Be at Peace, My Child

God did not give us a spirit of fear or timidity, but a spirit of power, and of love, and of sound mind and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

 

There is no question that there is pain and intense suffering in this world. Some of it is explained by selfish, hateful actions on the part of others. Some of it defies an explanation in this life. But God offers us Himself. God gives us the knowledge that He has endured also, and is aware of our pain and needs. Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid’ (John 14:27). There is ample reason to be afraid, troubled, but God can give us His peace, which is greater than the problem before us. He is after all, God, the Creator. The One who has always existed. The One who created a universe with a spoken word.

 

Yet even in His power, He's also the One who knows us intimately, even the smallest, insignificant details. And if we will trust Him with our lives, relying on Him, though we encounter difficulties, He will hold us securely. Jesus said, ‘These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, trials and distresses, but take courage; I have overcome the world and deprived it of its power to harm you. So stopping letting yourself get agitated and disturbed’ (John 16:33). He went through our ultimate threat -- death -- and overcame it. He can take us through the difficult circumstances of this life, and then bring us into eternal life, if we will trust Him.

 

We can either go through this life with God or without Him. IN HIM, we can be at peace.

 

Father, thank You for Your promise of peace as we turn to You. We ask You to help us keep our minds stayed on You and as we do, trusting in You, I pray that You bless us with Your presence and Your perfect peace. We wait upon You now to receive it by faith. Thank You, Lord. In Jesus' name, amen.
 

 see also: Christ is My Victory (Psalm 91 to pray)


 

God's Will is Your Healing

He sent His Word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Healing was provided through Jesus' redemptive work at the Cross. It is by His stripes that we were healed. Your healing has already been bought and paid for in Christ.

Jesus is our Healer. You are healed in Christ. When sickness tries to attack, begin to praise God and thank Him that healing belongs to you. Keep your praise on, regardless of setbacks or the length of time you've been waiting for your healing to be made manifest in the natural. God's STILL got you. Watch God's power begin to work in your body to drive out every trace of sickness. 

Write down some healing confessions based on your circumstances. Write down any words the Lord speaks to you concerning your circumstances. Write down any scriptures the Lord gives you concerning your circumstances. Keep them ever before you. Read them aloud every chance you get. Believe what you read. Believe God today and receive His healing provision for your life.

Father, we need Your healing touch. Desperately. May Your Blood run through our veins, warding off all sickness, disease, infirmity, pain and all symptoms thereof. Fill our bodies with Your mighty healing power. Help us to have peace and hope while we wait for You to show up on our behalf. Help us to not feel that we've failed You or done something wrong when we don't see immediate results. Help us to know how to take care of our bodies, including what to eat and drink and what not to. We will not die, but live, and declare the wondrous works of the Lord. In Jesus' name, amen.

Childrearing 101 from My Uncle

This blog entry is in honor of my Uncle Ronnie, who was taken from us WAY too soon. His birthday is Saturday and Father’s Day is Sunday, and it’s really had me thinking about the impact his life had on everyone around him and the legacy that he left behind.

Below is some tidbits of his daughter VJ's (my cousin) wisdom she gained from him on childrearing and her thoughts on life and him now.

‘My father gave me this nugget of wisdom when I was the first time Mommie of a two year old toddler. I can hear him plainly as he said, "Baby, it is not your job to be your child's friend right now. It is your job, from here on out to prepare them for life as a respectful and productive member of society. That is what a good parent does. The little things you let slip because they are cute can turn into a bad habit that can last generations. You don't have to be a hard 'person' like me all the time. Have fun with her, teach her to work, get down in the floor and play with her, but always let her know what you expect from her and never let that pretty face or pouty mouth back you up from what you said. Be consistent. Love her. Tell her you will always be there for her. No matter how little they are, you teach by example and communicate just a little above their level. Set bars for her and when she's about able to touch it, move it higher. No one is ever going to love her like you. The world is cold and cruel. Teach her that. Stand your ground with her, no matter how small it may seem. You are teaching her from the minute she's born how to treat you, and others. You are not equals, and she will respect you. You can be friends after she's grown. Now she just needs guidance".

He told me another time that your goal in life is to prepare your children not to depend on you, but to train them to be able to live without you. Although he was never able to teach me to live without him, I’m okay. I miss his influence and friendship every single day I’ve had to live without him, and I still react the way I think would make him proud. Each time I want to pick up the phone and ask him what should I do, I know what he’d tell me if he were at the other end of that phone, and most of the time I do it.’

To my Uncle Ronnie, kudos to you ... Happy Birthday and Happy Father's Day!

