Every Day A Wash Day

Mr. DiCianni is my favorite artist. This picture of his has always moved my heart.

Ephesians 5:26, 27
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Paul is speaking here about the church being washed with God's Word, and that we might not have spot or wrinkle, and be without blemish.

Sometimes that seems like a tall order....but since it was inspired by God to be IN His Word, He also has provided for us the ability to BE so.

God's Word is powerful.

I Thessalonians 5:23 tells us:
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

WOW preserved BLAMELESS!

Colossians 1:28
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus

Perfect meaning mature.

II Peter 3:14
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

Jude 1:24
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy

WOOOOO HOOOOO!!!!!

There's GREAT promise and hope in God's Word.
Just want to encourage us all to make EVERYDAY a wash day. :)

Father, thank You for the Great promises we find in Your Word. HELP US to wash ourselves with Your Word, while we are renewing our mind to it. HELP US to keep our eyes on YOU and YOUR Word not whispers from hell, not whispers from man, not anything that is contrary to Your Word. HELP US to submit to Your Word every day of our lives. In Jesus' Name.

Disarmament? Never!

Mark 4:13-20
13 And He said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?
14 The sower sows the word.
15 And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.
16 These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble.
18 Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word,
19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
20 But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."

Earlier in chapter 4 Jesus spoke of a parable. This passage explains that parable.
He also said that if we don't understand THIS PARTICULAR parable, then we would not understand any of them. This one is the Granddaddy of them all.

It speaks about a person that "sows God's Word". Hearing God's Word.
Three times it tells us that satan comes FOR that Word.
vs. 15 says: Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.
vs. 17 says: for the word's sake
vs. 19 says: entering in choke the word

In Romans 8:35 tells us: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

In verse 17 we're told: tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble

Romans tells us that tribulation and persecution is a WHO. So WHO do you think is bringing tribulation and persecution to cause us to stumble? :) There's not much left to the imagination here.

In verse 19 it says: and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

What we're looking at here is:
Cares of this world. Not trusting God.
Deceitfulness of riches. The notion that money would solve all our problems.
Desire for other things. Not putting God first.

The devil knows that if he can bring distraction and keep our eyes off God's Word, it makes his job a WHOLE LOT EASIER.

He's not after our health or that of our family.
He's not after our financial security.
He's not after our marriages.
He's not after our children.
He's not after our peace of mind and heart.
He's not after ANYTHING but God's Word.

It' all about the Word. He knows that the Word is what defeats him.

The enemy of our lives knows that if he can bring one blow after another, after another after another, it will bring discouragement to us. His intent is to bring so much discouragement that we will close our Bible and lay it aside. When we do that, God's Word is not in front of our eyes, does not go into our heart, nor does it come out of our mouths. If we come to that place, he's accomplished what he was after to begin with. DISARMAMENT.

Remember over in Ephesians 6:10-18 we're told about weapons of warfare, the Whole Armor of God. There are six pieces to our armor.
1. Helmet of salvation
2. Shield of faith
3. The Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
4. Breastplate of righteousness
5. Belt of truth
6. Shoes of peace

Out of these six pieces of armor, 5 of them are defensive.
Only ONE is offensive.
The only ONE Piece that is offensive is the Sword of the Spirit - God's Word.

The ONLY thing that defeats the devil is God's Word.
Remember when Jesus was in the wilderness after He was baptized in water...and God's Spirit came down upon Him. After He was praying and fasting for about 40 days, satan came to him three different times to proposition Jesus. What was Jesus' response each time?

IT IS WRITTEN!
IT IS WRITTEN!
IT IS WRITTEN!

Jesus brought to the enemy, of all of our lives, the Word of God.
He sat a good example for us didn't He?

Mark chapter 4 is about NOT allowing the devil DISARM us. He's out to remove the Word of God from our mouths, our eyes. He knows that if we have God's Word sown into our hearts and we guard it and USE it and not allow him to steal it from us then we're not under his influence. Besides, because of the finished work of Jesus he is already DEFEATED. Jesus defeated satan in hell, and all of his minions were a witness to that defeat. They already know that their masters defeat is theirs also. They HATE that, and have GREAT fear and dread about anyone who KNOWS who they are in Christ Jesus, and can make confident use of GOD'S WORD.

Father, I ask You to HELP US! Help us to not just hear Your Word but to GUARD it with all that is in us. Help us to BELIEVE Your Word, to SPEAK Your Word and NEVER allow the lies from hell to influence us to lay it down. Your Word will be around even when heaven and earth pass away. Your Word is what created and set the universe in motion...and holds it together. Your Word is what has brought us out of the kingdom of darkness and INTO THE KINGDOM OF LIGHT, YOUR KINGDOM. Hallelujah! Lord, HELP US, to keep our eyes on You. Help us to keep on putting Your Word into our hearts regardless of what card the devil plays against us. We will not, WITH YOUR HELP, ever become disarmed. In the Name of Jesus.

In His Presence

Psalm 16:11
You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

-Show us the path of life?
-Fullness of joy?
-Pleasures forever more?

