Welcome back to Heartstrings

Two little verses in Luke 8:17-18. Walking into a dark room may be oppressive, heavy so much that you feel it. As I think about my life over the last several days, trying to get my body well, I took time away. I prayed for healing and even felt the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Some things have changed but not all at this point. But, I realized I still had a chance to make a difference in our dark world through prayer and speaking the Truth of God's Word.

The scripture? This says, "No one after he has lighted a lamp covers it with a vessel or puts it under a couch; but he puts it on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light."

For me that means, just because I don't feel to well there is no reason to heap on others the burden. When they come into my home, I need to do my best to portray the Love of Christ and the hope that I have in Him. If they have a burden, share in it. If they want to talk about the day, listen. Maybe, they come to support me in my trouble. I pray there will always be a reason to smile. There will always be the Light of the Lord Jesus shining out from me.

"For there is nothin hidden that shall not be disclosed, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come out into the open."

Do you think pretending and being fake by putting on a smile is going to help anyone? I don't think so. Remember the woman with the blood disease? What did she do? She reached out if only to touch the hem of Jesus garment in the crowd of pressing people. Every one of them felt their need was important. But, here she was. She got the attention of Jesus without saying a word. She only had a hope that if she touched Him she would be healed. 

When she touched Jesus, she was cured! Luke 8:48..."And He said to her, Daughter, your faith (your confidence and trust in Me) has made you well! Go (enter) into peace (untroubled, undisturbed well-being)."

There is nothing wrong with bringing the ugly things of your life before the Lord. If you want Life and Light to be yours. We cannot escape notice. We come trembling, falling down before Him. He knows and He sees and attends to our needs. WE get to bring Him glory and honor by being a Light right there in that dark place where others are standing.

Don't you think they knew this woman? She lived and worked in their community, although unclean. She paid the doctors all she had and still no cure came to her. But, she heard about Jesus and that is all it took. This proves there were other Lights around her who confessed Jesus was the One Who could save and heal.

Be careful how you come across in talking to others. There are times to just keep your mouth shut on your own troubles and pay attention to the one in front of you. The Holy Spirit will give you what you need and keep your lamp burning for such a time as this.

Jesus said in John 10:10..."The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)."

I have grown to love this! Why? Because it is vital for me to remember the enemy has no part and can form no weapon against me! When Jesus is Lord of my life, my faith holds firm.

If you are in a tough place today, here is Truth to set you free. Isaiah 54:17..."But no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall show to be in the wrong. This [peace, righteousness, security, triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord [those in whom the ideal Servant of the lord is reproduced]; This is the righteousness or the vindication which they obtain from Me [this is that which I impart to them as their justification], says the Lord."

Yep, I have more to share. Hang in there for I may not be back this way again soon. How are you handling what is happening in our nation today? Are you aware of how close the Appearing of the Lord Jesus is? Is your relationship secure and sealed in the power of God? I hope so. For your sake we have been given The Book, God's precious Word, the Bible. If you aren't spending time everyday in it, you are missing out on the wonderful plan God has for His children.

Jesus is my Life and Light to share with others. That is my purpose. When I get bogged down with bad news, pain in my body, confusion and lies from the devices of the enemy...there goes my joy. The Lord is saying, "Come away my beloved".

Call on the Lord and repent of your sins and find the Redemption you have really desired. Let Jesus be your one desire. He will keep all His promises. Keep shining your Light. Speak up when the Spirit leads. Be quiet and sit at the feet of the Father. In every season, trust Him alone.

You know I want to go on and on, but there are so many voices out there pushing for your attention. Like being elbow to elbow on a busy sidewalk. You feel like running for cover and the quiet so you can even think. Do not fear, what can man do to you? Again, "Come away My beloved..."

Finally, John 8:31-32 ... "So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and love in accordance with them], you are truly My disciple. And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free."

