Keep On Keeping On

I work in a tall building in Downtown Dallas on the 44^th floor, and in the lunchroom where I eat, they have floor to ceiling windows. The other day I was sitting by the window and I looked straight down and a certain foreboding fear came over me, as though death was close upon me and the only thing standing between me and a painful demise, was a thin glass window pane.

The next day it happened again, and again after that. Suddenly, I looked up into the sky and I imagined I could fly. I saw myself soaring up into the heights of heaven, even higher than the building I was sitting in. The fear of death suddenly disappeared and I felt the fearful foreboding leave me. I became like a woman of power. Yesterday, as I sat at that same table, I saw myself flying and soaring over the traffic below without any fear or trepidation of evil demise.

"Fly like an eagle into the future, I want to fly like an eagle, let the Spirit carry me. I want to fly."  (Song lyrics by the artist, Seal)

Sometimes the things that hold us back don't hit us like a slap in the face. Sometimes it creeps in unnoticed like a snail. One defeating thought after another, and eventually we are convinced we can't do anything, and we are stuck.

I've been praying about a situation for several months now. I mean... persistent, all day, everyday, non-stop bombarding of the throne room kind of prayer. I was about to get the idea that it was pointless to continue. With every passing day, defeating thoughts have been creeping in that I am wasting my time, or that for some reason God must have an ought against me and that's why my prayers are on ignore.

Jesus, Himself, told a parable about a friend that came to his friend's home at midnight asking for food because another friend of his arrived at his home unexpectedly, and he had nothing to feed him. The friend in the house told him to go away, the door was shut and he and his family were all in bed. He did not want to be bothered. But the friend at the door continued to knock, and was persistent in his tenacity. He would not go away. He would not allow discouraging thoughts to convince him to give up. Jesus said at the end of the parable, "Though he would not rise and give him food out of friendship, he would open the door because of the friend's shameless persistence." So, I will not allow negative thoughts to defeat me, or cause me to walk away from my blessing, or cause me to think my Heavenly Father has shut His door on me, and don't want to be bothered.

I am reminded of David’s defeat over the giant Goliath and Samson’s defeat of a thousand men with the jawbone of a donkey. They did not win, thinking they would lose. They did not win, with a fearful foreboding lurking over their shoulders. The apostle Paul said we cast down foreboding thoughts and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

Throw that devil off your shoulder, trying to convince you the cause is hopeless, and I'll do the same. The Lord hears our faintest cry, and He'll answer by and by.

David spoke to the Lord the words of this song,

"For by You I can run against a troop; by my God I can leap over a wall. God is my strength and my power, and He makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of deer, and sets me on my high places."

“Where the mind goes, the man will follow. It’s impossible to have a positive life and at the same time, have a negative mindset.” (Quote by Bible teacher, Joyce Meyer)

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Phil. 2:5

I'm going to keep on praying, and keep on keeping on, until my change comes.

Click here to hear Yolanda Adams singing I Believe I Can Fly

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

Couldn't Triumph Over Me

I was at my wit’s end. I had just all I could stand to take of foolishness. Walking to my car, I was talking out loud to the Lord who had been strangely silent for quite some time. Seemingly, watching me suffer attack and doing nothing about it. I started my car and pulled out of the parking lot, still talking aloud to the Lord. I asked Him, “When are You going to get angry with the devil, because I am good and furious right now?” Early the next morning before sunrise, there came a storm with loud, scary, booming thunder. I said to myself, “Wow, it sounds like God is mad about something.”

Later that same day, I was reading my Bible and happened to run across the following passage, while looking for another verse of Scripture.

But in my distress (my outrage) I cried out to the Lord; yes, I cried to my God for help. He heard me from His sanctuary; my cry reached His ears. Then the earth quaked and trembled. The foundations of the heavens shook; they quaked because of His anger. Smoke poured from His nostrils; fierce flames leaped from His mouth. Glowing coals blazed forth from Him. He opened the heavens and came down; dark storm clouds were beneath His feet. Mounted on a mighty angelic being, He flew, soaring on the wings of the wind. He shrouded Himself in darkness, veiling His approach with dense rain clouds. A great brightness shone around Him, and burning coals blazed forth. The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded. He shot arrows and scattered His enemies; His lightning flashed, and they were confused. Then at the command of the Lord, at the blast of His breath, the bottom of the sea could be seen, and the foundations of the earth were laid bare. He reached down from heaven and rescued me; He drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me. They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress, but the Lord supported me. He led me to a place of safety; He rescued me because He delights in me. The Lord rewarded me for doing right; He restored me because of my innocence. For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I have not turned from my God to follow evil. I have followed all His regulations; I have never abandoned His decrees. I am blameless before God; I have kept myself from sin. The Lord rewarded me for doing right. He has seen my innocence. To the faithful You show Yourself faithful; to those with integrity You show integrity. To the pure You show Yourself pure, but to the crooked You show Yourself shrewd. You rescue the humble, but Your eyes watch the proud and humiliate them. O Lord, You are my lamp. The Lord lights up my darkness. In Your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall. God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to Him for protection. (2 Sam. 22:7-31 NLT)

This was a song of praise by David, who had been delivered from King Saul, who was always on the hunt to kill David. The Lord rescued David from King Saul, who ended up killing himself with his own sword. Also, the Israelites had come up against the Philistine giants once again, but God gave David and his warriors strength to kill them, again.

