Refresh

We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps. Proverbs 16:9

Begin the new year off right. Invite the Lord, God into your life. Then put and keep him first in everything you do.

Life will not be free of problems but the circumstances will be less complicated and they will run smooth while your heavenly father leads the way.

God knows what is best for us he knows what we need, he knows what to provide, and he knows what is ahead.

God is utterly in control of all our situations.

Have hope, keep the faith, and call on God daily all throughout the day by developing a close personal relationship with him.

Share any concerns you may have with the Lord. Consult with him on your ideas. Ask him for guidance, direction and instruction on how to comply with his will in your life.

Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. -Psalms 55:22

Strong In God’s Spirit

There the child grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was on him. -Luke 2:40

God is essential to our overall health and wellness. He genuinely does give us a peace and a joy in the midst of good or bad times- I can definitely attest to this fact. In my case, the difficulty and trouble did not affect or touch me at all during past situations.

I was content in what may have seemed like a misfortune or struggle to some and to those who were responsible for trying to sabotage my life back then.

People of the world are not capable of understanding the power and authority of the spirit. If you were to give your allegiance to the world, they would love and welcome you as one of their own. But because you won’t align yourself with the values of this world, they will hate you. I have chosen you and taken you out of the world to be mine. -John 15:19

I have been very spiritually inclined since my youth and am in tune with my spiritual gifts of wisdom and discernment.

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. “See, all your angry enemies lie there, confused and humiliated. Anyone who opposes you will die and come to nothing. You will look in vain for those who tried to conquer you. Those who attack you will come to nothing. -Isaiah 41:10-12

The LORD keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever. -Psalms 121:7-8

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. -Isaiah 43:2

Rest In The Lord

The LORD is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O LORD, do not abandon those who search for you. Psalms 9:9-10

Yes, we live in an unpredictable world. A problem or tragedy can hit at any time.

It is tiring and unhealthy to constantly panic about events that are entirely out of our control. Anxiety will drive one to become restless and stress will cause one to suffer ill health.

Just give it to God and let him handle whatever it is that is going on in your life whether good or bad.

Isn’t it so much better to sit back, relax, and totally allow the Lord to steer your ship?

We sail with comfort to enjoy a much better ride than if we ourselves were the ones in charge to operate. Not only is God our ultimate guide but he is the one source that is able to provide definite stability and confidence within any uncertain situation.

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:19

True Christian Behavior

But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The LORD knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the LORD must turn away from evil.” 2 Timothy 2:19

But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God. 1 John 3:8-10

The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the godly will flourish. There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death. Proverbs 14:11-12

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When we become saved (a born again Christian) God’s holy spirit comes to literally dwell within us. Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself -1 Corinthians 6:19

The spirit is our helper and comforter.

Not only does God endow us with supernatural abilities (spiritual gifts) he divinely enables us to become holy by gradually perfecting/changing us in Jesus Christ’s image.

We will never be flawless within our fleshly bodies in this fallen world and we will at times sin, however, our sin will be less and it won’t be constant or intentional.

During those periods we may suddenly or accidentally slip up, we acknowledge our error to God and receive his forgiveness. Always requesting in him that he aid us to improve.

No one sincere takes the Lord’s grace and mercy for granted, knowing that he blessed us within this way should encourage us to look forward with appreciation and motivation to cooperate.

The true Christian does not practice sin as a way of life. The way of life puts sin out of practice.

Anyone who claims to be living in the spirit yet does worldly things routinely is not a legitimate follower who surrendered to Christ. When embraced by the holy spirit, everything starts to change- desires, thoughts, personality and foundation. One’s entire manner of being has become refashioned. God’s essence brings a purity to the presence.

I knew a man years ago when I was a young child, I think I was around ten or eleven (around that time I had accepted Jesus). He was an associate of my family. He used to treat me funny until one day he came to my home and witnessed me reading my bible. I don’t know what his problem was, I was just a kid.

Anyway, this married man called himself a person of God and of the church but would come over to my house asking if he could use our VCR (this was back in the 1980’s) to watch porn tapes he had brought over. He also pinched one of my mother’s friends on her derriere at the staircase.

