Can God Be Trusted?

Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? Psalm 56:9-11

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Can God be trusted when silent?
I know there have been times in my own life when my prayers didn't exactly seem to "avail much." I wonder if you have had moments in life when all seem dark. For about four years I prayed and expected God to restore my mother’s health. I don't think I ever desired anything more my whole life.  I can clearly recall the weeks that followed my mother’s death when she was still in her thirties. I remember the sense that I was loved, protected, and perfectly safe was gone and replaced with a devastating emptiness, deep loneliness, and a feeling that nothing will ever be the same again. Up to that point I had faith in God and I trusted Him to protect me but my mother’s death was a game changer. It was the first major loss in my life. I started to see things differently. I questioned whether or not God really loves me. I woke up one day and I realize that I no longer trusted God. I was on a dangerous path of self-destruction. For example, I can remember shaking my head in disbelief when hearing or reading, "Whatever you ask in prayer you will receive"? Or  "Ask and it will be given to you"? And “ if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted”

Fourteen years into the journey, I was ready to throw in the towel.  I find it comforting that the prophet Jeremiah experienced such despair as well. Read Lamentations and you understand what I mean. I don’t know what your journey with God has been until today but I am sure you have experienced your own bumpy ride. I want to assure you dear friend that the loneliness due to my mother’s passing was nothing compared to the level of hopelessness I experienced in the months when I no longer trusted God.  If there is one thing I love the most about God it has to be the fact that He is immutable. He is not shaken by our unbelief. He does not panic or act unreasonably as we often do. He remains eternally faithful.  He never gives up on us.  When we reject Him, He still pursues us patiently and lovingly. In the midst of his torment the prophet Jeremiah remembers God’s faithfulness. Even though God seems to be silent in answer to his prayers, Jeremiah realized through God’s dealings with others in the past that He is never absent though silent at and misunderstood at times.

My dear friend, our loving Father revealed Himself abundantly clear in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Listen, our heavenly Father can be trusted through adversity and pain even though He is unseen.  Like Jeremiah, I remembered God faithfulness and was able to run back to His loving arms before it was too late. He has always taken great care of me.  I have learned to patiently hope in Him even when I don’t understand His plan to the fullest. A loving relationship requires trust and I have learned to trust God. You too can trust Him.  Do not let illness, pain, and financial hardship keep you from trusting God. Listen; what we have in Him is far greater than what this world can ever offer us. Listen; even if we were to lose our health and wealth, we would still win. There is no losing with God.  Have God. Have it all.

Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord!

And again, "Praise the Lord, all you nations! Praise him, all you people of the world!" Romans 15:11

The mercy of the Lord is new every morning (Lamentation 3). Each day we can find a fresh place to begin. I don't know about you but I woke up with a song in my heart. I feel this incredible joy. God is good all the times and some other times, he really reveals Himself to us, doesn't He? After everything you have been through in this lifetime, I after all the trials and tribulations, hurt and pain, sickness and disease, you woke up this morning. Glory! Regardless of what I have lined up for a day, I always wake up with joy. I can't believe God is blessing me with another day. I have to tell you I enjoy life with everything that comes with it (defeat and success, health and illness). All of it is part of the "Living experience". God decides to bless me with another day and I am going to rejoice in it. It is really hard to rejoice sometimes, but it a lesson that I had to learn. Every day is a blessing. You and I are witnessing history. We are a part of something great, and we know that it is going to be greater when we reach our destination (heaven). Once you understand this truth, you should be able to pass the tests of this life with flying colors.

Friend, I do not know what you are facing this morning, you can be in the middle of the biggest fight of your life. All I know is there is no greater than Jehovah. Your sickness, disease, pain, trials and tribulations are not greater than the Almighty God. If you have made a place for Jesus Christ, than god is on your side. He wants to step in. His desire is for you to live a worry free life. He is at the door waiting for you to give Him the green light. It is time to pack the hurt and the pain out of your life, and make room for peace and joy. That is what the good news of Christ is all about. Choose life, choose joy, choose peace, and don't forget to praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord!

Comforter..........

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

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The word “weary” means no energy and exhausted in strength. We often feel weary because of everything that’s going on in our lives and in this world. We often find ourselves looking for comfort, looking for peace in all the wrong places. But God design a system for us to get blessed and to find rest from our weariness. We have the Holy Spirit. God understands that at times we would be weary. Jesus must have been weary on His way to Calvary.

