Good morning family of God

Is your soul satisfied? This morning I opened to the book of John and thought to read a couple of chapters. Like before, I would breeze through the verses and then go on with my day. But more and more often, I am having to take a pause and reflect and meditate. I feel like I am going in slow motion. Yet, who told me I had to read quickly? I think the enemy wants me to eat my Bread and leave the table to get back to the busyness of life. Sadly I fell for this many years.

There is are so many riches, wisdom and power in Gods Bible. Wouldn't it be better for my soul to enjoy every bite without the pressure of having to move through the meal in a hurry? 

It has been said, 'it is a good thing to chew your food thirty times before swallowing'...or something like that. I have tried but still not made the chewing last that long. Hey, I finally am getting through the song Jesus Loves Me while brushing my teeth! Another number thing from 'experts' to say, now you have brushed thoroughly.  Ha Ha! WE get so involved in the philosophies of man and wonder why we are stressed out...right?

So, I am learning to let the Word of God speak. It is a whisper that I can only hear as I get myself to stop long enough and quiet my heart. 

Before I go on, do you believe everything you read in Gods Word? Or do you just pick out the good parts? Sometimes there are things that are difficult to swallow or even imagine from so long ago and yet, nothing has really changed concerning the heart of man. Repeat, repeat. Right? Nothing new under heaven kind of a thing? Try reading Ecclesiastes! Now that's a plate full!

My attitude this day is that I would be able to comprehend what the Lord is saying as I read John 1:1-5.  Here it is from the Amplified Bible.

"In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ) and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. ~ He was present originally with God. ~ All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being."

Are you with me so far? Take time to process. Ask the Holy Spirit to open the eyes of your heart to understand. He is your teacher.

"In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. ~ And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it]."

Wow! A good question to ask yourself is, "Am I living Life in the Light of God?" The contrast is real. You only have to check out your choices. What are you consumed with the most? Whatever it is will be what consumes you. Think about that. Is it more important that you look good in public? That others are paying attention to your words? Is your time locked into an internet game? You get the idea. In fact, right now the Holy Spirit is convicting you about something personal in your own life. He is me too.

When I think of all that God has done to make me His own, from the beginning, and having a plan to save me from the dark. Well, I want more and more of Light. Don't you? Read Ephesians chapter one!

Pray with me. Father in heaven I come to You and ask that You reveal Who You are in a greater way. Come to meet me personally this morning and change my heart to desire what You have said is best and give up all the stuff that is keeping me from Your promises. Your presence. Thank You for hearing my cry and showering me with Your mercy and grace. Make my life a reflection of Your Light in this world. In the matchless name of Jesus Christ, amen.

God bless you as you take the time to eat slowly His Word. Let Him strengthen and equip you with power, love and a sound mind. Amen.

Abundance is...His portion for me

Welcome to Heartstrings

Last time we met we talked about building on the best foundation. When I was a kid and went to work with my dad on Saturdays once in awhile I got to be his 'grunt'. Meaning, I moved boards, picked up nails, and some unusable items from the construction job he was doing.

It wasn't really a fun thing, but I did get to spend time with my dad, and receive a reward for helping some. The worst thing for me was all the slugs that clung to the underside of lumber, wet with mud! I still get shivers thinking about those slimy creatures.

I have discovered other things that creep me out. Like for instance, a wayward thought about someone. That I know without a doubt, is how to hurt the heart of God. Now, I know He loves me and waits to see how I will respond to that thing that flashed through my mind. Whether I carry on a conversation with the enemy, agreeing, with that ugly thought or if I take it to the Lord who made them too. God is so patient isn't He?

So if I find myself in a yucky, sticky situation that slug thinking can produce ... I have to hate those thoughts hiding in the dark muddy places of my mind and bring them out into the Light in order to dispose of them. What do you do?

Philippians 4:6-7 shows us the Way, the Truth and the Life..."Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

You do know there are many examples don't you? I mean, if you haven't had a run in with slugs in your garden, there are always other intruders. Same in the spirit world. Jesus spoke on parables about things that could strike the hearts of His listeners. I learn best by these and word pictures. Battles have been won by taking captive my thoughts before His throne!

