Monthly Archives: March 2015

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JOY IN THE MORNING

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27b005bc7bf41e519b0984870a90b2f0It was a sleepless night and the sound of the pounding rain only served to disrupt my much needed rest. As I twisted and turned to find a comfortable position, I would awaken to find my overly saturated mind silently singing Christian hymns or praise songs from my youth. How odd for someone who once wrote a paper in high school that vintage Christian hymns should be abandoned for the more trendy songs of the Jesus Movement in full force at that time. I am fairly certain the song I critiqued in my paper was Blessed Assurance. Strange how that was one of the songs I found myself humming last night.

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine. Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

Refrain: This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long; This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight, Visions of rapture now burst on my sight; Angels, descending, bring from above Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest, I in my Savior am happy and blest, Watching and waiting, looking above, Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

I knew the words to every verse of this song as well as many other hymns from my childhood. I can’t explain it, but as these hymns and choruses echoed in the night, I sensed the quiet embrace of God’s presence around me. I had an assurance that He was as close as my next breath and there would be joy in the morning.

“It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 KJV

Thank you to my high school friend, Carolyn Oswald for reminding me that God brings joy in the morning through His whispers of love in our little victories and echoes of mercy in our failures.

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DIVINELY APPOINTED

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God has Diviinely Appointed our LifeThis morning, as I gazed out my kitchen window, I watched a spider work non-stop at spinning a web that stretched in every direction. Host of insects were entwined in the silvery threads of the web like trophies of his accomplishments. And yet, the spider continued to weave a bigger web.

The spider and his web are akin to humanity as we work and stretch ourselves to a breaking point in an effort to prove our worth and value to the world. I am at the top of the guilty list as I weave myself into new projects that have no real purpose. Why do I do that?

I believe it is a ploy of Satan to distract us from fulfilling God’s intended purpose for our life.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6

Spinning a bigger web of accomplishments is meaningless unless it aligns with God’s divinely appointed plan. I have found that when I operate outside of God’s plan and try to control and ensnare my OWN dreams and goals, I become anxious.
The following scripture is often used to give validity to choices we make outside of God’s divine plan for us.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

The truth is, we can do anything we want, but God is not going to strengthen us if is not part of His divine plan; the plan that leads you to all things eternal and brings you to the place God desires you to be to fulfill His purpose within your life.
So many times, we try to spin our own web only to find God has different plans for us. When we move and breathe in the Spirit of God, we have peace. Are you living within God’s divinely appointed life for you?

“In Him we live and move and have our being.” Acts 17:28

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THE DEVIL IN DISGUISE

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overcomeevilI am a friendly person by nature. My husband has always joked that I could strike up a conversation with the devil. Well, recently, I did just that; unknowingly.

The woman had an energy level that put me to shame and for those who know me well, that’s a daunting comparison. All the signs of an bi-polar person not taking medication were evident from the get-go, but I ignored them.

My ‘giving’ disposition took the reins in an effort to mentor this woman toward business goals, that in the end, she would never realize.

Long story short, I had met the devil in disguise and all those red flags I had sensed were really the red horns of deceit and betrayal. This person had a hidden agenda to suck the life and money out of me and others; only, to discard us by the wayside in search of new prey.

What this so-called friend (turned enemy) didn’t know or understand is the protective power of God’s Word that surrounds me day and night. As a Christian and child of God, I know the wolves dressed in sheep’s clothing will be revealed in due time. Not my time, but God’s time.

Many of you reading this post may have encountered a wolf in sheep’s clothing. On a daily basis we find the enemy of God using others to cultivate destruction and devastation to Christians around the globe. Christians needs to rise to the occasion and pray daily for those who are spiritually blinded and being used unknowingly as instruments to orchestrate the eradication of all things JESUS.

In the meantime, my husband and I are pursuing all the legal avenues to reclaim lost business possessions and continue to prayer this person will allow God to claim her soul for something of true purpose.

 

“Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered.”
Psalms 68:1

“You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.”
Matthew 7: 16-20