For JUST being in GOD'S presence? Ministering to Him in worship and praise?

WOW!!!! I'll take THAT!!! LOL

Father, HELP US to come into YOUR presence, and THANK YOU for ALL it's benefits. In Jesus' Name.

In Jesus' Name

We're instructed by Jesus to not pray to Himself. We're to pray to God, our Father, in Jesus' Name.

John 16:23, 24 tells us:
23 "And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.
24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

John 14:12-14
12 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

John 15:16
16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

It's not just a now I lay me down to sleep prayer. It's approaching the Father with the Authority of Jesus' Name and ALL He accomplished for us. It's not just a "post script" or "just a nice thing to do". We're taking all the power and authority that Jesus had and that He gave to us...all the price He paid FOR US, because we could not have....it's taking everything God sent Him here to do for us and bringing it to the Father, because that was His acceptable sacrifice to Himself FOR US.

Father, I ask You to HELP US to remember the instructions that Jesus gave us about prayer. HELP US to go to YOU in prayer in the Name of Your Son, with His finished work. In the Name of Jesus. Amen

The Bonds of Unforgiveness

In the Book of Acts chapter 8 there is an account of a sorcerer named Simon. He had witnessed the laying on of hands of Peter and John, and the people receiving the Holy Spirit. Simon offered money to Peter and John to be able to have the power to lay hands on folks so they could receive the Holy Spirit.

Well, Peter's response was "Your money perish with you because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgive you. FOR I SEE THAT YOU ARE POISONED BY BITTERNESS AND BOUND BY INIQUITY."

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The notations in my Bible say this:
KINGDOM DYNAMICS 8:23 The Bonds of Unforgiveness, DELIVERANCE A sorcerer is one who deceives, manipulates, and delights to control others and does so by demonic enablement. Peter identified the basis for Simon's sorcery as bitterness -- the deepening effect of unforgiveness (v.2). Here is warning regarding the danger of tolerated or embraced unforgiveness, which may, like poison, permeate and bind the sould, ultimately corrupting everything around it. In Simon's case, his bitterness shaped his passion to control others (vs. 19) -- which prompted his request to purchase the ability to impart the gift of the Holy Spirit. Though having believed and been baptized (vs 13), the residue of his past bondage surfaces as he unworthily seeks power to manipulate others for self-exalting purposes. Peter discerns the root of his bondage (vs 23) and summons Simon to repentance and deliverance. Though Simon did not repent, this episode still points to one of the foremost keys to deliverance from entrenched bondage in a believer's soul -- the act of forgiveness. Forgiving others from our heart flushes out the "poison" with the power of the Cross. In contrast, unforgivenss can, as with Simon, lead down paths we would never have imagined we would travel. (See Matthew 6:14, 15; Colossians 3:13; Hebrews 12:15-17)

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The poison of unforgiveness can go far and wide in everyones life. It will lead us down paths that we never dreamed.

Our oldest is 37 this year and her younger brother is 31. When they were very small we had gone downtown to run errands. She was about 6 and our son was yet in arms, around a year old. We were getting out of our car, I saw our reflection in the pane glass of a business I'd parked in front of. At that time I heard, as plain as I'd ever heard God speak to my heart say: "If you don't forgive that dead man, you will never go any farther in Me." I knew who that dead man was, there was no mistake.

All of my life God had been the most important part of my life, and when I heard that, it just about took my breath away. I could not imagine a living without a active relationship with Him.

I finished my errands, all while pondering what I'd heard.

Afterwards, I poured my heart out to God and told Him that I did not want ANYTHING coming between He and I, was willing to forgive but that unforgiveness had been such a huge part of my life that I was in a rut and stuck, and didn't know how to. Told Him that I was willing, but that I needed His help. Well, He did, and I was able to gain the release from the bonds of unforgiveness that I knew now I needed.

I cannot begin to imagine what my life would have become as a result of bitterness and unforgiveness. There were things that was thrust upon me as a child that I did not know how to deal with. None of us needs to remain in ignorance and bondage. With the help of the Lord and the power of the finished work of Jesus, He came to set the captive free.

Simon was in a situation described by Peter: "poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity."

Father, I ask You to HELP US. We need Your help to show us YOUR way. If there is any unforgiveness that has turned into bitterness in our lives, I ask You, by Your Spirit, to shine the light of Jesus upon it. Expose it so we may knowingly and willingly walk towards and extend forgiveness and bring us the release from bitterness. NONE OF US wish to be embittered people, Lord. I thank You that You know the hearts of all people, and that Your will for us is to live fulfilling lives. That cannot be done if there are "bitterness and iniquity" in our lives. I submit myself to You, Lord, and plead the Blood of Jesus over us all, asking that You bring an end to a long and hard path that has been a result of unforgiveness. In the Name of Your Son, Jesus.

That Secret Place

I'm still thinking about Psalm 91 and His Secret Place. This looks like a BEAUTIFUL secret place doesn't it? But even as lovely as it is, the PLACE we have in the Lord is far more.