Read these Scriptures about your thoughts. God sees them.

So, when I was young and found out that salt would kill those slugs from my garden, out came the salt shaker! When I lived at the coast it was a problem too. Okay, you are likely getting tired of the slug analogy. But, think of this...

We are called to be salt in this world. Jesus knew that when we caught the meaning of this and how to use His Word in situations, we would know His power in a greater way. 

I can honestly say today that slugs and anxiety are really the same to me. Both slimy, clinging and leaving a marked trail behind me. What effects me will likely leave a trail of unpleasantness on those near to me. I don't want to live like that!

If I want peace and beauty in my life I must go everyday to the place of prayer and petition with thanksgiving in the presence of Jesus. Let the Word of Life salt my witness as I draw near to God.

If I want the peace of God that goes far beyond what I can explain, I must come close to Jesus. Everyday. 

If I want to be the Salt Jesus talks about and bless others as I am blessed, I have to spend time in His Word and know Him intimately.

The promise is...that peace will guard my heart and my mind. Only in Christ Jesus.

Last thing. From John 16:33 Jesus said, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." 

Wow! What a difference we can bring in the lives of others if only we would remember Jesus Is Lord! So, we lift up and exalt the matchless name of Jesus Christ, amen. God bless you.

Abundance is...I once was lost but now I am found

Welcome to Friday...

How has your walk been this week? Weak with wobbly steps and weak hands hanging down? Please know you are not alone. The One Who made you is right beside you. Only believe. Trust in Him, rely on Him, cling to Him at all times.

Regardless of our circumstances, we are called to walk closer each day. I realized today that even doing the business of churchy stuff can be a heavy burden. If you are feeling the load groaning and weighing you down it would be wise to be still and get some counsel from Holy Spirit. Ask the Lord to show you exactly what pleases Him. Your perspective might be like Martha, Jesus friend or it might be like Mary, Jesus friend. Which is best? He knows. Ask Him.

You may hear the words spoken by Jesus as in Luke 6:46. "Why do you call Me, Lord, Lord, and do not [practice] what I tell you?" This is really a great question and one that each of us must give answer to. So, let's read on from here to verse 49.

"For everyone who comes to Me and listens to My words [in order to heed their teaching] and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug and went down deep and laid a foundation upon the rock; and when a flood arose, the torrent broke against that house and could not shake or move it, because it had been securely built or founded on a rock. But he who merely hears and does not practice doing My words is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation, against which the torrent burst, and immediately it collapsed and fell, and the breaking and ruin of that house was great."

I hadn't read this for quite some time but, today as I sit here at my computer writing what is on my heart I hear the heart of the Lord in a much clearer way. It is like He is standing close and speaking in my ear, I need to really take a look at the foundation I am building on. Not just from the time as a young child I asked Him into my heart, but today. Within this 24 hour period of time.

What is it the reason I call Him Lord, Lord? Am I practicing what He told me? Or am I trying to take a short cut? Am I willing to take the time to dig deep so my foundation is secure when the storms of life come hard and fast?

Proverbs 3:5 says, "Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding." In other words, am I following the blueprint for my house that God provided or am I trusting in someone else. God is accurate and perfect in all His ways. Who have I but Him?

Isaiah 26:4 says, "So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages]." Praise the name of the Lord! He is my security and He will sustain me!

So, if you are weary of doing this and that and find the load too much will you come to Him to make things right as He delights to do?

Matthew 11:28 says, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]"

Will you make this your prayer today? Will you come closer to the Source of your life? Let Him breathe sweet words in your ears and place His hand on your shoulders to remove the weight of trying to do things He has not called you to do. Come close to Him. Come closer still. Now, call Him Lord. In the matchless name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Abundance is...a closer walk with Him

Hello to my Heartstrings family!

I am sure by now, if you follow us, you will get the idea of what I believe. Or, you may not. I believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to God the Father and through his sacrifice on the cross my sins are removed and like Him I will am resurrected into eternal life. I will see Him someday. He is my blessed Hope. His Spirit lives in my heart to teach me how to walk before the Lord. Each day I wake breathing, I know Abba Father has a good plan for my life. 

