No Harm Done

In Acts 28:1-10 there is an account of Paul, after having been shipwrecked on the way to Rome, they had all arrived safely to an island called Malta.

The people of that island had shown the people from the ship unusual kindness. They'd kindled a fire and made them all welcome. It was raining, it was cold, and Paul gathered a bundle of sticks to feed the fire, and a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself to Paul's hand.

When those native of that island saw what happened, they thought that Paul was a bad person, and even though he'd escaped the sea, justice was not allowing him to live because the viper they knew to have a deadly bite.

Paul shook off the snake into the fire and suffered no harm. They gang sat around the fire watching Paul expecting him to swell up suddenly and keel over dead. The people watched Paul for a long time, and because he did not die, they dubbed him a god because they knew he should have died. After this miracle, Paul was able to minister to the folks of the island, prayed for many, God healed and was glorified.

When Paul and the people were ready to continue their trip to Rome, the locals made provision for their trip that was needed.

The snake came out of the sticks because of the heat of the fire. When we are walking and living and having our being in God, the heat is on, and the enemy WILL try his stuff, but I decree......

NO HARM DONE

When the enemy of our lives comes with an unexpected blow to our lives, we should shake off that foul spirit and every assignment it brought us with the Word of God and say NO HARM DONE. According to Luke 10:18,19 we're to put and keep the devil under our feet.
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

The Lord gave us POWER to tread on our enemy and ALL his power, so that nothing should hurt us.

Father, I ask YOU to HELP US to remember what to do with the enemy when he's bearing down upon us and breathing down our necks with threatenings and any of his evil plans. HELP US to remember that YOU have made provision to tread upon our enemy and that YOU gave us power over ALL the power of the devil, and nothing shall by any means hurt us. Father, HELP US to remember that no matter what things look like it's... NO HARM DONE, in Jesus' Name.

TOTAL Victory

This is a piece of artwork by Ron DiCianni entitled VICTORY, and I want it in my home. The white cloud represents the Glory of God, and the rays around her, I suspect is the righteousness of God. It spurs me on in God because God made us to have total VICTORY in every area of our lives. His Word insures it and He's provided our armor, His Spirit, His Name and His Blood, His Angels, and His SPOKEN WORD through us to HELP US have VICTORY.

If you will look closely at the picture, you will see a shadow of the enemy cringing and backing off. YES HALLELUJAH.

Galatians 5:7 (NKJV) tells us:
You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?

The Amplified version says:
7 You were running the race nobly. Who has interfered in (hindered and stopped you from) your heeding and following the Truth?

Revelation 2:4,5 NKJV says:
4 against you, that you have left your first love.
5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent.

God said that WE LEFT our first love. He didn't say we lost our first love. It has to do with our choices. He also said that all we need to do is repent and do our first works to get back on track and go from there. That's ALL!

If we allow the devil to, he will steal from us.

We were designed to have complete VICTORY over the enemy of our lives. We're not to allow the devil to put us down through anybody. Even the Prodigal Son came home.



Mr. DiCianni can really put it out on canvas, can't he?

If any of us have lost the passion of our first love, all we need to do is to get back to basics and turn and purposefully WALK IN everything that brings VITORY to our lives. The only thing that would be hindering us would the be enemy of our soul, and he's a liar and the father of them.

Father, I CHOOSE YOU, I CHOOSE YOUR WORD, I choose to turn and come to You with my whole heart. I choose to repent when I need to. I choose to do my first works over, when I need to. I CHOOSE YOU. YOU are the glory and the lifter of my head. YOU are the LOVER OF MY SOUL. YOU are the author and the finisher of my faith. YOU know how to make me WHOLE. Thank You Father, for drawing us with Your cords of love and HELP US to respond to Your Spirit and walk in the liberty and love that You've birthed us for. Thank You for delivering us from evil and to stay close to You all the days of our lives, in Jesus' Name.

I AM WILLING

This piece of artwork is by Ron DiCianni, it moves my heart so.

The story behind this painting, is about the woman that went into public while very ill, had already spent all she had on doctors and KNEW that if she could just touch the hem of Jesus' garment she would be made well.

No doubt, she'd heard great testimonies about Jesus' ministry, how people had been healed, delivered, raised from the dead and she took them all to heart and KNEW that Jesus was WILLING to HELP people. If He was willing to HELP, then He'd also be willing to help her too.

In Matthew 8:1-3 we're told:
1 When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him.
2 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."
3 Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

Matthew 9:20-22 gives the account of this woman:
20 And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment.
21 For she said to herself, "If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well."
22 But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, "Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well." And the woman was made well from that hour.