The author of Psalm 94 sounded as though he felt like I did, that day in my car. He said, "Lord, how long will You let the enemy triumph and gloat about it?" The Lord's response was to suggest that the psalmist (and me) were foolish in our summation that the Lord is not deeply moved by the actions of the wicked, who killed and afflicted the poor and helpless. It would be senseless to believe the God who made ears, cannot Himself also hear or understand the vain thoughts of mankind.

I wished I knew the answer to why the Lord sometimes does not come as quickly as we would like. I definitely believe that He can, and His word proves that He certainly does deliver, but His timing is to reason why. Nevertheless, He is our refuge at all times, whether we go through it, or whether we see our prayers answered directly. Through it all, He teaches us knowledge and instructs us in how to have faith in Him.

The apostle James encouraged us to let patience have its perfect work, that we may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. This is how we profit from our trials and tribulations, allowing them to do their work in us. If God allows us to go through and endure the trial, He is doing something in us that cannot be gained otherwise. To whom much is given, much is also required.

Jesus Himself acknowledged in the second chapter of Revelation, that He is aware of our abhorrence to evil and that we cannot bear those who are evil. But to the overcomer, He has promised we will eat from the Tree of Life for eternity, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God. As for the evil doer, they will be cast into the lake of fire burning with brimstone, to be tormented for eternity. That fate is a somber thought, even for the person the devil is using to afflict us.

The Lord wants to teach us to rest our faith squarely on His faithfulness and know that He loves us, even before we loved Him. This is a particularly difficult concept for me because I hate feeling ignored (with a passion), and that's what the waiting strategy is all about. After we have prayed and done the will of God, we have need of patience. God said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay." I am thankful to know the Lord is always looking out for me. For sure, He does not appreciate anybody nor anything messing with His children.

“By this I know that You, O Lord, are well pleased with me, because my enemy does not triumph over me.” Hezekiah Walker sings a song that says, “I can’t help but give You glory, when I think about my story. And I know You favored me because my enemies did try, but couldn’t triumph over me, yes they did try, but couldn’t triumph over me.”

"God Favored Me" by Hezekiah Walker (YouTube Link)

The haters, the roadblocks, needless delays, the traps they set were unsuccessful, because no weapon formed against me shall prosper. Who can be against me when God is on my side? Surely, He shall deliver me from the snare of the fowler, and from the perilous pestilence. Because the Lord is my refuge and my dwelling place, no evil can befall me, nor shall any plague come near my dwelling.

When plagues passed through Egypt, the children of Israel, in the land of Goshen, were untouched because they had the blood upon the doorposts of their homes. The Egyptians suffered, but the Israelites were safe. The blood of Jesus covers me, and I am saved by His power.

Now, thanks be to God who always leads us to triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. (2 Cor. 2:14 NKJV)

I feel secure. The enemy could not nor cannot triumph over me. My God is willing and able to keep that which I have committed to Him, till the day Christ Jesus comes to take me home to glory.

God Cares

A few years ago, I read a book called Rainbow’s End by Irene Hannon. It arrived at my house during a time when I was confused, and asking the why-God-why question. Sometimes we feel like we are following God’s plan only to find ourselves in confusion and mayhem, wondering how did this happen while I was following God's plan. We might think, this can't be the will of God.

The funny thing about this book arriving at my house was that I had not ordered it. They sent it to me as part of a promotion to sign up for a monthly subscription.

The story is about a man that had lost his wife and set out to drive across country in an effort to find healing for his broken heart. He had been on the road a long time and was still just as broken and empty as ever. His relationship with the Lord was fading into oblivion, because he didn't understand why God was against him. This is where I come in. I could totally relate to how Keith felt, because at the time I was dealing with my own heart ache. Keith ended up getting stuck on a tourist island when a sudden thunderstorm rose up and he wasn't able to catch the ferry off the island. All the hotels were full and as a last ditch effort, he was told about this widow woman that had a cottage he could stay in overnight, but things just go from bad to worse.

