Happy Mother’s Day!

This was originally posted in May of 2013, and many of you enjoyed reading it so I thought I would share it again.

Proverbs 31 NKJV
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her.

One of the most precious gifts that God has granted us is our mothers. God only can love deeper, and stronger than a mother. She possesses so many of the characteristics of God. She is patient and self-sacrificing, she loves unconditionally, she always sees the best in her children, she protects them, and she is so honored to care for each one of them. She has the ability to make each child feel as though they are her favorite of all. She nurtures and acknowledges their gifts and talents. A mom is her child’s greatest cheerleader; she is their source of security.

Moms make everything feel better. When the world is falling apart, your mom can say it will be ok and it is as though the sun burst forth on a cloudy day. All of a sudden everything seems so much better and totally bearable.

There is certainly nothing more precious than a mother that loves and serves God, a mother that teaches her children to pray and to study His Holy Word, or a mother who sets the example of what it means to serve God by serving others. She simply cherishes her children and they cherish her.

When her children are sick a mom will spend countless hours by their bedside nursing them back to health, because she knows no one can soothe and console them like her.

Mothers are to be loved, respected, honored and appreciated for their sacrifices, their hard work, and their dedication to their families. Mothers are the blessings that God has given the world to mold and shape the minds of those He creates. What an awesome responsibility and what an honor.

I encourage you to honor your mother not just on Mother’s day but throughout the year, by calling her and spending time with her. Honor her also in the way you live your life and by the way you parent your own children.

If your mother is no longer here, cherish her memory by taking time to reflect on the great times you have shared with her, remember the special things she taught you, and always thank God for the time you did have with her.

Moms, I applaud you for all that you mean to your families and to this world because truly your influence reaches far and wide and there are no words to express the power of your love and touch, which is straight from the hand of God.

Thank you and Happy Mother’s Day!

Proverbs 31 NKJV
10 Who[b] can find a virtuous[c] wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.
15 She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.
20 She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.

There are times in our lives when things happen that are totally out of our control.   During these times, fear of the unknown can set in, and we become paralyzed with the “What Ifs “.   Unfortunately, this is not uncommon. We all have experienced fear to some degree.  God knew that doubts and fears would be the tools that Satan would use, to make us not trust His word, promises, and power.  They are merely distractions used to make us take our eyes off of God.   When we live with these fears too long, we are in bondage.   We are being held hostage by Satan.  This strips us of the confidence that we should have as God’s children.
Today I would like to share some scriptures with you that speak to the character of God.  When we are clear about God’s character, we realize that as His children we have nothing to fear.  I hope that learning more about God’s character helps you to fully understand why God commands us to “Fear Not”.

Psalm 46:2  (NIV)
² Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

Genesis 15:1-6
After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:

“Do  not be afraid, Abram.
I am your shield,^[a]
your very great reward.^[b]”
² But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit^[c] my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” ³ And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” ⁴ Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” ⁵ He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring^[d] be.” ⁶ Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Luke 12:32
³² “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

UNDERSTANDING THE CHARACTER OF GOD

F
FAITHFUL FATHER 

  1st John 3:1
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

2nd Thessalonians 3:3
³ But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.

 Deuteronomy 32:4
He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong,  upright, and just is he.

 Deuteronomy 7:9
⁹ Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.

FORGIVING
Psalm 65:3
When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave^[a] our transgressions.

FORTRESS
Psalm 18:2
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer;   my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield^[a] and the horn^[b] of my salvation, my stronghold.

FRIEND
John 15:13
¹³ Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

E
ETHICAL
Luke 18:19
¹⁹ “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.

Psalm 34:8
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
A
ABBA FATHER
Romans 8:15
¹⁵ The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.^[a] And by him we cry, “Abba,^[b] Father.”
ALMIGHTY
Revelations 1:8
⁸ “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

ABUNDANT
Psalm 50:10-12
¹⁰ for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.
¹¹ I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine.
¹² If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.

AWESOME
Psalm 68:35
You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!