Now, what does empty arms mean to me? The closer I get to the Lord the less I want to carry into our relationship. Learning to love Him more is trusting Him to take care of all of my needs. All of my senses are being fine tuned to wait on Him to help me take the necessary steps on this journey. Sometimes, the necessary is to be still before Him and lift up empty arms in worship to Him alone. Like the song, I Surrender All.

Last time I wrote, you may have noticed a short line about being alone; not such a bad thing if you are a believer. For you know in your heart that He will never leave you. To be lonely can be a whole other matter. It doesn't matter if you are in a crowd of 5, if you feel like you have nothing to add to the conversation or they simply talk over you, to me that is a lonely place. Yet, He is still with you. Ask Him to make all your appointments! You may not understand now, but you will soon.

The more I look into Gods Bible, the more my desires for acceptance from other people just aren't enough. It makes me feel sorta like I am trying to put a puzzle together where there are a thousand pieces and all of them different than one another. It is hard work. So, I go back to the simple truths. That Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He knows all the pieces and where they fit in His plans. Nothing is lost.

There are enough goings on in this world that just don't come wrapped up in a perfect bow. Right? Not any more. As time grows closer to the end of this age, there may not even be a brown paper grocery store bag to wrap life in. Oh, and that puzzle in your life? Is it still there taking up room in your heart? Jesus is enough. It might be time to put your good intentions away and simple come to trust the details to Him. You won't be disappointed. He doesn't expect us to do perfectly but to trust Him to be Lord in all areas. So, let go and see where He will take you!

My arms, I pray remain empty of stuff and such. The burdens I have packed around for so long, need to drop to the floor. Only then, can I assume the position of a true worshipper of Jesus Christ. When I raise my hands to the heavens, my face turns up too. I can breathe deeper and see more light where there are no shadows of darkness.

Hebrews 12:2 says, "Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing to it maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

Verse 3 says, "Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself [reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds." And it goes on...

Doesn't it thrill your heart to know that Jesus took your place so you could live in heaven with Him? Keep reading His Love Letter and you will find hope again. Let Him have the weights and take a deep breath in resting in His presence! 

I pray the blessings of the Lord be on you as you put your whole life into His keeping. He is enough. Empty your arms today friend and raise them up in the freedom He has called you to. In the matchless name of Jesus, amen.

Abundance is...to think of Him

Welcome family and friends

Are you going through a dark time? Is difficulty clouding your view of the future? The longer we struggle in the dark, the further it seems before we come into the light doesn't it? Groping, stumbling and likely mumbling. Is there a better way? YES!

Why let misery be your companion when Jesus promised us that He would never leave us or forsake us? He promises to be our constant companion and that He will turn our darkness into a story of Light as we continue to hold tight His hand, taking every step with Him on this journey.

There is no greater help than the Holy Spirit to comfort and guide us through difficulty. It may not be that you have trouble with being alone...but there is real trouble when it comes to being lonely. This is a particular matter to my own heart concern. Yet, I know He has a plan for me and will see me through this season. Here each of us can take the time to go to the Rock and cling to Him. He is our help so do not despair.

The path He calls us to walk is one of faith. Look ahead! There really is light on your path. Walk toward that Light with a thankful, worshipful heart. 

Jesus thank You, for bringing us the Good News! Thank You that You came to heal our broken hearts and proclaim freedom over our captivity and release us from darkness. (Isaiah 61:1).

Thank You dear Lord for being our Lamp! (2 Samuel 22:29) and that we can choose today to walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7).

This path of righteousness is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full lights of day. (Proverbs 4:18).

We bless Your matchless name Lord Jesus! We await and look for the blessed hope, even the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus, the Messiah, the Anointed One. You gave Yourself on our behalf that You might redeem us and purify us for Yourself. So we eagerly and with godly enthusiasm live our lives before You. (Titus 2:13-14). WE love You and trust You with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Amen

Thank You Lord Jesus for giving us this timely opportunity to bring honor to Your name on this day that You have made. Praise the name of the Lord!

Abundance is...I am bathed in His Light