It's hard to imagine that a God who loves us so much and has the power to do the impossible, can seem so far away when we need Him. Yet and still, He is the God of the impossible and He works in mysterious ways. Keith had lost faith in God, but he found it again at Rainbow's End. This story had a very big impact on my life. I bought a copy of it for my mother and my sister, praying that it would bring healing to them as well.

After the thunderstorm, comes the rainbow, and it is a sign of the everlasting covenant that God made with living, breathing creatures on the earth that He would not destroy it again by flood. It is a sign of His goodness toward mankind, even though we don't deserve it.

God knows what He's doing. Though to us at times, He appears so far away, and our prayers seemingly go on ignored. The truth is, He is a very present help in trouble. He knows how to heal the severely broken and the feeble. He is an on time God and He can be trusted to bear us up when we are torn down. Charles Spurgeon said, "We cannot always trace God's hand, but we can always trust God's heart."

He loves me and He loves you too. The Bible is full of men and women that trusted God and was delivered from all their afflictions. They were not put to shame by circumstances that God did not deliver them out of, for our God knows how to deliver and He is never late.

Ps. 34:18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.

Ps. 147: 3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Don't give up on God because He won't give up on you. Give Him your brokenness. Take hold of the horns of the alter and don't let go. Don't let the enemy, nor your circumstances deceive you into doubting that God is not concerned about everything little thing that concerns you.

Luke 12:7 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

1 Peter 5:6-7 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Thank You Lord for reminding me of Your ways of doing things... and that sometimes it does not line up with my way of thinking. I love You my everlasting Father, and my Prince of Peace.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

The Upper Hand

When I was in the 10^th grade in high school, I enrolled in a beginner’s typing class. I struggled and struggled to keep up with the class. When the teacher gave us timed typing tests, I always fell way behind the class and did not seem to be improving. When the teacher saw I was a hopeless cause, she recommended that I see my counselor to transfer out of her class, to another elective. I believe the good Lord’s hand was upon me, I ended up making it through high school having taken multiple typing classes, even though that teacher tried to discourage me from the get-go.

Coincidentally, I ended up choosing the secretarial profession, and when I graduated from high school, I went to secretarial school where I took more typing classes. To be honest, my typing speed never improved that much, even as a secretary. Today, I still only type about 50 words per minute. However, I managed to put in a good 25 years as an Administrative Assistant. I believe the good Lord’s hand was upon me all the while. Anyways, I’ve gotten very good at hitting the Backspace key and proofreading my work.

In addition to the secretarial career, I also managed to pick up a love for writing somewhere along the way, which also requires a sufficient amount of typing. ☺ Writing is my new passion, of late. I hope to be successful at publishing many literary pieces someday. I believe the good Lord’s hand is still on me to accomplish it.

This morning I was reminded about my 10^th grade typing teacher, who tried to put an end to my destiny before it ever got started. But she could not.

Even though I would apply for secretarial jobs and not be able to meet their typing speed requirements, it did not hinder me from landing good paying jobs (without passing typing tests). The good Lord’s hand was upon me to accomplish it.

The race is not given to swiftest, nor the battle won by the strongest, nor bread to the wisest, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill – but it is for those whose hand the good Lord is upon. We have the Upper Hand (the hand of the good Lord), and His mercies are great… tremendous… and all encompassing.

Now thanks be to God who always leads us to triumph in Christ, and through us spreads the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. (2 Cor. 2:14)

Put your hand in the hand of the Man who stilled the water

Put your hand in the hand of the Man who calmed the sea

Take a look at yourself and you will look at others differently

Put your hand in the hand of the Man from Galilee.

Jealousy and the Fatal Marriage

For the woman’s jealous husband will be furious, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge. He will accept no compensation, nor be satisfied with a payoff of any size.
Proverbs 6:34-35 (NLT)

TORN ASUNDER BY JEALOUSY

Who is able to stand before jealousy?

The Dictionary defines jealous as feeling or showing suspicion of someone's unfaithfulness in a relationship. I define it as a malicious distrust of a partner that centers on one's own self. The person reacting to jealousy is in part, acting in selfishness because it is mostly suspicion (not real) and in most cases not based on true facts. A lot of times, the person reacting to the jealousy is simply insecure in himself, and covering up his insecurities by accusing his spouse of wild-eyed suspicions. He creates scenarios that are simply not there and misinterprets situations that are truly innocent.

Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!

Matt. 6:22-23 (NLT)

Unfaithfulness in marriage is a terribly hurtful thing. In no way do I make light of it. If a person is suspicious of his partner, that must be a tragic thing to experience, believing that the one you love would be involved in an affair.

The spirit of jealousy is a stronghold that has the victim on lock down. They are unable to see that their suspicions are unfounded, because their eye is unhealthy. They further victimize their partner and will not accept the truth, no matter how desperately it is explained to them. They believe what they believe, no matter what.

