to walk uprightly as much as possible. I can still remember the day when I was taking her to the car and she suddenly began to fall. I immediately lowered myself under her to brace her impact with the driveway.
It was then I knew that there would have to be more changes. Her eyesight began to dim and arthritis began to painfully embrace her hands. Then there was her eye surgery, and… Sewing and needle work gradually had to be set aside. I can see in her journals the gradual shift in her once brilliant almost flawless penmanship. I can see etched on the pages fragments of broken words painfully scribed and thoughts left arrested in mid air.
After her series of mini strokes transient ischemic attack (TIA) her posture changed again along with her hymn singing and speaking. Her voice used for the many altar prayers now quieted, and her singing voice now at times emitting a brittle scratchy throaty noise. The walker now obsolete and the need for a much needed yet regretted wheelchair. Along with a shower and bath chair and all the other paraphernalia that are needed when one cannot easily attend to all of the personal hygiene necessities. I purchased a padded desk lap pad to try encouraging arts and simple crafts, along with a mini water fall to solicit a tranquil environment, with soft soothing music in the background. All of these things are helpful if you have an older parent or loved one.
Her living room now begins to shift from her antique furniture to a comfy padded sofa for her to look out the window at her once lovingly attended garden. Her bedroom now housed a hospital bed that she just could not get used to, her physical position gradually shifting from flowered bed linen to white. Here independent life and her many once enjoyed pastimes became a thing of the past. Her once strong frame only a mere silhouette and her limbs delicately extended on her now almost immobile body. Although now at times a somewhat slight questioning frown. Yet, she would always smile when she saw me.
She would light up whenever I saw her. No longer was she able to call or I call and talk to her on the telephone. This is when her slow good bye became a reality.
How and where will she live?
Must my Mother come live with us? The doctors are now giving up on her she is now in her upper eighties. I can remember how impressed they were with her intelligence she could sail through all of their mental tests. She would tell them her name the date and current news. How many children she had, their names and where she was; then name all the presidents of the United States. But now gradually the signs of Alzheimer’s had begun to replace her many cherished memories.
The Doctors now recommended that she be placed in a home. My live in brother now getting more and more frustrated. Which was really his warranted fears seeing our Mom gradually disappearing. The visits now fewer by her many friends. She can no longer attend her much loved worship services. She no longer enjoyed the walks around the block as I accompanied her in her wheel chair. So she was kept inside gradually becoming somewhat of a hermit in her much loved abode.
All besides her family who knew her were able to remember her as she was. Although there were a few who could see that this once articulate poised woman was beginning to wear like a fine fabric. Her appetite had begun to diminish significantly as well. I got her a nifty bed table to straddle her lap. We would prop her up with pillows on each side. There were times when she just wouldn’t eat without assistance. How ironic after all those years of serving others. It was interesting to see what would suit her palette. Yes, again the Doctors have now given up hope. They said it is not unusual that her appetite is declining.
But yet Mom is still holding on. I always felt that she has really begun to say a slow goodbye.
I, along with some anxiety and ambivalence begin to go and look for a care home for Mom at my many brothers insistence. I know this is not what she wants. I looked for one closer to me so I could see her daily. I now know that some care homes are just dreadful even if well appointed. Some are seemingly peaceful on the surface. But I knew within moving her would only hasten her good bye. Her once strong voice was echoing in the corridors of my mind “There is no place like home.” My Mother had always told me if I remained strong then my brothers would have to follow my lead.
I reluctantly wrote the much dreaded family letter to inform all of my brothers that this is where we are. What do we do? They have wanted me to put her in a home for sometime. A few had ideas but none came to fruition of course. My live in brother now hesitantly took care of her household finances. Since he never married or had children he opted to vacate his varied career. Therefore Mom was his occupation in a sense. He could do as he pleased and Mom had a family member there in the evenings. He would always call me and let me know her status when I was away. A brother lived around the corner and one (10) ten minutes away. Whatever else she needed I would try to accommodate her. Sometime it worked and sometime it didn’t. So what do you do? I just wanted her to be as comfortable as possible.