Thank you Father for this time sitting at Your feet. Help us to hear what You want us to take with us when we go out into the darkness. Help us when we are in trouble and loose perspective. Teach us to shine no matter what our circumstances are. We give You glory, honor and praise in the matchless name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Abundance is...only believe all things are possible 

Blessings friends and family,

Begin by this encouragement. As we live and work on our journey, we are called the beloved of the Lord, if we follow Christ. Here are some scriptures from 3 John 1 to take to heart.

Verse 2 says, "BELOVED, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers."

I love how God made us with all the connective workings in our members. For instance, what I am thinking about will effect how my body feels. Whether or not I am being refueled each day in God's Word or rather ignore times apart with the One Who made me. We are made body, soul and spirit. All really depend on the others for health and wholeness. When I am lacking in one area it will effect the other two. 

Verse 5 says, "Beloved, it is a fine and faithful work that you are doing when you give any service to the [Christian] brethren, and [especially when they are] strangers."

This morning I was able to do this exact thing. While getting ready for my day I prayed that the Lord would allow me to serve Him in a way that would bring His heart joy. Soon I realized I could go out into the Cafe', run by my family, and see if they needed me in any way. I love that I can go in and see and do anything to help. They were so busy! Doing the helps in the background like refilling syrup containers and wiping down tables and keeping the coffee going. It blessed the Lord because I did it for Him. It also blessed my family and helped carry the load. Practical things, you know? So, I was blessed too!

Verse 11 says, "BELOVED, do not imitate evil, but imitate good. He who does good is of God; he who does evil has not seen (discerned or experienced) God [has enjoyed no vision of Him and does not know Him at all]."

It is pretty wonderful to serve strangers. Without knowing their background I get to greet them as guests. My smile, given in the Love of Jesus, I know makes a difference to them. They may not know me but reflecting God's Love seems to open they up and they want to talk. So, I listen. Then I go on in prayer. 

See, we really don't have to know the details of those we meet. And, we may never see them again, but Jesus knows the details and in serving Him, we can do what is best. It is so freeing to love. Who knows, they might be back simply because of kindness. There have been times when a guest will ask direct questions about my life, how I came to be here and so on. Then the Holy Spirit, Who has opened the door for this brief conversation will equip me with the words that person needs to hear. Seeds planted, watered and a harvest for the King!

Beloved, live your life and offer your service to the Lord God for any use. Will you be a vessel of honor?

God bless you and enlarge your boundaries for His glory. In the matchless name of Jesus, amen.

Abundance is...in serving

Welcome brothers and sisters in Christ,

In our troubled world it is so important to know Who made you, Who is in control and that in Him there is no fear of what man can do to us. Would you agree? How many times I have tried to be in the right place at the right time...all according to my plans. Most of which, do not produce success or bear fruit. I know of only one plan that will establish me in truth where my thoughts become agreeable to His will, leading to success in my life.

Pray with me. Father in heaven, thank you that every thing we need is founded in Truth and we can find Who You are and see Your perfect plans for our lives. Your Word is an absolute! From the beginning to the end. Thank You for leading us and taking us from our fallen condition to heights leading to Your glory in heaven. Change my heart and cause my mind to agree with Your will today. In the matchless name of Jesus, Your precious Son. Amen.

1 John 5 is a powerful, faith building portion of scripture. I want to share with you verses 18-21. This from the Amplified version. 

"We know [absolutely] that anyone born of God does not [deliberately and knowingly] practice committing sin, but the One Who was begotten of God carefully watches over and protects him [Christ's divine presence within him preserves him against the evil], and the wicked one does not lay hold (get a grip) on him or touch [him].

~ We know [positively] that we are of God, and the whole world [around us] is under the power of the evil one.

~ And we [have seen and] know [positively] that the Son of God has [actually] come to this world and has given us understanding and insight [progressively] to perceive (recognize) and come to know better and more clearly Him Who is true; and we are in Him Who is true--in His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah). This [Man] is the true God and Life eternal.

