Happy New Year 2016!

 

 
Do not let the chaos of this world confuse you. God is good. God is faithful. He has a  good plan for your life. He loves you.

Praise the Lord!

Heal Me Lord................

Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise. Jeremiah 17:1

He is your praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes. Deuteronomy 10:21

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Psalms 103:2-3 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits — who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.This Psalm has been quite popular in my family for as long as I can remember. My mother particularly loved it and used it in her prayers daily. I memorized it when I was perhaps 4 years old. As an adult, it is a constant reminder that the greatest of the Lord’s “benefits” is that He forgives all our sins, and it is also a reminder of another of the Lord's benefits: He is my healer. He is able to heal all of my diseases. Praise Him! He does not heal some and unable to heal others. The Lord heals ALL diseases, even Multiple Sclerosis, Cancer of all types, Diabetes, Dementia, High Blood Pressure, Heart disease, Liver and Kidney issues, as well as chronic digestive issues and migraine headache. He heals all diseases.

"All" means all. No disease is so great that the Lord cannot heal it. Just last Friday I experienced God's healing power. I was in the middle of teaching a class when I felt this awful, and teeth clenching pain in my stomach and I bent over and started sweating in complete agony. As I tried to make it to my desk to get to the bottle of pain reliever in my purse, I remembered the above scripture as well as something Gloria Copeland said during a recent healing meeting. She said, "Do not yield to sickness, take authority and do not reach for the aspirin every time you feel something and always pray first." So I prayed and the pain left just as quickly as it started. Though God healed me multiple times before, I was so astounded with the speed of the recovery that I spent the rest of the day feeling my stomach, pressing it and looking for the pain but it was gone to never return. Hallelujah!

I get really impatient when people say that God does not do certain things anymore, considering that God said in Malachi 3:6 that He is immutable. God is still at work. He is still doing the things He always has done. He has not retired and His magnificence surrounds us. Healing is not just something that God “does.” Healing is part of God’s very nature. God still heals. Friend, Approach God in faith with boldness and experience His healing power. Listen, no disease is too hard for Him. When God said "all diseases" It did not make any exception. No illness is excluded from this great “benefit.” Therefore, whatever disease you or a loved one may have, it falls right under God’s authority and promise to “heal all your diseases.” You and your loved ones can be healed. In fact, the word of God in 2 Peter 2:24 says "by His stripes, you were healed." Friend, You are healed!

God said Himself “I AM the Lord who heals you.” You and I must remember that we serve a healing God who has declared that He has noble intentions towards you. He said it in Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome." He said in Exodus 23:25-26 "Worship the LORD your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span". God is truth. He cannot lie. Lying is against God's nature. When He said "I will give a full life span" He meant it. Healing is yours. Hold on to God's truth. Trust that He will keep His promises and experience God's healing power.

-Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his slave girls.
-Moses prayed in Numbers 12:13, “O God, please heal her!” in reference to leprous Miriam, and God healed her.
-David prayed and God healed.
People have been praying for healing for centuries. Do you think they would continue to do so if God did not heal? My friend, as I stated above, every disease and sickness in under God limitless power. Do not hesitate to bring any healing need, yours or loved ones, to God. Follow God instruction on healing. Have faith in God, Pray and meditated regularly, have elders pray over you and anoint you with oil, pray for others who are sick and decide to believe God no matter you hear and see and soon you will be healed. The lepers in Luke 17 did not get healed right away. In obedience to Jesus, they were healed “as they went” to show themselves. Friend, you too will receive your healing. Do not get frustrated if it is taking long and if the doctors are not optimistic. Do not doubt. Hang on to the truth: God heals. God will come through for you.

Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages). Hebrews 13:8

I am the Lord Who heals you. Exodus 15:26

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 134

 Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD
who minister by night in the house of the LORD.
2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary
and praise the LORD.

3 May the LORD bless you from Zion,
he who is the Maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 149

2 Let Israel rejoice in their Maker;
let the people of Zion be glad in their King.
3 Let them praise his name with dancing
and make music to him with timbrel and harp.
4 For the LORD takes delight in his people;
he crowns the humble with victory.
5 Let his faithful people rejoice in this honor
and sing for joy on their beds.

6 May the praise of God be in their mouths
and a double-edged sword in their hands,
7 to inflict vengeance on the nations
and punishment on the peoples,
8 to bind their kings with fetters,
their nobles with shackles of iron,
9 to carry out the sentence written against them—
this is the glory of all his faithful people.

Praise the LORD.

Faith and Prayer..........

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Matthew 28:18

He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. (Mat.10:1, 5:23-24).

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Why don't we pray anymore? Christians don't believe in the power of prayers and fasting anymore. When someone we love gets sick, whether it is the common cold, diabetes, or cancer, I want you to know that it did not come from God. We are too quick to accept affliction and diseases as the will of God. Scripture tells us that the will of God is for His people to be well and to live long prosperous lives and to help win souls for His Kingdoms. It would be impossible to accomplish that from the grave. In fact, most wonders of the devil in the gospels are to produce all kind of sicknesses and diseases. Jesus gave us the power to heal the sick and to cast out demons. The demon-possessed boy was healed by the faith and prayer of the father. The best thing we can give to our relatives is our faith and prayer, to our spouse, children, and grand-children, and even our neighbors. We don't have to run to anyone, you can pray for your family. Some people never even try. Jesus says "Everything is possible to those who believe" Mark 9:23, and then He says: if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." (Mt.17:20).