To my precious father, Mike, whom I have been so richly blessed with ... thank you for all your love, support and prayers. The wisdom that you have imparted to me helps carry me through the 'what do I do now' times that I have, as well. Thank you for who you are, all you do, and for loving and accepting me ... Happy Father's Day!

To all the fathers out there (and those acting in a father capacity) … you have NO idea of the impact that you can have on your children. Teach them well. Love them. Support them. Make every moment count, for every moment is precious. Your influence is wanted and needed. Not meaning to put a lot of pressure on you, but then again I do … step up to that plate and hit the ball out of the park. Your family’s lives in part depend on it.

Father, our ultimate Father, thank You for being a good, loving Daddy to us. Thank You for the time that You have blessed us with our earthly fathers, and though not all have acted in as much an honorable fashion as the man listed in this blog, You always have been and always will be. Bring comfort to and heal those who are without fathers, and to fathers who have lost their children. Take them up and adopt them as Your own. Be a light through all those in fatherly capacities. Be near them on this special weekend. And Father … Happy Father’s Day. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Now More than Ever

Go away, all you who do evil, for the Lord HAS heard my weeping. The Lord HAS heard my plea; the Lord WILL answer my prayer. Psalm 6:8,9

LORD, help us to hear from You today, and may we be obedient. Give us wisdom to make right decisions.

LORD, have mercy and compassion on us.

LORD, we need Your strength and grace. Help our bodies to be physically able and our minds to be mentally able to do what we need to do.

LORD JESUS, heal our bodies. Take away sickness and pain. Release us from the tormenting spirits.

LORD, keep us close to You through the things that we are going through, help us not to push You away in difficult times, but instead allow You to draw us closer.

LORD, give us Your peace, Your perfect peace, that surpasses all understanding.

LORD, be with us, our families, our friends, all Your people ... special touch and anointing for us. Bless us with uncommon favor. Strengthen us. Heal us. Love on us. Help us to grab on, hold on and don’t let go of the hem of Your garment, Jesus. For all our needs are met in You. You are the Answer. To every question. To every problem. To every heartache. To every sickness. To every cry. Blood of Jesus over us.

His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward Him and find Him --- though He is not far from any one of us. Acts 17:27

We need You now LORD GOD … more than ever. Be not far from us.

God is at Work

God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. Philippians 2:13

God is at work in us, causing us to be willing and obedient ... giving us the grace and changing us ... so that we will be able to do what He wants us to do.  He gives us the desire and power to accomplish His will, not our pleasures.

God WILL carry out His plan. Either He will work IN us or He will work ON us. Either way, He WILL accomplish His purpose.

We have all seen the sign on the highway 'MEN AT WORK'. We can put a sign over the Christian: 'GOD AT WORK'. In the quest for God to make us like Jesus, He may have to chisel, sand, steel wool and polish us. God will continue to polish us until Jesus comes back to get us.

Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6
 
We need to relax, stop being so hard on ourselves, and allow God to work through us.

Father, I pray that You help us to trust You to complete the work that You have begun in us. Help us to allow You to work through us. Change us. Make us more like You. In Jesus' name, amen.

What's Your Goal?

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10

Just try to do and be the best you that you know how. It is such a waste of time and effort to try to please everybody. That is a job no one could ever accomplish.

It's easy to allow yourself, especially during rough periods, to be influenced by others. God is the only person that will always stand by you and have your back. So the only person you should strive to please is God.

Do not change yourself for others. Do not lose yourself trying to be something that you are not. The only reason you should make a change within your life is for God. He would want you to be the best version of yourself. Do not be influenced by the people surrounding you. Imitate Christ.

No matter how hard a situation may be, you must put your faith in God. He is the One person you can always count on.

You are not really free, until you are free from trying to please everybody. If your goal is to make everyone happy, you are always going to be disappointed. Carry on ... whether you get people's approval or not.

You know God's voice.

Just follow it.

Father, help us to be God pleasers and not people pleasers. We want to give You the honor and respect that You are due. Help us to hear and follow Your voice, Your instruction, Your leading. In Jesus’ name, amen.


 
see also: Got Rest?

Having to Wait?

Let us not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we do not give up or quit. Galatians 6:9

If God has promised you something, DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED if you are having to wait ... He shows up at JUST THE RIGHT TIME.

Do not go by what you see - go by what you know - that God IS faithful. You do not have to see in the natural yet what God has promised, waiting for it does not negate the fact that it WILL happen.

All history testifies to the fact that God always keeps His Word. You are wise if you trust Him.

Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass. Joshua 21:45.

You have come TOO FAR to give up now, so DON'T.

I pray that God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy and peace. In Jesus' name, amen.


see also: While I'm Waiting
              How's that Waiting Thing Working out for You?