Personally, I believe it is a form of Schizophrenia, which is defined as:

a type of long-term mental disorder involving a breakdown in the relation between thought, emotion, and behavior, leading to faulty perceptions, inappropriate actions and feelings; a withdrawal from reality into fantasy and delusion, and a sense of mental fragmentation.

The person operating under a spirit of jealousy, and continues to accuse the innocent partner of unfaithful behavior, is in fact delusional (not operating in reality).

According to Leviticus 20:10, if a man's wife had an affair and got caught, both she and the adulterer was put to death. That's how serious a crime adultery is, it warranted capital punishment.

In the 5th chapter of Numbers, Moses addresses this issue by creating a law to deal with the jealous husband and his suspicions of an unfaithful wife. If the wife had an affair and the husband was suspicious but had no proof, the spirit of jealousy would come upon him and he was supposed to take his wife with a grain offering (a jealousy offering to bring her hidden sin to remembrance) to the priest to be tested under the law of jealousies.

The priest had her sit in a chair in the Holy Place of the tabernacle. The priest would take dirt from the tabernacle floor and mix it with holy water to make it bitter water. Then the priest would remove her head scarf and put the jealousy offering in her hands. He held the bitter water, and brought the charge before her, saying that if she had not had an affair then she would be free from the curse of the bitter water. But if she did have an affair and slept around, the Lord would make her a curse and an oath among her people by making her right thigh rot and fall away and the bitter water in her belly would cause it to swell up.

If she was found innocent, she would conceive seed, and be free from the curse. The jealous husband would be ashamed of himself by humiliating his wife publicly. I suppose if this became a regular occurrence, the Lord would deal with the priest in how to appropriately deal with this erring husband... or the Lord Himself would deal with him.

Jesus taught in the sermon on the mount that if one has lusted after another person in his or her heart, they have committed adultery already, even if they did not have physical intercourse. So, if we are caught up in sin or tempted to sin, we should take every precaution to escape from it.

Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn away from it and pass on.

Prov. 4:14-15

When Joseph was faced with his boss Potiphar's wife, he broke away from her grip and ran from her when she was trying to lure him to sleep with her.

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

1 Cor. 10:13

The partner experiencing the jealousy and suspicion of infidelity, should love his partner enough, to conduct the confrontation in love. He is not acting in love when he is victimizing his wife by wrongfully interrogating her to satisfy his continual suspicions. He is making it all about himself... excessively concerned about his own welfare without any regard for her feelings.

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Gal. 6:2

There's another story told in the Bible about a couple named Hosea and Gomer. She was a prostitute and she continued her harlotry even after they were married. Hosea loved Gomer. He would go and find her standing on her street corners and carry her back home. He never stopped loving Gomer even while she openly cheated on him. Again, I am not condoning infidelity, but merely illustrating what true love really is. Love is not selfish, nor is it tormenting.

Love is patient and kind. LOVE IS NOT JEALOUS or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Love will last forever!

1 Cor. 13:4-8 (NLT)

A healthy marriage is built on love for one another, and the joy of marriage deepens as both partners nurture one other. On the other hand, the marriage is torn apart as one or both antagonizes the other, leading down the road to impending destruction. It is sad, but true. Even if they don't divorce, the marriage will remain troubled. One or both partners will be unhappy.

Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word.

Eph. 5:24-26

The healthy thing to do when the enemy drops a negative thought about your partner into your mind, would be to say, "My spouse would not do that. I do not receive it." If these suspicions continue to linger, pray sincerely about it. Let the Lord lead you in how to wisely confront the issue. Use godly wisdom to build the relationship up, and be very careful who you confide in regarding your suspicions.

I once knew a man that was dealing with the spirit of jealousy. He went to his pastor to confide in him and the pastor said to him, "Well brother, you know your wife." This response only solidified the husband's misguided suspicions and the victimization of his innocent wife increased from that point. I am curious as to why the pastor's first response was not to lead the brother in prayer over his marriage.

There is a way out of this mess, without busting up the marriage... Divine Intervention!

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

2 Cor. 4-6 (NKJV)

I once saw a movie called War Room (directed by Alex Kendrick). It's about a couple that was experiencing serious marital problems. The wife was given advice by a wise old woman, to do her fighting in prayer. Don't fight with your spouse. Fight on your knees. The wife then emptied out her closet and turned it into a room of warfare over her troubled marriage. God worked miracles in their home and completely transformed their marriage. I know He is able to do anything, according to our faith. He is able to do exceedingly and abundantly, over and above, all that we dare to ask Him in fervent prayer, according to the Holy Spirit's power that is at work in us.