"Faith in Christ" is the most powerful force of the universe, able to heal the body, to stop storms, to move the mountains of hatred and doubts, and most specially to fill us with love, with Jesus in our hearts, the seed of the love, joy, peace, and security that nothing or nobody can take away (Rom.8:37-39). Faith in Christ" is something very simple and yet powerful, when we trust God, amazing things happen:The father of the boy above believed and Jesus healed his son, by the faith of the father. The woman in Mark 5 believed Jesus could heal her if she just could touch him she touch him, and she was healed, she stopped the bleeding she had for 12 years.
Jairus, in the same chapter, thought Jesus could resurrect his daughter, and Jesus resurrected her! Glory to God!

The Syrophoenician Woman in Mark 7:25-30/Matthew 15:21-28 believed Jesus could heal the epilepsy of her daughter and the daughter was healed, by the faith of the mother.
And the same goes on and on with the leper, the blind Bartimaeus, another pagan and again another miracle. Nowadays for you and me to have "faith in Christ" is the same. God is no respecter of man, what he did before, He has the ability and the will to do again.

Are you facing a difficult season right now? Release your disappointments, your heartbreaks, your hurt, your pain, your failure, your bills, your lack, your loneliness and all other burdens to God in prayers. Trust Him to take care of your needs and He will. God is able and willing, and all He needs is "your" faith. Only in one occasion in all Gospels Jesus "could not" make miracles, and it was in His own town of Nazareth, (Mark 6:5). Not even Jesus "could" make miracles when there was no faith! It is faith that allows God to work miracles in your life.

Would you put your faith to work today?

Praise the Lord!

Mighty God!

"These are only glimpses of what he does. We only hear a whisper of him! Who can understand the thunder of his power?" Job 26:14

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God is the great (only) source and Originator of all power. The power of God is His ability to bring to pass whatsoever He pleases, whatsoever His wisdom may direct, and whatsoever the purity of His will may resolve. God's power is like Himself, eternal, incomprehensible and magnificent; it cannot be restrained, nor corrected. Meaning that God's power is like Himself, self-existent, self-sustained. God cannot be manipulated. We cannot force Him into doing what we want. He does whatever pleases Him, according to His timing and purpose.

The election season was quite interesting to me. It doesn't have anything to do with the pursuit of love and justice for all, my friend, who alone has the power to reconcile the world unto Himself, not counting their trespasses against them (2 Cor. 5:19)? Who alone has the power to be both just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus (Rom. 3:26)? Who alone has the power to forgive sins (Mark 2:7)? Who alone has the power to reckon an ungodly man righteous apart from works (Rom. 4:5)? And, who alone has the power to raise the dead to new life and then seat them in the heavenly places in Christ (Eph. 2:5-6)? We have all these spiritual blessings and more through the selfless and unfathomable power of the cross of Jesus Christ.

Do you want to see some real power? Then look upon the cross of Jesus Christ. Don't look forward in anticipation of something God is going to do. First and foremost, look back at what He has done. The testimony of the cross is the power of God. Here is where all the power you will ever need to smell, taste, touch, hear, or see can be found anytime through faith. In it, the gospel itself, there is supernatural power that is personified in Jesus Christ

Let us begin this New Year by leaning on the One who really has power. The One who demonstrated His power by dying on the cross for your sins, resurrected and ascended to heaven where He's making room for you, and soon, real soon, He will return to take you with Him, and you will experience His power, His joy and His love for all eternity. Christ is the gospel, both the subject and the substance of it and the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (Rom. 1:16) and one day, all mankind will acknowledge that Jesus is Lord.

Make a point to praise God daily and be blessed.

Praise the Lord!

Merry Christmas!

"The virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel," which means "God is with us." Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23

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Immanuel is a Hebrew name that means "God with us." It is a promise that God Himself would appear as a human infant "God with us." This baby who was to be born would be God Himself in human form. This child was to be the Messiah, the Anointed One who would redeem the people of God. This was no ordinary child, but "truly this was the Son of God" (Matthew 27:54). During this Christmas day celebration, let's pause for a moment to examine the supernatural life of Jesus Christ and marvel at God's supernatural love for His people (Reported in the Gospel of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John).

Jesus Christ was born of a virgin; He had no earthly father. A multitude of angels announced His birth, and a miraculous star led wise men to worship Him.
. Throughout His ministry, Jesus worked miracles of healing, of creation, of controlling nature, of casting out demons, and of bringing dead people back to life.
. Jesus willingly died on the cross for our sins.
. Jesus arose Three days later from the dead, just as He had promised. Later, Jesus ascended to Heaven while His disciples watched.
Without this rescuing love, none of us would have any hope of salvation.

