Category Archives: Uncategorized

Psalms 27:4 NLT
[4] The one thing I ask of the Lord— the thing I seek most— is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.

David wrote this, desiring to be in the Lord’s presence often. As believers it is easy to take for granite of the fact that we are temples of the Holy Spirit. That the spirit of God dwells within us. We are carriers of His glory. Not because we are good enough but because thru Jesus we have been made righteous.

If we truly got the revelation that we carry God’s presence within us, we would worship him like never before, praise him like never before. Seek Him like never before. We would host his presence like never before.

David longed to be in the presence of the Lord. He couldn’t wait to be. And yet we have access to God’s presence 24/7 and don’t? Do we wait til Sunday morning to “feel” his presence?

We ought to be in it daily. So if that means we turn off our devices and spend time in his presence, so be it. Our lives would look different.

One sunday morning last year when I was helping lead worship at my old church, the Lord reminded me of the scripture that He inhabits the praises of His people. Well recently at my church the pastor mentioned it, and it reminded me of that moment the Holy Spirit spoke it to my Spirit. I was all nervous about leading a song, but His gentle spirit reminded me that He inhabits the praises of His people. It wasn’t about how perfect I did, (although I believe I gave it my best) it was about the fact that they Lord shows up when we praise Him. He shows up when we glorify him. It was never about the music it was about Him showing up. And that was the sunday He did tangibly show up. I felt his presence so strong.

He will show up like that anytime we worship/praise Him. It wasn’t a special service, it wasn’t my favorite song, it wasn’t because I was so good, no. It was His glory filling the room because we turned our attention to Him.

David longed for this. We have it. Let us not take it for granite. Instead let’s host His presence regularly. Let’s be truly walking by His Spirit daily reflecting His image, carrying his glory.

We are HIS temple. He dwells within the believer. Meditate on this.

Zechariah 8:12-13 NLT
For I am planting seeds of peace and prosperity among you. The grapevines will be heavy with fruit. The earth will produce its crops, and the heavens will release the dew. Once more I will cause the remnant in Judah and Israel to inherit these blessings. [13] Among the other nations, Judah and Israel became symbols of a cursed nation. But no longer! Now I will rescue you and make you both a symbol and a source of blessing. So don’t be afraid. Be strong, and get on with rebuilding the Temple!

I believe that the Lord is rebuilding his Temple in us. We are temples of His Holy Spirit. We Receive the spirit in part. Jesus received it fully. We get to carry his presence and dwell in his presence. It’s so beautiful. He inhabits the praises of His people. When we close our eyes and sing unto the Lord from our hearts, his weighty glory just sits on us. It’s beautiful.  It’s never been by our might nor by our power but always by His Spirit. HE IS THE GREAT I AM. HE IS ALPHA AND OMEGA, BEGGINING AND END. HE IS TIME. THERE IS NO TIME IN HIM. He is patient in coming back because he wants everyone to have the chance to turn towards him. He wants all the children to come unto him. But not all people are God’s children. Only those who believe in Jesus as their Lord and savior and follow him.

Elijah was as human as we are.
Reading the books of the Prophets and about the Kings like David, we realize how much these “great and Holy men of God” were human with a sinful nature that had to be crucified to the cross just as ours does. What set these men apart from the others though was the fact that they were repentant, humble, and willing to do what the Lord asked of them. They sought the Lord whole heartedly. Jonah teaches us that even a prophet of God can get in the flesh and want things that aren’t in God’s will. David teaches us that even an anointed king can battle with the lust of the flesh.
Nathaniel’s response to the coming of Jesus from Nazareth was one of doubt and negativity. (John 1:46) if we read through the scriptures of the lives of these men, we begin to see the humanity of them instead of just the “stories” of God working great miracles through them. When we see the big picture we see that every miracle was 100%  God, and His choosing of whom he would use and when he would use them.

This should keep us all humble and on our faces before the Lord. We are but a speck of dust. Here today and blown away tomorrow.

James 5:17-18 reminds us that the prophet Elijah was just a human. Just like you and me. Someone who can lose his temper. Someone who can doubt. Someone who can battle fear like Gideon.
The reality is these people were people equally in need of a Savior. We can’t think for a moment because God answers our prayers that its because we are good enough or doing the right formula. The only formula is repentance and surrender.
Trusting his ways are higher then ours. Trusting that he has a good plan in-store for us but understanding we don’t actually know what it is.

[17] Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! [18] Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.

If an fallible human being that loves God and seeks Him can opporate in authority given by God, and we are now given that same authority by Jesus who lives IN us…

Our prayers matter. What we declare and ask for matters.

Keep on asking for His will to be done, keep seeking His face and knocking on Him for direction until he shows your the right door to walk through. Until he GIVES you a door. Maybe you don’t even have a door near you, Keep seeking Him, his word,  his ways, and being patient on His timing and His plans.