~ Little Children, keep yourselves from idols (false gods)--[from anything and everything that would occupy the place in your heart due to God, from any sort of substitute for Him that would take first place in your life]. Amen (so let it be)."

I don't know about you but I hear tenderness here. The longing of a Father to bring a child, dear to His heart, to understand they don't have to life life alone.

God longs for us, His beloved children, to stay focused with a positive response to His leading. To the path of His choosing. As He promises to finish a good work in us. Ready to spend a beautiful eternity prepared for us with Him.

This place in eternity has no room for our stuff and things. There is no room for our earthly desires tucked into our pockets as we enter the gate. I doubt there are pockets in our new robes! Angels don't give us backpacks to stuff our goodies in to before entering the throne room. There is no room for anything that will occupy and entertain or distract us in that perfect day. 

Thank you Lord Jesus for loosing us from the traps of the enemy that eargerly longs for our destruction. Praise Your victorious name! We are redeemed from destruction as we surrender our all to You. Dropping the burdens we have clung to over the years. Coming to you with empty hands so we are free to lift them in worship to Your name forever and ever. Amen.

Bless you dear ones as you listen closer to the heartbeat of the Father. As you give up the things that press on your shoulders today. Breathing in deeply of His Spirit and waiting eagerly for His appearing. Soon and very soon. Amen.

Abundance is...No substitute for Jesus

Welcome back to Heartstrings!

I am excited to share some scriptures with you today that will explain about the only fear you need to have. Alright, you say, doesn't the Bible tell me not to fear? There is only One fear that will lead to blessing. Want to come with me and see?

First read 1John 4:16-18. Let's pray. Father only You are able to sort out the things that our hearts are wondering about. It is Your Love that keeps us coming back to You. Lead us by Your Holy Spirit and help us to grasp how amazing are Your promises to us. In Jesus matchless name, amen.

Fearing God involves having God's attitude toward sin, which is to hate it. Proverbs 8:13. It involves showing proper respect for God's holiness, power and His sufficiency to meet all of our needs. Psalm 33:8-9. When we fear the Lord in those ways, we no longer need to fear anything else. Here is what I found.

We are Protected..."The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them" Psalm 34:7.

Do you need protection today? We all do. Whether it is in the physical around us or from the lies and antics of the devil distracting and enticing us away from our blessed hope in Christ.

We are given wisdom..."Who are those who fear the LORD? He will show them the path they should choose" Psalm 25:12 (NLT).

Instead of jumping ahead with my own plans, thinking I can hurry God up, just a bit, with an answer to my prayers, I get to seek Him and then follow His path for me. In His time. With a thankful heart.

We are a friend of God..."Friendship with the LORD is reserved for those who fear Him. With them He shares the secrets of His covenant." Psalm 25:14 (NLT).

Who of you consider your relationship with God as a friendship? This has been difficult for me due to all the legalism in my upbringing. To think that He wants me to be His friend amazes me! You mean walk with God like Adam and Eve did? That's what it means to me.

We are secure in God's Love..."For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him." Psalm 103:11.

I don't know about you but being, feeling secure is a top priority. For myself and for my loved ones. When I was young I didn't really think about this. Not until later when I felt violated by a thief. Even in that God protected me. Because His Love is so great for me!

We are provided for by God..."Fear the LORD, you His saints, for those who fear him lack nothing." Psalm 34:9.

Isn't that what God has shown us from the beginning? The Bible is His Love Letter to us and in it we find all that we need. He is our provider.

We are satisfied..."The fear of the LORD leads to life, and he who has it will abide in satisfaction; he will not be visited with evil." Proverbs 19:23.

I exhort you to read and meditate on Psalm 91 everyday. Take it to heart and you will find your mind and your soul guarded too. Remember, only God is to be feared.

I am grateful for the wisdom of godly people. This instruction came to me while reading a book by friend Joanna Weaver. "Having a Mary Spirit". This is my third time going through this book. I am enriched each time, for such a time as this. 