What was Christ mission? He tells us Himself. "For truly the Son of man did not come to have servants, but to be a servant, and to give his life for the salvation of men." Mark 10:45

Unto us a child is born. Who is "us"? Was Isaiah referring to all of us in the world? I believe not. He was only referring to those who believe those who accept and those who rejoice in God (Isaiah 9:3). There is no Savior, no hope, no peace, no mighty power, and no wise counsel and definitely THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO ETERNAL LIFE for those who DO NOT KNOW Jesus Christ. This Christmas, analyze your heart, and decide once and for all what/who you believe. My prayer is that you accept Christ and assure a sit in His kingdom. Your life will be forever transformed.

Let us pray "I am truly sorry Father God for being reluctant to accept your son Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and I acknowledge that I have broken your laws and live a sinful life for way too long. Now I want to turn away from my past sinful life and turn toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I now believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, and is alive, He is sitting at you right and hears my prayer. I accept His invitation to become the Lord of my life, the only ruler in my heart from today on. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey you, and to do your will and to continue to guide my steps for the rest of my life for I don't want to ever live outside your will. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen."

The real miracle of Christmas is God's demonstration of love for His people through the Lord Jesus Christ. May His love fill your heart with peace and joy this Christmas and every day of your life! May the awareness of the resurrected savior bring you joy in the midst of your trials. May you continue to experience the warmth of His sweet embrace now and always!

Praise the Lord!

Safe in God's Hand..............

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned: the flames will not set you ablaze”. Isaiah 43:2

Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. Psalm 121:4

The LORD will keep you from all harm--he will watch over your life; Psalm 121:7

But THE LORD JEHOVAH is faithful, who will keep you and deliver you from evil. 2 Thessalonians 3:3

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The Christian walk is full of surprises. If you have been a Christian for a while you know what I am referring to. Sometimes we find more adventure than expected. It is amazing the steps that God will take you through to teach you one simple lesson. Other times we find life to be more than we can handle. Don't we? There are always time in life when we are in danger, or in lack, or difficulty or in way over our heads. It was just the other night I was thinking that I never seem to have a break and that my life has been filled with nothing but situations that I cannot handle or don't want to face. I was just about to start feeling sorry for myself when I realized that God always deliver me and protected me against it all. Sometimes my deliverance does not come as fast as I would like or other times God did not use the foreseeable solution but one thing for sure He has always proven Himself faithful.

My dear friend, life can seem unfair at times but we have nothing to fear. God has a plan for each of us. Life can be hard but God is always providing protection. He is a good Father. He really wants good thing for us. We have to trust Him as we pass through the waters. We have to be patient because God's timing may not match ours. Most of us do not like to endure, but impatience does not move the hand of God for sure. Faith is what move the hand of God. Impatience is rooted in unbelief. When you can't trust God to take care of it at the appointed time you are really saying do it now because I don't trust you to do it later. Friend, if you believe that God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly then you will not worry when adversity comes. You should and can rest in God's protection. Knowing God is always with you should bring you peace.

Friend, when you go through your spiritual challenges, your emotional challenges, your relational challenges as well as your physical challenges remember that God is able and willing to heal you wherever you hurt. He is able and willing to protect you. He can do all things. He is the giver of life. He the Alpha and the Omega. He is all things. He is able. All you have to do is bring your trouble to Him and trust Him to fulfill His promise to guard and protect you. God will never forsake you. He will never forget you. He will never let you down. All you have to remember is that whatever the challenge you are held securely in the arms of a loving and caring God. He will not let you fall. So you can rest easy.

When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned: the flames will not consume you”. Isaiah 43:2

Praise the Lord!

Faith in God.....

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. John 14:1

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24

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I have a friend who does not believe in God and I never even knew it. She told me recently that she thinks that people who are dead already found out the best kept secret in the universe: There is no God. Imagine my surprise! My friend attend church on a regular basis. Thinking back I can see that she has not been as devoted as I believed. She habitually missed a service here and there but she was by all accounts a believer. Friend, Psalm 14:1 says it best "The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." let us face it, times are hard, the economy in the United States is declining fast, some people are losing their homes, others are are losing jobs. Still, we have to believe God. He promised to be with us in adversity. Now my friend is facing multiple challenges: She has trouble in her marriage, one of her children is facing surgery and another has back issues. She is also facing financial hardships. She believes that God would have intervened in her favor by now if He really existed. We cannot deny God just because we are going through tough times. We have to learn to endure and stand fast.

Friend you cannot experience God's best unless you put your faith in Him. God exists and whether you believe or not does not make a difference. Even the devil knows that God exists. God loves you. He wants you to spend eternity with Him but you have to trust Him and you have to believe in His son Jesus Christ who came and died for your sin. He was God in the flesh. He died on the cross to pay for your sins and that He rose to give you victory over sin and death. Nothing can separate you from the love God. Sickness, disease and lack should not scare you. Victory was given to you more than 2000 years ago. Put your faith in Jesus Christ. Make Him Lord of your life. Ask Him to forgive you. Know your sin debt is paid in full and that you have been granted access to God in His fullness. Have faith in God and be saved. It does not matter what you hear and feel. It does not matter how great the challenges of life appear to be because when you have God, you have it all. You are a conqueror through Christ and you can do all things through Him. Keep believing and you will see the glory of God.