I often hear Pastor Joel Osteen say, "We are victors and not victims." The enemy will try to victimize us, but God has the last say. When Satan tried to tempt Jesus in the wilderness, Jesus said, "Away with you Satan." The devil left Him and angels came and ministered to Him. We don't have to put up with the devil. Get armored up and stand your ground. Go to war with the enemy knowing that he is already a defeated foe, and greater is He who is in you, than he who is in the world. The time is now to defeat this enemy and remove him from your home.

The spirit of jealousy is a stronghold, but strongholds can be pulled down and the enemy defeated, and you are the one to do it, my friend.

Who is able to stand before jealousy? You are!! With the power of the Holy Spirit, you will completely stamp it out.

Secret Place Writing Studio

I have a dream today. It is a dream of my very own writing studio. I have been praying and preparing for this place non-stop for the past few months. I looked at Martin Luther King, Jr.'s I Have A Dream speech this morning and I am more determined than ever to see this dream come to pass.

I have the dream of a writing studio. There, I will sit at my computer and let the Holy Spirit speak through me to encourage and edify the body of Christ. The decor of my studio will be inspiring and incite creativity. The presence of the Lord will be strong. I will be like the servant in Jesus' parable that took his five talents and used them to gain five more besides. At the end of the parable Jesus said, "To everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance."

I know that God has heard my prayers concerning my desire for the writing studio, and I believe that He is bringing it to pass behind the scenes. I am just believing that the Lord will open the door and make a way for me to move in.

The Lord said to me, "I will do that for you."

 A sample peek.

Proverbs 24:3-4 (NKJV) Through wisdom my studio is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the room is filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

Psalm 37:3-5 (NKJV) Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.

Mark 11:24 (NKJV) Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

❤ I love You Daddy. ❤

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If you believe in the power of prayer,

please say a prayer for me. Thanks.

Worth Fighting For

Michael the Warrior Angel by Isthar

Every once in a while, I'll post a song on here, that I didn't write, but it was a song that touched my heart in some kind of way. Here's another.

The Lord believes we are worth fighting for. That was the reason He sent Christ Jesus to save us. And, He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not, with Him, also freely give us all things?

WORTH FIGHTING FOR LYRICS

Performed by Brian Courtney Wilson

You met me deep in my despair
To show me You would never leave me there
You claimed because I was made for so much more
I am Your child
And I'm worth fighting for

Though heavy, with the weight of my mistakes
You carried me and refused
To let me sink under the pressure
You meant for me to soar
I am Your child
And I'm worth fighting for

Chorus
Eyes haven't seen
Ears haven't heard
All You have planned for me
And nothing can separate me from Your love
When there's so much more still worth fighting for

Now I'm moving by faith and not by sight
Towards victory by the power of Your might
You're straightening out my path
And opening every door
I am Your child
And I'm worth fighting for

Eyes haven't seen
Ears haven't heard
All You have planned for me
And nothing can separate me from Your love
When there's so much more still worth fighting for

That's why I'm pressing
Towards the mark
Cause the calling on my life
Is worth fighting for

And I'll keep my mind
Stayed on You Jesus
Because the peace it brings
Is worth fighting for

And I'll be faithful
To my spouse and children
Because my family
Is worth fighting for

No, this world
Is not my home
But Your kingdom here
Is worth fighting for

I've got a mansion
Over in glory
And my new home
Is worth fighting for

Till I see it I'll shout Hallelujah
Hallelujah!
Cause my praise is worth fighting for
Life with You is worth fighting for

Eyes haven't seen
Ears haven't heard
There is so much more still worth fighting for

If you believe that you're worth fighting for
Shout to the Lord
There is so much more still worth fighting for

Here's the song.

The Lord says you "are" worth it!

“Let not your heart be troubled;

you believe in God,

believe also in Me, Christ Jesus."

(John 14:1).

Lord, Save Me

There is not a word on my tongue, but behold O Lord You know it altogether. For all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of the One with whom we have to do. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly. But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Lord, save me.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight.

A lot of things keep going wrong in my life and it is hard not to complain about it. I don't want to come off sounding like the children of Israel in the wilderness. So I ask You to guard my tongue and help me to meditate on and be thankful for what's going right. Heal my foolish and broken heart so that the words of my tongue are righteous and wholesome. I want to pull out of this so we can move on to higher ground. There has got to be more to life than what I am experiencing right now. You always cause me to triumph. Do not let this season hold me back when there is so much more to see and do. Let us not mark time here, but let us forward march. March on, till victory is won.

You know Lord that I love You. I do not understand Your ways, but I love You still. Draw me nearer blessed Lord. Bind me to Your side.

Forgive my sass mouthing. You know the meditations of my heart. Thank You for being my Father... and a friend that sticks closer than a brother, your loving daughter.

The Restless Sea

Restlessness: unquiet or uneasy, as a person, the mind, or the heart -- never at rest -- perpetually agitated or in motion.

