Hello Heartstrings family,

When Jesus spoke were the hearers moved? I would have to say, "Yes." Did they follow because of the miracles, hope that they too may be healed? "Yes," again. I wonder, why do we say we are followers of Christ? My answer may be different than yours. But, think about it. Take time to check your heart at the door of heaven and come back to your First Love.

Today, my mind struggles to find peace beyond the condition of my body. My situation is not as troubling as some of yours. Yet, isn't it wonderful we serve the same God of miracles? He alone is Faithful and True to His Word. Can we trust His promises? Can we take every word as The Way? Yes, again and yes!

I have been praying. I know you have been too. As we talk to others, don't you feel your heart swelling in compassion for them? Get bold and put it before the throne of God. Most people welcome someone who will pray with them. Even through a text prayer. It is a mode we have at this time and should be used for the glory of God. Without asking if it's okay, I begin like this...

Let's pray. And so...let's pray. Agree with one another for the things God has placed on your heart. Allow the Holy Spirit to rise up and give you the words. I experienced this only this morning. I didn't know how it would turn out. But, along the way I got to share the Gospel of Peace. In my own weakness, I became stronger as I put myself aside and prayed for this special to my heart person. I am blessed to share the Good News!

When we pray our hearts begin to cry out to God for His mercy and grace. We set Jesus higher than our very needs. We exalt Him above all else. 

When I was reading Psalm 107 this was the take away for me today. No matter what the trouble we are experiencing, and there seems to be more, when we cry out to the Lord and He delivers us out of our distresses. 

Distresses? I bet you have a few named today. But we can trust God can't we? It says, some wander around in the wilderness, hungry and thirsty. They faint, their lives nearly extinguished. But, they cry out to the Lord.

There are some who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, afflicted and in irons. Why? Because they rebelled against the words of God and the counsel of the Most High! But, they cried out to the Lord.

Some are fools, made ill because of their transgressions and are afflicted because of their iniquities. They loath the things God has provided...food, and draw near to death. 

When I think about this one I see how I have followed so many suggestions of the world for my diet. I see how I have followed a diet apart from God like the things I view and listen to. So, I become weaker and weaker. God help us!

But, it says again, they cried out to God and the Lord heard them and recues them from the pit and destruction. Thank you Jesus!

Some go down to the sea but they see the works of the Lord and His wonders in the deep. But, these end up when they are at their wits end and the storm is strong against them that all their wisdom has come to nothing. I think that is a good place to come to, don't you?

Then they cry to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses.  Again, we see the loving kindness of the Lord!

Would you like to find peace from the storms? From the influences of the world apart from God? Only Jesus hushes the storm to a calm and to a gentle whisper, so the waves of the sea become still. 

Oh, you have to read the whole chapter! It It begins and ends with this beautiful revealing of how important it is for you and I to diligently depend on the One Who made us! 

"Oh, that men would praise [and confess to] the Lord for His goodness and loving-kindness and His wonderful works to the children of men!"

"Whoso is wise [if there be any truly wise] will observe and heed these things and they will diligently consider the mercy and loving-kindness of the Lord."

Does it end there? I don't think so. It takes an ongoing intimate relationship with the Lord. Jesus longs to spend time, much time with you. He wants to help you. He will never leave you. You are never alone. You are eternally loved in the matchless name, above all other names, Jesus. amen.

Abundance is...all there in God's Love Letter

Welcome back

Are you believing for something good to come today? How about new joy? That comes as we abide in the Lord Jesus Christ. A certain joy that is not made by man's accomplishments. His arrive up an imagined ladder of success. It is not made any more than a mountain spring can be wished for. Our hope is where the Spirit of the Lord is.

Do you want the kind of joy that bubbles up and spills over into the those around you? For me, it takes effort to take the first steps after a long drawn out and difficult winter. I have had to shake the cobwebs from my mind by reading the Truth found in God's Love Letter. It works to keep me still to listen and it works to help me pick up my feet and walk forward in faith. 

Living close to Jesus is the key. Staying. That is where the power comes from. His Spirit springs up within us! Remembering that we never walk this journey alone.

I am thinking of Springs arrival and have a new delight in my soul. He is doing a new thing! Want to know what that looks like? Remember when Jesus died on the cross for you and I He didn't stay dead. God raised Him up from that death pit and brought to pass an amazing, wonderful and unspeakable grace. This is ours for the taking. 