Now my point is also that he acted negative toward me for a while and I hadn’t done anything to him but it was alright for him to fulfill his lustful desires apart from his wife. Typical judgmental so called/false Christian behavior.

This is why so many professing Christians/followers of Christ leave a bad taste in other people’s mouths and bad impressions of what true Christians are and represent.

It used to be said that the worse kinds of people are the ones in the church. Whether some deserved that reputation or not depending on opinion the main focus of everything is to get it together with God because only he can make things right for everyone.

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My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world. And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. -1 John 2:1-6


Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Philippians 2:12-13

For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me. -Colossians 1:27-29

Too Sullied To Be Saved?

From the depths of despair, O LORD, I call for your help. Hear my cry, O Lord. Pay attention to my prayer. LORD, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you. I am counting on the LORD; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word. –Psalms 130:1-5

There are people who believe that they have done far too many terrible things in life for God to forgive and save them.

Out of extreme shame, guilt and sorrow over their mistakes these people conclude God would never sympathize or accept them.

The taunting and haunting residue from past or present deeds, inspire them to feel doomed. They imagine the worse possible outcome and are left to feel unworthy to come to God as they expect nothing but his severe wrath and punishment.

Many of these people beat themselves up over and over again struck by memory after memory then tortured by fear and a sense of being lost with no kind of hope.

However, God/Jesus wants to erase those bad reflections. He wants to stop that self-abuse. He wants to heal that pain. He wants to exchange wrath and punishment for grace and mercy. He wants to offer a wonderful end result. He wants to replace mental anguish with peace. He wants to pour out his love. He wants to recruit into his family. He wants to cleanse and purify to make a new. He wants to eradicate false belief- so that true belief is in him.

There is no greater example than of the story of Saul/Paul in the bible. He was “a chief of sin” yet overcame by the favor and power of the Lord.

In Paul’s wicked days he persecuted and murdered Christians but God had an incredible conversion ahead for this man who became one of the most beloved disciples of Jesus Christ. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. -1 Timothy 1:16

You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion—how I violently persecuted God’s church. I did my best to destroy it. I was far ahead of my fellow Jews in my zeal for the traditions of my ancestors. But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being. –Galatians 1:13-16

No matter what you’ve done if you honestly know and admit that you are a sinner who needs deliverance, believe that Jesus is God, believe that he came to die in place of you to save you from your sins, believe he was buried in a tomb and was resurrected three days later, and approach the Lord Jesus with true remorse and sincere repentance then surrender your life to him you will have salvation.

Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God’s Good News. “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” -Mark 1:14-15

But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus. Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law. After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is. There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law. –Romans 3:21-31

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. –Ephesians 1:3-8

Horoscopes (Forbidden By God)

“Now use your magical charms! Use the spells you have worked at all these years!

Maybe they will do you some good. Maybe they can make someone afraid of you.

All the advice you receive has made you tired.

Where are all your astrologers, those stargazers who make predictions each month?

Let them stand up and save you from what the future holds.

But they are like straw burning in a fire; they cannot save themselves from the flame. –Isaiah 47:12-14

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When I was a youngster, I thought reading the horoscopes was harmless and was even proud to be a “zodiacal Taurus” ruled by planet Venus.

I wasn’t heavily into astrology. I never understood how astrologers read the planets or anything of that nature but I loved reading up on the characteristics of my zodiac sign as the traits were accurately described within certain aspects. I’d even read up on other astrological birth signs, the zodiac explanations of behavior and compatibility with other individuals were interesting.

It wasn’t until I read the bible verses about astrology and anything associated with it being forbidden that I started to heed warning. There was even a time when I threw all of my zodiac books away.

I later on began reading them from time to time after not recognizing any seemingly real threat. I did not know that horoscope reading was a trick disguised by the devil to gradually lure us people away from God and his instructions.

I never practiced astrology and would not have known where to begin. I didn’t believe that astrological charts had any affect or determination of my everyday life in connection with reading a horoscope forecast. I didn’t think it was the same as a tarot card reading.

