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The book, the book!
Many would say 2020 delivered a powerful punch and a year to never forget. Yes, it definitely was not the vision I had thought it might be when I wished you Happy New Year a year ago.
However, God gave me His sight for a future-a future that is so unfamiliar. A time in my life where He decided I should take on a YES posture and not worry about being equipped for the task ahead. I often asked myself last year, “What have I got myself into?”. Yet, I continued to press forward and write a book He laid on my heart.
First of all, I am NOT a writer. I love to read, learn new things, and do anything but write-well that is up until Spring of 2019. God held my feet to the fire and reminded me that I told Him I would do whatever He asked if He would just give me one year to recover from the discipline gorge which lasted half a decade.
So, here I am almost two years later. A changed child of the Lord-crafting His directions into blogs and now a book! He has captured my heart and gave me a direction like none other. He has surrounded me with encouragement and hope. There aren’t enough words to explain the joy and love I have found in God.
I wish someone had given me this book years ago. However, I might not have been ready to be 100% sold out to His leading. But I do know what I am capable of today–handing back any gift He gives to me for His Glory.
This is your book Lord. Do with it what you may-it does not belong to me. I am merely a vessel to ensure it was relayed. May it touch lives for You and encourage others to fall deeply in love with a treasured gift-Your Very Words!
Come learn how to live your life through an Open Bible sweet friend.
He continues to show me the truth in this verse…I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. Jeremiah 24:7 (NIV)
Prayer Life, Part 4
“Such is our dependence upon God that we are obliged not only to do everything for His sake, but also to seek from Him the very power. This happy necessity of having recourse to Him in all our wants, instead of being grievous to us, should be our greatest consolation. What a happiness that we are allowed to speak to Him with confidence, to open our hearts and hold familiar conversation with Him, by prayer! He Himself invites us to it.” -Francois Fenelon 1631-1715
How’s your daily serving of prayer? Spiritual nutrition is rarely on the world’s radar. Yet, it seems every January there is a large emphasis on becoming physically fit and indulging in a better diet. All to often we are unable to hear the small voice within-pleading us to feed our mind and soul proper nutrition-God. However, when weakness and lack of sufficient starts to show up, attention is then paid to dependency on the Lord. No wonder many of us are crippled by a thorn in our side-keeping focus on our need for God.
Prayer creates access to essential nutrients and vitamins we need each day. You know those “flesh blockers” to safeguard our lives from sin and destruction. Paul was well aware of this daily sufficiency when he wrote, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). He knew the fruit of the spirit would not automatically present itself without feasting on prayer time with God. Paul was well aware of how his digestion elements had a way of revealing themselves in his daily actions. Think about the transparency of his heart before meeting Christ!
Paul had spent many years not exercising spiritual healthy choices and indulging on worldly desserts and junk food. The temporary “feel good” substance left him empty after each self-sufficiency meal. His daily diet led to his own personal sickness and destruction. His fast food tasted so good at first, but he continued to have a hunger within which could not be satisfied until he met God.
Prayer, more than just an act of surrendering, worshiping, thanksgiving, confessing, asking, etc., opens the door to a healthy spiritual life. Spending time with God and feasting on His Word daily, allows for a wholesome life to be maintained. It is a time of humbling and letting the Lord’s provisions fortify our hearts, minds, and souls with His great nutritional love and attributes. This daily devotion produces a bowlful of basic essential nutrients for us to be able to carry out His will.
May we cherish and exercise the daily habit of prayer for our total well-being.
John 6:35 – And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Click to watch a video over the content of this post:
Jeremiah 15:16
Your words were found, and I ate them,
And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart;
For I am called by Your name,
O LORD God of hosts.
Prayer Life, Part 3
Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 65:4
With a reflection on the events in American this week, all that comes to mind is “What the world needs now is … prayer, sweet prayer.” Prayers for peace, prayers for compassion, prayers for kindness, prayers for self-control, prayers for love, prayers for understanding, prayers of gentleness, prayers of better judgement, prayers for righteousness in God, prayers for a humble nation, prayers for surrender to God’s authority, etc. I am sure your sentiments can complete the list better than I can. However, we can all agree this world is not what God intended.
Each day reveals the apparent need for transformation. A renewal of hearts, minds, and souls to find what we are really seeking-GOD! We have accepted sins and corruption as our daily mantra and become so complacent to a lifestyle filled with unholiness. With our attempts to “sanitize” our lives and make them what we want, somehow, we have created a lifestyle of self-centered living with the goal to satisfy our fleshy desires. Let me be the first to say, “I am guilty!”
As I have been reflecting upon prayer, the act of exalting God has come to the forefront. Entering into His throne room and worshiping Him has been heavy on my heart. It brings back the memories of Wednesday prayer nights during my upbringing. Men and women of the church would intentionally come together to bow their heads, bend their knees, and physically humble themselves to the will of God. Yet, it was filled with more requests than praise. So, I grew to know a limited prayer pathway.
When studying and reading about incorporating worship into my prayer life, I found an amazing article. Permit me to share a paragraph from it:
The spiritual battle is intensifying daily because the enemy knows that his time is short. He hates prayer because he knows that the power of prayer will overthrow every one of his plans. God inhabits our praise. The word “inhabit” or “enthrone” (yashab) means to judge in ambush. When we praise God, He will seat himself right in the middle of our lives and judge the enemies that are surrounding us. The Japanese translation of Psalm 22:3 is: “When you praise God He brings a big chair and sits there.” Think about that! God is seated in the center of your life. The enemy cannot dethrone you because God cannot be overthrown! God Victoriously Inhabits Our Praise (crosswalk.com)
What? Each and every time I worship Him, He brings His presence closer to sit and listen! He responds to my open heart and willing spirit as I sincerely invite Him to come into my midst. And above all, God wants to complete me, walk with me, and ignite His power in and through me because that is who He is. A giver of love, grace, and mercy. Almighty Lord, God of the universe, King of everything, Ruler over all!!
