Keep Going

 Written to a friend that was wanting to give up.

 you've had SO MANY victories.. I can go back through your Facebook posts and see them.  Don't let this setback discourage you. Go back and look at what you have accomplished over the last few years. Take a second and reflect on those vict

Now... don't quit or give up because of this set back.... you've had setbacks before... you eventually start making progress.... and you will this time as well.  We've watched you do it time and time again.  We are not giving up on you. God is not giving up on you....  and ... you might give up temporarily... but... we know you... you WILL eventually decide to get back up and fight...  and we will be there... cheering you on as you continue this race! #team******

Small Victories

 It seems that the older we get... that our victories aren't realized in the big sudden breakthroughs like when we were younger... but in the small incremental choices we make.... only to look back and realize that there is one less chain attached....

The Haunted Houses of Life

 What do you fear?

Fear has a purpose. It reveals an area in our lives of false belief because God has told us so many times to "fear not". 

Fear in life is like the haunted house or the roller coaster ride.  One thing that enables me to "enjoy" these activities is because I understand that even though they can scare me... they can not harm me.  They have limitations. 

There are things in this life that scare us.  Each person has their "boogey man". So many times, the enemy likes to take those things that brings fear into our lives and diminish the freedom we were meant to experience. 

But God has told us so many times through scripture to "fear not."  In fact.. it is the most repeated command throughout the whole Bible.  

Here are just a few times that God deals with fear in the Bible: 

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Isaiah 41:10 

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7

These are just a couple. 

As you read this post.. I know that it will ring true with you.  But... just letting it ring true will not be enough to change how you deal with this fear.  It might encourage you for today.. But tomorrow.. those fears will come back to torment.  We have to take God's word and revelation and constantly repeat this lesson to ourselves so we don't forget it.  Jews even to this day wear scripture on their bodies to remind themselves of God's word.  We are told throughout scripture to meditate on God's word.  For me to learn this lesson of dealing with my fears.. I have to write it down.  I have to set alarms on my phone alarm frequently to remind myself.  I have to be diligent in order to truly learn this lesson.  

One of my biggest fears is a fear of depression.  Depression consumed a large chuck of my life.  Today, I walk in a lot of victory over that dreaded disease. Praise God!  But.. there are times that I wake up and I there is a sense of heaviness and depression that I face.  To be honest it used to scare me.  I had this fear that I was going to slip back into this abyss.  Now.... I am learning to realize that it is just like that huanted house or that roller coaster ride.  It was meant to scare me.... but it can not!   

I will constantly remind myself ot this fact until... I just naturally walk in the freedom that God desires for me. 

Boo!

Be blessed!

Jesus Is More Concerned With The Individual

 We all know the story of Jesus' first recorded miracle.  John chapter 2 says he was at a wedding.  They ran out of wine.  Jesus' mother wanted Him to do a something to help.   

He said to her in verse 4... Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.

I have wondered what this phrase (Mine hour is not yet come).  

This morning I was thinking on that phrase and what it could mean. 

Perhaps a big public miracle would have thrust Jesus' ministry into the lime light and then it would take away from personal ministry that He might have wanted to have with His disciples..... and even to other individuals.   Jesus was always concerned about the individual before He was the crowd.  Jesus is always more concerned about you and wants to relate to you in a very personal way than He is appealing to the masses.  Jesus is always a very personal Savior... truly caring about those things that pertain to you.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10225297502045441&id=1259222846

Is God Egotistical?

 https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10224258989603279&id=1259222846

We were not made to worry

Situations come to our mind.... not for us to worry and fret, but to PRAY and to PLAN.... and to trust.  We were not made for worry.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10224113831014405&id=1259222846

 

WASHING WITH THE WORD

A habit that I started a few months ago... that has brought great results in my life.... is giving more place in my liffe to the God's Word.  

I am always looking for easier ways to do things in my life.. and this is one practice that has done that for me.  

Sleeping.  I usually keep white noise in my earbuds when I sleep.  I work nights and sleep days... So this practice keep things consistent for me.    

But.. I have added listening to the Bible with the white noise.  It is amazing the peace and cleansing that takes place continually in my soul because of this practice.  

The very first Bible verse I ever memorized was Joshua 1:8

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

This verse has proven so true and accurate in my life...  And now... after all these years... I can look back and see that giving attention to God's word has brought great succes in my life... (of course.. if you read any of my posts.. you know my #1 focus is a vibrant and practical relationship with God's Holy Spirit).  It takes both to live the life that The Father desires for us to live.  If you want more info on how to have that relationship with the Holy Spirit... please message me. 

Some additional points about frequent use of the bible.

Jesus said, Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you (John 15:3)

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. Psalm 119: 9

So... the practical side of listening to this word... You can do it anytime of course... While you sleep... getting up and getting ready for your day... Driving... etc....

Download the app. YouVersion
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sirma.mobile.bible.android

Open the App

Bottom left tap Icon that says READ

Tap Top left for the place in the Bibile you want to start listening to

Tap the 2nd icon on the top left for the translation.  You have to choose from the translation like KJV etc.. that has the little speaker 🔊 icon next to it

You might have to download the version of the Bible you want to listen to.

It will open up the Bible passage for you...

there will be a play button ▶️ about 3/4 of the way down the page... Click on that button... and listen away.  

It should play continually... until you push the stop button. ⏹️.  If it doesn't play nonstop,  just repeat the above process and it should read to you continually.

if you need help with any of these steps.. please let me know. I would be glad to help.