His secret place is where we ABIDE and stand and withstand everything that comes our way. It's a place where we can wait in hope and in patience. It's where we are preserved...and a lasting stronghold against intruders. It's a place for us to REMAIN in....to be a partaker in the Word of God, in the fellowship of that dwelling/abiding place. We have access to His power in that place. When we stay in that place we are not going to become prey in the snare of the fowler. There are so many wonderful promises of protection in Psalm 91.

Even if, per chance, we wander out of that secret place and fall prey to a trap of hell, we've been given many promises about His Mighty Hand of deliverance. Thank God.

Father, I ask YOU to HELP US to STAY, ABIDE, DWELL, REMAIN in the Secret Place of Yours. That it become as sweet as honey to us. I thank You Lord that all the benefits of that chapter is OURS, all the protection, guidance and peace are ours as we learn to confidently trust in You. Thank You Lord for HELPING US, in Jesus' Name.

Are Negatives Developing?

I have a friend that has always said, "If you pray, why worry. If you worry, why pray." It's either one or the other, isn't it? :)

When we TAKE THOUGHT SAYING...remember over in Matthew 6:31 that tells us:
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
When we take thought saying, we need to be careful what we are thinking about and what we are saying.

The enemy of our lives KNOWS the power of our words because we're made in the image of God. If he can get us to worrying about anything at all, we'll be pondering it and we'll fill ourselves up with worry and it WILL come out of our mouths. All that devil wants to do is to get us to SPEAK THE WORRY from our own mouth. If we do, then it's set in motion, and it's coming to us.

Remember the spiritual principle that brought us to JESUS to begin with. If we believe in our hearts and speak with our mouth, then we receive salvation. That's not only how we receive salvation, but EVERYTHING else as well.

It's easy to allow worry to hang around, and if we're not careful we've spent sometimes a whole day entertaining worry...and along with it negatives really ARE developed, aren't they? LOL Then it's easy to give voice to them, and set them into motion. God HELP US.

That's one of the reasons God put Philippians 4:6-8 to remind us:
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

God I renounce and cut off every thought of worry that has come to me, and that I have spoken with my mouth. Lord, you told us that You are uncompromisingly righteous and cut asunder the thick cords by which the enemy would enslave us. I thank YOU for cutting those words off by Your Spirit and I speak death to any fruit that has been produced or is BEING produced in my life from them. With Your HELP Lord, I will keep my mind stayed on You, and everything that is TRUE, honest, just, pure, lovely, every good report from YOUR WORD, anything that bears virtue and praise I will keep those things before my eyes and heart, in the Name of Jesus. Those are the things that I will fill my heart up with and speak from my mouth. I CHOOSE YOU, Lord. I CHOOSE Your ways, not my own or those of our enemy. I thank You that You make every crooked path in front of me straight, and that I have my sights set on You, in the Name of Jesus.

When Fear Knocks

When I saw this graphic, I remembered a place over in II Timothy 1:7 KJV that tells us:
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

While growing up, fear was very much a part of my life. Always. I was afraid of much in my life...spoke like it and lived like it.

I did not know that fear is a spirit, it's an evil spirit. God has not given us a spirit of fear. We're told what to do with evil spirits is over in James 4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

We are not match for any "spirit"....holy or otherwise. We cannot approach an evil spirit under our own steam, but all we have to do is to submit ourselves to GOD, turn and rebuke that foul spirit and it HAS to flee. Not because of me, not because of my good looks, intelligence, or because I said please, but because of the finished work of God's Son, Jesus. After submitting myself to God, and I turn to speak to a foul spirit, it's not seeing me, it's seeing God.

Whenever fear knocks on your door again, I ask God to remind you that this is what you can do, and it works. God's Word always works.

Do you KNOW GOD resides INSIDE you?

I Thessalonians 4:4
That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour

Romans 6:19
I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

Aren't these lovely pots? They sit there gracefully, and make the entry to this building look regal. We are pots, vessels. If we are Believers in Jesus and have asked Him into your lives.... We need to yield ourselves to holy living like we KNOW God lives on the inside of us. We house the Lord, the holy of holies resides inside of us, now. Not in synagogue's, churches or other places of worship. God help us to ALLOW our lives to be made of choices that honor and bring glory to God.

Father HELP US to walk in holiness, and to stay sanctified (set apart unto YOU) and to be honorable. Lord HELP US to yield ourselves to righteousness (right standing with you) and walk in holiness. We need Your help, in Jesus' Name.

Psalm 91

Psalm 91

1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

This is a dwelling place, not a visiting place.

2 I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust."
3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

God HELP ME to trust You forever!

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
8 Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
10 No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
11 For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
12 In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

Thank You Lord for ALL of your Divine protection.

14 "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation."

I HAVE set my love upon You, Lord...thank You for delivering me and setting me on high. I WILL call upon You, and YOU DO answer me. Thank You for Your promise to deliver, honor me, satisfying me with long life and showing me YOUR salvation, in Jesus' Name.