The Holy Spirit is a real person who came to reside within the believer on the day of he/she is saved. He is considered to be the third member of the Godhead. He is a person equal in every way with God the Father and God the Son.
"I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper that He may be with you forever; the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." (John 14:16-18)

“Come to me” is an invitation, He will not intervene unless you invite Him in. We tend to tell our friends everything about our lives but we tend to be too polite when it comes to God. We don’t want to bother Him; we pray for a few second, we don’t spend the time to tell Him about all that is in our heart. He is omniscient, all knowing but you still need to tell me about your trouble because only God can give the rest, the comfort that you are looking for.

I can’t say it enough, come to God, and stop telling the people who are unable to help. Call on the true comforter, the Holy Spirit and get the real comfort. He will build into our lives love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23), in addition to God real comfort.

Praise the Lord!

Christ Brings Peace!

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

How true is that! God does keep all His promises. Many years ago, I thought I would never experience peace again. After my mother died, I promised myself that I would never smile again. I made the decision to be miserable.  It is ironic how we are sometimes our own enemy! But, in the years since my mother's passing, I have smiled, and I have even  laughed. God has blessed our family in ways that I never thought possible. We now have peace. Thank God for His goodness, mercy and grace. God has a way of working with us through our hardship and pain and little by little restore the joy in our hearts. God is good. He does not give up on His children. His promises of peace, like all the others, is a promise we can rely on. God expects us to know that he keeps his promises, and can be trusted. You and I must believe that God can and will do what He says will do. Friend, God keeps his promises. It may have been two years or  twenty five years since the promise had been given, but at the appointed time the promise will be fulfilled. God can be relied upon, he can be trusted, and believed on, to do that which he has promised to do. The challenge comes with waiting. We simply do not like to wait. We want it all today and now.

We live in the "microwave era." We want immediate gratification of our wishes and desires. How hard is to wait? Very. Both prophets Isaiah and Malachi talked about promises of God, but the gap between the prophecy of Malachi and its fulfillment with the birth of John was more than four hundred years; whereas the prophecies of Isaiah and the birth of Jesus was about around eight hundred years. God fulfills his promises, and has always proven himself faithful in the past, and He will continue to be faithful. You can and should place your trust in Him. Times are really hard but we can trust God. He promises of peace; therefore, peace is ours.He promises to never leave us alone; therefore we are never alone. Whatever the challenge my dear friend, you can trust God. let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid, is a command. Live in peace. Have faith in God. Remains faithful no matter what comes your way and be blessed!

Father God, thank you for who you are, all you have done, and all you will do in my life. I praise you. I honor you. Amen. 

Praise the Lord!

Be Filled with God!

You will know Christ's love, which goes far beyond any knowledge. I am praying this so that you may be completely filled with God. Ephesians 3:19

"God makes a home for the lonely" Psalms 68:6 

May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation--the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ--for this will bring much glory and praise to God. Philippians 1:11

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Many couples fall into the same trap, they assume that they only need each other and they alienate everyone including God from their lives. I know the pattern very well. You married 2 of the most active members of a church and soon thereafter, they disappear. They will reappear when they are having trouble conceiving a child or when they are in need of a home or when they are going through typical adjustment period that come with living together. Now I am not saying that church attendance is the cause, but it is usually an indication of problems to come. When we are removed from our spiritual circle/our assembly, we are more vulnerable to the devil's trap. We have a responsibility to remain alert because the devil is on a mission to bring us down. "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour". 1 Peter 5:8. We need each other and we need God. 


Whatever you are lacking or whatever is missing in your life today, Jesus wants to give it to you in overflowing measure. He wants to fill that void, the emptiness you have been feeling since your spouse walked away, since your parents died, since your fiancé chose yet again another over you. JESUS WANTS TO CURE YOU EVERYWHERE YOU HURT. He wants to restore your broken heart and re-establish the lines of communication between you and the Father that is why He gave His life. Go to Jesus with your emptiness, your need, hurt or loneliness. He is The Source, the Author and Finisher of all things, the Alpha and Omega. He wants to fill your heart to overflowing. You will never experience the abundant life He wants you to have, the life He died to give you unless you are walking obediently with Him in an intimate and loving union. 

There are many possible treatments for loneliness but I learn from experience that the most effective cure is to get right with God. Reconcile with your Heavenly Father through the blood of Christ. Repent and come back to His loving arm and never you will experience another lonely day in your life. 