Now again it is time to make more changes? My brother does not want someone to help in the house full time. What do I do? I am not able to care for her in our home. The Dr. says her care could run into the thousands and and …… So what do I do? Mom must have known that that was one decision that I just could not make nor did not want to make for her. That was one decision that I know she made with the Lord. So it was in her sleep, in her home late that night in January when my brother called and said; “Mom is gone.” I’m like, “gone where?” I suddenly remembered one day when she wanted to go back home.
Mom wants to go home
She pointed out her window and told me she wanted to go home. “Mom you are home.” She wanted to see her “Papa.”
I took out a huge atlas I had purchased for her and showed her she was in California at home and Arkansas was very far away. She just looked away. Then it dawned on me. “Mom’s gone” my brother said again. I knew that Mom had starting leaving a little bit at a time. She was holding on, she really was just trying to give everyone a chance to adjust. I knew now that she had made the transition. She had gone on to be with the Lord and all of her other relatives that she had been missing. She had slept away at home peacefully; just like she wanted. Now she was at rest with the Lord.
My Mom had finally said Good bye……..
There are many issues around taking care of an elderly parent or parents. My point is prepare yourself and while they are able let them tell you what they would like. Who does what and when? Do just enjoy them as much as you can while they are here. Try and let them make their own decisions for as long as they can responsibly do so. Treat them with respect and dignity although they tend to become childlike. In the last days of course you will have some regrets knowing that they are leaving, and of course you will miss them?
If you patiently treat them the way you would want to be treated you will have peace knowing that you did all you could do to make them comfortable. Remember you never know how your latter days will be? But they will and can be overshadowed by the many many cherished memories. And yes of course you will always miss them. So shower them with LOVE while they are still on this side of HEAVEN!
We are living within a pressure driven society. There is a myriad of social pressures that are imposed on one to make them feel the need to fit in. This can at times cause undue stress and result in unfavorable behavior. These behaviors are not readily discussed but are becoming more prevalent.
Fitting in is not easy and makes it harder to transition through the stages of youth and early adulthood development. For some it is much more difficult than others. As a matter of fact we have a growing number of individuals that are self mutilating themselves in order to relieve intense inner pressure. Self injury is on the rise.
What? Yes, they harm themselves; they are a part of the growing number that leans towards cutting themselves. Growing up can be painful and difficult. Did you know that not being like everyone else really is okay! Only you can be the “Best You!” Once you accept this you won’t have to cut yourself to feel okay. Everyone still on this side of Heaven is here to learn and grow… You are like a beautiful flower waiting to bloom!
What is cutting?
Cutting is when someone takes a blunt object, pin, paper clip, scissors or a razor blade and proceeds to make cuts on their wrists, arms, legs, thighs or torso to the point that they bleed. Some will even burn themselves or harm themselves in some other way. This is usually done in a place that is less noticeable. It is becoming an increasing reoccurring behavior that can become addicting. It often goes unnoticed because the self mutilator will make excuses for the cuts and bruises or try very hard to keep them hidden by making excuses. Oh the cat scratched me, or I fell in the bushes, I slipped, or I scraped myself on the whatever… Cutting is considered an impulse – control behavior reaction.
Who cuts themselves?
Cutting is something that is done by both genders. It appears that female teens and younger women are primarily the predominate participators. However there are a growing number of guys who cut themselves as well. There are a number of reasons why they result to such drastic measures. Some cut because they know that their friends cut themselves. One viable cause that jumps out is the need for inner, “relief!” They are tormented and driven by their deep inner pain. These individuals feel and enormous amount of increasing inner pressure.
Inner pressures causes “Cutting”
Someone who is cutting can’t always freely express themselves and they often feel as though they are emotionally knotted up. The inner pressures makes them feel like they are about to explode. The intense need for a release is gravely greater than one can bare. This is why they begin cutting. It brings a momentary yet very unhealthy relief. Some like the way the cuts look and when they begin to heal will reopen the cuts. They have a distorted view of themselves. Unknowingly they are inflicting a harmful abusive self injury. This can becomes increasingly dangerous if it persists. So do not ignore this once you find out it is happening. It is a plea for HELP!
