Jesus!

John 14:14 You may ask me for anything in my name [Jesus], and I will do it. (NIV) When another prayer cannot be uttered, when another word cannot do, and all you know has been said and done then "Jesus!" Sometimes all one can say is "Jesus!" Even not knowing why, that is the most powerful word of all-"Jesus!" It is the name that can heal the lame, the deaf, the blind, and the broken hearted. "Jesus" is the name that opens the doors of heaven and releases divine intervention. Jesus, our all in all! Jesus is the reason, the answer, the life, the truth, and the way! Jesus. Take hold of Jesus-speak His name into the-atmosphere. Jesus! He is the only way to eternal bliss, healing, and deliverance-Jesus! Jesus is the almighty doorway to our loving Father's arms! Jesus! Need I say more?

Jesus Rocks!

It is rock as in spectacular, awesome, wonderful and marvelous! Jesus is the "Best", He rocks!
Jesus is more powerful than a lightning bolt, a tsunami, a category 10 earthquake. Jesus rocks!

Just as He came to rock the foundations of the Pharisees-traditions, superstitions, and religious rights. He still comes today to rock us! He has come to defy all human odds teaching us a new divine way of life.

When Jesus spoke, things happened. Things began to ROCK! He said things like "be healed, go wash, wither and die (to the fig tree), and go sin no more". Notice when His spoken word was released it caused change! It caused others to consider their beliefs and still others to stop what they were doing and follow Him! That same power and authority has been given to us. Does that "rock" your foundations?

All we are and have that is not of our loving Father is to be shattered and destroyed. All we believe, our traditions and our theology, that does not line up with Jesus' teachings and what Holy Spirit is guiding us through is going to perish.

Jesus came to rock our very foundations-personally and that of the organized church! He came with a two edged sword. "He says " Pick up your mat and follow me!" That mat being an infirmity and sin, becomes the platform on which His spirit can love and release the captives. "Jesus rocks" through you and I!

He came to rock you and I and all that dwells in our land. He came to secure our foundations and become our Rock-the cornerstone in which we are to build His temple within.

Peaceful and Holy we shall be without spot or wrinkle, innocent and wise with knowledge far beyond our human means.

So there are three types of "rock". There is a rock that is awesome wonderful and divine in nature, a rock that destroys, divides and conquers all evil, and the Rock, our cornerstone that loves and builds a temple pleasing to our loving Father.

Now He calls us to rock this earth and all that dwell in it. Call those things forth that are not! Say to the mountain be removed and it shall move. Walk, talk, and live as Jesus lived and died. He taught us well.

Live a life with your foundation built upon the rock of Jesus. Become the image and likeness of Him who created us. All things are possible for those who call upon and believe in the "Rock" of their salvation-Jesus the Christ!

Think upon these things my friends-He will be back to collect His bride! Are you ready?

Waiting for Change

Isaiah 40:30
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (KJV)

Most of us are in the place where we are waiting for change-yet no change comes. A change of employment conditions, change in our spouse, change in our habits, change in our children's behavior, change in our economy, change in our government, change in our community¸ change in our health, change in our church--CHANGE. We are waiting for change.

The key word is waiting. Most are just sitting around reading the newspaper and listening to others about where we need change. We give our opinions, discuss where the change needs to occur, and proceed with the same old life we always lived. So we sit and wait for someone to change things.

This morning the Lord told me to wait upon Him. My life has been hectic with family, friends, and yes His good works as well. Yet He tells me to stand aside and wait upon Him in the manner He taught me. When I finished I felt renewed with the sense that I will go back again today and wait upon Him.

Waiting on the Lord has nothing to do with doing nothing! It begins by quieting our minds of the world and focusing in on our How great our God is. Would you too like to wait upon the Lord? Would you like to wait with me? This is the process of my morning waiting and meditation, you can fill in the blanks with the scripture andthe pondering the Lord gives you as you proceed.

How great thou art God! How marvelous are your ways! Holy, Powerful, Merciful, and full of Grace. Most of all, how loving. Go to the scriptures and read and meditate on the attributes of God and His wonders and most of all the Love He has for you!

Then it is time to reminisce on Who God is to you or me! He is my fortress, My high and mighty tower, a shelter in times of storms, a hiding place in times of stress, my healer in times of sickness, and a place of comfort in times of sorrow. He gives me wisdom in times of calamity and peace in times of chaos. My all and all He is to me. He chastens me when I fall and encourages me unto the right paths. Need I go o?. Who is the Lord to You?

At this time I have touched His hem and now He can speak to my heart. If I need to forgive... or repent. If I need direction it comes all with His loving touch. I am made whole and ready for my next assignment.

If you are anything like myself. I tend to forget to wait and then proceed with a divine strategy. I tend to go and go and then realize I have lost my peace-His peace.l

Again we find ourselves waiting upon Him to instruct, correct, comfort, and heal all those areas within. And again He is faithful to produce such fruit that others may recognize Him and give their lives to Him. As we submit ourselves, He shall move mightily in our lives and the places we live.

Seek others to wait upon the Lord with. The territory in which you live will be expanded and His Glory shall be known!

If you are in the place where you are waiting, yearning, and desiring change begin at the beginning. First and foremost, we were created to Worship the King. Second, humbly surrendar your will for His. And third, listen very carfully so you may be obedient to the plan and purpose He has for you to accomplish!

Simple Things!

