We See The Fire, But Where's The Smoke?

      WE SEE THE FIRE, BUT WHERE'S THE SMOKE?

*Daniel 3* (The 3 Hebrew boys and Me!)

 One of the fondest things that I remember as a child, was when I would go to Sunday School on Sunday mornings. I loved to listen to the wonderful bible stories that my teacher would read to us, while showing us lots of colorful pictures. I remember the story of 3 young men, who had been cast into a fiery furnace because they would not bow down to worship the king's gods; and while in the fire they were met by an angel of the Lord, bringing the total to 4 men in the fire! We learned that although they were in the fire, they remained unharmed, without even the hint of smoke on them. The story ends with the King being amazed at what he sees and ultimately promotes them within the Kingdom as well as worship their God! Talk about a page turner!! I absolutely love this story because God is all over it!! Some of His greatest work ever witnessed by men!!

If you have ever had science, you are probably well aware, that when there is a fire; at least two things should be happening. Something is being consumed and as a result there should be "smoke!"....Well, this raises a few questions! Why didn't these young men burn up? why did the angel of the Lord meet them?  why wasn't there smoke when they were removed from the fire? and how does their story relate to me? ....... So glad, you asked!

If you are a child of God, who have gone through the fire, and you're still here! Say Amen!! Because this means that you have had a "fiery furnace" encounter!  There will be times, when you are faced with standing up for the God that you serve and as a result, you just may find yourself hitting some turbulence that you never asked for! Your response will be key in how you go through the fire and how you come out of it!  Your response, as a child of God, must be to trust God, count it all joy, and allow him to walk you into your victory! Your trials will land you in a fiery furnace from time to time and if you are in the will of God, you will find yourself face to face with your savior while there! Notice, that God did allow them to throw the three friends into the furnace! Why would he do that? Well, it was because he knew that he would be there waiting. No matter what you are going through, you can trust that God is waiting to supply you with strength, joy, and faith! People will wonder, how you're able to smile, hold your head up, and encourage others while going through a fire! The answer? because God is controlling the "effects" of the fire! What are the "effects?".....Well, its the things that will cause you to be consumed! Sin, doubt, anger, no prayer, no Word, no faith, and no trust! Remember! If nothing is consumed, there can be "No Smoke!" The 3 Hebrew boys knew where their faith  lied. Their faith was in Jehovah Shamah (God is with me!)
So, when life throws you into a fiery furnace, don't fear because God will meet you there! How do I know this? Because although 4 men were in the furnace, only 3 came out!! This is major because, it means that Jesus remains in the furnace of life, ready to walk you through, if you will only trust him! People will watch for signs of "smoke" but there won't be any! Because Jesus has already consumed (absorbed) it all!
Thank you Jesus! I will not fear what life sends my way, nor will I fear the furnace of life, because you, Lord, have made me "fireproof" and although they may see the fire! there won't be any smoke....because in you; I won't be consumed! Amen!

Now unto Him, who is able to do immeasureably more than we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work with us.

                                                                ~Epheshians 3:20 NIV

Falling In Love With Jesus (A True Love Story)

                                            FALLING IN LOVE WITH JESUS

                                  (A TRUE LOVE STORY)

When I woke up this morning, I laid there staring at the ceiling as if it was speaking to me. There was something different in how I felt this morning; Something special! My heart was overflowing with joy! I began to think about all of the things that I had gone through and how the love of Jesus managed to rescue me when I thought that things would never turn out right. A feeling of warmth came all over me as I began to think of the one who has stolen my heart! Pull up a chair and let me tell you about this man, who must be Heaven Sent, just for me!

First of all, he is the most perfect gentleman! He lets me know every morning that I am on his mind; And when I look out of my window, he's there with an array of beautiful flowers, that seem to be swaying just for me; when I'm lonely, he walks with me and talks with me, and he never complains; he tells me that I am beautiful and worth far more than rubies! (no one has ever told me that before!); and that he loves me to the Heavens and back again! He shields me from the rain and even cares about my hair; yes, my hair! telling me that he has counted every one! I read his love letters every chance that I get and they seem to carry me from day to day.....always encouraging me, always guiding me! Until our next visit! 

Well, today I want him to know that I think the world of him too! I want him to know that I look forward to our daily walks and interesting talks! And it may sound silly, but I believe that the Sun and the moon shines because of him, and I want him to know that, when I smell the flowers that he sends to me daily, I begin to thank him for the wonderful scent all over them, reminding me of his presence; and that I appreciate that he hangs the stars in the sky to remind me of the number of times that he thinks of me! He gives me his all and I love him for that! "What shall I render! for a man who has given me his ALL? "What shall I render! for a man who has walked through the worst storms to rescue me? a man who holds conversations with his daddy about me! a man who has dispatched his angels to watch over me? a man who has anointed my head with oil and causes my cup to overflow! A man who retrieved keys from hell, so that I could be set free! ...and who makes sure that goodness AND mercy follows me!!.... What shall I render! for a man who is even establishing my future, that I may live with him forever! What shall I render to My Lord?.....My Savior....My Master!! I render my heart..... my body......, my mind, and soul to you! For there is none like you in all the Earth! You're Lord of Lords and King of Kings! 

Thank you for loving me so!!                            

 I love you too! To the Heavens and back again!

                                        ~ Michele

                                          

God, I've Fallen, And I Can't Get Up!

GOD, I'VE FALLEN, AND I CAN'T GET UP!! 


Have you ever been face to face with fear? I mean, the kind of fear that won't allow you to move!? I recall a story that a pastor once told his congregation, regarding the day his son was hit by a car. He explained to us, that, he and his wife were in the house talking and one of the neighborhood children ran into the house and informed them that their son had been hit by a car! He went on to explain, that when he and his wife stood up to go to him, his wife's legs went out and she hit the floor! Still in a panic, he jumped over his wife, and leaving her behind, went to his son's aid. Meanwhile, his wife sat on the floor, unable to move, unable to fix what was unfolding before her very eyes! Fear had taken hold of her and left her without the ability to react! He told us that she later explained to him, that all she could do was to pray that God would step in and make it alright! And guess what? He did! Their son was hurt, but alive!