Praise the Lord!

Rejoice!

For our present trouble, which is only for a short time, is working out for us a much greater weight of glory; (2 Corinthians 4:17)

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Some assume that if you are Christians you will never get sick, never suffer loss, and never have disappointment, rejection and other hardships. The scriptures never promise the Christian a charmed life, but promise that God will see him through, and will cause all things to work together for his ultimate good. Friend do not focus only on what’s going on in your life today. You only need to remember that God is working it out, and you are going to be just fine. Deal with the present. This is just for now. It will not last. Circumstances change. Hardships of today will be gone soon enough. Pain will ease but what is awaiting us is eternal. You have to be able to look beyond your current pressing hardship, you need to get pass the hurting and trust God. God work what some call impossible miracles for people before us, and He can and will work miracles in your life today.

The Bible is full of God's promises, but unlike the promises that we make, God's promises are true and He fulfills every one. Abraham believed God's promise that he would be the father of many nations. He did not waver through unbelief but was made strong as he believed in the promise of God, because he knew the one who promised it was able to perform it. You have to rest assured that God is still able to perform miracles. He is able to hear and answer your prayers. God gives us grace every time we pray. God is able to answer your prayer, and if you are born of God, He will most certainly answer it. Contrary to popular belief, God does not only answer prayers about our great needs. He gets involved in our minor troubles as well. He is a loving and concerned Father. He cares about everything about us. You can trust God and go to God with all our complications.


Jesus Himself lived in daily communion with the Father, He went to Him all the time so that He could say to His Father and our Father, "I knew that you hear me always" (John 11:42). And all the teaching of Jesus about prayer shows that we too can have communion with God. Friend, the normal Christian life is a life of regular, daily answer to prayer. It is perfectly normal for an obedient child to ask God for things in prayers and get it, get all he wants. "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" (Matt. 7:11). Trust God, He will not fail you. Dare to be a Daniel. Dare to be Abraham. Dare to be the first in your family to blindly follow God. Read your Bible because the more you read, the more you will sense how deeply God cherishes you, and how desperately He wants to answer your prayers. So learn more about God each day. Grow closer to the glorious God who treasures you beyond your wildest dreams. You can trust Him. Focus on Him. Ask the Holy Spirit for help and He will. You are not alone.

Praise the Lord!

The Blood of Jesus!

I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy.Psalm 116: 1
The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer. Psalm 6:9

Answer my prayers, O LORD, for your unfailing love is wonderful. Take care of me, for your mercy is so plentiful. Psalm 69:16

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People don't always believe it but The enemy really tries to dominate and control everything. From our thoughts, to our actions and ultimately our entire life. However, the good news is that Jesus has control over him, Hallelujah! The enemy has to submit to the authority of Jesus. Jesus went about healing all that were oppressed of the devil (Acts 10:38). Jesus came, and died on the cross and rose from the dead on the third day for our freedom. The devil no longer have any power over those who are in Christ. As Christians, you and I have been crucified with Christ and He now lives inside of us. When we cry He hears us. We do not have to ask Him to hear us. He cares. He is paying attention. He watches over us continuously which means He does not stop. He is actively watching, protecting, delivering and loving His people. You and I are under 24 hours 7 days a week, around the clock surveillance. We paid nothing for it. Jesus paid it all with His blood. Praise Him.

Psalm 34:17 says "The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles."  When we cry out to Him, He hears us and He actually delivers us. The devil's effort to attack your body and your finances are vain. His efforts were nullified at Calvary. The enemy may try to prove he has legal rights to attack but his arguments are voided. Oh, the blood of Jesus! He is able and WILLING to save completely those who come to God through him. Even before Satan attacks the end result was already known: Victory is yours! The enemy has no legal rights or authority over those who have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior. Listen, because every child of God belongs to Jesus nothing (diseases, pain, lack) has the right to separate you or keep you from experiencing the love of God. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Mathew 28:18

Friend submit to God. Accept His forgiveness through the Blood of Jesus Christ His son and you will never have to wonder if He hears you another day of your life.

I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.Psalm 118:21

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 6

¹ Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger
    or discipline me in your wrath.
² Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint;
    heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.
³ My soul is in deep anguish.
    How long, Lord, how long?

⁴ Turn, Lord, and deliver me;
    save me because of your unfailing love.
⁵ Among the dead no one proclaims your name.
    Who praises you from the grave?

⁶ I am worn out from my groaning.

All night long I flood my bed with weeping
    and drench my couch with tears.
⁷ My eyes grow weak with sorrow;
    they fail because of all my foes.

⁸ Away from me, all you who do evil,
    for the Lord has heard my weeping.
⁹ The Lord has heard my cry for mercy;
    the Lord accepts my prayer.
¹⁰ All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish;
    they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.

