My Friends...

Reading from the Book 1Samuel 18:1-4

1Samuel 18:1 As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. ² And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. ³ Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. ⁴ And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. ⁵ And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants.

David and Jonathan were truly great friends to one another. Do you have a great friend, someone that you love as much as you love your own life? Thank God for that person today.

Father God, I do not know all the challenges my friends have, but You know everything! I hear silence, You hear their prayers. I see their laughter, You see their tears. I see what they give, You see what has been taken from them. I see their beautiful appearance, You see the scars in their soul. I experience their faith, You know their doubts. My prayer for them God is that you hear every single prayer and meet them at their need. Thank you Father. Amen

The Depths of His Love

Reading from the Book of Zephaniah 3:17

^{Zephaniah 3:17} The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

Do you ever wonder how much God really loves you? Zephaniah 3:17 gives me the image that God literally "spins around" and "shouts and sings" over us with joy! God has not only saved us from his wrath through Jesus, but He delights in us! 

The depths of His love for us is more than we can possible imagine.We should thank God for His great love everyday and ask Him to help us understand the depths of His love.

The Stormy Sea

Readiing from the Book of Mark 4: 34-40

^{Mark 4:34} But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples. ³⁵ And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. ³⁶ And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. ³⁷ And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. ³⁸ And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? ³⁹ And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.  40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

It is always exciting when Jesus says to us, "Let's do a new thing" or "Let's go over to the other side." That would be the same as "Promotion is coming", or blessings are on the way", or "Come up higher." but what we don't realize, is the storms we may encounter on the way, as the disciples did. The storm that the disciples experienced was no little April shower or harmless summer squall, but a storm of hurricane proportions. The waves were not gently waving and tossing, they were beating into the boat with such fury that it quickly filled with water. That would be enough to frighten anyone.
There are times when we have great problems and God seems to ignore our prayers, and finally we begin to wonder if He cares about us at all. There is no need to wonder. God cares about the sparrow, and He surely cares about His own dear children. If there is not a clear reason why He fails to answer, then perhaps it is simple as a test of faith. It is in these stormy seasons we refer to as "the midnight hour" or "the dark night of the soul." At times like these, when it looks like the boat is sinking with us in it, we must use our faith. Just to simply believe in Him. Jesus calmed the storm, but He rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith. We must learn to conquer our fear and press on to the other side. We must learn to have peace and joy, even in the midst of our stormy sea.

Give Them All To Jesus

Reading from the Book of Lamentations 3:21-31

^{Lamentations 3:21} This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. ²² It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. ²³ They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. ²⁴ The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. ²⁵ The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. ²⁶ It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. ²⁷ It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. ²⁸ He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him. ²⁹ He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope. ³⁰ He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach. ³¹ For the Lord will not cast off for ever:

The writer in Lamentations found that positive thoughts about God brought him out of the depressed, miserable state he was in. When we think about our problems, we sink lower and lower, but thoughts about the goodness, mercy, kindness, and faithfulness of God gives us hope. Give them all to Jesus.

My little child, you are so impatient to move forward. But you cannot see what I see from My heights. Trust in Me. When it is time, I will lead you and guide you. I hold you in the palm of My hand. I have your best interests in mind, always. Wait for Me; be still; know that I am God. That is, know that I am a Father who loves you, cares for your details, and makes all things work toward the good when you love Me, trust in Me, and wait for Me to act.Wait for Me. Trust Me. I am right beside you, ready to move when it is the right moment. I have not forgotten you, nor will I ever.

Peace In Your "Home Base"

Reading from the Book of Luke 10:1-11

Luke 10:1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. ² Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.³ Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. ⁴ Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. ⁵ And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house  ⁶ And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. ⁷ And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. ⁸ And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: ⁹ And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. ¹⁰ But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, ¹¹ Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

When Jesus sent His followers out two by two to do His Kingdom work, He said to them, basically, "Go and find a house and say, "Peace be unto you." And if your peace settles on that house, then you can stay there. If it does not, shake the dust off your feet and go on."

Jesus was essentially saying, "Once you find a peaceful place, it can be your base of operations, and you can go out and come back, go out and come back. If it is not peaceful, you need to do whatever you can to gain and maintain a peaceful atmosphere because strife and confusion adversely affect the anointing and power of God that rests on your life.

Everyone who lives and works from that peaceful place will do so in God's power and will have success. We need to encourage each other to do all we can to ensure peace in your "home base."

Do You See? Do You Hear?

Reading from the Book of Habakkuk 1:2-6, 2:1-3

Habukkak 1:2 O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! ³ Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. ⁴ Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth. ⁵ Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvelously: for I will work a work in your days which ye will not believe, though it be told you. ⁶ For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwelling places that are not theirs.

When you see evidence of violence and injustice in the world, do you ever wonder why God does not put a stop to such evils? Habakuk asked God such questions, and found that God answered him in unexpected ways. God wants us to bring our questions to Him.We may not always get the answers we expect, but we
can always trust that God's ways are best, even when we do not fully understand them.

Habukkuk 2:1 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. ² And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. ³ For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

Habukkuk fully expected that God would respond to his questions, and he waited in a position of watchful expectation.

Do you believe that God will answer you? Learn to wait for God's reply. Ask Him to help you recognize when you are seeing His answer to you. Keeping a journal (or like this blog) of God's responses to your prayers is a wonderful testimony to His faithfulness.

As I have done on this blog, and the many responses/comments I receive, and at times go back to read what I have posted, it has shown me that God listens, and cares, and he will answer your prayers, questions and concerns. It is up to us to open our eyes and ears to hear and see.