I thank GOD that He is always willing to make people well. All through the New Testament, Jesus made this known, saying that if the people had seen Him they'd also seen the Father. Even the instructions He gave us on how to pray was to pray for God's will on Earth as it is in Heaven.

This woman's faith grew up in her, she'd heard about the compassion of the Lord, and the miracles that followed Him, and she knew that HE was her only hope. She was right, after she touched His garment, she became well from that hour on.

Jesus BOUGHT our healing with His Life's Blood, by His stripes we WERE healed. We all know that He's ABLE, but not always do we understand that He's WILLING to heal.

Father, I ask YOU to HELP US! Help us to KNOW that it is ALWAYS Your plan and will and desire for us to be made well and whole. Help us to come boldly to YOU, Lord, with Your Word, Your Promises, and allow You to prove Your Word in our own lives. I ask You this, in the Name of Your Son Jesus.

Need Wisdom and Guidance?

I see folk - and at times myself - trying to GET wisdom and knowledge.
You know all we need to do is to be obedient to God's Word.
When we bring His Word to God and pray it, and decree it, then walk away saying things like..."I don't know how or what or ....." Ya' see? :) We've violated God's Word and canceled out our own prayer.

If we can begin to agree with God's Word and say what He says about "It", it would come after us.

There are two Scriptures that we need to keep in front of our eyes, in our heart and in our mouths. They are:

1. John 16:13 that says: However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

2. John 10:4, 5 says:
4 before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."

If we think on and dwell on, and say what the devil presents us it will not give the Word of God an opportunity to become reality in our lives.
If God's Word is what we'll agree with and confess, we will never again lack for the wisdom of God.

I declare, in agreement with God's Word, that the Spirit of Truth abides in me and guides me into all Truth, I know all truth. I Thank God that I am one of God's sheep, and I know His voice, I will never follow a stranger. I will not allow my mouth to shut me off from the wisdom of God. In Jesus' Name.

James 1:4-8 tells us:
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Father, I need Your Wisdom and I ask You for it....You said that You'd give it to me without scolding me, I ask in faith believing and not doubting, because I'm not double minded, nor am I unstable in my ways. My life is built on the Solid Rock Jesus. In Jesus' Name.

When the bad news comes, BEGIN TO PROCLAIM WHAT GOD SAID. Many do not KNOW what God has said...then we need to go on a treasure hunt, don't we? :)

God's Word will defeat satan every time. "It is written!" is what defeats satan.
Proclaim it until it gets down into your spirit...and keep on proclaiming it with GREAT CONFIDENCE.

Long time ago I use to think that I was lying decreeing God's Word....but then I began to realize that I could not be lying saying what He says! :) He's not a liar.

Father, thank You for HELPING US. Thank You for making Your Word alive in us. HELP US to believe what You've already said. I HAVE the Spirit of Truth LIVING ON THE INSIDE OF ME, and He teaches me all things and guides me into all truth. I thank You that I am one of Your sheep, and I KNOW YOUR VOICE, and a voice of a stranger I will NOT listen to or follow. I AM asking You for wisdom and YOU DO GIVE IT TO ME. You are so sweet Lord, and You've made it easy to believe Your Word, in Jesus' Name.

Go To Hell !!!!

Isaiah 53:4,5
4 Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.

These Scriptures say:
1. Jesus bore our grief
2. He carried our sorrows
3. He was wounded for our transgressions
4. He was bruised for our iniquities
5. He took chastisement for our peace
6. By His stripes we are healed.

These are things that we cannot do for ourselves, as much as we may try,....ever. No matter how we wrestle, we cannot handle (with our flesh hands) grief, sorrow, transgressions, iniquities, healing, or obtain peace outside of the finished work of Jesus.

Are you ladened with grief? FULL of sorrow? Burdened with sin of past and present? Restless and in turmoil? Are you sick?

Jesus paid for all of this with His LIFE and His BLOOD.

Once there was a visiting minister that brought a lovely wrapped package around the sanctuary...all glittery and sparkling with lovely paper and bow. That minister went to each one in that meeting telling each, in a sweet luring words, what was inside FOR THEM. None of it was good, for any of us. She (posing as satan) wanted us to take the package...most looked sheepishly and ultimately did not take the "package"...when she came to me, and after I heard what she said was in it and I MUST take it because it was MINE. My response to her was "Go to hell....where you came from. None of it's mine." I will not "sign" for anything that's not mine. Just like when the UPS person brings a package, comes to the door for a signature, so they can leave it, I'll not sign with my mouth or in any way receive what is brought from hell and presented to me.

