Curses returned, blessings prevail!

Ever feel like the whole world is against you? That no matter what good you give, evil is returned? Take heart!

The Lord has given 3 accounts in the old testament in which He turned a curse into a blessing! Check them out, Deuteronomy 23:5, Joshua 24:9-10, & Nehemiah 13:1-2.

Not to mention, the ugliest curse turned to the most amazingly beautiful blessing was this, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:" Galatians 3:13

Though it may seem little if all hell is returned unto you for the good you've rendered, the Living God WILL turn that curse into a blessing.

Keep holding onto Him, keep trusting and believing and in His time, you'll see HIS reward!!!

Wall of faces

Scrolling through a wall of faces, in a variety of spaces.
Some light, some dark. No, I'm not talking of races.
Looking past the faces, deep in their gazes.
What is seen reveals more than the places these faces take place in.
See, what is seen deep in these gazes, among countless faces, are souls in need of the One who came to save us.
Some faces shine bright God's presence in tough places.
Their glow is audacious, character gracious!
Others lack spark, these gazes are dazed and vexatious.
Sadly advantageous, these dark faces consume spaces and their forces contagious.
What do you see through your wall of faces?
Can you see pain in their gazes?
Willing to look past the vastness of races?
Dare stand courageous and declare hope to the nations?
You may see this poem as outrageous, but salvation was granted to this generation and throughout all the ages, this gospel is ageless.
The Reedemer, sees every soul as precious and faceless cuz He took our place, in the space sin ordained us.
Consider the space, your face takes place in. What do we see, flirtatious, tasteless, even fallacious or a soul tenacious, blood bought and vivacious?

Cast down but re-quieted

No one is immune to life's toils, trials and hardships. Look around and depression looms. Division, destruction, chaos and confusion, the list goes on... are everywhere.

As situations started to bring me down today, and I admit I even put on my grumpy pants for a while... I kept giving thoughts of circumstances & situations to the Lord in prayer... continuously.

Softly & gently His Spirit reminded me of David's psalm.

Psalm 42:11 KJV — Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

It wasn't that I forgot how BIG GOD IS, but rather lost my focus for a bit. Keeping our eyes, hearts and minds upon Him makes all the difference! What we face, encounter, hear of and go through has zero, zilch, nada, no affect on who He is and what He is capable of.

Though nothing "changed" around me or for me, not around the world or even in my family, friends, health or the world, my hope restored within me did! He is worthy of our praise in the midst of it all nd especially in the depths of disappointments! He is still God and we cannot bark commands at Him.

Even if things look impossible, will you trust in and focus on the God of the possible?

Outnumbered BUT...

We live in a day the wicked out number the righteous, but I'm reminded of David. It only took one stone to take down the giant! Numbers are like a smokescreen; they're deceptive when we are in alignment with God's will. God always wins!

Let's consider Hezekiah's story in 2 Chronicles 32. Compared to his enemy, he was limited in men. He did all He could to prepare for battle, from building a wall to making weapons, but most importantly he encouraged his people in the strength and power of God's might!

He said, "Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that iswith him: for there be more with us than with him:
With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah." (verses 7-8)

How cool is that?! Consider your situation. The enemy comes to attack us in countless ways  (he comes to kill, steal and desyroy). However, being on God's side, we are on the winning team! We need only to listen, trust Him and obey!

Since Jehovah is the same yesterday, today and forever, we CAN TRUST HIS FAITHFULNESS, POWER AND MIGHT! Though we be few, our God is GREAT! Faith or fear? Are you looking to people or is your confidence, hope and peace in the Creator?

Weeds weeds weeds!!!

Weeds, weeds, weeds! It's a continual job if your gardening! Lol. While tending to mine, I was reminded of our hearts soil too... here's a spiritual relation:

Some weeds may seem small on the surface, yet when uprooted, the roots have burrowed deep within the ground. So it is with our sin too!!!

"But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way." Matthew 13:25

Be careful what you wink at or dismiss as "no big deal". Though it may seem small on the surface, the root base may be too deep for your own strength! Some of them bad boys are SUPER TOUGH!!!

"And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." Mark 13:37

Another connection here is weeds are watered as well as the intentional plants. The dangerous thing in letting them remain, even for a time, is that weeds rob the plant of its needed nutrients!  So does sin!!! It depletes what the Lord gives us.

However, on the bright side, when the ground is moist, it uproots these weeds much easier than dry hardened soil. So, the more we are watered by those Living waters, aka the Word of God, He makes it easier to deal with these stubborn sins we might even enjoy for a time!

Finally, I've found it's easier to see and handle some of the larger ones 1st. Often they are more shallow. Once removed we are able to see the more difficult and hidden ones. Which these usually require more effort and more water.

Moral of the story: there's no such thing as "no big deal" weeds in our hearts. Sin is sin no matter how we may try to dismiss or excuse it. In light of these things, are you willing to take your heart to the Lord and ask Him to help?

Jonah and the garden

A mother's day lesson to remember...

It's that time of year again to plant our garden. I've been a bit like Jonah in that I've not wanted to plant in vain. If my dog and the rabbits are going to destroy it, why go through the efforts of blood, blisters, sweat and tears? See, I've been waiting for my husband to agree to some sort of fencing to help protect it.

Thus morning, while going back and forth in my mind, should I plant or just forget it; the Lord spoke immensely to my heart.

He reminded me of the parable of the seed and the sower. (Mark 4:14-20) The sower still planted despite the enemy, despite the stony ground, despite the wayside because that which fell on good ground was fruitful!

Then He related this to the church... not a building or denomination but those redeemed by Christ! What if we had the mentality that the lost are too hopeless, too mean and too selfish, what if others thought those things about me!? Would I be saved? How can others know Him, His grace, His mercy, His LOVE and His FORGIVENESS if we don't take this time, if we don't cast aside doubt and plant!?

Oh how the enemy rejoices in this and how terribly grievous this is to the Holy Spirit!

So, praise You O God for your merciful dealings with my selfish heart! On this day we celebrate new life and love sacrifices I'll till the ground, plant, I'll water and I'll weed. In due time, I'll reap the rewards and my family and friends will enjoy the fruits of my labors.

What's your attitude about the lost, the gospel and the hard labors it takes for one soul to be saved? Some plant, some water but God grants the increase!

"The sower soweth the word." Mark 4:14

Bondage, bandaids and breakthrough!

Bondage, bandaids and breakthrough

If you're looking to improve the old you, religion just might do.
Honestly, that's just a bandaid, to tell the blatant truth.
Religion is a cleaned up version many resort to like sex, alcohol or drugs, only their leadership dresses a bit better than the thugs.
If you're desiring a new you, none of those things will do!
You can be changed, transformed in many ways, but the only change that stays is being washed by amazing Grace!
Trading in that heart of stone will change that heart and mind, it goes far deeper than a temporary street sweeper.
When you're ready to surrender and let go of foolish blenders, you'll come to see the tempter ain't got a thing on the Creator!
Repentance is a must cuz religion just won't do, politics can't even save you, but leave you feeling blue.
Christ came to set the captives free,
my friend we are all born to sin's slavery.
Will you let Him break these chains of sin, will you let Him wash you from deep within?
Are you ready for a change to begin, one that you can see life's purpose in?
You don't have to numb the mind when the Holy Spirit dwells inside.
Let go of what you've tried and accept this peace beyond the human mind.
You are why Christ came.
Believing in Him fully, never leaves one the same.
Do you desire more of the same or will you call on Jesus name?
It's true, His deliverance grants the breakthrough!