You can’t really force someone to stop cutting. Know that they will go to great measures to conceal the fact that they are cutting themselves.
So what do you do? Lend a listening ear and let them know that you care! Continue to encourage safe boundaries and discipline. Yelling at someone who is cutting is not very helpful. Approaching them with patience and concern is a much better method if you really want to help them. Be firm in letting them know that they need to get some relief; but in a healthier way. Allow them some time to vent…
Encourage them to seek help!
Signs of Cutting
There are a few signs that you might notice such as …………Continue Reading
I start each day with; “This is the Day that The LORD has made! Let us REJOICE and be GLAD in it! O LORD SAVE us; O LORD grant us success. BLESSED is he who comes in the Name of the LORD. From the House of the LORD we BLESS you.The LORD is GOD and HE has made HIS Light to shine upon us.” It is interesting how we can sometimes take it for granted that there will be another day after today! Think about it for a moment! Who but GOD can make a DAY?
As each new year draws near and end I am quite Thankful! There have been many things to take place this year throughout the world! Many who started the year out with us have passed on to the other side! There have been numerous earthquakes and natural disasters that have ravaged the land! The magnitude of the world’s overall dwindling economy has reached catastrophic proportions! Many countries are suffering… Yes some have begun to rebound but the aftermath is residual. The plethora of terrorists attacks are insane… For many things will never be quite the same. The ongoing cycle of wars ending and wars beginning seem endless…
I realize that the holiday season can be a time of great anxiety for many! Memories of loved ones that have passed on and distressing times seek to vigilantly rob you of your joy! But look you are still here! You still have more time! Time is priceless! Try to think about some of the happier moments and times that you shared with them and dwell upon the fond, humorous, tender and warmhearted memories! Build new and cherished memories to hold on to! Honor their memory now as you keep them close to heart! Live live to its fullest. Set new goals and forge ahead seeking ways to accomplish your goals! Look forward to an improving quality of life no matter how long or short… Change is always on the horizon! Anything that does not change is dead. Celebrate life itself as you continue to move forward!
I can personally think of some very unpleasant moments, times of grief, illnesses, deaths, distresses and calamitous disasters that have taken place but I do not want to dwell there! Nor do I desire to camp in denial! I pray that the Lord will continue to open my eyes to TRUTH! Knowing that He will lead you or I as we are willing to submit to His Will & Way! I so want to continuously “Abide in the Shadow of the Almighty…! ” Psalm 91. This verse assures us that His protection is always available… Time waits on no one! Well I must say that The Lord can and did allow time to be turned back for a moment… “
King Hezekiah was a great example! Here we learn that God keeps His promises! With Him even the impossible is possible! “Hezekiah had asked Isaiah, What will be the sign that the Lord will heal me and that I will go to the Temple of The Lord on the third day from now?” Isaiah answered, “This is the Lord’s sign to you that the Lord will do what He has promised; shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or shall it go back ten steps?” “It is a simple matter for the shadow to go forward ten steps,” said Hezekiah. “Rather, have it go back ten steps.” The prophet Isaiah called upon the Lord, and the Lord made the shadow go back the ten steps it had gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.” II Kings 20.
What are you saying; King Hezekiah was faithful to the Lord! He became sick and to the point of death. He turned his face to the wall and humbly and sincerely prayed to the Lord asking the Lord to heal him! As a sign he asked if the shadow could go back ten steps! The stairway of Ahaz is a sundial. The Egyptians made their sundials in the form of miniature staircase. Shadows moved up and down to tell the time! The Lord honored Hezekiah’s request! “On the third day from now you will go up to the Temple of the Lord. I will add fifteen years to your life…” II Kings 20. Here we can see that time belongs to GOD! Evidently Hezekiah had not yet fulfilled his purpose on this side of heaven and the Lord extended his time! He granted Hezekiah another fifteen years of life!