Romans 8:38-39
³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

ACCURATE
R
RELIABLE
RIGHTEOUS
Deuteronomy 32:4
He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong,  upright, and just is he.
RESPONSIBLE

RESTORES
Psalm 23:3 KJV
³ He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

REDEEMER
Psalm 78:35
 They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer.

Isaiah 63:16
But you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us or Israel acknowledge us;
you, Lord, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name.

N
NEAR
Psalm 145:18
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,^[a] I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

O
OMNISCIENT
Psalm 147:5
Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.

OMNIPRESENT 
Jeremiah 23:24
Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” declares the Lord.  “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the Lord.

Psalm 139:7-10
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;   if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,  your right hand will hold me fast.

Omnipotent 

Hebrew 1:3
³ The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

T
TRUTHFUL
Numbers 23:19
God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?

TRUSTWORTHY
Psalm 19:7
The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

 2 Samuel 7:28
²⁸ Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant.

Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,  because the Lord has anointed me  to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,^[a]

UNHEALTHY FEAR
Romans 8:15
¹⁵ The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.^[a] And by him we cry, “Abba,^[b] Father.”

2 Timothy 1:7
⁷ For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

HEALTHY FEAR

HOLY FEAR / RESPECT/ REVERENCE FOR GOD
Proverbs 14:27
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death.

Psalm 145:19
He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.

Isaiah 6:5
⁵ “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”

Luke 5:8
⁸ When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”

If you have an unhealthy fear of the Lord, remember these three things from Author Kelly Balarie.

1.  God doesn’t speak like an accuser.
2.  Condemnation is not the sound of his voice.
3.  Conviction is his method, but the truth spoken in love is always his manner.

His Sacrifice, Our Hope!!

The Crucifixion

Luke 23:26-43  (AKJV)
²⁶ And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.

²⁷ And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. ²⁸ But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. ²⁹ For, behold, the days are coming, in the they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. ³⁰ Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. ³¹ For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

³² And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. ³³ And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

³⁴ Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. ³⁵ And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. ³⁶ And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, ³⁷ and saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. ³⁸ And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew,
THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

³⁹ And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. ⁴⁰ But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? ⁴¹ And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. ⁴² And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. ⁴³ And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

The Death of Jesus

Luke 23:44-49 (AKJV)
⁴⁴ And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. ⁴⁵ And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. ⁴⁶ And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. ⁴⁷ Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. ⁴⁸ And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned. ⁴⁹ And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

The Burial of Jesus

Luke 23:50-55  (AKJV)
⁵⁰ And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just: ⁵¹ (the same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathæa, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. ⁵² This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. ⁵³ And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. ⁵⁴ And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. ⁵⁵ And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.

The Resurrection of Jesus

Luke 24:1-12  AKJV)
24 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. ² And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. ³ And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴ And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: ⁵ and as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? ⁶ He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, ⁷ saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. ⁸ And they remembered his words, ⁹ and returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. ¹⁰ It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. ¹¹ And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. ¹² Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

Romans 8:28 (NIV)
²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[a] have been called according to his purpose.

Due to the Corona Virus, so many of us are locked in and having to work from home.  Some of us are bored to tears, while others are enjoying a much needed break.  I personally, have enjoyed slowing down a bit, even though I still have work to do.

My daughter and I took a walk on yesterday, and just enjoyed sucking in some much needed sunshine.  While we were out we saw our neighbors out walking their dogs, and enjoying the day also.

It has always amazed me, how God works well from tragic events.  There is no doubt that we are already starting to see this occur.  I have been blessed by seeing, communities all over the country, come together virtually, in an effort to stay well and to help others to stay well also.

People have pulled out their sewing machines and dusted them off, and are making mask for others to wear.  I personally, have a sweet neighbor that has texted me on two different occasions and said “I am going to the store, do you all need anything”?  It was a simple, kind gesture that showed her sincere concern for her neighbors.

One of my friends posted on Facebook, how someone anonymously had ordered several pizzas, and had them delivered to the hospital where she works, for the nurses to eat for lunch.  I also saw a segment on the news where a man left a $2200. Tip at the end of his meal.  There were twenty two employees that worked at this restaurant, and he wanted to give each employee $100.