Was God able to make her stand that day? Sure he was! But the truth was, that at that moment, he was teaching her to trust in His POWER! He needed for her to see first hand, that when she is weak; HE is made strong! So many of us go through life unable to receive what God has for us because we are simply, "scared to death!" of the outcome of what lies before us! We have allowed the enemy to render us totally "helpless" and once he gets us to that point, he attempts to squeeze every ounce of hope right out of us! He squeezes out that faith, he squeezes out that joy, and that belief that God is our Banner, always there to fight and work out that, in which we cannot! 
What comes to mind, when you think of Fear? In what ways has Satan brought you to a screeching holt? Unable to move! Unable to think straight! Unable to believe God! Sometimes we are face to face with a roaring lion and we have to know that at that time, only God can bring a lion to its knees! Can you imagine the fear of Daniel, when they threw him into a den of lions for refusing to let go of his prayer life? Are you kidding me? Who does that!! The enemy does! He will seek to devour you, every chance that he gets, but you are a praying child of the Most High King, and you better know that God will shut him down, so that you can stand! Isaiah 59:10 says, that, when the enemy comes in!... like a flood, God will raise up a standard (banner) against him! What I find interesting, is that, it is not talking about the enemy's flood, it is talking about God's flood!!! Hallelujah! It is His flood that comes in and destroys the enemy and his works! And wait! it gets better! Our God is Jehovah-Nissi, the Lord, who is our banner, our victory (Exodus 17:15). Whew!! This is great news for you and I! God is raising a "banner" high for us when fear comes rushing in! A banner represents victory and sends the enemy running away with the fear that was intended for you!


This is major, because this means, that you CAN get up! Your God is in your corner, saying, "let me fight this battle for you! There are weapons that I have access to that you don't possess! The weapons that I have equipped you with, are PRAYER, THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE WORD, AND FAITH! Use them daily and trust in their power!!"
 When you fall, don't fear! Call on the matchless name of Jesus! HE is able to make you stand!


Scripture Reference:
Psalms 90:5 says, "you (God), carry them (enemy) away like a flood."
II Timothy 1:7 says, For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and love, and of a sound mind.

"Whom Seekest Thou?"

                                                 

 WHOM SEEKEST THOU?


There is a popular game show that is designed to test the knowledge of its contestants. A contestant will put their knowledge to the test by giving the answers that he or she is sure will satisfy the question asked. After a series of simple questions, the contestant is put to an ultimate test, in which he or she knows can change their life forever, if answered correctly. Once given, the host will ask the contestant one final question that can seal his or her future. After a moment of silence, the host will ask, "is this your final answer?" The contestant knows that the answer that he or she locks in, will reveal their assurance in the question that they have been asked, causing them to risk everything for the opportunity of a secure life.


This is the level of assurance that God requires of us. As long as life deals to us a series of "simple" tests, we will pass those without a hint of doubt; however, when life presents a series of events that seem to put us to the ultimate test, we begin to doubt what we know, even doubting the ability of the God in whom we serve. Life has a way of presenting God's ultimate question: "whom seekest thou?" The very things that you were sure of before, now seem compromised. What is your answer? Well, if your faith is not sure, this is when you will begin to use your "life lines" to rescue you from this uncertainty. You are beginning to notice that your needs are not being met, you have questions still unanswered, and you are not really sure who holds tomorrow! One day Jesus is Lord! and the next, someone who can not be trusted with your future. "Whom seekest thou?" You need to answer this question! You are seeking everyone, but the right one, and the bible tells us to "choose this day, whom we will serve!" All of your life, God has been a God, who is God, as long as you can "see" right now results, but in John 20:29, Jesus tells us that, "blessed is he, who sees NOT, and yet believes."  In other words, before you see that house!...He is God, and before you receive that promotion!...He is God; when he heals your body!...He is God and if he doesn't heal your body!...He is still God!  "Whom seekest thou?" ....before you answer this question, think about the question that God asked his disciple, when he asked him,  "who do you say that I am?" Your life will forever be changed, if you get this question right! The only "life line" that I can throw you is this: "Seek ye first, the Kingdom of Heaven, and its righteousness, and everything else will be added unto you!" ......Tell God this day! that IT IS YOU LORD, whom I seek after!  And let this be your FINAL ANSWER!!


Psalms 9:10 ... "Those who know your name trust in you, 
   for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you."

There's A Stranger In My Mirror!!!

                           
                            THERE'S A STRANGER IN MY MIRROR!!


In this life, we go day to day dealing with ups, downs, and everything that lies  between. At times we can breeze past those parts of life that seem, not so hard to bare, and at other times we are stuck; stuck with the issues of life staring us straight in the face! Have you ever been "stuck" and unable to move? 
This brings to mind my "mirror" experiences. There are times when I can look into my mirror and all I see is, plain ole me! someone who is pretty sure of who she is and what she wants out of life; and at other times, there is a stranger in my mirror, staring back at me. A person with sad eyes, needing direction, needing to believe something different, with little hope, and un-satified with what life has dished out! I am stuck, staring at this stranger, asking myself why she looks so familiar? As I look closer, I begin to recognize this stranger and everything within me begins to sink!......It is the reflection of my past! God not again! I thought I had buried my past; laid my burdens down! Why am I face to face with the pain of my past, yet again!
Have you ever encountered this stranger in your mirror? When all of sudden you are battling with a reflection of a painful past, instead of a vision of a victorious future? 
You will soon find out that this stranger is no stranger to the God that you serve! He is one who comes to kill, steal, and destroy! Destroy what? Well, destroy hope! destroy destiny's! destroy dreams, and most of all your faith! He is the destroyer of 2nd chances and any thoughts of a life that has been redeemed from a shameful past; but, the Word Of God calls him a liar and a deceiver and is about to set the record straight! Let's get that stranger out of your mirror forever!! First of all, we must put on the whole armor of God so that we can stand against the wiles (schemes) of the devil. Schemes that have come to distort your true image! your right image! your justified image! An image that God says has been renewed towards him (colossians 3:10). God is saying, I want you to see what I see in you my child! Take a look through your daddy's eyes! When you look in the mirror, you see failure, but I see greatness!...when you look in the mirror, you see death, but I see life, through me!....when you look in the mirror, you see defeat, but I see victory....you see a coward! but, I see more than a conqueror!! I see someone worth pursuing, someone worth me trading my crown for a cross!..."look again!!" See what I see!! The stranger that you see is a defeated enemy of God, and as of this day will be defeated in your mind, as well as, your mirror!!..."look again!" You are a reflection of me, adopted into royalty!! "look again, you Kings and Queens of greatness!!!" and see what I see...In you!