My point here is that time is so precious and sometimes we just never know from moment to moment what will be… Even in the face of death we can turn to the Lord! We can begin to relish each moment and seek to have happier moments! To sincerely make an attempt to deal with life responsively even when it becomes unpleasant despite what is going on about us! To live life to its fullest! I believe if you reach deep enough inside, and think broad enough anyone can find something to be thankful for no matter how infinitesimally small it might be! Life itself is a precious gift! Our good days can outweigh the rough times… You may have to take it moment by moment during the difficult days when you can’t see your way through… Just know someone somewhere has more or less yet, no matter how large or small or seemingly insignificant we can express thanks! Memories are priceless! God is bigger and beyond anyone, anything or any situation we may ever encounter! He will see you through!
If you have been depressed for a long time, it’s time for things to change! God really does the FRUIT of HIS SPIRIT to flourish within all of our lives daily! Know that it is the devil who wants to keep you bogged down in regrets, fear, doubt, shame and hopelessness. To make you feel so bad that the pains of life have you down and overwhelmed! To separate you from the Lord and to get you to focus on your pain! Don’t let your emotions continue to get the best of you. Exercise some self-control! Reach out to the Lord! Cry out to Him He can meet you right where you are! There is light at the end of the tunnel you may feel lonely but you are not alone! God can reach over your abyss of torment and bring you through to start anew! Know that today is a gift from Him!
God sent His Son Jesus Christ to save us from sin. Sin is anything that separates us from GOD! Jesus came to earth to give us hope for a better life with the Lord! He never sinned and did many marvelous miraculous healings, signs and wonders! He even fed thousands of people with a small lunch of fish and bread shared by a generous young boy! The Book of John even tells us that the world could not contain the books of all the miraculous things that Jesus did WOW! Look at GOD! HE IS AMAZING! Although JESUS helped many, He was still horrendously mistreated! He was beaten, spit upon then nailed to the cross and placed in a borrowed tomb! It was borrowed because He did not plan to stay there! What happened to Him was a part of God’s plan for us! Jesus redeemed us and paid the price for the sins of the world with His life! He arose with all power from the grave declaring power over sin and death! GOD IS AWESOME!
“But God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was IMPOSSIBLE for death the KEEP its hold on HIM. David said about Him:
“I saw the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue REJOICES; my body also will live in HOPE, because you will not abandon Me to the grave. Nor will you let your HOLY ONE see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; You will fill me with JOY in Your presence!” Acts 2.
Today is a gift from God! Draw closer to the Lord and shift your focus to Him! He will and can make all the difference in the world in your life! Everyone who is willing to invite Him into their heart can receive His Holy Spirit! He is the Inner Teacher, Guide, Wonderful Counselor and Comforter! Do not let life just pass you by! Ask the Lord to fill your heart and lift you from despair and fill you with His JOY!
No one can be a better you than you! Don’t allow man to take you down the primrose path that leads to destruction… Don’t allow the devil to make you live in regrets… What has happened cannot be undone! But you can always choose to go forward from where you are with the hope of building a better tomorrow! You can live eternally with the Lord! Don’t let anyone or anything rob you of Hope! Seek God for yourself! We can always have Hope in the LORD! Faith is what inspires Hope! Trust GOD! This is why an ongoing intimate personal relationship with The Lord is so very important! God is Love! He is the Great Equalizer! This is why He gave us His Son JESUS CHRIST! To accept Him into our hearts and let Him become our personal SAVIOR & LORD! With Him your age, race, address, bank account, medical condition, state of mind, societal status, IQ, what you have or do not have, does not change His Love for You! In Him you can discover everything that you will ever need! He can help you be the best you! He can fill your inner void and give you His PEACE that surpasses the understanding of man! PRAISE GOD!!!