Allowing God to change us from the inside out removes all hypocrisy and the putting on to look good to others. I want to fear God in way of His Word. I pray you desire to find Him in every part of your life. Ask the Holy Spirit to remove all the doors in the rooms of your heart that have been locked shut from His Light. The Lord bless you and keep you till we meet again.

"Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in His commands." Psalm 112:1

Abundance is...falling into His Love

Welcome to Heartstrings

Fault lines, we all deal with them don't we? Many times, at least in my own life, they appear across my path due to the false beliefs Satan often used to undermine my sense of worth. As I prayerfully replace the lies with the Truth of God, those crack lines don't grow and grow.

John 17:17 says, "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth."

Read the whole chapter. It is Jesus prayer for His disciples and for us today. Jesus knew Who He belonged too and Who was in control. He placed His full trust in His Father.

So, here I am discovering His Truth for what ails me. Just when I think I am "over it" that fault line begins to widen some more. My flesh is weak. His Word is strong. Here are some ways I am taking steps.

There is the trap of performance. It is a trap in most cases. It comes when I think I must meet certain standards to feel good about myself.

The symptoms show like a graph on a machine to show when earthquakes are happening.  I loose my balance and I experience fear of failure; perfectionism, driving for success; trying to manipulate others. Even stepping away from others because it is risky.

Here is the Truth that sets me free..."Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ..." Romans 5:1.

Another false belief is, "I have to be approved by others, even family, to feel good about myself." It doesn't matter if it is how I kept my house, or if about my talents with a paintbrush or needle and thread. I was robbed by this lie for way too long. Although I longed for freedom.

The symptoms were as you may suspect. Fear of rejection; trying to please others at any cost; overly sensitive to any criticism; even to the point of withdrawing to avoid what I thought was disapproval. I hid the gifting God gave to me and was bound up in the lie.

Now the Truth from Colossians 1:21-23..."And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard..."

We can surrender our flesh to Jesus because He loves us!

Another false belief..."Those who fail are unworthy of love and deserved to be punished." I am grateful this one never brought me down to destruction. Although there are a couple of symptoms I can see I leaned toward.

These are the symptoms though...Fear of punishment; punishing and blaming others for personal failure; withdrawal from God and others; driven to avoid failure.

Oh, and I remember the shame that kept me from moving in the truths of God. Like trying to tiptoe around what my heart knew, trying to avoid what my mind told me. Complete confusion.

The Truth that set me free found in 1 John 4:9-11 IS..."In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent HIs Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."

Another false belief from Satan you may have encountered..."I am what I am. I cannot change. I am hopeless."

I can say truthfully I have been there, done that. The symptoms look like this...Feelings of shame, hopelessness, inferiority; passivity; loss of creativity; isolation; withdrawal from others.

Wow, that would describe most of our world in the last two years! Especially driven to withdrawn from others. Either by choice, fear or the control of others in power. All of these have led to self destruction and away from the blessings of the Lord. 

Here is the Truth...Jesus words to Nicodemus..."Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God...Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:3-6).

I know this a long posting but when I read these four false beliefs and the remedy for each, it touched my soul. The blinders came off and now my footing is on steady ground. My eyes and ears are open and I am set free from the lies of the enemy. I will continue to be on my guard and lift up a standard of truth.

This inspiration came from a man named Robert McGee in his book Search for Significance.

Did you notice that in each case the reaction is to step away from others. This is the opposite of what God has for us! WE are to be out there sharing the Gospel of Truth! The enemy will do all he can to dispose us and tuck us away from that wonderful blessing.

If you have experienced these weak areas in your own life you can strengthen those things that brought you down falling into the fault line at your feet. Turn your heart, your dependence upon Jesus as Your Lord and Redeemer today. Freedom awaits you. God bless you in the matchless name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Abundance is...2 Corinthians 5:17