Psalm 3

 

¹ Lord, how many are my foes!
    How many rise up against me!
² Many are saying of me,
    “God will not deliver him.”^[b]

³ But you, Lord, are a shield around me,
    my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
⁴ I call out to the Lord,
    and he answers me from his holy mountain.

⁵ I lie down and sleep;
    I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
⁶ I will not fear though tens of thousands
    assail me on every side.

⁷ Arise, Lord!
    Deliver me, my God!
Strike all my enemies on the jaw;
    break the teeth of the wicked.

⁸ From the Lord comes deliverance.
    May your blessing be on your people.

Harvest......

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up. Galatians 6:9

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When we apply God's word to situations and circumstances in our lives, God will meet the need! No matter how big the need or high the mountain, we serve a God that is a Need Meeting God! We sometimes forget or don't realize that the God we serve is a big God, He holds the world in his hands and there is no problem too complex for our God to solve. What seems impossible for man is possible for God. If we stop complaining and feeling sorry for ourselves, abut start confessing the Word of God, and Thanking God we will see God move in our lives like never before. God's word is sharper than any two edged sword; It accomplishes that which it is sent to do. Friend, confess the word about the need, Thank God for his favor, and wait with expectancy! God is waiting for the opportunity to meet your needs if you would only call on his name.

I think it is reasonable to assume that everyone has been through a valley experience. It is when one is at his/her lowest point, heart wrenching disappointment, penetrating loneliness, deep hurt. Your heart may have been broken, you may have been rejected by someone who promised you forever, your bills may be due and no money in the bank, no foreseeable job, One thing after another, it seems like you get over one problem just to face another; or you may be cornered by all kind of challenges, friend, you are in your valley. We often want to hurry or run thru our valley, or wish we could sleep through it because it's an uncomfortable place, but God allows us to walk through the valley to teach us, to make us, and to show us his awesome power in our lives! How would you know God was a deliver, if he's never delivered you! How would you know he solves problems if you never have any? How would you know he heals if you never been sick? How would you know that he provides if you never have a pressing need? How would you appreciate His love if you never been abandoned without any clear explanation? And how would you know He picks up the pieces if you never been broken?

God is a God of timing. God works according to his time table not ours. We sometimes don't want to give God the time to work things out. We want it right now. In the storm (waiting time), it seems too difficult to hold on but God will come through in due time. Don’t go ahead of God. Why don’t you just hold on a little longer? Hold on and trust God and know that He is a God will that work it out just in due time. You will harvest in due season.

There is a time for sorrow and a time for joy. There is a time for sowing and a time for harvesting. There is a time for sickness and pain and a time for healing. There is a time for lack and a time for abundance. God will faithfully guide you and take you to each season. He will never forsake you. You can rely on His presence through each season and in due season God will show up in a big way.

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 149

1 Praise the LORD.

Sing to the LORD a new song,
his praise in the assembly of his faithful people.

2 Let Israel rejoice in their Maker;
let the people of Zion be glad in their King.
3 Let them praise his name with dancing
and make music to him with timbrel and harp.
4 For the LORD takes delight in his people;
he crowns the humble with victory.
5 Let his faithful people rejoice in this honor
and sing for joy on their beds.

6 May the praise of God be in their mouths
and a double-edged sword in their hands,
7 to inflict vengeance on the nations
and punishment on the peoples,
8 to bind their kings with fetters,
their nobles with shackles of iron,
9 to carry out the sentence written against them—
this is the glory of all his faithful people.

Praise the LORD.

My God is Greater......

"For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs." Zephaniah 3:17

The LORD has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm. Zephaniah 3:15

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It is well known that we are all involved in spiritual warfare and the war only intensifies as believers become more effective in their fight for the cause of Christ. The more we strive for the kingdom, the more we get tested. The good news is that we do not have to worry because the God who watched over the nation of Israel then is still watching over His people today. He is actively watching us now. He will certainly deliver His people again. No matter what is going on in your life today /God is able and willing to help. He is Almighty. We often look at our situations and imagine the worst. We often forget to take into consideration the fact that God has already done everything He is going to do to deliver us from that very situation. He already sent His son Jesus Christ to save us. We no longer have nothing to fear. We are more than conquerors through Christ. Hallelujah!

Dear friend, God is Mighty. He is mighty to bring salvation to defend, deliver, bring victory and save. He is able to do all things. Nothing is too hard for Him. Jesus revealed His might and power by the way He lived among us. He endured temptation. Like us He was tempted in every way but He did not sin. His strength was much greater than ours. It is in Him through Him that I strength is perfected. It is no good relying on our own power. Rely on His might. My God is bigger than all the diseases in the world today. You can trust Him with your challenges. Bring Him your heartaches, your illnesses, your lack and your pain. He will change your sorrow in joy. Fiend, recognizing Jesus as the Mighty God is essential to true faith. God might is infinite. No matter how much we take from it, it will never end. God will forever be Mighty.

"Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me." Psalm 50:15

Thank you Father God for who you are and who you continue to be in my life and in the lives of my loved ones. I rely completely on your might for healing mind, body and soul. I turn all my burdens (sickness, pain, lack, rejection, loneliness) over to you. I will wait patiently for your rescue. I trust that you will deliver me as you have always done for your people through the years. I love you and I honor you, in Jesus holy name I pray. Amen.