God has created each of us for a purpose! “And we KNOW that in ALL things GOD works together for the GOOD” Romans 8. In HIS time! Life is about living and discovering whatever that purpose may be. All the signs of the last days are all about us! “ “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” Luke 21:25-28. Knowing this we can be thankful as time draws near! Prepare today! JESUS IS COMING SOON!
In Him we can have blessed assurance! It is “in HIM we live and move and have our being!” Acts 17. Yes be Aware! Yes express your doubts and fears! However make Him your focus! Not in a legalistic religious way! God wants us to enjoy life on this side of heaven! Spend time in His presence, meditating upon His Word! Allow Him to write His Word upon the tables of your heart and trust Him to bring it to your memory when needed! His Word is precious Spiritual Food for our souls! You have as much time as you need with the Lord, because time belongs to Him! Draw closer to the Him regardless of what is happening or not happening about you! Despite what is happening in this world know that He is still in control! His Word is being fulfilled!
Make it a point to spend time in His presence today! Be Thankful today because tomorrow is not promised! We know from His Word that even when your days may be few if it is His will He can extend time! If your Faith is dwindling and your heart troubled ask the Lord to rekindle your FAITH! Surrender your anxiety, depression, sadness,doubt, regrets or sickness to Him and let Him restore your JOY! Recommit or commit to His will and His way! God is our Protector, Healer and Deliverer we must continuously learn to entrust our wellbeing to HIM! Allow Him to be your Refuge and Fortress! God has already given us the Greatest Gift ever which is JESUS CHRIST!! We can Celebrate Christmas, New Years, Easter, Thanksgiving , Anniversaries, Birthdays, Holidays and everyday knowing that “”The earth is the LORD’S and everything in it the world and them that dwell therein!” Psalm 24. Trust God for brighter moments, days and precious memories ahead! He CAN and will supply ALL of your needs in CHRIST JESUS! GOD TRULY IS ABLE!! Prayer and Faith go together! Each day is a day to be Thankful! “This is the Day that The LORD has MADE! Let us REJOICE and be GLAD in it!” GOD BLESS YOU!
Do you want to hear what God has say? Spend some time in His Word!
Wise Prophets
If you listen closely to the prophets in the Bible they often forewarn the people about things that are going to happen as well as vociferously proclaim God’s Word. The word prophet in Hebrew means; spokesperson. God’s people were quite deep into sin, disobedience, civic confusion and rebellion. Isaiah reminds us that our actions have consequences.
More often than not the people did not want to hear what God had to say. They conformed more to the ways of the world than to the way of God. Right now in this 21st century things really are Not TOO much different from what was going on then. Some of everything is going on. What we are seeing are the results of man’s choices down through the generations. Many look to the ways of the world to resolve conflict and problems rather than to God. No wonder that there are so many unresolved issues. Taking into consideration what God has to say about daily living is not as much of a priority. Think about it for a moment. God is omniscient. He knows everything about everything, past present and future.
Whenever I read Isaiah, I can feel the anguish and heart wrenching despair that intensively emits forth from his soul. The Prophet Isaiah speaks forth the oracles of God. Isaiah had a very difficult mission. Quite often when you speak Truth you can expect to be labeled as “negative” or the bearer of “bad news.” Along with a lot of other flavorful words that I do not subscribe to. Usually because it shows a contrast to what someone wants to do. Isaiah was a true visionary! He had great spiritual insight. He had the arduous task of speaking to a group of despondent people.
Isaiah passionately shares of the purity of God, how powerful and loving God is and that God is a Holy God! That God is also a God of wrath. But most of all God is a God of Justice! Isaiah exalts God! He vehemently proclaims to the community at large the pitfalls of evil. Yet in return he is called everything but a child of God. He told them that the land was becoming a wasteland. He pleaded with them to turn Back to GOD!
There is a desire to bring about change!
Isaiah did not have some morbid desire to make anyone unhappy. He did not try to tell them anything just for the sake of making them feel bad. He was not a lunatic, neurotic, uncaring, self centered or mentally challenged in any way. He did not have a hidden agenda. He could see that they were suffering. It was because he was obedient to the call God had placed on his life he said the very things they did not want to hear… Although hurtful at times he did it to bring about good. To promote change and encourage the people to move towards God’s Way of life.