They would be in daily newspapers and magazines but at the time I didn’t know the zodiac was deep-rooted in sorcery.

Horoscopes should not be read by Christians, and instead we should place our faith in our future by communicating with God.

Right now, I take seriously that it is dangerous, and I don’t want any part of it because the Lord is against indulging within the ancient belief. I don’t even have any desire to read the horoscope anymore I am totally repulsed by it! I feel the same way about tarot reading. I have no desire to consult a fortune-teller. I was born with second-sight but I understand that having a spiritual gift from God is not classified in the same category as divination.

Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. –1 John 4:1

Some people have genuine supernatural gifts and misuse them but I hope those who do and have will repent and return to God even if it was done unintentionally.

Astrology is geared toward mainstream society as innocent fun and harmless entertainment. I read that astrology is from paganism, the worship of planets as Gods which makes no sense to me. I knew that it was a part of new age which in reality is just all a sad form of demonic worship.

As children of God, we shouldn’t read any of that garbage or partake in any similar modes of darkness set to sneakily trap/ensnare us.

We’ll confuse spirit guides (demonic entities) with angels of light if we’re not careful getting into that crap unknowingly. Satan does masquerade himself as an angel of the light. –But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. -2 Corinthians 11:14

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For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the LORD your God will drive them out ahead of you. -Deuteronomy 18:10-12

“Do not defile yourselves by turning to mediums or to those who consult the spirits of the dead. I am the LORD your God. -Leviticus 19:31

“I will also turn against those who commit spiritual prostitution by putting their trust in mediums or in those who consult the spirits of the dead. I will cut them off from the community.-Leviticus 20:6

“But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” -Revelation 21:8

Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie. -Revelation 22:15

Feeling Of Fear

But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. -Psalms 56:3

A little while back, I was feeling a wave of fear and I told a woman who use to be a neighbor of mine.

In response, she told me to pray and ask about it. Then, wait for an answer.

So, I did. I prayed to the Lord that night, expressing my concern and any possible reason in particular for why I was experiencing this stream of fear.

When I awoke the next morning, I had initially forgot about the prayer and reply I had requested. Once I remembered, an answer had actually come into my mind. A voice spoke to me in my thoughts and said, “Have a little bit more faith in God”.

There it was. Plain and simple for my specific situation.

All of us are different, all going through our various seasons of life. While we experience these shifts in motion and change, we may also encounter a touch of fear or uncertainty. It is understandable, especially not knowing where our season may be weathering to, but the most important thing for us to know is that God is the one controlling the environment.

He orders the summer, the fall, the winter, and the spring. He’ll keep us warm when it’s cold. And he’ll keep us comfortable when things get too hot for us to handle.

God is there, even when he seems far away. He just wants us to have the faith to trust him when we can’t see past the fog.

Let God be the eyes we view our circumstances with as he already knows what’s upon and ahead, he will lead us through.

For we live by believing and not by seeing. -2 Corinthians 5:7

Mourning The Loss Of A Loved One

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. -Psalms 34:18

I know it hurts so much when you lose someone you cared for to death. The more you loved that person the more pain you feel. It is so beautiful and dreadful at the same time. The beauty lies within the affection, the dread lies within the separation.

Though nothing can ease the injury that reflects from the broken heart may there be the comfort in knowing for the believer and those who believed that their beloved is now within a better place.

Yes, we grieve and are heavily bereaved because we miss them so dearly. But it was in God’s will and maybe he took them home to release them from any further suffering.

Nevertheless, our departed are in the best hands of our Lord and savior/heavenly father.

Also, let there be comfort in knowing that one day we will be reunited with the ones we loved- and there will be no more sadness, no more crying, no more pain and no more death. Only love, peace, and happiness forever more.

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:3-9

God Knows All, So Come To Know Him

O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! -Psalms 139:1-7

What is done behind closed doors and in front of mirrors can be kept hidden unseen from others, and put far behind as to never have existed.

The walls of a room will never talk, the doors of a room will never open up to reveal anything that ever took place, and the mirrors within a room will never again reflect a scene displayed from the past.