"May God, the source of hope, fill you with joy and peace through your faith in Him. Then you will overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit". Romans 15:13 

Praise the Lord!

                                   

Be Filled with God!

You will know Christ's love, which goes far beyond any knowledge. I am praying this so that you may be completely filled with God. Ephesians 3:19

"God makes a home for the lonely" Psalms 68:6 

May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation--the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ--for this will bring much glory and praise to God. Philippians 1:11

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Many couples fall into the same trap, they assume that they only need each other and they alienate everyone including God from their lives. I know the pattern very well. You married 2 of the most active members of a church and soon thereafter, they disappear. They will reappear when they are having trouble conceiving a child or when they are in need of a home or when they are going through typical adjustment period that come with living together. Now I am not saying that church attendance is the cause, but it is usually an indication of problems to come. When we are removed from our spiritual circle/our assembly, we are more vulnerable to the devil's trap. We have a responsibility to remain alert because the devil is on a mission to bring us down. "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour". 1 Peter 5:8. We need each other and we need God. 


Whatever you are lacking or whatever is missing in your life today, Jesus wants to give it to you in overflowing measure. He wants to fill that void, the emptiness you have been feeling since your spouse walked away, since your parents died, since your fiancé chose yet again another over you. JESUS WANTS TO CURE YOU EVERYWHERE YOU HURT. He wants to restore your broken heart and re-establish the lines of communication between you and the Father that is why He gave His life. Go to Jesus with your emptiness, your need, hurt or loneliness. He is The Source, the Author and Finisher of all things, the Alpha and Omega. He wants to fill your heart to overflowing. You will never experience the abundant life He wants you to have, the life He died to give you unless you are walking obediently with Him in an intimate and loving union. 

There are many possible treatments for loneliness but I learn from experience that the most effective cure is to get right with God. Reconcile with your Heavenly Father through the blood of Christ. Repent and come back to His loving arm and never you will experience another lonely day in your life. 

"May God, the source of hope, fill you with joy and peace through your faith in Him. Then you will overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit". Romans 15:13 

Praise the Lord!

                                     

God is Able!

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that is at work within us." Ephesians 3:20

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God is still in the business of answering Prayers. You can and should bring all of requests to Him. It makes absolutely no sense to carry your burdens when you can just easily take all to Him in prayers. All things are possible to God, and through the blood of Christ on Calvary, all things were made possible to you. Believe in God's word, don't limit Him or yourself.

You can do all things through Christ which is in you. (Philippians 4:13).
You can heal, and be healed. You can be delivered; you can prosper in Jesus name. You
can be set free out of the mess your life has become. (Mark 16:17)
The power of the blood of Christ is limitless.
You can have it all. Everything is possible for who believes (Mark 9:20 and Mark 10:26).

Friend, the word of God will not fail you and you have to believe it. Oh!!! How I wish I could believe for you. You have to believe for yourself. Your have to meditate. You have to keep the word of God alive in your heart, soul and Spirit. You have to go for it with all that you have. You have to cling to the word of God, when you're going after your miracles. You have to be persistent. God will strengthen you as you grow in faith.

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 122

I rejoiced with those who said to me,
    “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
2 Our feet are standing
    in your gates, Jerusalem.

3 Jerusalem is built like a city
    that is closely compacted together.
4 That is where the tribes go up—
    the tribes of the Lord—
to praise the name of the Lord
    according to the statute given to Israel.
5 There stand the thrones for judgment,
    the thrones of the house of David.

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
    “May those who love you be secure.
7 May there be peace within your walls
    and security within your citadels.”
8 For the sake of my family and friends,
    I will say, “Peace be within you.”
9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
    I will seek your prosperity.

Blessed!

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times; having all that you need, you will abound in every good work".
2 Corinthians 9:8

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God repeats His Old Testament promise to bountifully bless the cheerful giver (Malachi 3:8-10). Our father got all that we need and He wants to give it all to us in abundance when we give cheerfully and when we remain faithful in tithing. For some unclear reason believers do not like to give but enjoy receiving from the Lord. Scripture tell us clearly that our tithes open the flood gate of heaven.
We all want to be blessed beyond measure, but not all are generous with our giving. People say they don't know what to give or how much to give. Well, start being faithful with your tithes and then give according to your heart. God established the principle of Seed and Harvest”; it didn't say how generous your giving should be but it says "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you" Luke 6:38. If I were you I would start giving generously if you want to receive abundantly. The word of God is the will of God that is why it is important to spend time in the word. There's life and blessing in every word of God. "The word I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life" John 6:63. The will of God is in His Word, the Bible.