Praise the Lord!

My God is Great!

"For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs." Zephaniah 3:17

The LORD has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm. Zephaniah 3:15

www.bibletourwithjoline.com
www.bibletouravecjoline.blogspot.com
www.bibletourwithjoline.blogspot.com

It is well known that we are all involved in spiritual warfare and the war only intensifies as believers become more effective in their fight for the cause of Christ. The more we strive for the kingdom, the more we get tested. The good news is that we do not have to worry because the God who watched over the nation of Israel then is still watching over His people today. He is actively watching us now. He will certainly deliver His people again. No matter what is going on in your life today /God is able and willing to help. He is Almighty. We often look at our situations and imagine the worst. We often forget to take into consideration the fact that God has already done everything He is going to do to deliver us from that very situation. He already sent His son Jesus Christ to save us. We no longer have nothing to fear. We are more than conquerors through Christ. Hallelujah!

Dear friend, God is Mighty. He is mighty to bring salvation to defend, deliver, bring victory and save. He is able to do all things. Nothing is too hard for Him. Jesus revealed His might and power by the way He lived among us. He endured temptation. Like us He was tempted in every way but He did not sin. His strength was much greater than ours. It is in Him through Him that I strength is perfected. It is no good relying on our own power. Rely on His might. My God is bigger than all the diseases in the world today. You can trust Him with your challenges. Bring Him your heartaches, your illnesses, your lack and your pain. He will change your sorrow in joy. Fiend, recognizing Jesus as the Mighty God is essential to true faith. God might is infinite. No matter how much we take from it, it will never end. God will forever be Mighty.

"Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me." Psalm 50:15

Thank you Father God for who you are and who you continue to be in my life and in the lives of my loved ones. I rely completely on your might for healing mind, body and soul. I turn all my burdens (sickness, pain, lack, rejection, loneliness) over to you. I will wait patiently for your rescue. I trust that you will deliver me as you have always done for your people through the years. I love you and I honor you, in Jesus holy name I pray. Amen.

Praise the Lord!

Why Not Trust God?

But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." Lamentations 3:21-24

For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Psalm 108:4

www.bibletourwithjoline.com
www.bibleourwithjoline.blogspot.com
www.bibletouravecjoline.blogspot.com

In times of hardship we have often wondered why God does not seem to be faithful to His promises. Why doesn't He come to our rescue? Why does God let bad things happen? Why didn't we get that job? Can God even be trusted? Was David a liar? Did God really deliver him multiple times? Is the gospel gospel of Jesus Christ a big sham?

 I know for certain that there have been times in my own life (when I really wanted God to turn somethings around and let the outcome be different) when my prayers did not seem to "avail much." As a child, my mother's passing in her mid-thirties was definitely a life changing and faith shaking period. I prayed for her healing and yet she died. As an adult, I also encountered some defining and faith shaking moments. A few years ago after I prayed a while, I got rid of my place, quit a job of 15 years. Said good bye to family, friends, my church along with all my church responsibilities. I secured a new job. I packed up my truck and I moved to my dream city some seven hundred miles away (you would agree it is one of the nicest cities to live). I was on a waiting list for a gorgeous apartment in Buckhead  (my favorite part of town: close enough to downtown for activities but away enough to have a quiet home life) and I possibly was the happiest woman on earth. I loved everything about that city. Even the aggressive traffic was pleasing to me, but the move unleashed an incredible chain of regrettable events that lasted years and left me homeless, jobless, and spiritually and emotionally broken.

On the day that I received the key to my new sensational place, I learned that the job offer was retracted; an issue that made it impossible to hold on to the apartment. I found myself alone in a big city. I was anxious but most agonizing was the thought of having to face a possible return home. After I exhausted all resources to my last dime, there was nothing left to do. I felt defeated, I was ashamed and heartbroken. I did not want to face my family, my church and my friends. It was a challenging time to say the least. During that period I did little else other than prayed, cried, pleaded and begged God to open a door, to do something, anything that would keep me from going home. Returning home was simply not an option but my prayers seem vain. Few months later, bitter and defeated I was living in my father's tool shed back in Florida. I made him promise not to tell my eight siblings or anyone for that matter that I was back. The days, weeks, months and yes YEARS that followed were emotionally, physically and spiritually draining. I struggled with the thoughts that perhaps God was not listening and that He really did not care about me (but even then, I knew God existed. I only wondered if He cared). Why should I pray anymore? Where was the God of Abraham, Elijah, and Daniel? Certainly you have struggled with similar questions in your own life.

The truth is you and I never have to beg our heavenly Father for anything. God willingly gave us His best: His son Jesus Christ. What else wouldn't He give us? There are times when you and I won't understand what God is doing, but trust me when I tell you He is working it all in our favor that is why the word of God says "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. Isaiah 55:8. You and I must trust God. See, my destiny was in the city I left behind. The man I was meant to marry was still there. My dream job, educational goal, as well as my ministry were still there. God could have easily opened a door and allowed me to stay Buckhead but He loves me too much to let me have it my way. He followed through with His plan without my cooperation. He placed me in a position where I had no choice but to return home. The more I resisted returning, the more He squeezed, the more I suffered, and eventually I had no choice but to come home. Now I am grateful that I was forced to return or I never would have started my ministry, completed my degrees and I never would have met my husband and apart from my salvation Peter is my greatest blessing.