We are human. He is King of kings and Lord of lords.

Stay humble. Know its all about him and give him the glory!

– sharing this for myself over here as a reminder – 💓

This morning on my walk with Israel I kept getting this scripture in my spirit.

Matthew 7:13-14 NLT
[13]  “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. [14] But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

As I approached the bridge I examined the sidewalk and how bumpy it was for Israel’s little car stroller. I thought to myself this pathway is narrow and it isn’t smooth, if anything it’s rather beat up and needs repairing. It definitely wasn’t easy pushing Israel on it. I looked over and saw the broad bridge for the cars and how smooth, repaired, and easy it looked. Then the scripture hit my heart again. I felt like the Holy Spirit was reminding me that the narrow safe path that leads to life is actually the one that’s a bit rough, but it’s the safest one for us. It’s the path that leads to eternal life. So keep pushing Israel on it.

I looked at the broad path for the cars and thought, “the cars go so fast on the bridge with such ease. I’m over here sweating and pushing Israel to the other side. I was reminded of “broad is path that leads to destruction.”

Ofcourse as I am having these thoughts this song begins to play on my walk back over the bridge, so take a listen. Such a good song, that even mentions this scripture!

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=dvH0XPleAZc&si=u4s5P8Dvq7ba3T-E

Keep on the narrow path that may seem hard but it is the safest for you and I. Press forward, and reach the prize. Train and equip yourself for the good work ahead.

Run this race to win it.

I love how David wrote the book of psalms. One Psalm he is in total despair, stressed out, and anxious. The very next Psalm he is praising God for his faithfulness. Sometimes the praises happened after the Lord helped him, other times the praises were written in the midst of the chaos around him. His enemies may have been physical enemies (in opporation by spiritual enemies), and our enemies may not be physical war but spiritual warfare. We can trust that Jesus defeated the enemy and he is under our feet. We just have to know who is in us is greater then who is in the world and walk in our full authority and identity in Christ.

We too can cry out to God in total frustration and anguish one moment and praise him in the next. Our faith will overcome the moments of our weaknesses, and Jesus in us will be strong for us. The reality is that like David, we are human and sometimes we see what’s coming at us instead of looking up to the one who is our shield. I find that reading Psalms is so helpful because it reminds me that I’m not that different from David. (In the emotional sense). He was a man after God’s own heart who struggled and had hard emotional days, then had days of great faith and thanksgiving. But he always knew who the Lord was and that he could talk or sing unto him and that the Lord would listen. We can find comfort in knowing the outcome of David’s story, but we have to remember that David didn’t know the outcome, he just knew the struggle right in front of him. He had to seek the Lord daily for a renewed strength just as we do. People love to talk about the GREAT faith moments like David defeating Goliath, David being anointed as king, and eventually being a great King, but we must not negate the in between moments, and there was A LOT more of those then those great hill top moments. We too may have a lot more valley moments then hill top moments, but like David, we know God is faithful and deserves the praise, even when we don’t feel like it.

Psalms 34:1-19, 22 NLT
[1] I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises.

[2] I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart.

[3] Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.

🙌[4] I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.

😃 [5] Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.

💓[6] In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles.

⚔️[7] For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him.

[8] Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

💓[9] Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need.
➡️ [10] Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.

[11] Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the Lord. [12] Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous?

👅 [13] Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies!

[14] Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.⬅️

👀 [15] The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help.

[16] But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth.

[17] The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles.

💓 [18] The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

[19] The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.

🙌[22] But the Lord will redeem those who serve him. No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

Amen!!!

During prayer yesterday the Lord told me to read Nehemiah 6. These are the verses he lighted to me, 1 and 9.

Nehemiah 6:1 NLT
[1] Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies found out that I had finished rebuilding the wall and that no gaps remained—though we had not yet set up the doors in the gates.

Nehemiah 6:9 NLT
[9] They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination.

I felt like the Lord was speaking to my spirit that the walls are being rebuilt, and that the enemy has been trying to intimidate us and discourage us, but we press on in prayer and faith for the Lord’s will to prevail. I felt like that he was specifically speaking to my heart and my life, but I am sure it can bring encouragement to others as we all are facing different but similar trials. Our faith isn’t based on circumstances, but on knowing who our God is.

Press on in Faith and in Prayer for HIS plans and HIS will to prevail.

I had this imagery come to my mind last night.

I saw a crowd of people walking in the same direction all dressed in white. I felt like the Holy Spirit was speaking to me that we believers are all clothed in robes of righteousness and the way we see other believers should be thru the lens of them also being dressed in robes of righteousness.

When we see others without spot or blemish, we can walk in the same direction as them and be united in purity. Then I had this thought that the outside layer of the coat was perfect white but it was lined on the inside with red. The red symbolizes the blood of Jesus.