Scriptures: 
Jeremiah 29:11.."I know the plans that I have for you..."
Romans 8:17..."we are joint heirs with Christ..."
Psalm 119:18..."open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things..."

When Your Calling Can't Find You; Check Your Location

                 
Today, we are going to look back at a familiar story. A story about a man who walked away from his "call of duty".....A man, who like many of us, found himself,  "Missing In Action" (M.I.A), when duty called.
I want to speak to that inner "soldier" in you! That part of you that knows God has an assignment for you, but for many reasons (excuses), you have failed to respond, and report to the place where He has called you to.


As many of you know, God had an assignment for Jonah, however, Jonah sees an opportunity that makes disobedience seem well worth the fare that he paid! As a result, God must now run him down, in an attempt to save HIS mission;... HIS WILL! In comes a storm; because it will take a storm to bring him back to his original call of duty! It would have been nice if Jonah's storm was personal, but we soon find out that others must suffer through this storm with him! This is unfortunate, why would God's storm effect others, when Jonah was the one disobeying? What made this key for Jonah was the fact that he was about to find himself alienated by a sin of his own doing. And as for the others on the boat? They were about to learn a valuable lesson in getting rid of sin, when it's in your inner circle...lest you find yourself affected or infected! Well, you know the story! those who were affected by Jonah's storm had to throw him overboard and he was swallowed up by a large fish, special ordered to bring Jonah to his knees! Eventually, after a series of hard lessons, God had Jonah's undivided attention and as a result, Jonah was back at his post, ready to save a Nation!


Seem familiar? For many of you, God is in pursuit of you, because you have walked away with his assignment still attached to you. You have decided that God has called you to an assignment that you have no desire to do or an assignment that you have ruled yourself unworthy of doing. In essence; you have disqualified, what God has qualified in you!! and now that disobedience is present, everyone within your vicinity, your home, your job, and your family, may feel the results of your sin.  Sometimes sin will cause us to lose those closest to us! why? It is because God's divine order will cause them to "throw you overboard" in an attempt to get you where he wants you, which is in a place, where he can get your undivided attention.  Just as it took "dis-obedience" to create a storm; there would have to be "o-bedience to dismantle the storm! Your storm will rage until the sin that caused it has been removed. What situation has God used as your "belly of a fish" experience? Check your location! Are you M.I.A? Far away from your calling? Are you willing to return to your original place of instruction?   If you can find yourself in this story, God is in pursuit of you, because he has equipped you with something great!! something that needs to be shared with the World! What he has equipped you with can change a soul, a city, a state, a country....or whatever HE has designated as your Nineveh! God may be holding back his hand of judgement on someone's life, waiting for us to return to what he has called us to do...because maybe! just maybe! He wants to save a nation through you!!! ©

Prayer for Today:
Dear Lord, please forgive us for walking away from your voice. Lord, we heard you when you said that you wanted to use us for your purpose, but unfortunately we have had other plans. Lord, please ask us again! because we now know that you have equipped us, if you are calling us. Lord, no matter how big or small the task, we want to be ready to go when you say go! Lord, I have paid a great fare by "missing in action" and the storm seems too great for me to survive! Ask me again Lord! Ask me again! and I will surely go!!  Amen.

When My Strength Is Gone!

                                                      When My Strength Is Gone

I will lift up mine eyes to the hills, from whence cometh my help; my help cometh from the Lord! All of my help comes from the Lord!
(Psalms 121)


How many of us have quoted this scripture or played this song in our heads while crying tears of helplessness? I sit here thinking about times when I didn't know where my help was coming from! Oh, I knew there was a God, and I knew that he had left a comforter, but I wasn't sure if the comforter knew my address! Because the pain that I felt sometimes, would be more than I could bare. Doubts and fears would have me questioning, "God are you sure you're real?" I would begin to wonder if I was doing all of this for nothing? Praying! Fasting! Reading the Word! Being nice to people! Forgiving people! and I could go on and on! but what would be the point? Nothing was going to change for me. My life would always be a mess and I'm always going to be at the bottom of the list when it comes to answered prayers and this favor of God that everyone talks about.  And although, I was very well aware of  2 Corinthians 10, that asks that:

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2Corinthians 10:5

However, when all of my strength was gone; this verse and all other verses seem to be overshadowed by my inability to comprehend the helplessness that I was feeling! My mind was not always on my side, during difficult times; and I couldn't always get my heart or my mind to do what I wanted them to do and so it would lead me right to a place of  having"no strength at all".  How did this happen to me? Well, the more I doubted, the weaker I became; and the more I looked to self for the answers; the weaker I became! Then came fear in an attempt to save the day! (how many of you know that it does not come to save but to destroy?) I felt that fear was there to "rip" me right out of the arms of my loving Savior! This is when I was no longer able to stand! My legs could no longer carry me because of the loads of doubt, self pity, un-forgiveness, selfishness, and fear. Add in, being over stressed, over worked, over weight, under paid, and mis-understood. Never enough money, never enough time, and never enough answers to why I was carrying what I was carrying!  Until one day, I had to address my problems before I was consumed!
"Oh God! I know that you did not create me to carry all of this! Why do I have to carry all of this on my own?" Right now, I'm in need of a Savior! a Strong Tower, a present help in my time of trouble; and it's going to have to come from one who knows me better than I know myself! Someone who can carry me to a place of hope, healing, and deliverance!......So, I called on you Jesus!"