Believe it or not, sometimes even our pain, sufferings and trials are expression of God's love. I was brought up a Christian and my life revolves around church activities. I had a strong Bible believing teacher as a pastor.  I had a praying mother and a deacon father. I led the youth choir, became a Sunday school teacher,  youth minister while I was still a teenager but it was in my father' s  tool shed that I experienced the miracle working power of God and it was in that shed that my trust in God was forever sealed (Read "My Fathers' Shed" for more on that time period). In spite of what you feel and despite what you see, you can still trust God. He has an exceptional track record. He is faithful. He is a trust worthy God. Shout about it somebody!

During my lengthy stay in the tool shed I read read the book of lamentations thoroughly and often.  If you ever read the book of Lamentations, you are familiar with Jeremiah. This is what he had to say in Lamentations 3:1-8: "He has made my skin and my flesh grow old and has broken my bones. He has besieged me and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship. He has made me dwell in darkness like those long dead. He has walled me in so I cannot escape; he has weighed me down with chains. Even when I call out or cry for help, he shuts out my prayer." and verse 14 says "I became the laughingstock of all my people; they mock me in song all day long."  I know exactly what Jeremiah was feeling. I was also the laughingstock when it became public knowledge that I was back in Florida. Surely you have experienced moments of despair as well. The beauty of Jeremiah's heart is that he knew who God was even in the middle of the trying times. Lamentation 3:20-23 expresses it best "I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,for his compassion never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." 

My dear friend, the same way Jeremiah remembers God' immovable and immutable love, you and I must trust in that love. He reveals is great love for you and I by sending Jesus Christ. Parents abandon children. Spouses leave. Friends are not always faithful, oh yes, family betray but our God can be trusted. He promised to never forsake us. He has a good tract record even though we don't always understand how He works. God is sovereign. We can and Should trust Him. I certainly still trust God.

He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Psalm 91:4

Praise the Lord!

Why Not Trust Gid Again?

But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." Lamentations 3:21-24

For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Psalm 108:4

www.bibletourwithjoline.com
www.bibleourwithjoline.blogspot.com
www.bibletouravecjoline.blogspot.com

In times of hardship we have often wondered why God does not seem to be faithful to His promises. Why doesn't He come to our rescue? Why does God let bad things happen? Why didn't we get that job? Can God even be trusted? Was David a liar? Did God really deliver him multiple times? Is the gospel gospel of Jesus Christ a big sham?

 I know for certain that there have been times in my own life (when I really wanted God to turn somethings around and let the outcome be different) when my prayers did not seem to "avail much." As a child, my mother's passing in her mid-thirties was definitely a life changing and faith shaking period. I prayed for her healing and yet she died. As an adult, I also encountered some defining and faith shaking moments. A few years ago after I prayed a while, I got rid of my place, quit a job of 15 years. Said good bye to family, friends, my church along with all my church responsibilities. I secured a new job. I packed up my truck and I moved to my dream city some seven hundred miles away (you would agree it is one of the nicest cities to live). I was on a waiting list for a gorgeous apartment in Buckhead  (my favorite part of town: close enough to downtown for activities but away enough to have a quiet home life) and I possibly was the happiest woman on earth. I loved everything about that city. Even the aggressive traffic was pleasing to me, but the move unleashed an incredible chain of regrettable events that lasted years and left me homeless, jobless, and spiritually and emotionally broken.

On the day that I received the key to my new sensational place, I learned that the job offer was retracted; an issue that made it impossible to hold on to the apartment. I found myself alone in a big city. I was anxious but most agonizing was the thought of having to face a possible return home. After I exhausted all resources to my last dime, there was nothing left to do. I felt defeated, I was ashamed and heartbroken. I did not want to face my family, my church and my friends. It was a challenging time to say the least. During that period I did little else other than prayed, cried, pleaded and begged God to open a door, to do something, anything that would keep me from going home. Returning home was simply not an option but my prayers seem vain. Few months later, bitter and defeated I was living in my father's tool shed back in Florida. I made him promise not to tell my eight siblings or anyone for that matter that I was back. The days, weeks, months and yes YEARS that followed were emotionally, physically and spiritually draining. I struggled with the thoughts that perhaps God was not listening and that He really did not care about me (but even then, I knew God existed. I only wondered if He cared). Why should I pray anymore? Where was the God of Abraham, Elijah, and Daniel? Certainly you have struggled with similar questions in your own life.