People tell me all the time that they are not getting enough from God and I always reply that the choice is yours. If you are not satisfied with what you are reaping, check on the seed you are sowing. Remember to sow lots of good seed cheerfully and don't forget your tithes and your harvest WILL HAVE TO COME. Seed and Harvest has been God's way of doing things since creation, I can't stress this enough. "While the earth remains, Seed and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." Genesis 8:22

Friend, our heavenly Father is a great God. He is a more than enough God. It is His will that you should have all that you want, good health, prosperity, peace, love and joy. Come to Him, live according to His will as revealed in His word, the Bible, and start reaping the advantages of living in His will. Take your rightful place as His loving child. Let Him be your father.

Be encouraged, and be blessed in Jesus name.

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 111

Praise the Lord.

I will extol the Lord with all my heart

in the council of the upright and in the assembly.

2Great are the works of the Lord;

they are pondered by all who delight in them.

3 Glorious and majestic are his deeds,

and his righteousness endures forever.

4He has caused his wonders to be remembered;

the Lord is gracious and compassionate.

5He provides food for those who fear him;

he remembers his covenant forever.

6He has shown his people the power of his works,

giving them the lands of other nations.

7The works of his hands are faithful and just;

all his precepts are trustworthy.

8 They are established for ever and ever,

enacted in faithfulness and uprightness.

9He provided redemption for his people;

he ordained his covenant forever—

holy and awesome is his name.

10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;

all who follow his precepts have good understanding.

To him belongs eternal praise.

Keys to Answered Prayers......

"Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?  If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! Matthew 7: 7-11

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Everything Jesus told us would happen actually come true: from His death to His resurrection, and to His glorious ascension to heaven. Jesus spoke exactly what His Father told him to say and we know it was always the truth.  As a matter of fact, Jesus is the truth (John 14:6).  While living among us, He said what He meant and meant what He said. If it wasn’t okay to go to God with our needs then Jesus wouldn’t have told us to do so. The bigger question is: What should we pray about? Most people go to God with the big issues. Some people do not pray until a negative prognosis or when they are drowning in difficulties. The truth is that God cares about every area of our lives. He wants to e part of everything we do. He wants to know about that broken toe nail as well as the tumor. He loves to hear from you. Nothing is too big or too small. You are not a burden. He loves you that much. Y can tell me anything. He wants to know about your needs because he wants to meet them. He wants you well. He wants you happy. Listen, Jesus said in John 15:7 “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” It is really that simple.

Friends, the reason why some people don’t ask is because they don’t believe that God has the ability to give or the needs are too great. Truthfully, nothing is greater than God. He has the power and the will to meet all of your needs. All He requires is for you to trust him. Once you stop holding on to everything and release them all to God capable hand and trust that He will do what He promised, only then will He works in your favor. Asks is the primary step in getting your needs met and trust is the condition to experience the power of God in all its fullness, and treat other well is what seals it all together. God wants us to treat others well. To treat others well if you want your prayers answered is the one part most people seem to miss. Listen, when it comes to His children, God loves us all. It is important to Him that we treat each other with love and respect because we were all made in His image and Jesus died for all of the children of God. In God’ eye all the children are equal, from the beggar at the corner of the street to the kings and the rulers of this world.  Listen, talk to God about everything. Trust Him and treat each other well and experience the fruits of answered prayers.

Father how grateful I am for the clarity of your word today! Thank you for being a Father I can come to with all my concerns.  Thank you for loving me. In Jesus name I pray. Amen

Praise the Lord! 

Worship God!

I will praise you, my God and king; I will bless your name forever. I will always sing praises to my God while I am alive. Psalm 146:2

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Worship is an expression of love to the only living God who gives us abundantly and far more than we deserve. God is holy, loving, and worthy of all our worship and devotion, and He wants us to be just like He is. John 4:23 says, "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

In order to worship God in truth, we need to know that Jesus said "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." So, before you can worship in the way that God desires, you have to develop a relationship with Him through faith in His son Jesus Christ. God is the focus of our devotion in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. In Exodus 20:2-3, God says, "I am the LORD your God, you shall have no other gods before me." In Matthew 4:10, Jesus says, "Worship the Lord your God and serve him only." So, worship is not a command from God throughout the Bible.