He said to me through the reading of Walking the Path of Prayer by Jack Hayford, “Move your POSTURE (my God Word!!!) in worship beyond one of passive reflection to one of power-filled potential for transformation.” All I can say is, “How much clearer can God speak to my heart this week about the importance of worship in my prayer life?”
How do you incorporate worship into prayer? Have you read a fabulous article or book about the topic recently? Please take some time to share your thoughts below. I would really love to hear from you. I treasure your insight and input. Remember, we are in this together. Let’s embrace the journey of spiritual growth through sharing!
Looking for a Virtual Small Group?
Are you ready to discover God’s Word differently in 2021?
Is your heart longing for a deep-rooted faith, withstanding all circumstances? Do you desire to experience God and all His power in a fresh approach? Are you seeking a fulfilling way to grow continually in Christ?
Crown the Sword is more than a study. It is a resource to help you encounter the Word of God and implement biblical truth into your everyday life. It is designed to change the trajectory of your life from searching for the power of God’s Word to experiencing it. This resource will give you the foundational steps to rely on Scripture as your primary reading for a lifetime.
Just think. You have God’s very words, written as a daily guide, at your fingertips. It is always sufficient and relevant. Let this year be the time you choose an open Bible approach in your journey with the Lord.
Come join the Crown the Sword virtual group. This process changed my life. I invite you to experience the difference for yourself. Come join in an incredible approach written for you.
CLASS INFORMATION
Class duration: 12 weeks
Class sessions: 1.0 to 1.5 hours each meeting
Homework: Expect at least 2 hours of reading and reflection on your own each week
Total Cost: $15.00
Zoom Meeting: Monday nights, 6:15 p.m. (CST) Beginning February 8th
Deadline to register: January 25th
Register here as a virtual small group participant
You will receive further information via email after the registration deadline.
P.S. Are you hesitant? What’s holding you back? Please leave a comment below and let me know your concerns. I would love to answer any questions you have. I believe this is a worthy study to give you the confidence in choosing God’s Word as your primarily resource for a lifetime.
Prayer Life, Part 2
Happy Sunday friends! How’s your year been so far? Do you set goals and resolutions every January? Are you planning to make some changes in 2021?
This weekend I began studying Joel. As the writer expands upon the locust plague, he speaks of a God of justice as well as a Lord of mercy. Joel clearly denotes the judgment of sin as dreadful and overpowering punishment much like the devastation of wild locust. Yet, the author tells of a mighty God who is willing to forgive and restore anyone who will turn from their disobedience and declare Him as their sovereign Lord.
How often do we catch this vision of God? A father who stands ready to receive us if we will call on Him. The highest of strength and power who is King over all that has, does, and will exist. A Lord who is abounding in grace. A God who is compassionate and relational. Creator of all, who extends salvation through His son in order to call us His sons and daughters.
Since our 2020 experience, how do we see God? If we believe in an omnipotent God, why do we tend to become complacent and take Him for granted? I have asked myself, “Why don’t I pray more than I do?” Have we become blind to the consequences of fleshy living? Are our senses so dull that we have become immune to God’s warnings and pleas? Have we allowed the offerings of this world to dry up our joy as Joel talks about in Joel 1:12?
Joel’s message for me began in Joel 1:2 with the words “Hear this” and “listen”. It captured my attention to exam my reverence to God as my sovereign Lord and to turn away from my self-centeredness and sin. I saw glimpse of my own lukewarm behavior periodically, the kind of thinking and acts far from what God not only requires, but what He truly deserves. And again, I ask “why”?
As my heart cries out to God to restore my emphasis on Him, I feel the Lord asking me, “Who do you say I am?” How well can I accurately describe Him? This indescribable love who has longed for me, shown mercy in so many ways, sanitized my mistakes, transformed my sins for His good, and showered me with blessings beyond my understanding. He has created turning points in my spiritual journey to increase my faith and knowledge of Him and yet again is tugging on my heartstrings to draw closer to Him through a sincere focus on my prayer life.
What about you? Who do you say God is? How is your prayer life?
Please leave your comments, suggestions, and thoughts below. We are all in this together. Lets reach out and help each other in our journey. I look forward to hearing your insight.
To you, Lord, I call, for fire has devoured the pastures in the wilderness and flames have burned up all the trees of the field. Even the wild animals pant for you; the streams of water have dried up and fire has devoured the pastures in the wilderness. Joel 1:19-20 (NIV)
Happy New Year
Happy New Year Friends! We look forward to walking through 2021 with you. As intentional partners, we are here to supply encouragement with your spiritual growth posture. Our main goal is to support your personal relationship with God and strengthen your reliance on Scripture. We are preparing for great times ahead in the upcoming months.
Prayers and best wishes from our ministry team and partners! We love you!!
I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. Jeremiah 24:7 (NIV)
Prayer Life, Part 1
Come walk with us as we focus on prayer through infographics.
The Lord has been placing this topic on my heart for quite sometime. I invite you to engage in this adventure as we learn more about strengthening our prayer life together.
May each post allow you time to reflect upon your prayer life and draw you closer to the heart of God.
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas from our ministry team and partners! Praying your Christmas season is filled with blessings!
Behold
Somedays…it is not a long post.
Somedays…the words seem few.
Somedays…God tells me to just listen.
Today…He had me hear you!
To all our friends and family who experienced any type of loss this year…You are not alone. Behold the only hope. Our prayers and thoughts are with you. May you know God hears you and loves you beyond belief.
Refining [Spiritual Growth] 