The Lord heard my cry! He answered my call! and He is ready to answer your call; ready to carry you; if you will allow him to. He is a gentleman, and I can hear him saying to you,

 "those bags that you are carrying, they look too heavy! allow me to get those for you! The weight is very light for me, if you would allow me to take them. You have come to the right place and I thank you for believing in me again! I felt the pain in my arms when fear, disbelief, and hopelessness ripped you from them! but, now I can restore you, giving you rest again! Now lie here in my arms of peace, rest in my arms of stability, they are always extended. I know that you have no strength and I am willing to carry you too if you would only allow me to. I have waited for this moment! The moment when you would lift your head and your eyes to the hills, where I dwell! Come now, and let me give you rest!"


Prayer:
Thank you father that when I don't have the strength to stand, I can run to your loving arms of protection. Because of your love, I can trust again; because of your grace, I can hope again; because of your mercy, I can climb back into your arms of love to receive the strength that I need again...Thank you Father for helping me to stand!

Dare To Dream Again!!

                                                           
                                           Dare To Dream Again!!! 

                            Hope deferred, makes the heart grow sick (Psalms 13:12)
         Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and He shall direct thy paths (Proverbs 3: 5-6)

Have you ever been afraid? afraid to dream? afraid to hope? afraid of having expectations?  Well, welcome to a world that I know, all too well! I'm talking about a world where it seems that whenever you dream or believe God for something, it just fails right in the middle of what you thought was a perfect "faith!"  I'm talking about, when you are trusting him for something that you KNOW is good for you; that you KNOW you will give God the glory for, yet it falls to pieces as if it was just a worthless dream! Talk about a shake in your foundation! this will definitely do it! 
There have been times in my life when it seemed as if deferred hopes and dreams were a way of life for me.  I have felt the pain and frustration of dreams crumbling, and expectations just vanishing into thin air. I mean, why would God give me a heart to dream and then sabotage the very dream that He gave me? Why should I continue to dream? Why should I, continue to hope? Why should I continue to trust? Does this sound familiar? .....I have been at the point of hopelessness! Times when it seemed, as if God was playing my life like a great game of chess, or had cast me into a wonderful play, just to close the curtain on the best performance of my life!
Listen, God knows when we reach these points of frustration. He even knows that His way of orchestrating our lives will at many times seem as if he is totally disconnected with our hopes and dreams. Why would he kill my dreams, dash my hopes, and dismantle my expectations? (expectations that I thought I had in HIM!).  God has shown me that allowing failure, is a method that He uses in order to bring us to a place of "relinquishing".  When I think of relinquishing something, I picture myself, having to let go of something for the sake of allowing someone else to control it! WOW! Is he testing my ability to relinquish my rights to something, in order to get me to a higher level of trust? A higher level of faith? Is He grooming my ability to except an exchange of what I want for what HE wants for me? 
Many times, as part of God's will for our lives, He will allow failure and disappointment to occur, when what we have envisioned for ourselves is not quite, in line with what His thoughts for us are. You see, God is like a parent; He will dash hopes and disturb dreams if HE feels that they are not good enough for us! And although they may seem good for us! Sometimes, they just won't lead us to the place that he has commissioned us to go.  He refuses to allow you to settle for "that" house when the one he wants you to have has everything that you ever wanted!!!! He refuses to allow you to marry "that" person, when he knows that who He has for you, really has not entered into your life yet!!! And you thought it was the enemy? Sometimes it's God, wanting you to dream bigger! To believe bigger! And to trust bigger! 
God is saying to some of you right now, "I had to kill some of those dreams; some of those hopes, because they came from your "own" hearts, that are limited in understanding the fullness of what I have for you! I needed to build within you, a stronger faith in what I have purposed for your life. One who will say, "though you slay me, yet will I trust you!!!" There will be times in your life, when I will call on you to relinquish something and still expect you to stand there; because I need for you to know how to keep your eyes on me  even when everything else seems to be moving; and everything else seems to be crumbling down! I want your eyes to remain on me, when they tell you no! I want your eyes to remain on me, when that dream drifts away! keep your eyes on me, when that hope is fading away; because I want you to see that when everything else and everyone else fails....that is the "one" thing that I cannot do! Trust in me, for I cannot fail; Only I can give you hopes and dreams that will become your reality! Trade your deferred hopes in, for HOPE in me and DARE TO DREAM AGAIN!!!!

Prayer for Today:
Dear Lord, thank you for deferring the dreams that I have had for the dreams that you have for me! Thank you for showing me how to trust your methods of parenting, knowing that in the end, you will have raised a strong and mighty force that the cares of this world cannot blow down! My eyes are on you Lord at all times! I have traded in the dreams of my limitations, and  have replaced them with new expectations in you!! Praise your Holy Name!!! I will dare to dream again!

WHO AM I.. To Not Forgive?

                                                         
As I hung up from another blessed time in the Lord, on a recent prayer line, I couldn't help but to ponder about the topic of the day, which was "forgiveness". As comments came pouring in, I was asking myself, "where do you stand with this? I mean, do I have any un-forgiveness in my heart for anyone? hmmmm...do I?  I mean, is anyone ever really justified in NOT forgiving someone else? I would have to say NO! There is not a time where un-forgiveness is permitted; not now...not ever!!!  and so, who am I, not to forgive?