When Jesus ALREADY PAID for that stuff, I'm not going to TAKE any of it. JESUS PAID FOR IT WITH HIS LIFE'S BLOOD.

Father, I ask You to HELP US!!! Help us to receive ALL You provided for us through Your Son Jesus. HELP US to recognize EVERYTHING that is authored by satan and sent from HELL. You told us that we are made OVERCOMERS by the BLOOD of the LAMB and the Word of our testimony. I Believe everything Your Word tells us. Everything that You've told me that I have is MINE. Everything You said I could do I CAN, everything You said ABOUT ME I AM. Father HELP US to KNOW how to earmark the devil and that anything he does is as a killer, stealer and destroyer is NEVER NEVER ours...In Jesus' Name.

"Tag" You're It!

There have been a few bloggers that I read that has let it be known that whoever reads their blog are to consider themselves "tagged"...and I've just read one that did not know who to tag...so I consider myself being tapped on my virtual shoulder in this internet game of tag.

This "being tagged" thing, is to make known six things that are not widely known about yourself, to better acquaint ourselves with one another.

#1. I was a young bride at 18 years old, to the only love of my life. We were married in January and I gave birth to our first child in November of the same year. So I was married and a mother within ten months. She was an only child for five years. Over the years, when disclosing that the year of my marriage and the year of our firstborn is the same, it has brought pause to some. :) I'd always wanted twelve children, but we had only nine. We have 8 children living, and one in heaven. Our children are between the ages of 37 and 17.

#2. I have a thing about things going "clockwise"....it MUST be "clockwise", whether it be a game we're playing, and turns must precede clockwise, or arranging decor in my house, the eye must travel "clockwise". The only time I don't make use of "clockwise" is when I'm cleaning windows, or scrubbing. Then and probably ONLY then do I make use of "counter-clockwise".

#3. I special order toothpicks. :) I do not like toothpicks that are handled by ANYONE. When they sit inside a holder they are also exposed to dust. :) I order mint flavored, plastic covered toothpicks by the thousands, because that's when they are cheaper, I also carry them in my pocketbook. Weird, I know, but I use toothpicks all the time. Please love me anyway! :)

#4. I have lived from coast to coast in our lovely country, and many places in between. We have lived in Los Angeles, and also in the Washington D.C. area. I AM NOT A CITY DWELLER. They are nice places to visit, but I've been thankful that we live in "small town" USA. We live about equidistant to Wichita Kansas, Pueblo Colorado, and Amarillo Texas. Can go shopping at any one of those nice places and it makes me quite happy NOT to live in or around any one of them or those cities like them.

#5. One of our daughters married name is "Blankenship". I have found 163 words from that name. Can you find more? :)

#6. We have ten wonderful Grandchildren. I've been present at the birth of 8 of them. (One I could not be there because we had a VERY ILL young son, and the other because we got caught in a snow storm getting there.) I have also been birthing coaches to young single women. If I would have ever chosen a profession outside of my home, it would have been in some O.B. ward helping babies be born. LIFE!!! LIFE!!! LIFE!!!!!

Nor do I know who to tag, but you may consider yourself "tagged" if you've read this post.

Feeling a bit exposed...but I've enjoyed reading others that have been "tagged" and it's been fun.

A Win-Win Situation

Joel 2:17
Let the priests, who minister to the Lord,
Weep between the porch and the altar;
Let them say, "Spare Your people, O Lord,
And do not give Your heritage to reproach,
That the nations should rule over them.
Why should they say among the peoples,
'Where is their God?'"

The notations in my Bible says this:
KINGDOM DYNAMICS 2:12-17 Helping People Take Prayer Seriously, PRAYER. When Joel was called to prophesy, the people were in sore defeat, famine, and despair, with no vision at all - not even for prayer. His sounding of the trumpet call to a sacred assembly opens to the prayer mobilization (vv. 1, 2) He does this:

1) by reviewing the condition and helping the people conclude that they had no other recourse but to pray; and apart from divine intervention, they were finished (vv.3-11);
2) by showing the poeple the pathway to prayer with fasting and humility (vv.12-17).

The great passage of vv. 28-32 leads us to Acts 2, the birthing of the church and the empowering of the Holy Spirit to form a spiritually empowered praying, ministering people. His enablement will help us help others to pray with the same promise today, whatever the desperation of the circumstance.

(Isaiah 62:1-7; Zech. 8:18-23)

Father, I ask You to put inside of us all not only the hunger and thirst of your companionship and Your Word, but to be HUNGRY to pray. You've told us that the effectual, fervant prayer of the righteous avails much. I thank You that time we spend in prayer always makes a difference. HELP US to take prayer seriously, and to bring Your Word to You in prayer VICTORIOUSLY. Prayer is ALWAYS a win-win situation. In Jesus' Name.