I Am is speaking...

At the risk of sounding strange, the Lord spoke to our fellowship just very recently. What He speaks to one part of the Body - He is speaking to the entire Body of Christ. We are so Blessed to have the privilege of His presence. Aren't we all? I seldom share these things, but after going over some notes this evening, I wanted share tonight. I took notes as quickly as I could and after transcribing them, this is what I have....

Don't be coy when it comes to My Word.
Why don't you knock and say I'm entering in?
Entering into My power.
Entering into My instruction.
Entering into My presence.

Push, knock - enter in.
Don't stay where you are.....come in.

You have told Me, "I've gone and witnessed."
Keep on saying it - keep going.
Don't say that's enough. Say I will go and do.
"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
I am able to go before you and make the crooked path straight.
When I do --- GO.

There's going to be an explosion of My power.
Be ready, be prepared, and enter in.
I'm not through with the nations.
Enter in.
Don't hide under the bushel. I want to edify the Church and build it up.
It's by My Spirit.

There are things that you have not released.
Be ready to takes these gifts and give them to the Church.

An open door is right now before you, don't let it close.
When one moves, the others will move.
OPEN DOOR of healing, miracles, gifts, provisions, enlightenment.

Are you - will you be willing?
I AM THE DOOR - What you're looking at is Me.
You live and breathe in Me.
You are seeing Me.
I am the Door - come in.
Don't listen to the enemy.
You hear My Word.
I know you have faith, and I want to fix your faith.
Your soul has zeal for Me and your body is the temple.
I want to touch you and to do for others.

Watch, look, listen and see.

Do not concentrate and do for the world.
I am here.
Don't think you are in the world, think of yourself living, and breathing in My shelter.
Don't be entangled in the things of this world.
I say to you, don't be entangled.

When you breathe, breathe words of life, not death.
See that you don't blow anything out but Life.
Speak to the bones.
Receive a new tongue, a new speech right now.
Renew your mind.
Your words are powerful, don't breathe out threatenings.
People are dying all around because of words.
If you cut that off, it's cut off for you and others.
If you hear death, speak life over it.

I give you instruction, teaching, strength, life and knowledge.
I say to you LIVE.
Breathe on others that they might have life.

I have given it, what are you going to do with it?

We'll be saved....and OUR HOUSE.

My baby brother stands at about 6'5", is a brawny fellow with a long beard and looks like a mountain man. (Which he has been for many years.) He was here for a visit last week for a few days, and it was WONDERFUL to see him. Yesterday was his birthday. I gave him his gift while he was here...a nice old pocket watch and chain.

I was remembering the place over in Acts 16 where we are told that we shall be saved AND OUR HOUSE. That jailer, remember him? That jailer was fearful for his life when the prisoners were set free by God's Spirit. The gang witnessed to him and he received salvation, and then they said that he'd be saved AND HIS HOUSE.



We all know what it's like when there's any kind of bondage in our lives. We taste it, feel it, are burdened by it, loose sleep because of it, become ill because of it, the enemy of our lives takes no greater pleasure than get us tangled up in his web of bondage.

There's a place in God's Word that tells us that the Lord is uncompromisingly righteous and he cuts asunder the cords by which the devil would enslave us with.

Psalms 129:4 (Amplified version)
4The Lord is uncompromisingly righteous; He has cut asunder the thick cords by which the wicked enslaved us.

HALLELUJAH!!!

Sometimes when I see my brother, I'll pull his shirt collar down to my face and tell him, "I'm not going to Heaven without you, AND I'M GOING TO HEAVEN. Get things right with God."

None of us have time to mess around, and mince words and play patty-cake, do we?

WE HAVE THE PROMISE OF THE FAMILY!!!! GLORY TO GOD!!!

Father, I thank You that You've made provision so that we can come boldly before Your throne. You have given us the promise of our families...I receive that. I declare that every ungodly chain that the devil has enslaved my brother with is cut asunder, by YOU, in Jesus' Name. I call him out of darkness into Your Kingdom of Light. I decree that the blinders that has been placed over the eyes of his heart be removed and destroyed, in Jesus' Name. I call for laborers to cross his path and with the gospel...whether it's a face to face encounter, or through ANY KIND of media. I call for Divine Appointments for my brother, and that You cause him to be hungry and thirsty for YOU, Your Word and for FREEDOM from the bondage of hell. I ask You to display YOUR great Love to Him at every corner of his life. I ask You to cause Him to KNOW when he hears YOUR gospel, that it's what he's looked for all his life...and it satisfies his heart....and runs into YOUR open arms for HIM. Deliver him from evil, satisfy his heart...because when our hearts are not satisfied with YOU, we will embrace the bitter things and call it sweet. I call you out of darkness Darel, I call you saved, sanctified, filled with the Holy Spirit, free of the graveclothes of hell, and walking in the paths that GOD HAS FOR YOU, in the Name of Jesus.

Got Burdens?

Psalm 55:22
Cast our burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

Isn't that a wonderful promise?

