"Fearless"

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I suppose most of us suffer at times with fear and anxiety.  We live in a crazy, chaotic, unpredictable world, with a seemingly endless supply of stresses, responsibilities, and unforeseen circumstances to deal with each day. 

But God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)  He is the answer, promising to perfect  that which concerns us. (Psalm 138:8)

There are so many Scriptures where the Lord commands us not to fear, reassuring us that He is with us, strengthening, helping, and upholding us throughout it all.  His heavenly angels are more in number and strength than any enemy.  They are all around us, fighting on our behalf.

When fear attempts to grip us, I pray that the Holy Spirit would remind us to run to the Source, or better yet, to continually abide in the Lord who gives us perfect peace. 

Nowhere else can we find the peace that only the Lord, in His word and in His presence can supply.  In Him we are restored to proper equilibrium and balance.  For it is the Lord who keeps in perfect peace those whose mind is stayed on Him. (Isaiah 26:3)

There is a battle that is taking place between flesh and spirit.  But I know that as we trust the Lord and rely upon Him, meditating on His decrees, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of the Lord Jesus Christ, we return to a sense of calm and well-being in Him; the place where He desires we live.
(2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

Scripture Meditation:

2 Kings 6:16 - Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.

Psalm 27:1-3 - The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?  When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell.  Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident.

Isaiah 41:10 - Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Isaiah 43:1-3 - But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.  When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.  For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior...

Deuteronomy 7:17-23 - If you should say in your heart, ‘These nations are greater than I; how can I dispossess them?’—  you shall not be afraid of them, but you shall remember well what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt: the great trials which your eyes saw, the signs and the wonders, the mighty hand and the outstretched arm, by which the Lord your God brought you out.  So shall the Lord your God do to all the peoples of whom you are afraid.  Moreover the Lord your God will send the hornet among them until those who are left, who hide themselves from you, are destroyed.  You shall not be terrified of them; for the Lord your God, the great and awesome God, is among you.  And the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you little by little; you will be unable to destroy them at once, lest the beasts of the field become too numerous for you.  But the Lord your God will deliver them over to you, and will inflict defeat upon them until they are destroyed.

1 John 4:17-18 - God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love.

Joshua 1:9 - Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Psalm 46:1-2 - God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear...

Psalm 34:4 - I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.



"Feelin' Frazzled?"

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Feelin' frazzled?  Get away
Alone with Jesus, rest and pray.
Meditate on good reports
Thankful, enter into His courts.
Upon your lips, His holy praise 
Lift your voice and bless His name.
Lay down in Him, and patiently wait
All who are weary, be still in faith.
Trusting Him with all your heart
Your Red Sea He'll come and part.
Covering you with perfect peace
Every need you have He'll meet.
So come aside in sweet repose
A tranquil place where warm winds blow.
The Holy Spirit will come refresh
With gentle breezes, His very breath.
To bring renewal, to give you life
In His presence, you'll see the light.

Scripture Meditation:

Mark 6:31 - And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.
Philippians 4:6-9 - Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank Him for his answers.  If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.  His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.  And now, brothers, as I close this letter, let me say this one more thing: Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right.  Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others.  Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about.  Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.

Psalm 100:4 - Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.  Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
Psalm 37:7 - Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act.
Psalm 46:10 - Be still, and know that I am God.

Exodus 14:22 - So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

Philippians 4:19 - And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Matthew 11:28-30 - Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you.  Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”



"Living Letters"

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We are the light of the world that cannot be hidden, but we are meant to shine for all the world to see; yet not us, but Christ in us.

We wait, we listen to what the Spirit is speaking, the very things the Father would reveal.  He touches our mouths and our hearts, purifying, as He fills us with His wisdom, that the word of God, bathed in love, would be effectively released.

We are the privileged ones, ambassadors for Christ, blessed to be the Lord's living letters, where His word, alive and active and sharper than any two-edged sword is emblazoned upon our hearts and meant to penetrate the hearts of man.

His word is like a fire that can't be contained, and we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

The Lord is the One who gives us a holy boldness to declare His truth.  For the time of singing has come

that many would be radically transformed and filled with a holy passion for the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Father says, "Open your mouth and I will fill it, for I indeed have something to say.  And to those who call upon Me, I will surely answer you, and show you great and mighty things."

Father, I pray, reveal Yourself to us.  Let the truth of God be upon our lips and reflected in our lives.  May we boldly speak as Your Holy Spirit gives us utterance, courageously proclaiming Your words of life.

Scripture Meditation:

Matthew 5:14-16

Matthew 10:27

Matthew 13:16-17

Hebrews 4:12-13

2 Corinthians 3:3

2 Corinthians 5:20

Jeremiah 1:9

Song of Solomon 2:10-12

Acts 4:20

Isaiah 60:1

John 12:49-50

Psalm 81:10

Jeremiah 33:3



"This is a Good Day"

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There's an old song that the Lord recently brought to my mind.  I've been listening to it again and again, hearing my Father speak.  So I just had to create something to capture a piece of the song to remember God's promise and gift to me, and to receive the peace that He brings.  The song is, "This Good Day", by Fernando Ortega.  I hope it ministers to you as it has to me. 
(click link to listen)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7nZVtZFE0A

The Lord reminds us that today and every day is a true gift given by our heavenly Father.  He has a good plan for the very time we're living in, where He instructs us to make the most of every living and breathing moment.  (Ephesians 5:16)

No matter the conditions, whether cold winds blow, or dark clouds come, the Lord is our shelter.  He is the One who is with us always, who goes before us, who is in control and God over all. 