COVID 19

GOD did not give us a spirit of fear.  Psalms 91 is my go to, when I am afraid.  It always seems to calm my anxieties, when this ugly thing called fear tries to creep in, and overwhelm me with “What If’s”. Our world is facing something that we have never experienced before.  The Corona Virus or Covid 19 is taking hundreds of lives on a daily basis.  We have every reason to be respectfully concerned, but please remember that the God we serve is even bigger than the deadliest of diseases.   Ladies be prayerful always, use common sense, heed the warnings and be of good courage, God is still on the throne, and He is still in control.  Our faith in Him is needed more than ever now, so that we don’t lose sight of the work, that He still has for us to I do.  The enemy would love for us to become so gripped with fear, that we abandon our faith in the only one that has the power to protect us.  During these times of so much uncertainty, we must keep our eyes on Jesus.  The one and only thing that we can be certain of, is God’s love for us. He will never waiver.  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and because of that, we can trust that we will be OK.  Just trust in His power to cover and protect you and your family, because He is able!

 I have given you a few scriptures that will give you hope, strength a have given you a few scriptures that will give you hope, strength courage as we move forward.

Psalm 91
1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
   will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
   he is my God, and I trust him.
3 For he will rescue you from every trap
   and protect you from deadly disease.
4 He will cover you with his feathers.
   He will shelter you with his wings.
   His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
   nor the arrow that flies in the day.
6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
   nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side,
   though ten thousand are dying around you,
   these evils will not touch you.
8 Just open your eyes,
   and see how the wicked are punished.
9 If you make the Lord your refuge,
   if you make the Most High your shelter,
10 no evil will conquer you;
   no plague will come near your home.
11 For he will order his angels
   to protect you wherever you go.
12 They will hold you up with their hands
   so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
13 You will trample upon lions and cobras;
   you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!
14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
   I will protect those who trust in my name.
15 When they call on me, I will answer;
   I will be with them in trouble.
   I will rescue and honor them.
16 I will reward them with a long life
   and give them my salvation.”

2nd Timothy 1:7
⁷ For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
1st Corinthians 16:13
¹³ Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous.^[a] Be strong.
Matthew 6:34
³⁴ “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Isaiah 35:4
Say to those with fearful hearts,  “Be strong, and do not fear,for your God is coming to destroy your enemies.
    He is coming to save you.”
Psalm 94:19
¹⁹ When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.
Psalm 34:4
I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.
Joshua 1:9
⁹ This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Psalm 103:17
But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him.
His salvation extends to the children’s children
Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:13
For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand  and says to you,
Do not fear; I will help you.
Romans 8:38-39
³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Colossians 3:12 (NIV)
¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
John 13:34-35 (NIV)
³⁴ “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Colossians 3:23 (NIV)
²³ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
1 John 3:18 (NIV)
¹⁸ Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

Nurse Irene   

Years ago when I went into the hospital to give birth to my first and only child, I was blessed with not only a great physician, but an absolutely wonderful nurse. She was the most precious lady, with a very gentle and loving spirit. It was very evident that she loved her job and that she loved people.

After my baby was born, I had what some would refer to as “spinal headaches”.  The medical staff that attended to me prior to me having my C-section, did not inform me that I was supposed to lay flat for several hours after having an epidural, to avoid severe headaches. As a result I suffered for days with the worst headaches. I am telling you that these headaches were absolutely excruciating!  

Because my headaches were so severe, I was not dismissed from the hospital for five to six days after my baby was born.  I guess the doctor knew that I couldn’t possibly take care of my new little baby, when I was in so much discomfort.

Matthew 11:28-29 (NLT)
²⁸ Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ 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.
Psalm 62
¹ I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him.
Psalm 29:11 (NLT)
¹¹ The Lord gives his people strength.  The Lord blesses them with peace.
Isaiah 26:3-4 (AMP)
³ “You will keep in ^[a]perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You—in both ^[b]inclination and character],
Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation].
⁴ “Trust [confidently] in the Lord forever [He is your fortress, your shield, your banner], For the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].
Psalm 63:3-5 (AMP)
³ Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You.
⁴ So will I bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.
⁵ My ^[a]soul [my life, my very self] is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth offers praises [to You] with joyful lips.