The truth is you and I never have to beg our heavenly Father for anything. God willingly gave us His best: His son Jesus Christ. What else wouldn't He give us? There are times when you and I won't understand what God is doing, but trust me when I tell you He is working it all in our favor that is why the word of God says "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. Isaiah 55:8. You and I must trust God. See, my destiny was in the city I left behind. The man I was meant to marry was still there. My dream job, educational goal, as well as my ministry were still there. God could have easily opened a door and allowed me to stay Buckhead but He loves me too much to let me have it my way. He followed through with His plan without my cooperation. He placed me in a position where I had no choice but to return home. The more I resisted returning, the more He squeezed, the more I suffered, and eventually I had no choice but to come home. Now I am grateful that I was forced to return or I never would have started my ministry, completed my degrees and I never would have met my husband and apart from my salvation Peter is my greatest blessing.

Believe it or not, sometimes even our pain, sufferings and trials are expression of God's love. I was brought up a Christian and my life revolves around church activities. I had a strong Bible believing teacher as a pastor.  I had a praying mother and a deacon father. I led the youth choir, became a Sunday school teacher,  youth minister while I was still a teenager but it was in my father' s  tool shed that I experienced the miracle working power of God and it was in that shed that my trust in God was forever sealed (Read "My Fathers' Shed" for more on that time period). In spite of what you feel and despite what you see, you can still trust God. He has an exceptional track record. He is faithful. He is a trust worthy God. Shout about it somebody!

During my lengthy stay in the tool shed I read read the book of lamentations thoroughly and often.  If you ever read the book of Lamentations, you are familiar with Jeremiah. This is what he had to say in Lamentations 3:1-8: "He has made my skin and my flesh grow old and has broken my bones. He has besieged me and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship. He has made me dwell in darkness like those long dead. He has walled me in so I cannot escape; he has weighed me down with chains. Even when I call out or cry for help, he shuts out my prayer." and verse 14 says "I became the laughingstock of all my people; they mock me in song all day long."  I know exactly what Jeremiah was feeling. I was also the laughingstock when it became public knowledge that I was back in Florida. Surely you have experienced moments of despair as well. The beauty of Jeremiah's heart is that he knew who God was even in the middle of the trying times. Lamentation 3:20-23 expresses it best "I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,for his compassion never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." 

My dear friend, the same way Jeremiah remembers God' immovable and immutable love, you and I must trust in that love. He reveals is great love for you and I by sending Jesus Christ. Parents abandon children. Spouses leave. Friends are not always faithful, oh yes, family betray but our God can be trusted. He promised to never forsake us. He has a good tract record even though we don't always understand how He works. God is sovereign. We can and Should trust Him. I certainly still trust God.

He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Psalm 91:4

Praise the Lord!

Going Through My Valley......

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you.” Isaiah 43:2

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www.bibletouravecjoline.blogspot.com


How should we deal with grief? The world seems to be a very dangerous place. Natural disasters alone are enough to keep people running scared. There are more kidnapping than ever before and numerous gun-related shouting. Child abuse does even shock us anymore, it is part of our current event, but how do we deal with all of it? Do we run to the pharmacy for Valium like the world does? Should we sleep through life or should we face our grief head on? A friend told me the other day that he was thinking of moving somewhere safer than here. A place where there will be no hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquake, tsunami, ect. God is Omniscient, Omnipotent, Beginning and End. He is everywhere at the same time. We cannot escape His presence. He is able to protect us wherever we are. We don’t have to run scared and stay up all night. He who watches over us does not sleep. This is no time to be half-consecrated and some what dedicated. This is the time to go all the way with God, to give Him your whole life. This is the time to start relying on His might totally.

One of the lessons I recently learned is that we have to put the Word of God to good use. It’s nice to read it and to know the truth but you won’t really get excited about the Word of God until you realize that it’s more than just a collection of inspired stories and that it’s actually guideline provided by our heavenly father to carry us from victory to victory when we apply it to our life. The same power that raises Jesus from the dead is available to us. We are children of God. He is in us and us in Him. When dealing with grief we must call on God’s power. Naturally, our flesh cannot take much grief, but we do have the. God has everything in abundance and He wants to give us everything abundantly. It’s all at our disposal. He loves us too much to force anything on us, but when we ask, we do receive. Praise the Lord!

The Word God in the above scripture didn't say we wouldn't pass through the waters, but it did promise to be with us when we do. Glory! When you go through the fire, you will not be scorched, so why are you afraid? You already know the outcome. When all is said and done, you are going to be alright. So how do you deal with grief? You do it with courage and faith, holding to God’s promises and by continuing to praise Him through it all. You are not another ordinary, lonely person. You are a special, extraordinary, legitimate son/daughter of the Living God. Stop trying to believe in God. Take it up to the next level by actually putting your faith in Him. It’s time to stop being a spectator, watching God work wonders in other people lives. It’s time to be part of it all and claim your inheritance. Once you do that, changes will start to take place in your life. I am so excited this morning, Are you excited? You and I have nothing to fear. We are never alone. In the middle of a month full of bad news God gives us a reason to smile, to hope and to move forward. Love, serve and praise God with your whole heart. Walk closely with Him in the good times and through your grief. Remember, God will not take your cares away from you. You have to give them to Him. As hard as it is, you are the one responsible to keep your thoughts under control, but you can do it, “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” 1 John 4:4

Praise the Lord!