Our praise and love to God should be a daily matter and not a rare occurrence when we feel like it. God blesses us every day and covered us with favor. God and God alone is worthy of our devotion, honor and worship. He continuously gives us His best. He sent his son Jesus Christ to die and we are commanded to praise and worship Him. Psalm 29:2 says, "Give unto the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." Whereas, Psalm 96:9 says, "Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth." Dear friend worship, worship and worship God. Worship with every breath that you take. He is worthy.

The best way that we can praise and worship God is with our every thought and action. Romans 12:1-2 states, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is his good, pleasing and perfect will." The Bible says that God inhabits in the praises of His people (Psalms 22:3). In other words, God “dwells” in the atmosphere of His praise. This means that praise is not merely a reaction from coming into His presence, but praise is a vehicle of faith which brings us into the presence and power of God! Praise and worship is the “bridge” which allows us to enter the sacredness of God’s glory. David said “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name” (Psalms 100:4).

I challenge you to become a person of praise, and you will experience the release of the power of God!

Praise the Lord!

Not Afraid...........

Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught. Proverbs 3:25-26

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There are a few passages in the Bible where God tell us to “Fear Not”. I found 31 verses, there could be even more, and that makes me wonder why the word of God discusses fear? God knew that our journey here on earth wouldn't be easy and we’d have to face some challenging times and we may be tempted to fear, as the loving father that He is, He left us with certain guidelines to get through our temptations. Fear can paralyzed you and keep you fro praying and keep you from enjoying the life that God gave you. Well, fear is a powerful force that can keep your focus off of God, and that is the most dangerous aspect of fear. We tend to focus on our circumstances more than God, but Jesus died on the cross to take us from our circumstances. So many Christians today worry about things they have no business worrying about. The word God urges us to bring all our burdens to God. Not some of them, not the ones we can’t fix ourselves but all of them.

Fear should not be in the heart of the believer because it is rooted in unbelief. Faith and fear cannot co-habit. You either have faith or you don’t. If you are terrorized by the fear of what might suddenly happen to you, around you or in the life of your love ones than you are in disobedience because the word of God tells us not to worry because God is able to supply all of our needs. He has done it before and He will do it again. There are a lot going on today, from wars to national disasters, to numerous scary/devastating new diseases that keep coming out of no where. There are numerous natural disasters in every part of the globe, but we remain in faith because we believe in God’s ability to come through for us. We know whose children we are.

My friend, don't worry. Whatever it is you are fighting right now is temporary. God is going to work it out. As a matter of fact, Christ already won the battle for you more than 2000 years ago. Whatever it is, as hard and hopeless it may seem in the natural, DON’T WORRY. It is already taken care of in the spiritual. God is the answer. He wants to help and He is able. Call on His name and invite in, tell Him about your trouble, He cares and loves you. Remain in faith and He will see you through it. There is no need to fear when you put your faith in God.

Be courageous and be fortified in Jesus name.

Praise the Lord!

Be Filled with God!

You will know Christ's love, which goes far beyond any knowledge. I am praying this so that you may be completely filled with God. Ephesians 3:19

"God makes a home for the lonely" Psalms 68:6 

May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation--the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ--for this will bring much glory and praise to God. Philippians 1:11

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Many couples fall into the same trap, they assume that they only need each other and they alienate everyone including God from their lives. I know the pattern very well. You married 2 of the most active members of a church and soon thereafter, they disappear. They will reappear when they are having trouble conceiving a child or when they are in need of a home or when they are going through typical adjustment period that come with living together. Now I am not saying that church attendance is the cause, but it is usually an indication of problems to come. When we are removed from our spiritual circle/our assembly, we are more vulnerable to the devil's trap. We have a responsibility to remain alert because the devil is on a mission to bring us down. "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour". 1 Peter 5:8. We need each other and we need God. 


Whatever you are lacking or whatever is missing in your life today, Jesus wants to give it to you in overflowing measure. He wants to fill that void, the emptiness you have been feeling since your spouse walked away, since your parents died, since your fiancé chose yet again another over you. JESUS WANTS TO CURE YOU EVERYWHERE YOU HURT. He wants to restore your broken heart and re-establish the lines of communication between you and the Father that is why He gave His life. Go to Jesus with your emptiness, your need, hurt or loneliness. He is The Source, the Author and Finisher of all things, the Alpha and Omega. He wants to fill your heart to overflowing. You will never experience the abundant life He wants you to have, the life He died to give you unless you are walking obediently with Him in an intimate and loving union. 