God of hope, will You fill us with all joy and peace in believing that we may abound in hope and living above our circumstances by the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us?

Peace, be still.

Watch this powerful video.

Go in peace.

Rest and Relax

When the Lord sent Manna to eat out in the wilderness, each morning the children of Israel were to collect enough to have for the family to eat that day, with no left overs. If they collected more than they could eat that day, the Manna bred worms and gave off a foul odor.

But... so they could have a day of rest, they were instructed to collect twice as much on the sixth day so they could rest on the seventh day, and in that case the Manna did not go bad over night. Also, no Manna fell on the seventh day, so even if they went out to collect, there was none on the ground.

Moses even commanded them to stay inside on the seventh day. It was to them a day of rest. The cloud that led them by day and the fire by night, did not move on the seventh day. It was a Sabbath rest for the children of Israel.

Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy.

In the beginning, when God created heaven and earth, He also rested on the seventh day. After everything was completed and He had ended His work, the Bible says, "He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done (leaving us an example). Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work."

It is not a sin to stop and relax. Jesus said to His disciples in Mark 6:31, "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." For there were many coming and going and they had not even had time to eat.

Sometimes I feel guilty if I take a lunch break in the middle of a busy day. But God is teaching me that it is needed and He is not disappointed with us if we are not able to complete our whole to do list in one day.

When I first came to Christ in 1999, I thought I had to fill up my week working for Christ.  I joined several auxiliaries and boards at church. I started a church newsletter (which most did not read). I taught Sunday School. I was wearing myself out. I began to feel distant from the Lord, and that bothered me. I was tired all the time. I remember one Saturday night I literally stayed up all night preparing for church the next day. I had so much to do, that I shrugged off sleep.

Finally, I made a list of all the work that I was doing and posted it on my bulletin board. It was about 16 different operations that I was involved in. I told the Lord to close the door on the ones that He had not appointed, and leave the ones that He wanted me to continue. As He closed the doors one by one, I crossed those items off the list and it gradually dwindled down to 4 things that He wanted me to do. My relationship with Him was restored, and I got my sleep back.

God is not in the business of wearing His people out doing a work for Him. Jesus said, "Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest."

Get some rest. It's okay!

Taking A Vacation, Eternally

CELEBRATE ME HOME

“I’m going home on the morning train.” That’s a song we used to sing at church way back in the day.

For the last couple of days, that song has been refreshed in my spirit. I have been so home sick for my heavenly home that I almost feel teary-eyed. I’m not suicidal or anything at all like that, just longing to be at rest and free of struggle, evil and unrest.

God's kingdom is so opposite of all that. God will wipe away all our tears. There will be no more struggle.

The lion will lay down peacefully with the lamb. There will be love in the air and everywhere.

The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. (Isa. 11:8)

My neighbors’ dogs will not be barking like they’ve lost their minds.

I will not have to lock my doors to prevent thieves.

I will not have to worry about the bills piling up and the many other responsibilities of life that require my attention. All week I kept forgetting to buy toothpaste. A small thing, but so very important at 6:45 a.m.

I will have a mansion that is so laid, it will make even the most fabulous mansion here, look like a tent.

IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE ARE MANY MANSIONS

“Eye has not seen,

nor ear heard,

nor have entered into the heart of man

the things which God has prepared

for those who love Him.”

I still think I will have something to do in heaven, but whatever it is, it will make my heart sing. It will not be a struggle and I will have no more enemies to fight, no more heavy sighs, no more tears to shed, no more heavy hearts, and most importantly, no more traffic and idiot-drivers. Depression will be a thing of the past. Our glorified bodies will not be able to experience sad emotions or disappointments. Love, joy and peace will be manifested in whole… (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth) the apostle said in Eph. 5:9.

DOVE OF PEACE

Jesus said, “My peace I leave with you.” I believe there is a place in the spirit realm (if we can find it), that no matter what is going on in life, we can still have peace. I have not quite discovered it yet and I think that is part of my problem. I must learn how to let it be... Let go, and let God... Cast my cares... Take my burdens to the Lord, leave them there and walk away (or run away). Either way, don't pick it back up.

If I know, for sure, that I am in the will of God, and trouble rears it’s ugly head in the midst, then I must also believe that God is using it somehow to work things out for my good. The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked (Prov.24:16 NLT). God is bigger than evil and He has not lost control of what is going on.

Jesus said we could speak to the mountain and command it to be removed from here to yonder place. But God meant for us to climb some rough mountains here and there, and we will not be able to command them away. BUT also, don’t forget… He has given us authority over all the power of the enemy.

Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you (Luke 10:19).

Jesus said to the apostle Peter, “Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” One thing is sure of the believer, we are bought with a price and our lives are not our own.