One can even lie to themself, denying what no one else could prove unless there was substantial evidence or a credible witness.

The truth would be portrayed as a lie for as long as one continued to not admit, or forget.

Going back inside the rooms through the doors to look back into the mirrors sometimes can force or incite one to face a reality they may not prefer to accept.

The fact that even though actions and things will sometimes be or remain unknown to anyone else- it is still definitely known.

God knows.

No matter how hard one tries, how hard one runs, how hard one pretends they can never escape the one who is aware of all things.

No one can masquerade or play a charade on God.

Stop running, trying, and/or pretending and confess to the Lord what he already knows so that he may give you a peace, comfort and joy that the world does not give, understand, and is unable to take away.

Why carry a burden when you do not have to. Our good Lord is ever so merciful and full of grace. He is just waiting for anyone to come to him as he is ready to forgive, forget, and fulfill with a life of restoration and purpose to all those who surrender to his everlasting love and divine perfection.

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. -1 John 1:9

God Speaks

When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. -1 Corinthians 13:11

I remember during my twenties I was very strong in prayer and talking to God, and getting feedback from the Lord.

Although he stays the same within his character situations do incline to change depending on our behavior, growth, trial, outlook, and so on. Many factors can play a role in our relationship with God.

I’ve noticed through various stages of my life from childhood to adulthood the different ways I’d feel the Lord’s presence and recognized his footprints making an impact.

He was always there but incorporated his provision in a wide range of demonstration according to how I progressed, and spiritually matured.

For example, when a baby is weaned off the bottle and can begin to eat solid food, they soon learn to balance drink with a cup and thoroughly chew with their teeth. The baby is starting to develop into a state where the parent doesn’t have to feed them as an infant need to be fed anymore.

Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness. -1 Peter 2:2-3

The child is becoming capable of feeding themself with the nurturing beforehand of the parent and the maturing of the body.

Eventually the child will walk on its own, talk, use the toilet on its own and then start school. So, the child will still need their parent’s guidance and supervision, however, the parent no longer has to carry the child in the way they did before.

Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. -Colossians 2:7

Once we get to the levels where we need to be there are higher steps in experiencing the way God can and does work in our lives. He deals with us at our own pace he meets us where we’re at he knows if we are ready or not to move forward in certain areas and how we’ll be responsive.

Our experiences teach us, strengthen us, and enable us to deepen our relationship with the Lord if we allow our hearts to be directed through him.

Even when we don’t willingly desire to go through the bad times (and who does) he brings us out of our circumstances as better people. We then notice and hear his voice in an array of discerning ways.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. -James 1:2-4

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. –Philippians 1:6

Ministering Angels

Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation. -Hebrews 1:14

One night before bed, fifteen years ago, I lit a candle on the floor beside my bed.

I had never lit a candle on the floor beside my bed before. Normally, if I lit one, I would put the glass encased candle upon the dresser or bureau, a safer place. I don’t know what I was thinking at the time. And this wasn’t a glass encased candle. It was a small white votive candle.

Anyhow, during the night I was sleeping very sound and comfortably when a divine touch awakened me, raised up my head and turned me around to see my blanket and sheet on fire just in time.

The grasp that was held onto me was gentle yet alerting, I’ll never forget the incident.

For the angel of the LORD is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him. –Psalms 34:7

God’s mighty and powerful hand has been on me for all of my life and it is a shame how I couldn’t see how much he loved me back then. Going through things and the trials in life can alter our view of God especially when trauma is involved.

Satan plays his part too by lying to us, trying to manipulate us to think and believe God is against us.

Nevertheless, God has supernaturally intervened on my behalf a number of times in my life and it has built a strong faith and shaped me.

Daniel answered, “Long live the king! My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.” -Daniel 6:21-22

God’s Healing Touch

O LORD, if you heal me, I will be truly healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved. My praises are for you alone! Jeremiah 17:14

In 1984, my grandmother had a stroke. She remained in coma for three months and some presumed that she would eventually die.

A few associates of my mother’s told her to take me up to the hospital to see my grandmother, that maybe my presence could wake her up somehow, I guess.