Look at your reflection in the water of life. Do you see a delightful change? Look at your own heart, can you feel that steady beating of life from the Father? God loves us and is really our Father in heaven preparing a place for us. It could be this spring. Dip your hands into that fresh water and wash off sleep that has held you captive for way too long. 

I pray in Jesus name that you and I desire more and more of the presence of Jesus. More life overflowing from our cup to the thirsty and dying world. Taking time to speak a word of life to a stranger. Listening and sharing their grief. Then, together in prayer bringing the burdens to the foot of the cross. 

Take a bath in Living water today! Head to toe be transformed into the likeness of Christ. Free from the nasty lies and the scum collected from day to day. Pray for one another and love with the Love of Jesus. Time marches on. Remember where you came from. Take that trek to the heights where the waters come from. I am praying for you.

"This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

Regardless of your circumstances, put on a garment of praise for a spirit of heaviness, that you might be called an oak of righteousness, the planting of the Lord...Isaiah 61:3.  In Jesus matchless name, amen.

Abundance is...water for Life

Welcome Heartstrings family!

With every step we take we are getting closer to the final days. You can see the signs. I can sense, just like you that something is coming or I should say Someone is coming soon. Will you and I meet Him in the air? Read through 1 Thessalonians 4. It is right there, if you will see.

Happening right now, no matter what your circumstances, the Spirit of God is calling us to draw closer. He already told us what to expect. Our future is in His hands, if we let Him make the Way. If we will listen to Truth we will receive Life. Through Jesus Christ our Lord and coming King.

Jehovah-Shammah means The LORD is there. Where? All the steps beyond where you are right this moment. When I pause to think about this I find more peace concerning my future. Knowing God already wrote His Story on the pages of my life bring me great assurance.

I won't dwell on the tragedies, the crazy choices of our government. The many who are sick with cancers and other diseases....well, there it is. But, is the LORD there with you? Are you His chosen and appointed child? Have you taken time to pray today and read His Words of Life? Pick up your Bible, don't put it off. There are many distractions that may and have kept me from finally picking up God's Love Letter right before I go to bed. Just when I can hardly keep my eyes open. So, now I find more strength for the day, more power and more of His Love to carry me and actually be effective in the lives of others.

You have read God opposes the proud and everything that exalts itself against Him. But, He gives grace to the humble. So, reading in 1 Peter today...chapter 5:6-11. From the Amplified version.

"Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you, casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully."

Knowing that God is there ahead of me on this journey, I am less burdened by cares when I finally drop the load at His feet. Turn back to what I know is true and don't pick them up again. Right? How many times a day I have to do this!

I want this..."Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of your, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour." 

That is quite a picture isn't it? But, submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you says James 4:7!

Remember to..."Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset--rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you."

What a wonderful Savior we have. Our Great God. Our Matchless Warrior Jesus Christ is not only with us, His Spirit lives inside of us. And, He goes before us every step of the way. To Him be the dominion (power, authority, rule) forever and ever, amen!

No matter what is happening now, in your part of the world, we are assured that He is there already to help us. Romans 8:37 says, "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who saved us."

I have been clinging to this promise from Isaiah 41:13..."For I the LORD your God hold your right hand; I am the LORD, Who says to you, Fear not; I will help you." This is a personal promise for all who call on the name of the Jesus and follow Him.

Finally, even though I have so much more to share...1 Peter 5:14 says, "To all of you that are in Christ Jesus (the Messiah), may there be peace (every kind of peace and blessing, especially peace with God, and freedom from fears, agaitating passions, and moral conflicts), Amen."

Abundance is... Happening now, victory!

Thank you for stopping by friends and family

Heartstrings is my place. A journey that reveals the heart of God working in me. I do make mistakes and sometimes my attitude needs adjusting. This He promises to do as I trust in Him and not try to take His rightful place holding the wheel of my life. A learning. Not a game. A future and a hope promised by a Loving, Faithful Father.

The last couple of months I have tried to make things happen. I didn't realize how much I depended on other people. Some good yes, but when God wants to bring us to depend fully on Him, then it is not a good idea to grab that control as my own.

