Tuesday, December 13, 2022

FROM THE THRONE TO THE MANGER IN THE DIRT

 Praise the Father, Praise the Son, Praise the Spirit three in one God of glory Majesty. Praise forever to the King of Kings.

Go now! Praise the Father! 

The song KING OF KINGS plays in my head.

Take the thoughts in my head, the unsaved, the broken, the grieving, oppressed, hurting, lost...give them to God in song and praise.

The King of Kings have mercy on our souls.

My earlier heart cry:

Crowd out the fears of my mind today. Rejection, hurt, fear of loved ones being lost. It all hits home. Lord if I'm being honest, I'm scared. Help me! Amen.

I finally sit and listen.

Waiting!

Listening (finally)! The story of the hurting mom whose daughter went missing. The thought translates into my unanswered prayers. My fears well up within! I give into the thougthts!

Thank God I rehearsed this game before. The song (the rescuer, the redeeming son, the Holy one, sovereign one) sees fit to get my attention... Praise the Father, Praise the Son, Praise the Spirit three in one...I hear it...I stop...I resist it by keeping busy...but again I have experienced it before and realize where to run...as the song repeats itself I hear FIGHT! FIGHT IN THE SPIRIT!...not in the flesh with worry...what good does that do?...you know when you run to him you are always renewed...your thoughts go from the world despair and the possible bad outcomes to hope...TRUE HOPE..

HE OFFTERS PEACE ETERNALLY! H.O.P.E.

Mercy in his eyes.

Virgin birth

He leaves the throne to the cradle in the dirt!

Our Redeemer to rescue the whole creation.

For us, He suffered death!

Heaven held its breath until He conquered death!

Restoration.

By His word, blood, name I am free. 

Are you free?

Prayer:

Father God I praise forever to the king of kings. Grab ahold of my thoughts and replace them with you truth. My truth filled life (the previous work of the Spirit within me) will awaken and listen now. Forgive me for giving in. In the moment I gave in. But now Father with your help please renew me. Restore me. I stand in awe of your majesty! Amen.

In your freedom, I am free!

Christmas. This is Christmas!

 

Sunday, December 4, 2022

O NIGHT DIVINE

 Jesus wept!

Jesus looked at humanity and wept. He felt. He cared. He was in the moment.

He already knew Lazarus would rise from the dead. He did not reflect on that in the moment. He stayed with those suffering and felt their sorrow.

This Jesus is with us all the time.

Each moment of pain, sorrow, discouragement, confusion, rejection, lack of understanding and pain, pause like Jesus, stay with it. Pray!

Let him work.

Stop thinking of what will happen, what is next, the argument to defend...

Ye Lord we greet you!

Love Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 

Prayer:  Stir me to the peace you can only promise. Amen.

 

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

CHATTER IN YOUR BRAIN- YIKES! HELP LORD!

You are past one worry! Yah! Then it happens!

You feel the next one coming on, is this an addiction to drama?

Can you feel it?

Are you expecting there will be another? Maybe your mind is trained to just go on and begin to think of what's next. You don't even realize you are caught in this pattern of destruction, distraction, deception.

Friend, I am right there with you.

Let's talk to God about it today. Let's ask the Holy Spirit to stop this insane cycle.

Pray:

Lord I am aware that my mind wanders from one thing to the next and it is all in the name of worry!

Lord I want to break the cycle. Help me Lord...so that I can be truly FREE! Free from fears, worry, hatred, destruction, distractions, deceptions. Lord I am honest...it creeps in slowly, slyly. I sometimes don't even realize I am allowing it. Help me break this cycle! I want to captivate my thoughts in obedience to you. Thank you Lord. I want to hear from you. Amen.

Jesus:

Be free indeed. John 8:36

sin turns into death (not physical death but depression, anxiety) James 1:15

Do not worry. John 6:34

Captivate all types of thoughts in obedience to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5

I take the worries.

Vengeance is His.

You draw near to Him; He draws near to you.

Fix your thoughts on Him and you will be in Perfect Peace.