One day my mother did take me to the hospital to visit my grandmother and I touched her hand and held it, and my grandmother awakened after three months of being in a comatose state.

Now I know that I myself didn’t have any power to actually bring my grandmother back to consciousness, but I know that God did because he wasn’t ready for my grandmother to have left the earth yet.

But I believe he may have intervened through my touch as he divinely works through who he chooses.

I was a child back then so maybe God had his reasons I don’t know and cannot say for sure why the incident transpired the way it did. I thought it was a beautiful moment, though.

It may have been a little faith on my part too for the Lord to wake my grandma up, it was so long ago I do not remember if I prayed for her or not but I do think I remember anticipating and believing she could wake up because others were encouraging my visit to her.

My grandmother recovered quite well and made very good improvements a while afterwards when she returned home.

I recall some women came to my grandmother to pray over her and to aid her in accepting Jesus as her Lord and savior.

She wasn’t one hundred percent capacitated as one side of her body was permanently paralyzed.

However, she was in her right mind, she was able to cook for herself, dress herself, wheel herself around the house, and she was able to verbally communicate with us (her family and others).

She just had a slight memory impairment as she knew what she wanted to say yet couldn’t get out some of her words but we articulated what she wanted to convey.

My grandmother lived another twenty years after the onset of her stroke, she probably would have lived longer if she hadn’t later on developed lung cancer from continuing to smoke.

Everyone tried to touch him, because healing power went out from him, and he healed everyone. -Luke 6:19

A God Of Mercy And Compassion

 

Are you in a dark or difficult place right now? Do you question whether God really loves you and find it hard to believe that he actually does?

Have you ever said to yourself or thought, “If God cared about me, he wouldn’t have allowed me to come into this world and be put through all kinds of unsavory experiences?

If so, you are not alone. Many people feel this way and have felt this way. Take heart, there is indeed a God up there in the heavens who is also all around us as well as inside of us- those of us who are his children (who he gave the right to become sons and daughters –john 1:12)- who loves us dearly.

Psalms 103:8-19 says,  The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust. Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. The wind blows, and we are gone— as though we had never been here. But the love of the LORD remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments! The LORD has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything.

His Spoken Word

Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen. 1 Peter 4:11

Sometimes God will speak directly to us through certain people to communicate to us exactly what he may want us to know.

He may have an encouraging word to share, a message of hope.

He may also take it upon himself to bring a little clarity and comfort to a situation one may have been struggling with.

The Lord goes these extra steps to show us just how much he loves us and to express his total concern for our well-being.

We will recognize when our Lord is corresponding with us by knowing his voice even if it is spoken by a human tongue.

A feeling of ease, peace, or contentment will settle around our presence, and upon the circumstance that has troubled or affected one. This is what happened to me someone else’s experience may be different.

In addition, the Lord stayed up with me all night (not that he ever sleeps) keeping me company and helping me to write as he worked his power through me to utilize my talents for his glory.

I am so impressed by God. My literature just flowed out effortlessly; I wasn’t even expecting it because earlier in the day I had wanted to write but did not feel up to it. I was feeling kind of down about something, but he just came and lifted up my spirits and kept me in place- holding me nearby. The Lord even had gotten me excited in the process.

And when I read his word in certain parts of scripture, I just love the way he talks and how he tells it like it is with such feeling and vigor.

God is something else! But most of all he is my confidant- my everything!

To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. 1 Corinthians 12:8-10

Underestimated By People? Never By God!

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10

Isn’t it something how certain people will judge you by social status, or measure your worth or success by what type of job or material possessions you may have or own?

A lot of individuals tend to go by what they see on the outside of a person’s life and what they know by what has been revealed about them. But what about the realities of that person which have not been showed to those individuals and circumstances not yet unveiled to them?

Does not knowing about another person’s attributes or capabilities make them any less capable or valuable? Absolutely not!

There are people walking around in high positions and gaining notoriety for things they didn’t actually earn or deserve.

If a person has not reached a particular level of achievement within life it does not mean or signify that they aren’t sufficient or talented enough in the specific area whatever that may be.

