Take some time and pray this….

  “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation;        he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.   Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.   He alone is my rock and my salvation;  he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.   My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.   Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him,  for God is our refuge.   One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard:  that you, O God, are strong,  and that you, O Lord, are loving.  Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done.  O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you;  my soul thirsts for you,  my body longs for you,  in a dry and weary land where there is no water.  I have seen you in the sanctuary  and beheld your power and your glory.  Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.  I will praise you as long as I live, 
and in your name I will lift up my hands.  My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;  with singing lips my mouth will praise you.  On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.  Because you are my help,  I sing in the shadow of your wings.  My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.  Hear me, Oh God.”

God Bless!!

If you get down, rebuild

I have been reading the book of Nehemiah.  This is a great story of leadership beginning with prayer and the courage to ask the King for some time off to rebuild the city. His goal was to rebuild the wall.  In chapter 7, a list of the exiles is written in detail.  In chapter 8, Ezra reads from the book of the law.

Verses 5 & 6 read,  “Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. 6 Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.”

They worshiped Father God!  However, these people were very emotional.  They had been exiled, they had been hurt, they had been forgotted, and they needed a release.

verses 9-11 hold some keys to our lives…..

 ”9Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is sacred to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.  10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”   11The Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for this is a sacred day. Do not grieve.”

You see, when Father God sets you free, we are commanded not to mourn or weep, not to grieve because the JOY of the LORD is our strength.   He calls us to be still and let him heal our feelings of exile, our hurts, our lonliness and our despair!!!!

Just like Nehemiah, we can go to our Father and begin to rebuild our walls.  Truly we can call out “AMEN, AMEN” and bow down and worship the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords and the Lover of our souls!!

May God heal our emotions, cleanse our souls and restore our strength!!

God Bless

 

Wow!

It’s Saturday morning and I’ve been awake since 4:45am.  

Saturday’s are typically a day when I can catch a little more sleep, but not today.

Father God has been stirring my heart all night.  A call to pray, a call to read, a call to listen to His still small voice…..

Father God,

I thank you for these special moments in my life.  The inconvenient ordinary sleeplessness turns into extraordinary moments with you!  Father, I lift up every member of 2BC.  There are many that are physically hurting and many, many more hurting emotionally from events of the past.  Father your word is clear that when you forgive, you remember our sins no more.  Father, I pray for healing of mind, body and spirit in our church body.   We can not control or change our past.  Only by the power and blood of Jesus can that be changed.  You word tells us that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.  You can heal the broken and hurting moments of our past.

Father reveal to us as a church body the areas that we need to turn over to you.  Stir our hearts for the hurting and the lost.

Thanks you for the “divine moments” in my life!   I pray your blessings and guidance over this household.  Bless my family, expand our boundaries and ministries, keep you hand upon us and protect us.

In your name I pray…..amen

Reflection

I was searching through my journal and read something that touched me, again.  The key to having a journal is the ability to look back in the past and relive ‘moments’ in vivid detail.

This is from July 12, 2006.

“Father God, you have searched me and know me.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Your works and ways are wonderful.  Thank you for daily confirmation and many divine moments.  Search me and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way of everlasting.

Father God, prepare me today to receive your Word and direction.  As I study, I am convinced more and more that we are in a battle.   Spiritual warfare is upon us.  Praise be to God that we have victory!!  Father God, lavish upon me your spirit and your Word.  Thank you for calling me out to bring people into your loving, healing and overcoming presence.  Father God, grow me through your Word, your Holy Spirit and your wisdom.

Father, bless Jenny, Keely and Addie.  Let them know that I love them deeply.  Help me to love them more. Expand them, keep your hand upon them and protect them.”

I am not good about keeping a daily journal, but when I do, I am able to go back and recall specific events of some great moments in my life.

This was from 17 months ago, but it is so relevant today!!!!

God Bless and be sure to acknowledge and record your “divine moments.”