WHO AM I? 
 I am a person who have been wronged, as well as one who has wronged others! I have been   on  both sides of this fence, but when it comes to forgiveness:

WHO AM I?
 To keep you from experiencing the "same grace" that I experience each and every day, "knowing" that, if it were not for God's Grace and Mercy, I would be standing in your place, bearing that same cross that you are bearing right now! God passed the "grace card" to you, and so, you are to pass it on to someone else who needs it! We did not "create" grace and therefore, we have no authority of its recepients.

WHO AM I?  
To keep you trapped in the darkness of un-forgiveness, while I bask in the sunlight of his promises? For I remember all too well, the darkness of needing to be forgiven for my trespasses.

WHO AM I? 
 To keep your forgiveness at a stand still, while I walk in the forgiveness of my Savior?

WHO AM I?
  To "hold" you at a place of shame, while I ask God to move me to new levels in Him?


WHO AM I?  
To count you as un-eligible to receive your inheritance, that God has promised to believers, making them "joint" heirs with Christ? God forbid, that he would take away the inheritance that resulted in your adoption! because you sinned against him!

WHO AM I?  I am a person who needs to know that for every sin, that I have committed, I will be "charged" for each and every one of them, if I don't forgive......(a debt that I could never ever re- pay!!!!)  I am a person who needs to understand firmly, that in order for God to count me "blameless" (not guilty)!, I must first put down that finger of accusation, that is still pointing at someone else; exalting me to both judge and jury!  If we do not forgive, we force Jesus to put us on trial for every sin that we have committed against Him, and why stand trial for something that Jesus has offered you freedom from? Un-forgiveness "minimizes" the importance of why he died!

Jesus gave his life! based on forgiveness and if it was required of Him, in order to redeem us, it is required of us to uphold his sovereignty, if we are to be counted as "righteous". He was and still is the only person who can hold the title of REDEEMER. We were bought with a price, and it was for debts that we will never be able to repay. We will never be "perfect enough" to qualify for such credit as this!  

SO, WHO AM I?........ I AM SOMEONE WHO NEEDS TO BE FORGIVEN!!! FOR EVER TAKING THE PLACE OF MY SAVIOR, BY HOLDING HIS "GRACE CARD", INSTEAD OF PASSING IT ON!

NOW!! GO AND TELL THAT PERSON WHO NEEDS TO BE FORGIVEN THAT: 
"I FORGIVE YOU!  YOUR DEBT HAS JUST BEEN CANCELLED!!"  PRAISE GOD!!!!!

Prayer:
Thank you Lord, that the "GRACE" that you extend to me, is the "SAME GRACE" that you extend to others; that let's me know that un-forgiveness is NOT an option! and that forgiveness is the only option that I have for those who have wronged me. I don't take lightly, what you did for me on Calvery, and I will be sure to pass it on from this day forward! I now know, that forgiveness is the greatest gift ever given to man! therefore, I must walk in it, in order to receive it!  Thank you for your redeeming grace! In Jesus' name... Amen!

How Great Thou Art!!!

                                       
  HOW GREAT THOU ART!! by The Prayer Connection

This is simply a moment of "worship" .....God you are my everything! Where would I be without your love and your guidance? You are a God of Honor and your attributes are STELLAR! I don't have enough words to express to you how I feel, but this song delivers my sentiments perfectly!

10 Thousand sacred anthems; and 1 million sincere praisers,
cannot proclaim, how worthy Jesus is to me;


10 Thousand sacred anthems, 1 million sincere praisers; nothing and no one
can proclaim how worthy Jesus is; Jesus is to me.


10 Thousand sterling roses; 1 million gorgeous sunsets; are not more beautiful;  not more beautiful than Jesus is to me;


10 Thousand priceless gold coins, 1 million flawless diamonds; nothing, and no one is more beautiful, more valuable, than Jesus is to me;


No one can sing my Hallelujahs, they cost too many tears and pains to let them go;
No one could ever sing your praise for me, they don't know, what you've done for me,
so I'm pouring out my heart to let you know!


10 Thousand Saints who've crossed over; and 1 million prostrate Angels; they can't cry
Holy! Holy! Holy! they can't cry holy, Lord, for me!!


Your greater than 10 thousand; greater than 1 million.....How great Thou Art!!!



DEAR LORD: WE LOVE YOU TODAY, MORE THAN WE CAN SAY AND GREATER THAN
                        WE COULD EVER SHOW, BUT PLEASE EXCEPT OUR SINCERE WORSHIP
                        AND OUR HIGHEST PRAISE! FOR YOU, LORD ARE WORTHY OF IT ALL!

It's My Party and I'll Cry If I Want To!

IT'S MY PARTY AND I'LL CRY IF I WANT TO!©

(singing...)When I rose this morning, I didn't have NO doubt! This is going to be a perfect, self-fulfilling day!!! I need to get up and get ready, because I have a party to cater and I have to make sure that I have everything on my list, so that this party will be the best I have ever thrown. Do you want to come? Well, my apologies to you because this party is personal!!! and YOU are not invited!!!  Today is about me and me only!!! I AM THROWING MYSELF A WELL DESERVED...PITY PARTY!!!!!

Let's see! I have to first get rid of some things that can get in my way: The first is PRAYER! Prayer can not come to this party because I don't want anything to hinder me from feeling how I want to feel! This is MY day!!

Next: I must get rid of the Word! ....I mean, if I have to read one more thing, telling me what, when, why, and how to live my life, I am going to scream!!!!

Then, I need to let go of my faith! I don't feel like believing God for anything right now! Can I just have MY moment of frustration without any distractions?

NOW!!!! I can light my candles of shame, doubt, poor self-esteem, laziness, and reluctance! and pour myself a glass of uncontrollable tears to go with my self wrapped pity-filled presents!! Let the party begin!!!!!!