The notations in my Bible say this:

WORD 55:22 sustain, chul (kool); Strong's #3557: To maintain, nourish, provide food, bear, hold up, protect, support defend; to supply the means necessary for living. Occurring nearly 40 times, chul primarily suggests "to measure out a provision of food,": that is, "to provide." In some references chul means "to contain," "to receive," or "to hold" (see I Kings 7:26; II Chronicles 7:7; Jeremiah 2:13). In Genesis 50:21, Joseph pledges to provide for his brothers and their little children. In the present reference, God will support, nourish, and provide for any person who acknowledges that the burden of cruel treatment (v. 21) is one that only the Lord can handle.

Psalm 27:14
Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Psalm 37:5
Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring [it] to pass.

Psalm 62:8
Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

Psalm 63:8
My soul follows hard after thee: thy right hand upholds me.

Isaiah 50:10
Who is among you that fears the LORD, that obeys the voice of his servant, that walks in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.

Matthew 6:31-34 - Jesus tells us:
31 "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Father, I ask You to HELP US to trust You, put You first in our lives, to commit our way to You, to wait on You and be strengthened. Lord I ask YOU to pour our hearts our to YOU, no other can restore and help us. You are our refuge, and after we cast our burdens upon YOU, You will not permit us to be moved. Thank You! Help us to keep our eye on You, in Jesus' Name.

Speak to Any Mountains Lately?

Mark 11:22-24 tells us:
22 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God."
23 "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.
24 "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

There are some notations in my Bible that goes thus:

WORD WEALTH 11:22 faith, pistis (pis-tis); Strong's #4102: Conviction, confidence, trust, belief, reliance, trustworthiness, and persuasion. In the New Testament setting, pistis is the divinely implanted principle of inward confidence, assurance, trust, and reliance in God and all that He says. The word sometimes denotes the object or content of belief (Act 6:7; 14:22; Galatians 1:23)

KINGDOM DYNAMICS 11:20-24 Taking Authority and Victorious Warfare, FAITH'S WARFARE. Our Savior's action in cursing the fig tree indicates a passion in prayer and faith that we need to learn. When the disciples later noticed with surprise that the tree had withered completely (v.20), Jesus responded with a sharp command, "Have faith in God." Then, calling His followers to "speak to mountains," He led them to prepare for situations in which they would find it necessary to take direct authority in the spiritual realm to impact things in the natural realm.
(Ezra 8:21-23; Psalms 126:5,6)

KINGDOM DYNAMICS 11:23 Speak to the Mountain, PATHWAY OF MIRACLES. Real and tangible obstacles often loom as blockades against the accomplishment of God's purpose through His sons an daughters. Jesus' command to speak into the face of such obstacles is not a figure of speech, nor is it a superstitious exercise. It is an act of faith. Learning to speak to our "mountains" helps us to grow in strength; and seeing those mountains moved by God's merciful hand encourages to continue to believe for the miraculous. He makes the impossible not only possible, but He makes impossible things actually come to pass by His power. We truly serve a God of signs, wonders, and miracles; and He is able to move the mountains that are standing in our way!
James 2:26; Luke 6:38)

Prayer Not For The Fainthearted

James 5:16 tells us:.... The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

This picture I've borrowed from the online art mall, because it shows that our prayers do not go without notice. There are shadows on the wall by the window. I love knowing that God has His angels doing His work FOR us. Mr. DiCianni was capturing the power of prayer in this picture.

I think many people think of prayer as something for the weak in mind and spirit. You know, like..."Now I lay me down to sleep", or maybe "Mary had a little lamb." A "wishful" musing that serves to placate ourselves or others in difficult times, in hopes to bring us relief and/or peace.

Prayer is communication with the One that Created us. It may be something that we breathe from a grateful heart with Thanksgiving, or giving Him honor with praise that is the fruit of our lips. It may also be standing in place FOR someone with the power and authority that Jesus brought with Him when He defeated satan in the presence of his own minions, was raised from hell with the keys to death, hell and the grave. He delegated that same authority to the Body of Christ, to defeat the enemy of our lives.

We're told in the Bible that God looked for ONE MAN to stand in the gap for entire nations, and pray.
We're told in the Bible that we're to pray that God's will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. What do we see around us that would not, could not be in Heaven?
We're told all through God's Word what has been affected with prayer. Wars have been won, lives have been healed, raised from the dead, people have been brought to restoration and wholeness...miracles, redemption from situations that are beyond our own imaginations.

Often, folks think of the Scripture as a nice story to read, and that it doesn't have much to do with how we live now.

IT IS what created this Earth and all that is in it.
IT IS what brings each of us OUT of the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Light. Salvation is believing in our hearts what we hear from God's Word, and confessing it with our mouths. God made it simple enough for even a child to understand.

People may pray to any number of gods. As Christians, we pray to God. Petitioning Him for what we cannot effect with our own flesh. Things that take Divine Intervention.

In I John 5:14, 15 we're told:
14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

Don't know what His will is? Go on a treasure hunt in the Bible. It will fill your heart with faith and bring the confidence we need to pray what He says.