He Soothes My Soul

As I have grown older, I have developed a deeper and richer appreciation for my time alone with God.   He is truly my place of refuge.  Whether I spend fifteen minutes, or an hour with Him, I always leave better than I came. I can go to Him exhausted and stressed and somehow, I miraculously leave encouraged and refreshed.

I can go to Him confused about His will for my life, and though I may not receive an answer at that moment, being in His presence gives me a calm reassurance that His timing is perfect, and that He has not forgotten me.  I leave His throne with my inner thoughts more at peace than before we met.

There are days that I just don’t feel well physically.  On those days when I spend time with God, though I may still have to endure the pain that I am feeling, knowing that he will never leave or forsake me, gives me the strength to endure what I must endure for that day. Trusting that in His time, I will be healed.

He restores me.  He refreshes my soul.  He guides me, and He strengthens me. He protects me, and He heals my spirit when it is crushed from the toils of life.  He is my Waymaker.

I see my time alone with Him as a gift. The joy of sitting at the feet of my King far surpasses anything that this world has to offer me.  To study His word is to drink deep from a cup that quenches my spiritual thirst. To pray and to praise Him is to share my heart with Him.  In those moments I am connecting with the Creator of all, the only one who already knows before I ask.   He alone is worthy of my praise.

When I write to Him, it is the gift that I give to myself.  To be able to pour my heart out to Him on paper helps me to relinquish my burdens to someone that I know I can trust.  I know that beyond a shadow of a doubt, He will still love me unconditionally, even though He knows all of my weaknesses and frailties.  I must say that this is truly amazing to me.   I trust God because He knows me like no other, and yet He has never refused me, His love.

He is solid and I can depend on Him. He is always there for me.

There are days when I just want to spend the day sitting at His feet, but when the cares of this cruel world call and I must get up and go, but boy is my journey made better, and my burdens made lighter because of the time that I spent with Him.

Ladies, if your day is spent rushed and hurried from one thing to the next, take a moment and breathe, and just sit at His feet for a few minutes. He is a Soul Soother.  He will calm your anxieties and quiet the noise in your life, and give you a dose of inner peace.  He will also redirect your priorities if they need to be shifted, and He will help you gain a better perspective on what is really important for your life.  I challenge you to try this, it has worked for me for the past forty-four years, and I know personally that because of it, I have been strengthened.

May God bless you as you seek His face each day.   May you bask in His love and comfort as he restores and refreshes your soul.  And may you trust, that whatever He allows coming into your life is designed to make you stronger and to draw you close to His throne.

Psalm 46:10 (AMP)
¹⁰ “Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalm 32:8 (AMP)
⁸ I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you [who are willing to learn] with My eye upon you.
Psalm 91:1 (AMP)
91 He who ^[a]dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will remain secure and rest in the shadow of the Almighty [whose power no enemy can withstand].

This lesson was originally posted in February 2015

W  ho Is Love?

1^st John 4:8
8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
John 4:16
16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

Performing At A Level Of Excellence

Philippians 4:13 (NIV)
¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)
²³ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, ²⁴ since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)
³¹ So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NIV)
¹⁰ Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.
Proverbs 16:3 Ne (NIV)
³ Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.

Last Sunday my husband and I went to church and enjoyed a great worship service.   Afterward, we went out to one of our favorite restaurants and enjoyed a great meal.  Walking back to our car,  I remember thinking Wow!, what a beautiful day we were having!  Life is good!

When we got home, my day immediately took a turn.  While scrolling through Facebook I read that Legendary Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others were tragically killed when a helicopter he was traveling in crashed.  I had feelings of disbelief and shock as did the rest of the world.  I shed tears for Kobe’s wife and daughters and for the family members of the others that accompanied him on his flight. 

The day that was so beautiful as I walked out of the restaurant, was still the same beautiful day, but boy had the circumstances shifted drastically.   Sadness had clouded its beauty.   I spent the rest of the day, needless to say, watching sports channels and the news as many did, I am sure.