For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s (1 Cor. 6:20).

I went on a trip with my former husband one time, and I didn’t know any of the people there. I was so uncomfortable. They sat around reminiscing about the good old days and since I didn’t know them back then, I just sat quietly with nothing to say. I wanted to go home so badly that I couldn’t think of anything else but home. I wondered why the Lord even had me there in the first place, if all they were going to do is talk about the good old days, and ignore me like I wasn’t even there.

At the end of the trip, we met this lady through the people we were visiting. She was looking for a ride back to Dallas and we lived in the Dallas area so we invited her to come with us.

On the drive back home, we found out that this lady was having all kinds of trouble with her teen aged son. She was at her wit's end. She needed answers in a bad way. It was on the drive back home, that I realized why I was there in the first place. God needed someone to minister to this lady, and He put us in her path. By the time we got back to Dallas, she knew she had experienced the Lord that day, and that He cared about her situation and He was bringing her deliverance.

Just as Jesus had warned Peter, He girded me and carried me where I did not want to go, but in the end, a weary mother’s life was changed, and I too had experienced the Lord that day. Jesus told His disciples, we need to go through Samaria this time. They had traveled that way before by a different road. There was a Samaritan woman there that He was going to meet. He was to minister to this lady and she was to be the catalyst that introduced Jesus to all the Samaritans.

This journey called life is full of ups and downs. The down times may cause us to long desperately for home. The apostle Paul said, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21). So, if living is for Christ, then even during the down times, I’m still up.

I’m not weak, I am strong in the Lord. He is my strength for this journey. Out of my belly flows rivers of living water and there is no drought nor dearth in my spirit, for the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want nor lack. He makes me lie down in fresh, tender green pastures, and leads me beside still and restful waters.

My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:26)

Satan's Pursuits

Please, let the record show that I am not endorsing Greek gods here. I am merely using this story as a parody to establish a biblical teaching.

The Lord Himself is God;

and there is none other

besides Him (Deut. 4:35).

 ____________________________________

The Fictional Story of Sisyphus

   In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was the king of Ephyra. Sisyphus was punished for his callous and ruthless ways, by being forced to roll a huge boulder up a steep hill, only to watch it roll back and hit him, and having to repeat this futile endeavor over and over for eternity, having never reached the top of the hill.

   Sisyphus was the son of King Aeolus of Thessaly and Enarete. He was the founder and first king of Ephyra. Sisyphus promoted navigation and commerce, but he was greedy and deceitful. He also killed travelers and guests, and took pleasure in these killings because they allowed him to maintain his iron-fisted rule, and he could commandeer their belongings.

   Sisyphus was extremely ruthless and cunning; he had created many enemies among the Greek gods, among them was one, Zeus, for Sisyphus had betrayed him.

   Zeus sent Hades (personification of Death) to chain Sisyphus down in Tartarus. Sisyphus slyly asked Hades to demonstrate how the chains worked. As Hades was granting him his wish, Sisyphus seized the opportunity and trapped Hades in the chains instead. As long as the strong chains bound Hades, nobody could die. Because of this, sacrifices could not be made to the Greek gods, and those that were old and sick were made to continue suffering. The gods finally threatened to make life so miserable for Sisyphus that he himself would wish for death. He then had no choice but to release Hades.

   When Sisyphus died he tricked Persephone, goddess of the underworld, to allow him to return to the upperworld to deal with his wife who did not give him a proper funeral and burial. When his spirit returned to the upperworld, he refused to return to the underworld and was dragged back forcibly by Hermes, whose job it was to guide souls to the underworld.

   As punishment for his trickery, Sisyphus was made to endlessly shove a huge boulder up a steep hill again and again, every day, forever, condemning him to an eternity of useless efforts, unending frustration, and vain pursuits.  (end of Wikipedia reference)

The Useless Endeavors of Satan

I heard someone say one time that the enemies of God still hate God and they don't care much for you and me either. In the story of Job, Satan came before the Lord confessing that he had been patrolling the earth for people to devour. The Lord allowed Satan to take on Job and he made Job's life a nightmare for a while. But in the end, Job confessed to the Lord, "I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You." He is Almighty God and Satan is a defeated foe. The Lord turned Job's captivity and restored his losses with twice as much as he had before. He gave Job more children, the most beautiful daughters in all the land. Job lived 140 years after this occurrence, to see his great, great grandchildren and the end of his life was better than the beginning.

The Lord always causes us to triumph. Anytime Satan tries to overtake us, he is like Sisyphus rolling a huge stone up the steep hill and he will never, ever triumph over God's people. Therefore, the Bible says, "Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. They shall soon be mowed down like grass, and wither as the green herb" (Psalm 37:1).