Prayer is powerful. The effectual fervent prayer of the righteous person WILL avail much. It will accomplish everything that God sends it to through our own mouth.

Prayer is not for wimps or the fainthearted. It's taking a bold stand against a bold devil and his agendas. It's ALWAYS a win-win situation when we stand in prayer with God's Word. God will move Heaven and Earth to answer our prayers.

Next time you pray, Go to Ephesians 6 and make use of it with GREAT confidence. Be encouraged and know that circumstances in your life are not without remedy. Jesus paid a BIG price for our ability to come boldly before the Throne of Grace and make a difference here on Earth. Not only in our own lives, but to be people that will not sit back quietly and watch without taking a bold stand in prayer.

Father, I ask You to HELP US to remember to come to You with Your Word with confidence and KNOW that we can always make a difference, through Prayer. In Jesus' Name.

Salty Light?

Matthew 5:15 says:
"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

We are the salt of the earth and everywhere we go, we're suppose to be PRESERVING something.
We're also suppose to making folks THIRSTY for Jesus and MORE of Him.

14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

We're SALT and LIGHT.

Father, I ask You to HELP US. Help us to be the salt, to savor and preserve.. and light that people may see YOU and that YOU may be glorified. You've called us to make a difference wherever we go, all the days of our lives, in the Name of Jesus.

Is There A "who" in Your Life?

In Romans 8:35 it says:
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

I've always thought that it interesting that this passage calls tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril and sword a WHO.

Tribulation will come.
Distress will come.
Persecution will come...etc etc.

They are a "who", and those "who" will park right there in our lives and attempt to separate us from God.

...it says...we're accounted as sheep for the slaughter....NO, in ALL these things we are more than conquerers through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

What do we do with those "who", those demons that would bring our lives to destruction?

The Bible says not to give place to the devil, remember?

Remember Joseph, his Daddy and Mom gave him a coat that was really a fine piece and colorful. It was more than a coat...it represented his anointing.

Joseph had dreams from God, he shared them with his siblings and they were offended. When Dad showed favor to the brat and gave him the coat, that was about it! They were ticked off.
They did wrong by the boy and sold him to a caravan as a slave, that was traveling to Egypt. They lied to their Dad and told him he was killed by a wild animal.

Joseph found favor, then the boss' wife yelled "rape" and he found himself in prison, unjustly.

That boy had to forgive. Forgive his brothers, forgive his boss' wife, and stay sweet in his soul. He had to keep his faith, and the dreams God gave him, and keep his eye on God.

I'm sure he came to the place where he may have said, "I don't know where this is going, but I'm not staying here. God You didn't tell me all those things for me to rot in prison!"

Joseph didn't understand it, but he didn't quit. Out of his goodness came jealousy and deceit, but His God delivered him, and fulfilled His plan for Joseph.

When we find a "who" approaching us, we need to enter into God, the devil cannot follow us there. It's not God's will that I perish or have my head hung down.

"You're not going to park here in my life, devil, I'm not going to give you a place. I don't know where this is going, but I'm NOT staying here in this place. God is my DELIVERER!" HALLELUJAH!

I want to encourage you to KNOW that there is NOTHING that can separate you from God's Love. None of the "who" that is listed here can overcome you and I, because we are made more than conquerers, through Him that LOVED US.

Now I understand what a conquerer is, but we're told here that we're MORE than a conquerers. Man, that's like a fighter/boxer, wrestler goes into the ring and comes out a winner, and brings home the winnings to Mama. Mama is more than a conquerer.

You and I are more than conquerers.

Father, I thank YOU that YOU have made GREAT provision for all of us. You knew what we would be up against in this world and You covered every base for us all. I thank YOU for making us aware "who" our enemy is, and that Jesus already went to hell, defeated him on his own turf, with all of his minions as a witness. He was raised from the dead and brought with Him the keys of death, hell and the grave. Then delegated Your authority to the Body of Christ. THANK YOU JESUS! Thank You for HELPING US to stand in places of victory, even when it may not look like. It's a good place, dwelling in Your Secret Place, and standing on Your Word. In Jesus' Name.

Law of Faith?

I've been reading from a book authored by Charles Capps entitled Faith and Confession.

Some of the things Mr. Capps deals with in this work are:
-How the law of faith works
-The difference between confession and a lie
-How to receive God's provision
-Using wisdom when acting on faith
-How doctors and medicine work with faith for healing.

Part of the cover says:
God has the answer to every problem you may face, but understanding how His spiritual laws work can mean the difference between life and death. Find out the important truths of Faith and Confession that will bring victory to your life.

I'm posting a very brief excerpt that I hope you enjoy.

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Faith is Substance - Hope is Goalsetter

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

Paul says, Now faith is...Even though the word now is not used as a present-tense word, let's use it that way to provoke your thinking. Let's think of the words on both sides of the word faith as being present-tense words: Now faith is.

Faith that is the substance of things hoped for is always now faith. The substance of things hoped for is always now.