Matthew 24 (NIV)
24 Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. ² “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; everyone will be thrown down.”
³ As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
⁴ Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. ⁵ For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.⁶ You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. ⁷ Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. ⁸ All these are the beginning of birth pains.
⁹ “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. ¹⁰ At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, ¹¹ and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. ¹² Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, ¹³ but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. ¹⁴ And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
¹⁵ “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’^[a] spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— ¹⁶ then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. ¹⁷ Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. ¹⁸ Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. ¹⁹ How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! ²⁰ Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. ²¹ For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.
²² “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. ²³ At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. ²⁴ For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.²⁵ See, I have told you ahead of time.
²⁶ “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. ²⁷ For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. ²⁸ Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.
²⁹ “Immediately after the distress of those days
“‘the sun will be darkened,
  and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
  and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’^[b]
30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth^[c] will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.^[d] 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

³² “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. ³³ Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it^[e] is near, right at the door. ³⁴ Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. ³⁵ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
³⁶ “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,^[f] but only the Father. ³⁷ As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ³⁸ For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; ³⁹ and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ⁴⁰ Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. ⁴¹ Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
⁴² “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. ⁴³ But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴ So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
⁴⁵ “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? ⁴⁶ It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. ⁴⁷ Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. ⁴⁸ But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ ⁴⁹ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. ⁵⁰ The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. ⁵¹ He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 (NIV)
3 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. ² People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³ without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, ⁴ treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— ⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
Luke 21:11(NIV)
¹¹ There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.
 Peter 3:3-4 (NIV)
³ Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. ⁴ They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”
2 Timothy 4:3-4 (NIV)
³ For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. ⁴ They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

Recently, I have really been paying attention to the things that are going on all over the world.  There are floods and fires, volcanoes and earthquakes, wars and rumors of wars, and if that is not enough, there are violent acts being perpetrated on innocent victims.  It breaks my heart that many of these innocent victims are children.  Security guards are needed at worship services, schools and movie theaters.  We also have children rising up against their parents, or anyone else that holds a place of authority in their lives.   We have parents conveniently walking away from their responsibilities to their children and spouses.  And then there is the atmosphere of greed and pure selfishness in our society.  Everyone wants more, more, more, no one seems to have enough money, sex, or material possessions.  People the world is in serious turmoil!

Some of you may be asking; what is this world coming to?   The answer is; that it is coming to an end.  Yes, I said it.  The world as we know it, is coming to an end, and each day we draw a day closer to it happening.

Matthew 24: 36-44 and Mark 13:32 tells us that no one knows the day or the hour.

Mark 13:32 (NIV)
³² “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Matthew 24:36-44 (NIV)
³⁶ “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,^[a] but only the Father. ³⁷ As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ³⁸ For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; ³⁹ and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ⁴⁰ Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. ⁴¹ Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
⁴² “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. ⁴³ But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴ So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

We certainly do not know the day or hour, but what we do know, is that God has allowed specific details to be written in His word, regarding His return.  These details reveal warning signs for us, so that when they do occur we will take notice and be prepared.   These things will occur fulfilling prophecy and revealing that time is at hand, or drawing near.  Because God is a loving God, He desires that no one is lost.  Therefore, He has given these signs as forewarnings to get our houses in order.   Because on the day of His return, excuses will not be accepted.   Let’s be vigilant as the time draws near, and that means vigilant in getting our lives in order and our hearts prepared for the return of our King.

Are you ready?  Are you sharing with others so that they can be ready also?   There is nothing to fear for those who are ready.   As Christians we can eagerly anticipate His return with joy and excitement.
 My question for you today is will you be ready?

Revelation 13:14-17 (NIV)
¹⁴ Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. ¹⁵ The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. ¹⁶ It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, ¹⁷ so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 (NIV)
2 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, ² not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. ³ Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness^[a] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. ⁴ He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
⁵ Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? ⁶ And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. ⁷ For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. ⁸ And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. ⁹ The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie,¹⁰ and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.¹¹ For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie ¹² and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
Luke 21:25-26 (NIV)
²⁵ “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.²⁶ People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.
Luke 21:36 (NIV)
³⁶ Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”