There are many possible treatments for loneliness but I learn from experience that the most effective cure is to get right with God. Reconcile with your Heavenly Father through the blood of Christ. Repent and come back to His loving arm and never you will experience another lonely day in your life. 

"May God, the source of hope, fill you with joy and peace through your faith in Him. Then you will overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit". Romans 15:13 

Praise the Lord!

                                     

Be Filled with God!

You will know Christ's love, which goes far beyond any knowledge. I am praying this so that you may be completely filled with God. Ephesians 3:19

"God makes a home for the lonely" Psalms 68:6 

May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation--the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ--for this will bring much glory and praise to God. Philippians 1:11

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Many couples fall into the same trap, they assume that they only need each other and they alienate everyone including God from their lives. I know the pattern very well. You married 2 of the most active members of a church and soon thereafter, they disappear. They will reappear when they are having trouble conceiving a child or when they are in need of a home or when they are going through typical adjustment period that come with living together. Now I am not saying that church attendance is the cause, but it is usually an indication of problems to come. When we are removed from our spiritual circle/our assembly, we are more vulnerable to the devil's trap. We have a responsibility to remain alert because the devil is on a mission to bring us down. "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour". 1 Peter 5:8. We need each other and we need God. 


Whatever you are lacking or whatever is missing in your life today, Jesus wants to give it to you in overflowing measure. He wants to fill that void, the emptiness you have been feeling since your spouse walked away, since your parents died, since your fiancé chose yet again another over you. JESUS WANTS TO CURE YOU EVERYWHERE YOU HURT. He wants to restore your broken heart and re-establish the lines of communication between you and the Father that is why He gave His life. Go to Jesus with your emptiness, your need, hurt or loneliness. He is The Source, the Author and Finisher of all things, the Alpha and Omega. He wants to fill your heart to overflowing. You will never experience the abundant life He wants you to have, the life He died to give you unless you are walking obediently with Him in an intimate and loving union. 

There are many possible treatments for loneliness but I learn from experience that the most effective cure is to get right with God. Reconcile with your Heavenly Father through the blood of Christ. Repent and come back to His loving arm and never you will experience another lonely day in your life. 

"May God, the source of hope, fill you with joy and peace through your faith in Him. Then you will overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit". Romans 15:13 

Praise the Lord!

                                     

Psalm 19

   The heavens declare the glory of God;

 the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
    night after night they reveal knowledge. 
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
    no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice[b] goes out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world. 
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. 
5     It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, 
    like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens 
    and makes its circuit to the other; 
    nothing is deprived of its warmth.

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, 
    refreshing the soul. 
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, 
    making wise the simple. 
8 The precepts of the Lord are right, 
    giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
    giving light to the eyes. 
9 The fear of the Lord is pure,
    enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
    and all of them are righteous.

10 They are more precious than gold, 
    than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey, 
    than honey from the honeycomb. 
11 By them your servant is warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can discern their own errors?
    Forgive my hidden faults. 
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins; 
    may they not rule over me. 
Then I will be blameless, 
    innocent of great transgression.

14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
    be pleasing in your sight,
    Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

God Can Be Trusted.............

Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? Psalm 56:9-11

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I know there have been times in my own life when my prayers didn’t exactly seem to "avail much." I wonder if you have had moments in life when all seem dark. For about four years I prayed and expected God to restore my mother’s health. I don’t think I ever desired anything more my whole life.  I can clearly recall the weeks that followed my mother’s death when she was still in her thirties. I remember the sense that I was loved, protected, and perfectly safe was gone and replaced with a devastating emptiness, deep loneliness, and a feeling that nothing will ever be the same again. Up to that point I had faith in God and I trusted Him to protect me but my mother’s death was a game changer. It was the first major loss in my life. I started to see things differently. I questioned whether or not God really loves me. I woke up one day and I realize that I no longer trusted God. I was on a dangerous path of self-destruction. For example, I can remember shaking my head in disbelief when hearing or reading, "Whatever you ask in prayer you will receive"? Or  "Ask and it will be given to you"? And “ if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted”