With the assurance that our Father is by our side and His hand upon our lives, we can joyfully sing a song of praise to Him who orders and watches over all of our steps.  (Psalm 37:23)  For this is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it!  (Psalm 118:24)

Father, we thank You for this day, the day that You have made, fashioned by Your own hands, where You safely lead and guide us through.  Help us to live wisely and to make the most of the moments You have given.  When times are difficult, bring us back to this place of remembrance, and the knowledge that You are with us.  Thank You for Your presence in our lives and for reminding us that this is a GOOD DAY because You are faithful, and we travel this road together. 

"Lead Me to the Rock"

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When this is how you feel...overwhelmed!!!  When there are a gazillion things coming at you all at once, and someone or something has just gotten on your last nerve, again, and you're even freaking out the cat (hah, hah!) because you're just about to lose it.  Then, even while writing this, hubby comes in and says there may be something seriously wrong with your car, I stop and remember to run to the ROCK that is higher than I. 

Though all may not be understood or immediately resolved, let us be reminded that we have a faithful Father who leads us to Himself, and into the place where we can cast all our care upon Him, for He cares for us.

 

Get away with the Lord, allowing Him to calm all your fears and soothe your anxious thoughts, as He chases them away with His perfect love.

As we rest in the presence of our sweet Shepherd, finding delight in Him, He settles our stressed out, frustrated, worried, weak and weary souls, as He gently guides us into lush and peaceful pastures.

The Father hears our cries.  He attends to our prayers.  He works on our behalf.  He is our safe haven and strong tower from every enemy, and all the unexpected circumstances of everyday life. 

And so, we trust in Him as we abide in the shelter of His protective covering.  Beneath the warmth of His wings, wrapped up in His love, we become confident that He is orchestrating everything to work toward something good and beautiful.

The Lord surely is our hope and help in time of need.  It is He who is our source and supply.

Scripture Meditation:
Psalm 61
1 Peter 5:7

Philippians 4:6-7

1 John 4:18
Psalm 23

Romans 8:28

Hebrews 4:15-16

"Believe You Are Vital"

You are the body of the Anointed, the Liberating King; each and every one

of you is a vital member.

1 Corinthians 12:27 

You are essential, an integral part of the body of Christ, an important and needed member, contributing to the building up of the kingdom of God.  You are My chosen ones.  You are vital.  You are Mine.

I AM the Life Giver dwelling inside of you, revealing My heart, the One who pours into you and who has designed you to flow freely and powerfully in your God given destiny.  You are one who is made to continually bloom and to abundantly and generously sow the very things I have placed inside of you. 

Yes, there are things I have given into your hands, with faith enough and the ability to perform every good work in just the places and people and ways I have chosen.  For I understand everything there is to know about you, and I make you to be successful in the things I’ve called you to, causing you to go forth with joy and great delight.

I AM the One who opens up doors and finds you favor.  I give you understanding as you seek Me to walk in obedience and will not let your feet slip, but in fact give you hinds’ feet that you may keep the course I have laid out before you, steady and unwavering, safe in My grip, equipped to traverse even high mountain cliffs without fear or trepidation, for the Lord is by your side.

There are times you have believed you are weak or have little or nothing to offer, but in Christ you can do all things through Him who strengthens you.  I AM the One who uses the weak and the foolish, those humble before Me, to confound the wise.  As My people step out in faith, empowered and led by My Holy Spirit, I take your little and turn it to much.

I AM the One who prepares your heart and who goes before you to prepare the hearts of others.  I AM the One who works through you to pour out blessings that cannot be contained as you sow what I’ve sown.  I AM strong in your weakness, supplying grace upon grace as I lead you into situations, create opportunities, and arrange encounters that I have chosen to serve My divine purpose and plans.

For truly I tell you, My name shall be known throughout all the earth.  Shine brightly, confidently, and courageously as My beacons of light, while My face shines upon you.  Let the radiance and glory of God be seen.

"God Makes a Distinction"

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I came to write the poem (above) and devotional study after receiving an unexpected medical bill last week.  But unbeknownst to me the Lord had it all under control.

There was an in-office procedure performed which I had assumed was just part of my recheck...easy peasy!  As it turned out the small tube the doctor inserted down my throat was coded as a surgical procedure.  He hadn't informed me of this or that it was any sort of additional service.

And so, I never had the opportunity to first call my insurance company, which is supposed to be done before any surgical procedure is performed for their approval and to be sure it's covered.

Luckily for me (although I know luck had nothing to do with it), the doctor's office happened to be closed the next day, when I probably would have angrily addressed this issue.  I then had the weekend to calm down as I took my concerns to the Lord in prayer and meditated on His word.  

On Monday morning prior to calling the doctor's office, I once again declared over this situation and my life that God makes a distinction between His people and the world, asking that this charge would be removed and that He would bring His justice.

However, when I spoke to the office manager, she wouldn't budge to consider waiving this fee, but stuck to her script.  I continued to calmly present my case, but there seemed to be no changing her mind.

We went back and forth for a little while, when the manager then offered to take 20% off of the bill and told me that was the best she could do.  Well, I didn't budge but continued to remind her that I had not been informed of an additional service and surgery classification.

Silently, I prayed my prayer and believed in faith what the Lord had spoken to me, and that He had taken care of everything and would find me favor.

Then, in an instant, she said she'd write off the charge and there was nothing for me to pay.

When the call ended all I could do was giggle and praise the Lord.   😄

Well, Hallelujah, and thank You, Jesus, for saving me this expense!  You are faithful!

It's always good to seek the Lord first and let Him handle things.  Amen! 

Scripture Meditation:

Exodus 8:20-23
Exodus 12:21-36
Exodus 14:21-31
Exodus 15:1-21
John 1:1-5
Philippians 2:10-11