Come Boldly Before The Throne of Grace

This a piece of work by Ron DiCianni. Don't you LOVE IT?

God wants us to be able to come to Him so HE CAN HELP US!

Hebrews 4:14-16
14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

A lot of people are intimidated at the thought of prayer.
In this passage, God is telling us:
1. We have a Great High Priest - that's Jesus.
2. Jesus passed through the heavens to get here to earth.
3. Jesus is the Son of God.
4. Jesus was tempted in all points as we are.
5. Jesus got through all this without sin.
6. We can go boldly before the throne of God
7. We may find mercy and grace to help us in time of need.
8. We need to hold fast to our confession.

Confession of what?

Confession of what God's Word tells us.
It's WONDERFUL that Jesus went through ALL the temptation that we are confronted with - did it without sin. I LOVE THAT, that means we can also.
We're told to go BOLDLY before God's throne. It's alright, He WANTS us there.
We will find nothing but grace and mercy to HELP US.

There's no shame to go before God.
If there's anything between He and us, He'll show us, and all we have to do is to confess it before Him and repent/turn away from it.

It's no biggie.

Some of us have had Earthly Fathers that have not been as gracious, but that's not the case of our Heavenly Father.

It's a comforting thought to go before the Lord and ask, seek and knock.
It's good to know that I can do this and not be turned away.
He knows the cries of our hearts, even if they are not voiced with our lips.
He's not there to strike us with a heavy hand and to condemn us.
He's there to RECEIVE US.

God really wants us to be comfortable with Him.
He doesn't want us to be ashamed to come to Him.
If things are not right, all we have to do is make them right.
He is there to HELP US!
HELP US GOD!

Father, I ask You to HELP US to come before You and bear our hearts, ask You for Help, for solutions in our lives, and just allow You to love on us. LOL LOL :)
Father, thank You that You have made yourself approachable. Thank You for making provision FOR us to be able to come to You boldly. In Jesus' Name.

Got Questions?

Are you just looking around for a god or for God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, or just need questions answered.

This is the first place to start on an honest search. Ask, seek, knock.
The next Scripture offers instruction that will bring us out of the kingdom of darkness and into The Kingdom of Light.

Romans 10:8-13 tells us:
8 what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach):
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.
13 For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

The Word of God will be around even after the heavens and Earth pass away, it's WHAT CREATED the heavens and Earth. It's what Created You and I.

It will not only answer questions, but it will bring DELIVERANCE out of bondage, peace to the mind and heart, it will not just heal but make you whole, will not only save us from a devils hell, but bring us to be joined with our Maker forever. It's a good place to start when looking for answers.

If our souls re not satisfied, we will embrace the bitter things and call them sweet. Gee, that's deception. None of us need that.

Father, I call for souls from the North, South, East and West to come to Your Word and that it satisfies lives. I call for the weary, the sick and diseased, those shackled and don't know why and those that DO know why. Your Word is the only thing that will bring FREEDOM. I call for the souls that don't know You for their salvation, and for souls that DO know you, for their deliverance, well being and peace of mind. Lord Your Son is the Prince of Peace, and I thank You that He is revealed to lives to make a difference in them all, in Jesus' Name.

Recipe Swap Box

Today Randi at "i have to say" is hosting a recipe swap, as she does the first Thursday of each month. This is a reminder to those who enjoy participating, and an invitation to those that would like to see what it's all about, and snatch something new for your own kitchen. The theme this month is cookies and bars. Come have fun!

My contributions to this months Recipe Swap is

Dump Cookies
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 cups brown sugar
4 eggs
3 teaspoons vanilla
2 teaspoons cinnamon
4 1/4 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/3 cups quick oats
1 teaspoon sea salt
3 cups granola cereal
1 1/2 cups chopped almonds or pecans
1 1/2 cups raisins (Cran-raisins give bit more flavor and color whatever's on hand)
1 1/2 cups dried apricots are best (I think), but you use whatever dried fruit you have on hand dates are good.

Directions:
Cream butter and sugars.
Add eggs and vanilla.
Next add flour, baking soda, and salt and cinnamon.
Add in oatmeal and granola.
Fold in nuts raisins and dried fruit.
Drop onto cookie sheet and bake at 375 for about 10 minutes.

I believe the cinnamon will do best when used with dates. Don't think it would complement the apricots.

This exchanage at Randi's place has been fun. Thanks Randi.