Fourteen years into the journey, I was ready to throw in the towel.  I find it comforting that the prophet Jeremiah experienced such despair as well. Read Lamentations and you understand what I mean. I don’t know what your journey with God has been until today but I am sure you have experienced your own bumpy ride. I want to assure you dear friend that the loneliness due to my mother’s passing was nothing compared to the level of hopelessness I experienced in the months when I no longer trusted God.  If there is one thing I love the most about God it has to be the fact that He is immutable. He is not shaken by our unbelief. He does not panic or act unreasonably as we often do. He remains eternally faithful.  He never gives up on us.  When we reject Him, He still pursues us patiently and lovingly. In the midst of his torment the prophet Jeremiah remembers God’s faithfulness. Even though God seems to be silent in answer to his prayers, Jeremiah realized through God’s dealings with others in the past that He is never absent though silent at and misunderstood at times.

My dear friend, our loving Father revealed Himself abundantly clear in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Listen, our heavenly Father can be trusted through adversity and pain even though He is unseen.  Like Jeremiah, I remembered God faithfulness and was able to run back to His loving arms before it was too late. He has always taken great care of me.  I have learned to patiently hope in Him even when I don’t understand His plan to the fullest. A loving relationship requires trust and I have learned to trust God. You too can trust Him.  Do not let illness, pain, and financial hardship keep you from trusting God. Listen; what we have in Him is far greater than what this world can ever offer us. Listen; even if we were to lose our health and wealth, we would still win. There is no losing with God.  Have God. Have it all.

Praise the Lord!

Love Like Christ....

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:12-14

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It is fair to say that all of us have the need to love and to be loved. Whether we wish to admit it or not, we all wish for someone who love us, honor, fuss about us, take care of us, and shower us with attention. The truth is true love is worth finding.

Is It possible to love like Jesus? Is it really possible to love our neighbors like ourselves? Are we capable of love so true? I personally have tried to love others deeply but sooner or later I always give up. Either because it took too much energy or because I did not get enough in return. No matter how hard I have tried in the past, in the midst of a disappointment, arguments or/and frustration, I always come to the inevitable conclusion that it was not worth the energy and my best efforts or noble intentions just would not cut it. I want to love and be loved like Christ. To love others like we love ourselves is an order that came directly from the mouth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 Is it possible to love so truly? Why do you think there are so many single people in the world? All are searching for the one thing they are not even able to offer. Some even believe that they will never find true love and others think they are not worthy of love. I have learned from growing up at church that most people want to be compassionate, good, generous, kind and loving towards each other but only on a "good day." As some point their patience always run thin because the human side of us is intolerant and that can be a major obstacle. My own conclusion is that I can love. I am able to love. I have loved and I love now very deeply. The problem is I am not able to love perfectly. My love tend to diminish or mutate completely when faults, weakness, stubbornness, and imperfections surface. My human instinct (as a person who has previously endured imperfect love) is to run when relationships seem to take a not so pretty turn. Like me, you probably don't like to make yourself vulnerable. I don't want to hurt and refuse to be hurt again and it is that fear of POSSIBLE hurt that makes people hold back and keeps them from experiencing perfect love.

Friend, no matter what you have done and no matter who has told you differently, you are significantly loved. The most magnificent, awesome, loving, caring and thoughtful being to ever existed is interested in a relationship with you and  He's got good intentions. He is  promising marriage. How about that! He knows you completely, and yet He loves you perfectly and eternally. He love you so much that he made himself vulnerable even though he knew for CERTAIN that his love will cost him his life. Jesus did not ask us to do anything He did not do first. He wants us to love as He loves: unconditionally. How are we suppose to do something so impossible? Jesus tells us exactly how to love so truly: “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:27. He is saying that it is impossible for us to love like that on our own but it is possible through Him. He explains it clearly in the parable of the vine and the branches. He says that He is the vine and we are the branches and it is only when attached to him that we will be able to bear fruits. As we mature in faith, we will gradually let go of self and hang on to Christ more. As we trust Christ, we will become more like him and we will become more patient and compassionate with others. Then and only then, we will be able to love truly and unconditionally as Jesus loves.

And you shall love the Lord your God out of and with your whole heart and out of and with all your soul (your life) and out of and with all your mind (with your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and with all your strength. This is the first and principal commandment. The second is like it and is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. Mark 12:30-31 (Amplified Bible)

Father, it's not always easy for me to love others. Thank You for your wonderfully perfect love for me. I pray you will enable me to love others just as you have loved me. Amen!

Praise the Lord!