True success is not based on the opinions and desires of the world.

It does not matter what shifting individuals think or believe about us. It only matters what God knows about us.

The Lord created each and every one of us with a unique purpose to carry out. He gave us all that was required within our gifts, talents and abilities to perform our mission.

It is not up to anyone but God to determine what success means for the life we were given.

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. -2 Peter 1:3-4

Standing Strong In Christ

For the LORD watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction. -Psalms 1:6

When we trust in God and follow his lead, we appear foolish to others sometimes. There are occasionally going to be those cruel people who may criticize or attack you out of ignorance, a sick mentality, or just from their own feelings of insecurity and inadequacy.  

Do not allow yourself to be injured or discouraged by the actions they direct toward you. Their words and behavior are irrelevant, purely a reflection of themselves and the road they are traveling down.  

There is no need to pay attention to, or to give any energy to anything other than the estimation that God has of you. -You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God? They cannot be numbered! -Psalms 139:16-17 

If God puts it in your heart to do something, do not hesitate to do it and if the Lord wants you to be a witness for him do not be afraid to declare your testimony in front of others.  

I am not saying to go around making a boisterous show among others I am urging you to never feel uncomfortable walking according to your faith.  

When you are among others, do you let them know that you love and follow your creator if the opportunity presents itself? Do you acknowledge your desire to not do what goes against your beliefs when questioned or faced in a situation? Do you acknowledge your love for Christian music over secular music? Do you read your biblical content openly in front of them? Would you pray in front of them without embarrassment if the moment called for it?  

If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” -Mark 8:38

Satan’s Idling

Upon waking up one morning, a voice in my thoughts spoke to me and said, “Don’t pay any attention to God. Immediately, I knew it was the voice of the enemy. I did not listen to the nonsense of those words at all. 

The devil and his demons will always endeavor to put lies and doubts into our minds suddenly to confuse or misdirect us, no matter how ludicrous or trivial the attempt may seem. 

Satan and his army have zero power over us because Jesus conquered long ago, however, they will still mess with us from time to time. 

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are. -1 Peter 5:8-9

True Gospel

My Introduction Devotional -LaToya Lawrence

I am not a preacher or any spiritual leader I am just inspired and encouraged to write messages centered around our daily walk with God. –And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” -2 Corinthians 5:18-20

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For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts. -Thessalonians 2:4

If we are afraid to offend people with the truth then God cannot use us to spread the gospel and to be an example of his testimony. The gospel can indeed be offensive and there is no other way to approach or to get around this fact.

People would rather hear and listen to the lies from hell! They would prefer to believe that it is okay to have grace from God and live within accordance to the devil. –For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. -2 Timothy 4:3

When is the last time we heard a blunt sermon from an evangelist who has access to reach across the nations through their fame and popularity? I cannot remember when there has been one bold enough to do so in years!

The preachers we see on television now are motivated by their high-pay and expensive lifestyles. They continue to water-down the gospel in order to maintain their fortune.

True believers are not inspired to seek out fame, money, or a title for themselves they are intent to preach about the consequences of sin, the importance of repentance and turning away from sin to live one’s life for Jesus at the cost of forsaking one’s self, and the world we live in.

There are even ministers in everyday churches that are not famous or well-known who are not preaching straightforward biblical truths. They have their own watered-down versions of what the gospel is too!

And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people. -Romans 16: 17-18

No one will be genuinely saved through the words of a false gospel or one messaged with half-truths.

There are severe repercussions to endure and blood on the hands of those who deceitfully mislead and cause others to fall. God does not want false conversions due to those in authority not conveying what is really the true gospel. –But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea. -Matthew 18:6

It is so important for people to take upon themselves by reading scripture to validate fact from fiction. Never listen to anyone or anything that is not backed up by the bible.

Note: Some preachers or everyday people may understandably misinterpret scripture here and there and do not mean any harm within their utterances, however, there is always room for re-evaluation and correction.

In your journey, do not fear to stand up for truth and to not be persuaded by worldly comfort and worldly things to dilute the truth of God’s word.

“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ -Matthew 7:21-23