Look at what has been happening around us!
Today our country is slowly still recovering from the last recession. Our government even “SHUT DOWN” because President Obama and Congress were not able to agree. It “SHUT DOWN” again for and extended period of time again because President Trump and Congress could not agree. Has anyone every really considered what God would say. Is not America a country under God? Well there have certainly been a lot of decisions made that go contrary to His Word! LORD HELP US!
We are always on alert for terrorists both foreign and domestic. Yet those who make decisions in the political arena often cause much havoc in the lives of the people because they cannot come to an agreement. We should also be aware of the many things that are happening; really it’s because the principles of God have been laid aside. All one has to do is gather together a mass of people to support their cause. It does not matter what it is? Just the fact that you can get many to agree and join with you to do whatever. Man often advocates freedom without God. This really will not lead to true freedom but eventually to more chaos.
During the recession; Properties values fell drastically and are now on the rise, homes were lost, corporations were closed, careers lost, many relationships broken, unemployment rates were at an all time high, stock devalued and pensions lost. This is more results of man’s decisions. We can see the aftermath. Now divorce is at an all time high, families being pulled and torn apart, murder, crime you name it on the rise. Many things were tremendously impacted. Some things will never be quite the same.
There has been a moral decline
The moral decline is unspeakable as well. The astronomical percentage of abortions continues to increase. The plethora of mass shootings continue. Let’s not forget the continual fight to making “Marriage God’s Way” the same as same sex unions. Marriage God’s Way is “Holy Matrimony” which is between One Man & One Woman!” Now today we have many also confused about their gender?
It is important to seek the will of God Almighty above the ways of the world. God has made it clear in His Word about what constitutes marriage. He also teaches us about traveling on the broad road. But what does that matter? Check it out for yourself in His Word!
WoW! Everybody knows it and no one wants to say it. GOD IS SPEAKING in many ways! You can only ignore Him as The Creator and Sustainer of life for so long. No wonder pandemonium and mayhem have really set in. What has been happening in the dark is coming to the Light! We are seeing the influences of the prince of the power of the air. Some of everything is happening. PRAY FOR DISCERNMENT! Ask the LORD to open your spiritual eyes. In these “Latter Days” the Word of God is being fulfilled.
There really is HOPE!
But wait there is Hope! And yes there is still Joy! GOD HAS NOT CHANGED. Ultimately He has everything and everyone under his control. The battle has already been won. God is patient. He has given all of us the freedom to choose. Always keep in mind that there are consequences for the choices we make. Seek the will of the Lord daily. Life is learning how to make better decisions. God teaches us in His Word. “Those that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles.” Isaiah 40.
Whenever you or a love one experiences a traumatic situation, significant loss, serious illness or death it is normal to experience grief.
There are many other types of losses that occur in life that can result in grief as well. Recovery issues, divorce, relationship issues, addiction, disappointment, financial harships, relocation, career change, natural disasters as well as a miscarriage or abortion can all trigger one to experience a significant degree of grief. We are experiencing worldwide a plethora of adverse climatic weather conditions, pestilence & plagues. This has resulted in a multitude of personal loses. Lives, homes, businesses, possessions, and mental wellbeing has been greatly impacted. The initial reaction to any of the above is usually shock accompanied by a feeling of numbness.
Find solace in GOD while you are grieving
Grief can often result in one feeling a deep sense of overwhelming depression, anger, fear, anxiety, hopelessness and or abandonment. It is also possible to ask “why me?” Anger and resentment may result in feelings of ambivalence. Initially the above symptoms are natural. The passing of time is a partial salve that can and will eventually anesthetize your deep pain.
If you are a Christian, finding solace in God’s Word during grief is a great resource to help you maneuver through a plethora of emotions. It is during grief you can actually learn to embrace God’s spiritual comfort. The deep void that one experiences during grief is often unexplainable. So if you don’t feel like talking try spending some quiet time with God. Truly the Lord can help you rise to a level of Joy despite the grief that besets your soul.