Do not be anxious. Phil. 4:6-7 (don't forget to be thankful)

I suffered from the same temptations. Matthew 4:1-11

No temptation can over take you. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Friends when feeling like shame and guilt are setting in because of your admission, DO NOT LET.

Jesus said, "He was tempted in every way that we are being tempted." There is no shame in the realty of living this side of heaven.

Give yourself a break, talk to Jesus, let him handle the situation. You can't fix it in our own strength. Record now in your journal what verses come to mind about him fixing and helping you.

What comes to my mind right now is, "We can't imagine, it is immeasurable to know the help Jesus can give." Eph. 3:29 It actually says-abundantly, exceedingly, superabundantly, beyond what we can imagine. 

Is He a genie? No! But when you agree that some pattern of thinking you have been doing is not what He would want, He steps in and allows the Holy Spirit to come in and transform and renew your mind.

It is the work of the Holy Spirit. Allow the transformation to happen. 

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

STOP IT! AWARE, ACCEPT, ACTION, AVAILABLE

 As I was speaking recently I mentioned some cute sayings that have helped me, someone asked if I could write them down, so here they are:

STOP WHISHING AND WHINING-START RECEIVING AND BELIEVING-Phil. 2:14 "Do everything without complaining or arguing. 1 Cor. 10:10 "Do not grumble."

CONFESS BE BLESSED-1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." NIV

IT'S A SNARE TO COMPARE-1 Cor. 13:4 "Love does not envy." ; 2 Tim. 2:4 "No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer." NIV

STOP SLAMMING AND BAMMING-1 Peter 3:10b, NLT keep your tongue from speaking evil…

GO TO THE THRONE BEFORE THE PHONE-Matt. 6:33 "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." NIV; 1 Thess. 5:16-18 "Rejoice always,  pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." NIV

READ THE RED WORDS-GOD'S LOVE (IT STARTS AT THE CROSS)

PHILIPPIANS 4:8 THAT THOUGHT-Phil. 4:8 "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." NIV

STOP CURSING INSTEAD BLESSING-Romans 12:14 "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse." NIV

HUSH NOT RUSH-Ps. 46:10 "Be still and know that He is God." ; James 1:19 " Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry," NIV

We have P. L. S.- POWER, LOVE, SOUND MIND-2 Tim. 1:7 "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline." NIV

FOUGHT THAT THOUGHT-Hebrews 4:12 " For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." NIV

GRIEVE AND GROW-Romans 8:28 "And we know that God causes everything to work together[a] for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." NIV

BETTER TOGETHER-Ecc. 4:9 "Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor." NIV; Matt. 18:20 " For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” NIV

PURGE SPLURGE-Heb. 12:4 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us," NIV

LIVE THE MEANING-John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." NIV Life or ZoĆ« means life that is real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, Life that comes directly from God.

I'M A MEMORY MAKER-Ps. 105:4-6 "Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced, you his servants, the descendants of Abraham, his chosen ones, the children of Jacob."  NIV

NOT BITTER BUT BETTER  Heb. 12:15 "See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." NIV

HEAVENLY MIND-Luke 15:7 "“There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” NIV

HONORING AND BLESSING-Exodus 20:12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you." NIV

Cleansing + Yielding = filling; filling of the Spirit comes, fruits of the Spirit are more evident.

Rest when you are stressed.

All of the above can connected to a bible verse. When we know the truth, the truth sets us free.

STOP BLAMING TAKE RESPONSIBILITY

Woulda, coulda, shoulda are warning words to Stinkin Thinkin; MMO-Major Mind Overload

I find these scriptures are great to memorize:

Hear his voice Psalm 29. proof you can hear from God.

Isaiah 26:3 He whose mind in steadfast on the Lord will live in perfect peace. (P squared approach).

Psalm 139:14 We must love ourselves to love others.

James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

James 1:13-14 death=low functioning

Proverbs 18:21 Life or Death are in the power of the tongue.

Ephesian 6 Armor of God

Isaiah 54:17 no weapon formed against you will prevail.