Isaiah 30:15
This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength. (NIV)

The simple things in life like a summer breeze, the refreshing rain after the heat of a day, or just the twinkle of the morning sun on the waters edge. All of these gives me pleasure. My grandmother once said that you don't have to spend money to be happy. The simple things in life are what produce happiness.

It is the same in our walk with Jesus. The simple, the basics of our faith will produce eternal happiness.

If we repent (change our ways) and rest in our salvation (rely on the Lord knowing that He shall strengthen us in times of trouble, heal us in times of sickness, and encourage us in times of doubt.

In the simple life of faith He shall be gracious to us and show us compassion. There is no need to strive in the worldly flesh. For our Lord is a God of justice and He will bless all who wait upon Him.

Waiting is not a passive position. It is proactive. It is praying, watching, and steping out when the Holy Spirit leads. Waiting is preparing our hearts and minds. It is like cleaning our home expecting visitors. It is like preparing a meal to celebrate the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

With that I say prepare the way-repent and make straight your ways for He is about to enter your home!

I believe if we do as Isaiah suggesst all else will be added unto us!

A Dove

I would just LOVE to have a DOVE-chocolate that is! Smooth, creamy; just makes you want to relax and savor the flavor. It is the hypnotic chocolate that makes you come back for more and more. Take a moment for yourself and indulge in a Dove. Great commercial lines, yes?

The fact of the matter is that the advertising experts are constantly appealing to that hole we have within. They want to fill it with all sorts of drinks and eats, not to mention the houses, cars, clothing and toys that can occupy our time. We are fun seekers looking to please our flesh in whatever ways we can. Now I want you to know that we are not necessarily in sin nor are we being unpleasing to the Lord with these things however they can take us over the edge.

Ever since my healing I have been craving more and more of God. Just like tasting that ever delectable Dove chocolate I crave the presence of the Holy Spirit. He is the only one that satisfies my being. He quiets my soul and fills my emptiness. In the days ahead we are to seek first the Kingdom of God and know that all else will be added to us!

Lord, we are so deprived of your tender presence! Today we come to you and ask if our pleasures displease you? Lord, speak to us so we will know. Infill us with your Spirit, Lord. Give us the ability to seek you first before we try to replace that hole within with fleshy desires.

Honor thy Father and thy Mother

Exodus 20:12
"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you. (NIV)

During a wonderful dinner conversation with a multigenerational gathering, suddenly a youngster speaks harshly to his mother. A grandparent jumps in to reprimand the youngster by asking what is the fourth commandment?. "Honor my mother and my father" was the reply. Well now, was that showing respect or honor? For an instant the little head points down in embarrassment but almost immediately a finger points to mother and the little mouth responds, "She sins, too!" Grandma says, "You are right we all sin, but at the present time the focus is on your behavior."

You might have had a similar experience in your life-a situation in which you find yourself either listening to or partaking in such a conversation.

Young or old we are subject to and held responsible for our actions--the things we say and the things we do. The above scenario might have seemed very light to you, however there are lessons for us to learn. Noticed how quickly the child responded by pointing the figure at another? That "child" could have been us!

Your reaction could have been one of these: Well, I had to respond that way because of what was said! I am not the only one who feels this way! I have been rejected so many times I would rather not use the gift and talents God gave me! Well, if my circumstances where different I would be a better person .If only... !

Do some of these sound familiar? Have you used one or two in the past? Then we sometimes joke that "The devil made me do it!" All of these to responses are just to protect our ego and our pride. We want to take the focus off of our sin and onto someone else or the circumstances.

If we claim we are mature-grown up, then we must stop passing the buck and take our medicine like a "man" or "woman". I can guarantee that when we do the Father embraces us with His heavenly love and encourages us to continue onward and upward for the prize is ours and it is within reach.

So the next time a brother or sister in Christ approaches us, be quick to repent and quick to respond in love thanking them for doing their part in keep you on the straight and narrow!

Keeping Up!

You might think of times you had to keep with an older sibling or cousin. Think about how you tried to keep up in school or in gym class as a young teen. Of course we have tried to "Keep up with the Jones'" one time or another in our lives. When do we ever learn we are not in a race with any other but ourselves. Maybe we tumbled to that conclusion after much trial and error!

Then the golden years hit and you just want to keep up with your children and their children. Now that is a task! Or keep up with the day to day activities and planning and goings on in your life!

Whatever our reasoning may be to "Keeping UP" it is the flesh that causes us to strive in areas for our ego to be puffed up in one way or or another. In Philippians 3:8-9 tells us Paul to consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus his Lord for Christ's sake he has lost all things considering them trash so that he may be found in Christ. Paul goes on to say having righteousness of his own only comes from law (and may I add the World's competitive nature). Yet the righteousness found through faith in Christ gives us power of His resurrection! That power enables us to carry out our destiny designed by our heavenly Father.

Philippians 3: 13-14
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (NIV)

Will we ever learn that in our Father's eyes there is no "Keeping UP". We run the race of one, setting our aim at the prize and running with confidence that He and He alone will accomplish every good deed within us.

As we live our lives, I suggest we cling to those things that are from above and let those other things fall to the wayside. Let us seek out Christian friends who are also in the race of one. Let us band together and encourage each other as we all walk this journey of life towards eternity.

Today I pray, Father guide me and lead me to those who are like minded and are walking the walk of Faith. Bring me to a clear understanding of my prize that is stored for me in Christ Jesus! Amen