True story is told about a young high school student named Casey Heynes, that had been bullied for years by his fellow classmates. He would never fight back or retaliate. He just endured their daily hostility without striking back. One day a boy came and pinned Casey to the wall and when he saw that Casey would not fight back, he started bouncing around like he was Smokin' Joe Frazier. Suddenly, Casey grabbed the boy and body slammed him against the pavement and nearly broke his knee and his ankle. The boy stumbled around unable to walk and not one of the classmates standing around tried to mess with Casey after that. In fact, they all walked away. Within a matter of a few hours, Casey became an international social media hero. Many kids were able to sympathize with his situation and they were blessed as a result of seeing the bully get his comeuppance.

Facing a Giant

David came up against a giant war champion named Goliath, a Philistine from Gath. This guy was about 4 feet taller than David and massive in strength. He was running around morning and evening for 40 days saying, "I defy the armies of Israel this day." But with God's help, David was able to kill that giant with a slingshot and a stone. David said to Goliath, "The Lord will give you into my hands." And He did just that. David took the giant's own sword and cut off his head.

When it comes to trying to figure out why God allows bad things to happen to good people, I must admit, I am the first one bursting on the scene to hear the answer to that. But my Jesus said, "The Heavenly Father, makes the sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust alike." To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.

I heard a preacher say, "Accept what God allows, you're better off anyways. Even when you don't understand accept every trial, putting it in His hands because He has a master plan." I was driving to work recently and I said, "Lord, do I always have to be going through something for You to transform me? Can't You just let some things fall off like ripened fruit from a tree? Like fear, can't You just wipe it out so that I no longer struggle with it? I want to get rid of it, but I hesitate to ask because I know there will be a trial to endure." A spirit of dread comes upon me when I know the Lord is dealing with me about something because I know that the fight is on. Perhaps, as He did with Job, the Lord is asking Satan, "Have you considered My servant, Dee?" Then here comes Satan lining up all my circumstances, trying to get me offended with God.

But I am reminded once again that we are more than conquerors. He knows my going out and my coming in. He knows my sitting down and my rising up. He knows how much I can endure. He knows how much I love Him. He knows that I don't want to be offended because He knows my thoughts afar off. He knows how much I can bear. In regard to Job, the Lord said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not lay a hand on his person." Satan could not do what God commanded him not to do because he came back a second time asking for permission to make Job sick.

Jesus said in Luke 10:19 that He has given us authority over the enemy. We can use His name to defeat Satanic attack. He is a defeated foe, y'all. We don't have to put up with everything he throws at us. God's rebuke dries up the sea and make a river a wilderness (Isa. 50:2). Jesus cursed the fig tree and it withered up over night.

One night I was trying to sleep but the neighborhood dogs were keeping up a terrible racket barking at each other. I started to sigh heavily because I had about enough of it. The Lord said to me, "What did I teach you?" He had been teaching me about this authority over the enemy. I didn't want to disturb my husband's sleep, so I spoke in my spirit to the devil, "Satan, the Lord rebuke you." Then without speaking out verbally, I spoke to the barking dogs, "Puppy, peace!" Immediately all the dogs hushed before I could finish saying peace.

I said to the Lord in my spirit, "That helped my faith. I operated in the authority You gave us and saw it work immediately. That helped my faith for future attacks." I drifted off to sleep but later I awoke and was thinking about it some more. Those dogs hushed at my command. I was amazed. A few minutes later they began to bark again a second time. I said to them again, "Puppies, peace!" Immediately they hushed again the second time. The Lord said to me in my spirit, "I didn't want you to think it was a coincidence the first time so I took you through the exercise the second time so that you would know beyond the shadow of a doubt, it was My power at work in you both times, to quiet those dogs.

When David faced Goliath, he knew that God was his power, because he had already killed a lion and a bear in the strength of the Lord. God had built his faith to know that Goliath was nothing and David killed him too. David went on to become a mighty warrior and won many battles.

I don't know why the devil won't just give up these useless pursuits. He cannot do anything to God's people that will cause any permanent damage. He cannot even touch us if God does not permit, and if God permits it, we're better off anyways.

Satan is Sisyphus rolling the futile stone up the steep hill, only to have it roll back over him on the way back down. He cannot defeat the God that has your back and mine.

No weapon formed against you shall prosper,

And every tongue which rises against you in judgment

You shall condemn.

This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,

And their righteousness is from Me,”

Says the Lord.

Isa. 54:17

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

So are My ways higher than your ways,

And My thoughts than your thoughts.

“For as the rain comes down,

and the snow from heaven,

And do not return there,

But water the earth,

And make it bring forth and bud,

That it may give seed to the sower

And bread to the eater,

So shall My word be

that goes forth from My mouth;

It shall not return to Me void,

But it shall accomplish what I please,

And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Isa. 55:8-11

Go in peace.