Exodus 14:15 MOVE ON

Zephaniah 3:17 For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.  NLT

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

1 John 1:11-12 If you confess your sins He is faithful and just and will forgive your sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

John 10:10 The theif comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.    (LIFE IN  GREEK MEANS  ZOE LIFE!)  

I have found that captivating my thoughts in obedience to Christ has been helpful to conquer thoughts that are rolling in my head.

I like it in the message version-2 Cor. 10:5 "We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ."

Powerful God tools-Holy Spirit-(tune-in), bible reading and word studies (the words that come to mind like joy-are you lacking joy? Who, what, where, when, how do I get joy?), prayer, journaling,  listening to Christian radio, circle of friends (beware and pray who that would be), Godly counsel (people who really will be careful with their words and pray for what is best for you, not for them) worship, praise, thanksgiving, give up your expectations of others-(think of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane-forgiving, no expectations). Be able to know stating scripture that backs up these statements of truth. 1. Gods is who He says He is. 2. God can do what He says He can do. 3. I am who God says I am. 4. I can do all things through Christ. 5. God's word is alive and active in me.

These tools DO NOT earn us salvation-they are bringing us in tune of the will of the Father.

Hi Friend: Do you want more? Here is a little exercise to open your mind to focus on Jesus.
Read Psalm 111. This Psalm contains a word bank of characteristics of Jesus.
great, glorious majestic righteous, wonderful, memorable, gracious, compassionate, provider, covenant keeper, powerful, giver faithful, just, trustworthy, steadfast, upright, redeemer, holy, awesome and eternal. His character is being presented to you every day! Is He real to you? How do you see Him working? What verses help reveal this truth of who God is for you right now? Are you meditating on this scripture day and night? Is it a work in progress, are you waiting, is it finished and you have the answer? Realize sometimes you won't ever get the answer. That's okay! It still will be an opportunity to grow. Your next steps:  be brave, be vulnerable, be authentic, invite someone to her your story of now!

Pray: God I want to let my testimony witness to your glory. You are available 24/7/365, thank you Lord. Amen.

Let's say that you are having a discussion with someone you are caring about and it is not going well. You feel like they have strayed from the truth. Stop! Take a deep breath! Know the truth. You feel anxious or fearful in the moment remind yourself of truth, like...Jesus is omnipresent, He represents love...He will take your request and guard your heart and mind...pray...think about the fact of this God holds all things together...tell yourself that Jesus I can't handle this, but I know you love and that I want to trust you with my thoughts and my loved ones thoughts...help us.. AMEN

Stories from the bible that have come up that correlate with my life that resolve, give me peace and teach me.

Esther-I am a FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS GIRL TOO!

Women with the issue of Bleeding-What if! If only I could touch His garment! Yes you can!

Feeding the 5000-After Jesus fed the 5000 he said to the disciples, "Immediately leave!"
With all that is going on so many opinions peoples dissension, division-don't get caught up in the arguments, discussions, LEAVE!

Joseph-It took him twenty years to get back what was stolen.

Ruth-Your God is my God; where you go I will go.

1 Kings 19:11-15 Elijah heard God not in the elements of storm, but in a gentle whisper.

Jesus asks, "who do you say I am?"  Matthew 16 "You are the Christ."

Transfiguration Matthew 17, Peter, James, John see the glorious transfiguration of Jesus on a mountain top experience. Jesus changed to a regal state before their eyes. God enveloped them and spoke. He spoke to them! "This is my son whom I love; with Him I am well pleased, Listen to Him! 

Jesus in John 20 appears after His death for the first time! First appearance he says, "Peace be with you." Not what happened? What did you learn? Let's talk about the bad guys, none of that, just, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me I am sending you." He wanted us to receive, believe...walk in peace as He did.

Last supper-Jesus is a servant. He came to serve and save. Do as he does!

John 17-Jesus final words. I feel like this is the most important thing to know. Don't you like to know someone's final words before they die? What was important to them?
 teach me  teach me.

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