Can I get an Amen somebody!!!! How many of you have had one of these parties?? I have had countless ones and I tell you the truth, every time I throw one, I feel so defeated by the time it is over!!!  Why don't I feel better when the party is over? It's because I really DO need someone to show me and tell me...what, when, why, and how to feel!  God gives us everything we need to stay clear from pity parties! After all, these parties are designed by the enemy to help you to celebrate and join in on HIS DEFEATED FUTURE! and those presents that he helped you to wrap? Honey, they are empty!! empty promises and empty hopes that can leave you feeling empty of the one thing that is EVER PRESENT..and that is JESUS!  When you feel a pity party coming on, say a prayer, read the word, and send yourself a message that reads:  PARTY CANCELLED!!!!!!!

Romans 8 tells us that we are more than conquerors!!!! Believe it!!  and go celebrate your hope in Jesus!

Speak Life II..Charging The Air!

‎                

2 Corinthians 1:20 says that: All of the promises of God are yea and Amen!!! Thank you Jesus! This gives us good reason to speak your promises into the air daily!!!! We believe every word that comes from your mouth Father! And we receive what you have for us in Jesus' name. Amen! If you are praying for someone tonight, begin to speak life to their circumstances...God has given you authority over the enemy's tactics and every plan he tries to bring against you, will fail!!! Grab ahold of his promises! You and God together = the majority and Satan can't do nothing with that! ©

From: The Prayer Connection

..."Stop That Tongue!"

                                   

 Today's topic: The Power of The Tongue! 


Did you know that, out of all of the things that the tongue can be used for, (2) of those things are LIFE & DEATH!!! The bible says in Proverbs 18:21 that both, death and life are in the tongue. Why is that? Both, God and Satan are spiritual beings, and both, want to use our tongues to accomplish their own agendas. God wants to use your tongue to accomplish bringing life, love, encouragement, and exhortation to others, while Satan wants to "borrow" your tongue for purposes of negativity, death, and destruction. Satan has no other way to accomplish this except by us allowing him to "BORROW" our tongues, so that he can speak and be "heard." On the flip side of that; God wants to "USE" our tongues, in order that HE can speak life to others and their situations. Notice the difference between "borrow" (Satan) and "use" (God). Satan has to "borrow" our tongues, because we don't belong to HIM!! God wants to "use" our tongues that already belong to HIM, because HE created us! Praise God!! How will you use your tongue today? To bring LIFE? Or to bring DEATH? ©

Dear Lord, we first ask your forgiveness for allowing the enemy to borrow our tongues to hurt, destroy, tear down, and discourage others, including ourselves. We ask that you give us the presence of mind to speak LIFE, LOVE, and PEACE, being mindful that we are representing YOU God! Thank you for being ever so mindful of our behavior, because it shows us, just how much you love us and those who we speak to...In Jesus' Name. Amen  

I know God...I think!

The Prayer Connection       

                              

I know God!.... I think!! ......Today, I want to challenge you with a question: Do you KNOW God? or do you just know ABOUT God? This is a question that many people need to ask themselves, because if it's true that, it's about "who you know"...some of us may be in trouble! Have you asked someone about their "relationship" to God and their answer is: I KNOW God, because he wakes me up EVERY morning!! I hear that quite a bit and unfortunately, KNOWING that God woke you up this morning is not enough! The bible says that even Satan knows WHO God is and trembles (James 2:19). Make a resolution that this year, you will move past being an acquaintance of God and seek RELATIONSHIP with him! That is going to mean taking some steps towards him and offering something to him [your time, your heart, your obedience, and your love]...Start reading your bible, go to church so that you can hear more about him, and be more mindful of the things of God, and you will be well on your way to really "knowing" HIM.

 Dear Lord, we just want to say thank you, for another day; but we don't want to stop there Lord, because most times we take that day for granted! Give us the hearts to seek you more in 2012, for you said that if we knock, you will answer. This year Lord we are moving from "acquaintance" to "friend" as our way of showing you that we truly love you. Amen

I Thought I Had 20/20 Vision!

         THE PRAYER CONNECTION

‎"I Thought I Had 20/20 Vision"   By Michele Avery ©

 One of the first things that you may say when looking at something unusually amazing, is, "I don't believe my eyes!" ......Why do we say that? I mean, if I'm looking at it, shouldn't I believe what I'm seeing?" After all, if I'm seeing it, it must be there! Right? Or what about this one! “I’ll believe it, when I see it!” Should we only believe what we can see? Well, as Christians, we have a lot of sayings that, well, just shouldn't be a part of our vocabulary! We have been charged to see things a lot different than most people. For instance, "I don't believe my eyes!"....Well, a Christian who is walking in faith shouldn't believe their eyes! Why? Because OUR eyes have limited vision! Oh, did you think that because you have 20/20 vision, you could see clearly? God has only allowed you to see part of what is actually there, because he wants you to have faith for the rest....the UN-SEEN part!! This is the problem with our second saying: "I'll believe it, when I see it".....Well, the truth is, you may never see it, if you don't believe it!! Faith causes us to do away with our normal way of thinking and "seeing". It causes us to NOT rely on our physical vision, that may be blurred, tainted, tired, and distorted and to rely on God's Vision!! WOW! That’s a little harder than it sounds, isn't it? Well, there is another saying that says: "There is more than what meets the eye!" .....meaning, that no matter what you can humanly see, there is often times so much more available to you. God cannot allow you to see all there is at once because it would be too much for you to handle!!! What he does do though is show you a glimpse! Hoping that you will seek HIM for the remainder! Our vision is "limited" so; trust God today for your tomorrow!!! After all, Today is all he has given us to see....Perfect vision can only belong to a perfect God! And when it comes to God...."Seeing Is Believing"

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.    Hebrews 11: 1(NKJV) 

       

    Prayer for today:

Dear Lord, oh, that I might realize your love for me. Help me to understand that it is not necessary for me to see everything, and that limiting my vision sometimes is one of the ways that you protect me from seeing things that may frighten me or cause me to give up prematurely. It is my desire to trust you more and more, knowing that you can see me through to the end. Amen  

Lessons In Dead End Situations

                                                  

The Prayer Connection                                                             

 “Dead End Situations”   

          

Praise the Lord FB!! Today, I want to talk a little bit about "dead end situations". We all have come to a point in life when we just don't have the answers. A place where we have done all that we know how to do. A place where we realize just how "limited" we really are, when it comes to God's plan for our lives. Let me tell you that I have tried and tried to fix things that ended up worse because I used my OWN wisdom to find the solution. God will allow us to exhaust every single possibility in order to get us to a place of surrender!! He will render us powerless, therefore giving us a "feeling" that we are in a dead end situation....Now the good news!! II Corinthians 12:9 lets us "see" what God is up to during these times: "My grace is sufficient for thee: "FOR MY STRENGTH IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS" .....God is saying that, "I'm waiting for you to reach your limits, so that I can step in"...Hallelujah!!!! For those of you who are at dead ends; God is saying, "move aside, it's my turn to drive" .. ©

Today’s Prayer.....Dear Lord, thank you for shedding light on our "dead end" situations, and for revealing to us that although we are "limited", you are LIMITLESS!!!!!! FB...THANK GOD TODAY FOR HIS WISDOM!

Satan, I'm Leaving You!

                           

Satan!! "I'm leaving you!!" ©


(Jeremiah 29:11  For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. )

 One of the hardest things to do is to come to the conclusion that a marriage is over. (We will see marriage here, as anything that we have been bound to, such as habits, sins, emotional, spiritual, and mental defeat, trust issues, suicidal thoughts, self-esteem issues, etc...). Some of us have found ourselves married to defeat for far too long and have come to the conclusion that anything that is not from God, is from the Enemy! We were born into a world of sin and throughout our lives the effects of sin have caused chaos and destruction in our lives. Even those, who have given their lives to Christ, find themselves, at times, still unable to walk away from things and strongholds that the Enemy has attached to their lives.

 Well, today, and for the rest of our lives, we are serving papers to the Enemy!! We have lived in this mess for too long!! Tell him that, "I have lived this life for far too long, I have bent over backwards in this world trying to please you. I have depleted my finances, believed your lies, walked around feeling defeated in my illness, on the verge of suicide, being mean and irritable, afraid of trusting, and living in fear, instead of peace. I can't do this anymore with you devil! I have found a NEW love! His name is Jesus and he has always been around! Waiting eagerly for the day when I would decide to give him a try! I've tried him once or twice, but I continued to run back to you...afraid of REAL love! But this time it's different, because I want to live!!!! I now know that I deserve better!! This man has promised me love, abundance, peace, joy, and contentment; and I'm going to give Him a try!  He gave me a mirror and showed me a better me! I no longer see what YOU told me to see! You had me thinking that something was wrong with me! You had me thinking that I was a nobody and that my life could never change! ....But He told me that you were a liar and that the truth wasn't in you! He also changed my heart, and I no longer feel the way, YOU told me to feel! He has changed my mind, and I have traded thoughts of death, for thoughts of love and life.....and most of all? He has promised me that NOTHING WILL EVER!!!! Separate me from HIS love!!! EVER!! So, from now on! Don’t look for me, don't text me and don't call me!! I have moved to a place, where you are not welcome! A place of protection and safety! ....I am done with you and I will not look back! And by the way! I have forwarded ALL of my calls! ...Jesus will be taking my calls from now on!!" ........Hallelujah!!!

*Pack your bags and Run back to your first love!!!!! You will never regret making Jesus your choice!!

.

Father Know Best

The Prayer Connection                                    

‎"FATHER KNOWS BEST" ....How many of you remember this tv show? And how, at the end of the day, the children would have learned a very enriching lesson, and that is that, "Father knows BEST!" Today's topic is TRUST. The Word of God encourages us to trust in the Lord, with ALL of our hearts; and advises us not to lean upon our own understanding (Read Proverbs 3:5). Why is it that we can't handle our own problems? After all, we are adults right? Well, as we learned on yesterday, we are limited in our abilities and our understanding of things can become cloudy. Why not put our trust in a God, who has NO limitations or boundaries restricting him from moving freely in our lives? I can...until I can't, BUT, when I can't....God absolutely CAN!!! Hallelujah!! To the God of our trust! Who wouldn't want to serve a God like this!!!!!

Today’s Prayer:  Father, God, go with us today as we learn to walk in YOUR wisdom, and to transfer ALL of our CANT’S to you, Lord, who CAN!!  Have a blessed day as you trust God!

When God Changes The Station?

                              “The only constant in life, is change”

Acts 1:7 says:  He said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.

One day, I got in my car and turned on the radio, only to find that the programming that I had “locked in” on button #4 was not there at the specified time. I thought, "wait a minute! I know that this is the station that I always listen to, and this is definitely the same time that I listen to it! ...The familiar voice that I was used to hearing was no longer there. I began to hit the seek button, trying to find that familiar voice. No matter how I tried, I just couldn't locate it. Something had changed! So, what did I do? I listened to something else! But, was God trying to tell me something?