My ears have been a difficult trial, but, I am going through it and know someday in the Lord's plans, I will be able to hear again. That is the physical of it.

What about the spiritual of this trial? Am I really getting better, stronger and able to hear His voice? 

Everyday I wake and thank God for making me fit to follow Him. Saying the Lord's Prayer like Jesus taught in Matthew 6 and then putting on the full armor of God as in Ephesians 6. Sounds easy enough right? But, taking the time to meditate on the counsel of the Holy Spirit is another thing. A deeper walk of faith.

If we want new strength in the battle then we must wait on the Lord...Isaiah 40:31. That takes being still and listening.

How to be wise? By fearing the Lord and turning away from evil. The things we spend time seeing or listening to. What is valuable and what is not? Then step away from the things that cause you heart to depart from the presence of the Lord. Then...it will be healing to your body, and refreshment to your bones. Proverbs 3:7-8. 

I find it interesting that for all these years I had memorized Proverbs 3:5-6. I never followed through to the next part! Yet, this is the very thing that God is speaking to me about. I got close but He wants me closer. If it is true that He speaks in a whisper then it is going to take me getting closer to Him, through His precious Word to have ears to hear. Do you agree?

There are so many places in the Bible that speak about having ears to hear. From the front of God's story to the last. We are only here a very short time. Life is critical and precious. I want to hear His voice, don't you? 

I leave with this...Isaiah 30:21 says how gracious our God is. "Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," Whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left."

Do you believe Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life? Revelation 3:20 says, "Behold  I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me."

Wonderful and glorious is our Redeeming Savior! Take time right now to open that door. He promised and He will forever keep His promises! Stand amazed in His presence and give Him glory by lifting your life up to Him. Ask Him to take the controls and for ears to hear. He loves you. And, in His matchless name you will be abundantly blessed. You don't have to wait for heaven. Begin now.

Abundance is...having ears to hear

Welcome to February Heartstrings family

Do you feel your heart anticipating something is about to happen? It seems all I desire is to be reading my Bible everyday, preparing to walk this journey with my hand in the hand of the Shepherd. Most everything else that used to consume my thoughts are not where my focus is. Yes, I am tending to the life I've been given, yet with cheerfulness to be a servant of the Most High. It could be today, you know? Oh, that would be wonderful!

You may have heard the parable Jesus told to His followers out of Matthew 25. You might even be able to speak it to others. This is where I am going to share with you today. I pause to consider the meanings, and pray for wisdom and understanding for each of us.

If you have ears to hear, listen. "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.~ Five of them were foolish (thoughtless, without forethought) and five were wise (sensible, intelligent, and prudent). ~

For when the foolish took their lamps, they did not take any [extra] oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil along with them [also] with their lamps. ~

While the bridegroom lingered and was slow in coming, they all began nodding their heads, and they fell asleep. ~ But at midnight there was a shout, Behold, the Bridegroom! Go out to meet him!~

Then all those virgins got up and put their own lamps in order. ~ And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.~ But the wise replied, There will not be enough for us and for you: go instead to the dealers and buy for yourselves.~

But while they were going away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were prepared went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut.~

Later the other virgins also came and said, Lord, Lord, open [the door] to us! ~ But he replied, I solemnly declare to you, I do not know you [I am not acquainted with you]. ~

Watch therefore [give strict attention and be cautious and active]. for you know neither the day nor the hour when the Son of Man will come."

These are the words of Jesus Christ. Simply spoken but, oh so weighty! I read them over and each time I see more to this parable and am able to apply it to my life. Nothing Jesus said should be overlooked. Considering the source don't you think it is to be regarded as vital?

Let's pray. Heavenly Father, I thank you for sending Jesus to us. He has redeemed us back to You and we are sealed with Your Spirit. A sure guarantee for eternity with You. As we take a look at what is written open our eyes to see and our ears to hear. Take the things that divide our hearts and replace that with a deep desire for more of You. Make us hungry for Your truth, not that supposed truth of the world. Help us to weigh everything by Your Word. Teach us how to pray. There are many lost who sit in church pews. Sleep has overtaken and the fire is now embers. While there is time Lord, wake us up to be prepared to hear Your call to come away with You. I pray this in the matchless name of Jesus Christ, Your only Son, amen.

Abundance is...to be ready to go