When we put on righteousness we are covered in the blood of Christ and put on perfect spotless righteousness. We put on purity. We walk in righteousness and his blood covers the multitude of our sins. We are all then walking in the spotless lamb of God.

This scripture came to my heart.

Isaiah 61:10 NLT
I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding or a bride with her jewels.

If we start seeing others thru the lens of righteousness, right standing in purity before the father, we will stop speaking and thinking critically. We will be able to stop being negative and having judgemental views of others. We will begin to love others, truly love them. We will begin to have an abundance of grace for others and their mistakes, starting with having grace for ourselves. We all have fallen short. We all have sinned. We all have caused hurt and offense to a fellow believer. We all have regret, but we can’t hold onto it, we release it to the Lord. We must be quick to repent to one another, make amends with anyone we are holding anything against. Be at peace with all. They may not be at peace with us, but we have to be at peace with all, within ourselves.

Let’s begin to see others with the eyes Jesus see’s them, without spot or blemish, deeply loved.

I am so thankful for the grace of God. God’s grace has allowed us to be adopted as His children. God’s grace has allowed us to be clothed in righteousness in the presence of the Lord. We must not stop working on imulating Jesus. Part of remaining in Jesus is to start loving the way he loves, by being transformed into his image with the understanding that he has accounted for our short comings. As I read these verses this morning, all the “BUT I SAY” by Jesus statements stood out to me. Jesus takes everything to a higher standard

These verses are all red letter, which means Jesus was speaking.

Matthew 5:17-20 NLT
[17]  “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.

[18] I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.

🌟[19] So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

⚠️[20]  “But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!

[22] But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.

[28] But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

[32] But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery.

[34] But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne.

🌟[37] Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.

[39] But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.

[42] Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.

[44] But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!

🌟[48] But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 5:22, 28, 32, 34, 37, 39, 42, 44, 48 NLT

God is love, and perfect love casts out fear.

[37] Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ [38] This is the first and greatest commandment.
[39] A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ [40] The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

Matthew 22:37-40 NL

This verse below is John speaking:

1 John 4:18 NLT
[18] Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.

Jesus calls us to a place of love, and his perfect love drives out all fear. His perfect love is the desire he has for us. In our transforming into his image it is to be more like him, made in perfect love.

I love to take note of the women in scripture. As a woman who loves Jesus, I love seeing the responses of other women to the Lord’s presence and commissioning. In vs. 8 Jesus is speaking to the disciples.

Acts of the Apostles 1:8 NLT
[8] But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts of the Apostles 1:14 NLT

It’s noted that Jesus’ mother and several other women wete also meeting together and in constant prayer.

14] They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.

A new day was dawning on a Sunday morning. Mary and the other Mary went out to visit Jesus’s tomb. They were the first people that is recorded in scripture to go to Jesus’ tomb. Even though Jesus was dead, they still went. Then an earthquake and an angel appeared and told them that Jesus is ALIVE! This probably gave them such joy after mourning his death. Then the angel instructs them to GO and TELL Jesus’ disciples! The women were the ones who got the angelic encounter, the women were the ones there waiting, and looking, pursuing Jesus no matter the circumstances. The women were the ones who were given the commission to GO and TELL the disciples that Jesus was alive!

God doesn’t favor man over woman. He loves them and wants them both. Jesus as a man discipled men, which is customly proper. But he was often found ministering to women by speaking the truth of God’s word to them.

Matthew 28:1-3, 5-8 NLT
[1] Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. [2] Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. [3] His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow.
[5] Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. [6] He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.

[7] And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.” [8] The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message.

How rewarding it must of been for these women to be able to share the news first hand and receive the message!

It’s so funny to me how the Lord speaks to me thru the simplist of things.

Israel is currently potty training. He has been going almost all day without any accidents for days. Then all of a sudden he is like regressing and wanting diapers again. This morning he is walking around telling me how he doesn’t want undies.

My response was this,

“It doesn’t matter what you want if what you want isn’t good for you. I know what you need is more important then what you want.”

Then I felt like the Lord stirring on my heart, this is how he feels about us his children. We start to make progress towards maturity then we regress. I started potty training Israel later in age in hopes to avoid the setbacks, but in reality, set backs can’t be avoided, they have to be faced.

Regression happens in the training, but from raising up 3 other sons, I know after regression is momentum.

So if you’re in a regression season right now, trust that momentum is around the corner. Trust that your Father knows what’s GOOD for you even if you don’t think you want it.

Because in the end, you will look back and be thankful that He didn’t give up on you and let you stay in regression but rather, took your hand and says, its time to try again. It doesn’t matter how many times it looks like you failed… try again.

Get up and try again friend.

There is hope in him, even if the process isn’t the way you desire it to be, its best when its HIS process.

There is hope in him, even if its not the outcome you wanted, because His ways are higher then ours. His thoughts are so much greater then ours. Our hope should be IN him not the outcome anyways.