Make it a point to not intrude upon the privacy of others.
As you truly and earnestly seek God who is the ultimate “Comforter” you can experience His abiding presence. If you are a believer you should know that God’s Word is true. Not some of it but all of it. His promise to “never leave us nor forsake us” must be faithfully embraced in your hour of need. Only He can give you; “His Peace that surpasses the understanding of man.”
Grieving is an emotionally painful process
Allowing the one that is grieving to talk freely about how they are feeling is healthy and consoling. Many become depressed and can have a deep sense of guilt. There are two types of guilt; normal and neurotic guilt. Neurotic guilt is based on unrealistic expectations or situations. Deep depression is actually disappointments, and or unresolved anger turned inwardly. This has begun to burden down their soul. It must be faced in order to begin the healing process…
It is healthy to allow yourself or them the freedom to talk about their love one, issue or situation at hand. It is a choice to move towards healing.
Enabling is never healthy. Allowing them to work through their emotions by being there for them or encouraging them to be active is a good thing. Timing and sensitivity is key. Taking a walk, run or go jogging may even be relaxing and release some inner tension. During an opportune moment try telling them a humorous story or a funny joke can help lift their spirit momentarily.
Encourage them in their walk with the Lord
If they don’t already have a relationship with the Lord seek appropriate moments to introduce them to the Lord. Helping them to freely express their feelings and concerns are healthy. Remember everyone is different. Just because you do not see them crying does not mean they are not grieving. Some people elect to privately grieve. Sometimes just doing nothing momentarily is good.
Just being there helps. There are times they prefer to just be alone. Don’t force yourself into their private moments. Check in on them when led. A good friend will be patient, sensitive, caring and compassionate and understanding at this time. Again, just knowing you are there for them can be a great sense of comfort.
During the holidays when there are many festive celebrations this can also be a reminder to many of their time of loss. After the holidays pass and all the seasonal excitement has dissipated there may be a resurgence of grief. This too is a natural response. Again try to allow yourself to think of some of the happier times you shared together.
Freely cry when necessary yet do not become overwhelmed and allow it to pull you in a deep depression. The tears will help to naturally relieve your soul of pressure. Reach out to someone you trust when you feel yourself going in a deep dark place. Depression and sickness can be spawned in the midst of grief. Emotional pain when not dealt with properly can trigger physical illness. Where, what and whom you focus on will make a world of difference.
GOD still has a purpose for you
In spite of all the painful things that can happen or has happened in life, there is always something good to think about. God still has you here for a purpose. Some days you might have to take it a moment at a time. Again, please allow yourself to think about some of the cheerful experiences you shared with your love ones. God tells us in Ecclesiastes that there is a time for everything. Although painful suffering is a part of life. You can make it though this. Just think if we did not know sorrow how would we know joy?
Life can be difficult at times
This may be the last thing you want to hear. But their time on this side of Heaven has expired. They have lived their life here on earth. Your love one is really in a much better place. They have actually transcended suffering. They have moved on to Heavenly Eternal Life to experience ultimate healing if they are believers. If not pray fervently for their souls… Just maybe in their lasts moments they choose to accept Christ Jesus into their hearts. When you focus on God you can have joy even in the midst of your grieving. This is why it is so important to develop an intimate daily ongoing personal relationship with Him. This way you can be sure of where you will spend eternity. You can also ejoice knowing; You will see them again.
God does not take pleasure in seeing us suffer. He too knows the ultimate suffering. Remember when HE allowed HIS sinless SON CHRIST JESUS to die on the cross for the sins of the world? So yes, cry when sorrow besets your soul. But look to the Lord the “Author & Finisher of your Faith” to help you through it. He can help you do what seems impossible.
Grief and sorrow are a result of Adam and Eve’s disobedience. When they disobeyed they chose sin, death and grief as a way of life for mankind. This is why it is important to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. Because of His death and resurrection we now have direct access to the Father.
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