After about a month, God finally gave me some insight into that day.  ....Sometimes, we get so used to God speaking to us through this person or through that person, or at this specific time or that specific time and we get used to Him being in this place or that place. God told me that He will not be “locked in” to a specific place because HE is not, and will never be, a “predictable God!” Why? Well, it’s because we get comfortable on God. So comfortable in fact, that we no longer can hear his voice clearly, if at all.
Well, in an effort to re-familiarize us with HIS voice, he sometimes will initiate a change…Why? Because Satan lurks in the shadows of “predictability! He lurks in places of comfort and spiritual complacency, and so, God is saying, “I won’t always be where you found me last; you may have to continue “seek” me until you find my familiar voice!  
"Satan was lurking in that last place, because he noticed your comfort there; and because I did not create him omnipresent, nor did I create him, omniscient, I decided to change locations! And because satan is unable to “seek” me by his very own nature, I was hoping that you would use the “seek” button (that I've equipped you with)to locate me at our newest meeting place…..I will choose the place and the time! ....Once you find me, we will commune there! However, because I am a"random" God, it may only be for a moment, because I don’t want you to ever get “hung up” in a place that I am trying to move you from! I need for you to expect me to speak RANDOMLY! And at any given moment! And if I need for you to relocate, I need for you to do it! I may need you to relocate due to your surroundings, or because of who you are spending your time with! It can even be relocating spiritually, from the negative thoughts in your mind;  however, it will take a higher level of "seeking" for you to hear me in these cases.
Before, I came to you at a specific time, because at that time in your walk, this was my way of loving you at your level, but now, I am trusting you to seek me for a new level! One that will allow you to hear my voice, whenever, I speak and wherever, I speak.  And, although, I will never be predictable, the Holy Spirit will become your ever present “seek” button…He will lead you to me every time; so don’t fear, when you don’t hear my voice in that same familiar place or time slot; it just means that I have paused on your behalf for “station identification”, so that you will know, that when you seek me…You will, find me!!!

Prayer For Today:  

Dear Lord, thank you for speaking to me today, I now realize God, that when I don’t hear your voice in the same place or at the same time, it is only because you have changed position. And that this changed position God, is your way of calling me to deeper relationship and daily seeking. Lord help me in this area because I don’t always want to change positions. I don't always want to go deeper! Sometimes I will just opt to listen to something else, if it’s going to cost me something to locate you at a deeper level, but as with any good relationship, I know now that growth and maturity will cost me the predictability and comfort that I was so very used to.  Thank you for teaching me to be ready at all times; moving when you say to move; digging deeper when you say that it's time for a new level!   Amen

The Holding Pattern

·                         

·                Isaiah 55:8-9

8: For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord.

    9: For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

THE HOLDING PATTERN ©

As I read through some of my very first devotionals, I found that many of them needed revising. I came across the first devotional that I ever read publicly (which happened to be on the SIS line)! The title of it is The Holding Pattern! God began to give me some insight as to why he had me to pen this devotional. As I looked at it I began to ask myself if this was what was happening in my life? It seems as if after turning 50 everything began to halt! I wasn't hearing devotionals anymore in my spirit, I was tired all of the time, I began to get un-organized in everything...and I couldn't seem to hear from God the same way! My circumstances began to gain momentum! And I didn't always feel like praying...didn't always feel like reading...or intercessing...or caring! I was tired...exhausted...and seemed to be going round and round...and round...and round! 

The same routine...the same atmosphere...I found myself asking, "Am I still effective? Do I still have purpose? Why is everything just still and not moving!!?? 

God took me to The Holding Pattern. My first devotional. It reads like this:
What is God doing? And why doesn't He answer me, when I need Him to? Why is my life on hold!?? God put an airplane pilot in my spirit...probably because I've always been fascinated by airplanes. One of the things that I love about a pilot is that he or she has a great commitment to the people who are aboard their planes. Regardless to the many schedules and itineraries of the passengers, he or she will Not land a plane if the conditions are not favorable to do so. When conditions suggest a change...a change is made!

 Until then, the plane is put in what is known as a “holding pattern.” What types of conditions can cause this delay? Well, there could be problems caused by the weather; or the arrival times may have gotten off somehow; there could be a dangerous situations down below that may be keeping the plane from being able to land at that moment..or be allowed to move forward as planned.  The plane is ordered to remain in a “PROTECTED AIRSPACE”, until the situations clear... and a safe landing can take place.....A Holding Pattern!

It can sometimes be that way with us.  It seems as if our lives just halt all of a sudden! It seems as if we had it going on and then all of a sudden everything stopped flowing! Sometimes our spiritual well being is in need of maintenance and God is saying, "I'm putting you in a holding pattern until you are restored!" "That situation you're going through is to build you and so I have ordered a holding pattern because if I remove you too soon you won't be as effective as I need for you to be!" 

Sometimes, we get frustrated because God has not moved on our prayers, but it is because HE has us in a "holding pattern." Conditions are not favorable for him to release the answer yet; there are things in the way, maybe a relationship, disobedience, or sinful pleasures that we don’t want to get rid of...maybe un-forgiveness has you in a holding pattern....but hold on! There could be other reasons, such as, God wants to bless you, and take you to a new level in Him! Or could He be just waiting for you to re-make HIM as part of your daily itinerary.  Whatever it is that has caused God to put things on hold...Don't give up! The holding pattern is not forever! When the time is right you'll hear the pilot say, "we are now preparing to land!" God had you in a "protected airspace!" ...You thought it was punishment but God said it was protection!!  You thought your time was being wasted but God said, "your time was being managed!" "You thought you didn't have what it takes...but I was qualifying you!"

He's saying, If I allow you to land right now, you'll miss out on what I have for you! If I allow you to land right now you won't have the wisdom that I plan on giving you as a result of this storm you are currently in! You won't have the power yet that is on its way as a result of you going through the fire! It's not forever! Right now I am restoring, revising, and restructuring some things...and "I know exactly when to bring you in for a perfect landing!"

Today’s prayer:

Dear Lord, we ask your forgiveness, because we have not trusted your Word or your Sovereign timing. You have let us know many times in your Word that we can trust you and you have given us all that we need to do so; however, we have continued to lean upon our own understanding. Lord, we continue to see your timing as “delays”, which would mean that you have failed to meet OUR deadlines. Lord, let us be reminded that there is no failure in you, so there is no failure in your timing. Lord, we will begin to thank you for your Perfect Timing in our lives, knowing that you are all seeing, all knowing, and ever showing. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen