Welcome back to Heartstrings

Although I have been unable to write the last two weeks, you have come to my mind and so I have prayed for you. Recovery from a concussion takes some time I am learning. So, I will try this for a short time before I need to close my computer again. There is much on my heart.

Because of the Lord's mercy and loving-kindness we are not consumed. Because His tender compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Because His stability and faithfulness never fail! (Lamentations 3:23-24)

Because I know the Lord is preparing a place for us with Him I, we, do not have to carry a troubled heart. No matter what things look like. How fast the signs are coming and Because of this I am looking up in expectation of His appearing. (John 14:1-3)

Because I know no weapon formed against me will prosper. (Isaiah 54:17)

Because God chose me and Redeemed me and sealed me. (Ephesians chapter one)

Because I am in Christ Jesus, walk and live by the power of His Spirit, there is no more condemnation for my sins! (Romans 8:1)

Romans 8:31-39 has been a strong fortress for me. This is found in the Amplified Bible. When I read it I realized how much God is for me! His plans are made in love for me! This is what it says about out time here. Much is happening to bring to pass my hearts desire; and that is to see the King of Kings!

Regardless of what my eyes see and my ears hear, God is in control. Because of this my heart rejoices.

"What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? {Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?] ~ He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things? ~ Who shall bring any charge against God's elect [when it is] God, Who justifies [that is, Who puts us in right relation to Himself? Who shall come forward and accuse or impeach those whom God has chosen? Will God, Who acquits us?] ~ Who is there to condemn [us]? Will Christ Jesus (the Messiah), Who died, or rather Who was raised from the dead, Who is at the right hand of God actually pleading as He intercedes for us? 

~Who shall ever separate us from Christ's love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword? ~ Even as it is written, For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long; we are regarded and counted as sheep for the slaughter. ~ Yet amid all theses things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. 

~For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Aman.

Because long ago the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write this letter to the Church in Rome, I am inspired to Believe. Believe means to trust in, rely on and adhere or cling to. Well, I am a work in progress. Because God said He would complete the work He began in us, I Believe He will. (Romans 8:28)

I know this is long but, I pray your heart tunes in to the sweet whispers of the Lord no matter what the circumstances are in your life today. Hold tight to Jesus and remain in His presence always. Take Him with you into your work place. Take with you in every decision you make. He is with you. God bless you in the matchless name above all names, amen.

Abundance is...to Believe

Welcome back,

Can I just share with you something wonderful? The best good news is The Good News! No matter where we are or how we feel. Whether we are rich or poor; in sickness or in health. The season is now.

The emotions pouring over me this week has been difficult. Two deaths in only three days of women I know belonged to Jesus on this earth. And, now are present with Him in heaven! No more pain or suffering...His peace surrounding them, beautifying them as they look into His eyes of Love.

Most of you are believers as you are following my journey here. You know the Who you belong to. You have exchanged all your sin and cares for fresh life in Christ the Only Son of God. Do you believe this?

There is a woman who has sat in the same place in our family cafe for all the years we have been open...she is here. In the beginning she wanted nothing from me but the food on her plate. But, I always wondered if she came back because the Holy Spirit drew her. I know my family are believers and serve her in that way. She isn't as the world sees, 'put together very well.' But, in the eyes of the Lord we are all the same until we give our lives to Him.

Today, I woke with so much pain I wanted to give in and take the drug, but knowing it would only be a bandage, I didn't. Instead, I put on the whole armor of God and surrounded myself with praise songs. See, God makes all our appointments and regardless of how we 'feel' we need to follow where He leads. Today, He led me to this lady, but this time I had Holy Spirit love for her and the courage to share the straight, simple Gospel of Jesus Christ. She saw Him in me, I know. Because I could feel His precious Love for her. 

What a gift to be able to step out of my comfort zone, as they say, and trust, believe God was moving. Yes, even through me. She knew I was in pain, so I knew she was too. Time for compassion to rule the responses! She left with tears in her eyes but a smile on her face. 

Incase I don't see her again, as we know life is fragile, I pray that the Holy Spirit will do His good work and her life will be redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God. 

Lord Jesus, thank you for the awesome privilege to humbly but in total assurance of Your lovingkindness, be an instrument in Your hands today. And, even the pain I was kept up all night with has lessened greatly! Praise be to Your matchless name, Jesus. Amen.

Be blessed and tell someone. Don't assume you know the condition of their heart. They may sit next to you in church Sunday after Sunday and never know intimately the Love of God for them. They may be the quiet, disabled, alone ones that cross your path everyday. Seek the Lord and He will show you the time is now, my friends, to share the Gospel of Life! God go with you, and may you ever be mindful of the brief times we are living in. He loves you so much!

Abundance is...to speak of His Love

From His heart to ours,

This has been a tough few days trying to get to this place to write Heartstrings. Distractions, computer issues, physical, emotional and spiritual battles. Yet, this remains in my mind. The question? Who is leading me? Or, what is leading me? 

This has been the challenge from the beginning. God has always allowed us to choose who we will serve. From the garden to the day when Christ takes His rightful place on the Throne at His Second Coming. 

I do not want to argue, or try to teach theology to you. I only want to share some of the heart of God for us. Someone or something is going to hold your hand. The Lord Jesus Christ or the things and trappings of the world. One leads to Life and the other to death.

Proverbs 14:12 says, "There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but at the end of it is the way of death." This is our choice in every matter on our journey. He loves us that much!

God offers us this truth. Read Philippians 3:19..."]That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]:that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!" We can choose this today! He loves us that much!

In Titus 3:4-5 we see our hope! "But when the goodness and loving-kindness of God our Savior to man [as man] appeared, He save us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but because of His own pity and mercy, by [the] cleansing [bath] of the new birth (regeneration) and renewing of the Holy Spirit, which He poured out [so] richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, [And He did it in order] that we might be justified by His grace (by His favor, wholly undeserved), [that we might be acknowledged and counted as conformed to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action], and that we might become heirs of eternal life according to [our] hope."

Oh, read this again! Why did I waste so much time following the world and its own destruction when, all along, the riches of God's favor and perfect love was waiting for me to open the door of my heart and invite Him in? 

Ephesians chapter one tells us we have been chosen by the Father, Redeemed by The Son and sealed with His Holy Spirit. For all time to come His Word never falls short. So, take the hand of Jesus today and step away to follow Him with all your heart. Love Him with all that is in you and be filled to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit. What a joy to serve Him. 

WE do get to choose who we will serve, today. I recently read the book of Joshua and God set this choice before His people over and over again. Many did not choose life and lost their lives in following the ways of the very ones He warned them about. We have God's Word! Open before us with every answer for every question. Only believe. It is your choice. He love you so very much.

You may know John 3:16 by heart. But, do you live it with all your heart? This is an everyday choice. Who will you take the hand of? Who will you serve? Let's pray.

Heavenly Father, you see our hearts. Nothing is hidden from Your sight. Forgive us of our sins and set us on the right path. We choose Your Son today as our Salvation only comes through Him. We ask that You fill us to overflowing with Your precious Holy Spirit and help us to keep choosing Your ways for Life. Jesus You are the Way, the Truth and the Life. We choose You in the matchless name of our soon coming King, amen.

Be anchored in the Word of God! Be diligent to walk with your hand in His. I am praying for you. God bless.

Abundance is...my hand in His

Welcome Back

This is good news my friends and family. That regardless of our circumstances we can have hope. When the reports of war fall on your ears and the ones you love have cancer. When there is so much deception and the truth is a weak thin thread. When the questions you have seem without answers. When you have suffered loss of home, support, and all seems bleak where does your hope come from?

One of my favorite scriptures is found in Romans 15:13 which says, "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Without hope we are lost. The will to live is gone. The pain we are in makes no sense. Yet, here we see there Is hope!

We ask, "What is God waiting for?" Still we can say with David in Psalm 39:7..."And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You."

In all of history the same questions are asked again and again. When God's simple answer is not enough and man has changed God's Word to conform to their own liking...God's Word is still unchangeable! The battle is a battle for lives to be saved. Jesus came to earth as God's perfect Son. While the cross was ahead of Him so was the glory over death, hell and the grave! In the end, the fight is fought for eternity, and the prize is the souls of mankind."

We keep on waiting. Hope is to wait with expectation and confidence! It is not wishful thinking! Romans 5:5 says, "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Praise the Lord!

We do not sorrow as those who have no hope. (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Jesus Christ is our Savior and our hope. (1 Timothy 1:1-2). The list is long. Please search God's Love Letter, His Word for more about this hope we have.

Today, I received bad news about a friend; stage four cancer of the throat. I heart is in pain for him but, my hope is that Jesus will be the One to hold his hand and guide him into eternal life. Most important is that we are instruments of hope. We share Christ to a lost and dying world. Our mission while we wait is to tell others about the wonderful power and plan of God. The questions will come. Only point the way to Jesus.

I pray Father that You would increase our faith and transform our lives with hope. Help us to believe. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit and may our lives reflect Joy and peace in believing so others are drawn to You. We bless Your Holy, matchless name, amen.

Abundance is...in believing

Hello Heartstrings family

If you are as old as I am you might have watched, at least in America, the game show To Tell The Truth. There was panel of judges, and people who would lie about the truth with only one that was telling the truth. 

Where am I going with this? A clue. When suffering physically and the thing goes on and on, does your mind stay fixed on the truth or does it waver between how you feel and what your emotions during that time or, do you remain fixed and stable with what is True?

For me, today, I admit I am wavering a bit. What I know is true is this. God sees me and has a good plan and will take me through to the other side. He is always good and merciful. He has already taken the burden of my sins and cast them away. 

The other side of things...you alone know where your thoughts take you. Toward faith and victory or believe that somehow you have been abandoned to wallow in your condition, your trial.

Now, the only place I personally know I can find this Truth is by filling my mind with the words of God. Jesus spent His life going ahead of you and I. He knows our condition, our weakness and sorrow. It all hung on the cross with Him and then they were left behind as He rose from the dead three days later!

Today, I also know that God really hates complaining! Look to His children in the wilderness. Not just a few days but, 40 years of God teaching them His goodness and compassion. Each and every person chose what they would adhere to. Step by step, not even being thankful that their clothing, their shoes never wore out. Sound like anyone you know?

Ungratefulness, challenging the God of deliverance. Maybe it is time for this old gal to pay heed or keep on sinning against God and all HIs endless mercy and grace. Seriously.

Enough of the chatting. The Truth is believed only as far as you heart will respond and only as far as you allow thoughts to grow without the control of the Holy Spirit. Let me show you this.

We have to stay in God's Word. He want us to have faith. He gives us a measure of faith. Hearing God's Word gives us faith. God wants us to have faith in Him and what He says. He wants us to know what is true about faith.

Hebrews 11:6..."Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who come to God must believe 6that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Having faith pleases God!

Romans 14:23..."Whatever is not from faith is sin." We can have doubt, but not doubt about God. We need to be unwavering. I need to hold tight to Truth in all things.

Ephesians 6:16..."Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one." Everyday, we need that protection. God supplies it.

Romans 5:1..."Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." When we allow doubt to come in our faith gets swallowed up and we lose our peace.

Luke 18:42..."Then Jesus said to him, 'Receive your sight; your faith has made you well." To stay alive we each need healing in our lives don't we? Emotionally, physically and spiritually.

Romans 1:17..."For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "the just shall live by faith." If we want to live impacting the lives of others we need faith in the power of God to help us. 

Hebrews 11:30...By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days." There are obstacles in our lives that by faith will come down. Again with the power of God operating in us. 

Now, it comes down to this. This is not a tv game show, but a real happening. We are called to "walk by faith not by sight"...2 Corinthians 5:7. And, we know that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Finally, know that "all things are possible to him who believes." Mark 9:23. Do you believe nothing is impossible for God? Do you want to have victory over your situation no matter how things appear. It begins with the heart. The place of the habitation of Holy Spirit. You will never be alone. Ask. He will open your eyes. In the matchless name of Jesus Christ, have Faith and Know what is True. Amen.

Abundance is...to know the difference