You can say it several different ways. If faith is not now, it's not faith. If it's not faith that is present tense, it's not the substance of things hoped for.

Hope is always out there in the future.

Many people miss it here. They confuse hope and faith. They say, "Well, I believe God is going to do this sometime."

But God has done all He is ever going to do about healing. He has done all He will ever do about your finances. He has done all He will ever do about the devil until the end times.

The promise of God is already spoken. God's will is His Word. His Word is His will. The New Testament is the last will and testament of Jesus. He has already said "yes" to it. It's not a matter of what He is going to do someday. It's a matter of us receiving what He has already done.

God could have created the world any way He wanted it. He could have created this earth and said, "We are going to have a 'feel like' world. When you get up in the morning, however you feel, that's just the way it will be." But He didn't do it that way.


Law of Faith

Faith is a law. It's a law of God. The Apostle Paul walk about that in Romans 3.

Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of work? Nay: but by the law of faith. Romans 3:27

Paul was referring to receiving Jesus by faith and entering into the provisions by faith. He says ou can't boast about it - you can't boast about the fact that your sins are gone, because it is something you have received by faith.

"Where is boasting then?" It is excluded. By what law? Word? No, but by the law of faith.

The law of the Old Testament was a law of works. But now under the New Covenant, it's by the law of faith. So we could say that faith is the law of the New Covenant.

Under the law, their works made them righteous. But under the New Covenant, righteousness is not by works but by faith. Righteousness now comes through the law of faith.

Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. Romans 3:31

What law is Paul establishing? The law of faith. I believe this is the same law the Apostle Paul refers to in Romans 8.

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Romans 8:6,7

The carnal mind cannot operate in the law of God. I believe the law of God he is referring to is the law of faith. It is like God's law of gravity. It works. Whether or not you believe it, it still works. The law of gravity works all the time. God's law of faith works and it works all the time.

The problem is that some people don't work it.

The law of gravity is mandatory. This law of faith is optional. But God tells us how to operate it. It will work whenever it is applied properly. It will not work whenever we fail to work it God's way.

Gentle Breezes

Where I live, I'm landlocked and we don't have fresh sea food, nor do we have the benefit of smelling salt air with the breeze that comes off the beach.

Once, long ago we lived in So. California, about 6 blocks from the water, and from my upstairs bedroom balcony, I could see the water rolling in at the nearby beach. It smelled good, and my HAIR LOVED the moisture.

Brings back good memories.

In Psalm 34:8 we're told: O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusts in him.

My tastebuds have never "tasted" the Lord, but my heart has. He's always left sweet impressions on my heart. I can take that anywhere I live, and it's always fresh in my own spirit and life. I benefit from the breeze of His Holy Spirit, His presence in my spirit, my soul AND my body and it is never just a memory.

Thank You, Lord.

Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones But Words Will Set Me FREE

There's a place in God's Word where the "religious" people of that day brought a woman that was "caught" in adultery to trap Jesus with His words and discredit Him with the people that were learning by Him. They were afraid of the influence He had with the people.

Well, they didn't bring the "fellow" caught in adultery...don't you know, and according to "law" they were both to be brought and dealt harshly with, in public. Stoned....killed.

Thank God Jesus came to FULFILL the law.

Jesus was just so cool....He stooped down and began writing in the dirt in front of Him. I've always wondered what He was writing...THEIR OWN sin maybe. Have often thought that maybe He was writing down some of their own mistresses names. BUT He was probably writing down some of God's Word that convicted them, and they couldn't face it, and walked away.

John 3:17 tells us:
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Jesus moved with the compassion of the Father...you know He didn't come to condemn that woman, He just told her to go and not do it again. Set her free spirit, soul and body. NO CONDEMNATION, just the Love of the Father.

He told us that He did only what He heard from His Father. That's what we as "Christians" are suppose to be doing. BUT we'll not KNOW what the FATHER would do if we don't consume God's Word. That's where we learn His character, His heart, His will, and are shown His example through Jesus.

He fed the hungry
He healed the sick
He raised the dead
He loved the unlovable
He set the captive free
He showed the LOVE of the Father
He cast out devils
He restored lives and made them whole
He gave hope to those without hope
He brought beauty where lives were just a heap of ashes
He never never believed that anyone was a "throw away."
He was MOVED BY THE COMPASSION of His Father.

None of us will ever know those things unless we put God's Word in front of our eyes and into our heart, will we?

Father, HELP US to LEARN how to display YOUR Love, from Your Word, in Jesus' Name.

Recipe Swap

The first Thursday of each month Randy at "i have to say"... hosts a recipe swap. It's that time again.

My contribution is a yummy carrot cake from a Southern Living Cookbook I've had a LONG time. It's called....

Supreme Carrot Cake.

Ingredients-
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 large eggs
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups grated carrot
1 (8 oz.) can crushed pineapple, drained
1 (3 1/2 oz.) can flaked coconut
1 cup chopped pecan

Top with the Buttermilk Glaze below or your favorite cream cheese frosting.

Directions -
- Grease and flour your backing pan.
- Stir together first 4 ingredients. Beat eggs and next 4 ingredients at medium speed with electric mixer until smooth. Add flour mixture, beating at low speed until blended. Fold in carrot and next three ingredients. Pour batter into prepared pan.
- Bake at 350* for 25-30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean
- Drizzle warm Buttermilk Glaze evenly over warm cake.
- Spread frosting, chill cake several hours. Store in refrigerator.


Buttermilk Glaze
The preparation time on this is about 3 minutes
Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions-
Bring first 5 ingredients to a boil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Boil 4 minutes, stirring constantly until glaze is golden. Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla. Cool slightly.
Yield: 1 1/2 cups.

If you like carrot cake...this will sure to become a favorite.
Enjoy!

Trust

Jeremiah 17:7
Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is in the Lord.

We cannot depend upon our own ingenuity, craftiness, the dictates of our own heart, or abilities.....or "...we can work this out with a little....."...Nope.

I remember not long ago I was tossing and turning in my bed, mulling over and over what could be done about a situation that concerned me greatly. I'm one of those that goes to sleep just as soon as my head hits the pillow. After about an hour or so, I thought..."What am I doing this for?" Just told the Lord that I cast the care upon Him, it didn't belong to me and I couldn't do anything about it anyway. Reminded myself that HE GIVES HIS BELOVED SLEEP, and went to sleep straight away.

I was going over some Scriptures about TRUSTING the Lord today and here's a few I've been meditating on.

Psalm 34:8
O taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed is the man that trusts in Him.

Blessed is a BIG word....happy, prosperous, successful, straight, right, contented fortunate and to be envied. It's original meaning is "be straight." I want to TRUST more than ever! :)

Psalm 125:1 says:
Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.

YES LORD, I will NOT be moved and will abide forever. LORD HELP ME TRUST YOU.

Psalm 146:5
Happy is he that has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God.

There's a difference between joy and happiness. Joy comes from deep within us, from the Lord. Happiness has to do with things about us...things that help to put a spring in our step. LORD HELP ME TO TRUST YOU MORE. I want the happiness that comes from it.

Isaiah 26:3,4
Thou will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusts in thee.
Trusting in the Lord forever; for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.

PERFECT PEACE!!!
EVERLASTING STRENGTH!!!
Father, I desire to trust in You more than EVER!

Isaiah 30:18
And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you, for the Lord is a God of judgment; blessed are all they that wait for him.

God's graciousness, and His mercy for those that wait for Him....Lord my heart cries out for this.

Isaiah 12:2
Behold God is my salvation, I will trust, and not be afraid, for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song, he has also become my salvation.

Lord, a spring in my step AND a song in my
heart!!! :)

II Chronicles 32:8
With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah, king of Judah.

Lord YOU gave Hezekiah word to tell Your people to trust YOU. YOU WILL FIGHT OUR BATTLES, thank YOU!

Proverbs 3:5,6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your paths.

OH GOD, I cannot direct my own paths, HELP ME TO TRUST YOU!

Psalm 55:22
Cast thy burden upon the Lord and he shall sustain you; he shall never allow the righteous to be moved.

THANK YOU LORD, I choose to trust YOU...YOU are the ONE that sustains me and not allow me to be moved!!! Hallelujah!!!

Psalm 37:3
Trust in the Lord and do good so shall you dwell in the land and truly you shall be fed.

OH YES....I'll not only have spiritual food, but I'll have food on my table!!! Thank You...I trust YOU LORD.

Psalm 115:9-11
O Israel trust in the Lord, he is their help and their shield....

OH GOD YOU'RE the ONE that HELPS and SHIELDS me. I WILL trust YOU!

Psalm 146:3-5
Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man (people) in whom there is no help.
His breath goes forth; he returned to his earth, in that day his thoughts perish
Happy is he that has the God of Jacob for his help...whose hope is in the Lord his God.

YES LORD....I will not TRUST in ANYBODY but YOU. In Jesus' Name.

Jeremiah 17:7,8
Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is in the Lord
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out it's roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but it's leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease form yielding fruit.

LORD, my hope and TRUST is in YOU....I will be nourished by You, the roots of my life in You will go deep....I'll never fear for drought because of Your provision. There will always be life in me and I'll not cease from bearing fruit.

I don't care what politicians that come and go ultimately do...my trust is in you.
I don't care how much fuel costs....my trust is in You.
I don't care how much food costs....my trust is in You.
I don't care what evil approaches me...my trust is in You and You fight my battles for me.
You're the ONE that sustains me.
You're the ONE that brings me strength.
You're the ONE that does not allow me to be moved!
You're the ONE that causes me to abide forever.
You ARE my SHIELD and HOPE.
You are the ONE that brings me happiness.
YOU direct my paths
YOU are the one that gives me a song.
YOU are the one that brings me PEACE.

Oh God, only YOU. YOU are the ONE I TRUST, in Jesus' Name. Thank You!.