Phil 4:13; II Timothy 1:17; James 1:2-4 - "Praise You in This Storm"

When I saw this picture, the first thing I thought of was "AMEN!"  Woo hoo!  
The only way to get through the storms of life is to have His Peace.  
The only way to have His Peace is to live in His Presence.  
The only way to live in His Presence is to surrender all of self and allow Him full reign of your life.  
The only way to surrender all of self and allow Him full reign of your life is to first have the desire in your heart to do it and then to have the His Strength to live it.

I have been going through a storm in my physical body for the last couple of months.  I am thankful to say that I have Him protecting me just as an umbrella protects us from rain in a storm.  It's interesting to think about how when rain comes down it can be a gentle rain or it can come down in torrential down pours.  A rainstorm can last a few minutes or can continue for days.  I'm experiencing a storm that won't seem to quit but thankfully it does let up a little from time to time.  

What is the purpose of this storm?  The Lord has told me that others need to see the way I handle the storms He gives me.  Over and over again He has reminded me of His Word.  I can't even begin to remember all of the times these words have came off my lips over these last couple of months.

 I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.  Philippians 4:13

God does not give us a spirit that makes me afraid but He gives me a spirit of power, love and self-control.  II Timothy 1:7

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faithproduces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  James 1:2-4

I am blessed in living in His Presence.  There is no doubt in my mind as to what He expects of me.  Right now, as I go through this storm, He is calling me to be stronger than I've ever been before.  He has told me that I must be strong in my faith in order for others to have the desire for Him in their own lives.  

This morning I am singing Casting Crown's "Praise You In This Storm."  There are times when I do feel like I want this storm to be over and I did think it would have been before this.  But then the Lord speaks to me again with encouraging words that He is using me for a purpose.

And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

Yes, "I will praise You in this storm."  As we were singing "Open the Eyes of My Heart" yesterday in church I was overcome with emotion.  "Holy, holy, holy.  You are holy, holy, holy…I want to see You."  That is the desire of my heart.  That is the whole reason for my being.  Thank You Jesus!  Woo hoo!

Dear Jesus,
I do praise You through this storm.  I praise You for a lot of different reasons.  One is because I draw closer to You each and every time You speak to me.  Secondly, I know someone will draw closer to You through my storm.  Another reason I praise You is because You continually are encouraging me through this storm.  I couldn't handle it if it You didn't.  Father, as I've been praying…more of You and less of me.  Thank You Lord for being My Presence!  Amen.

Revelation 20:11-15 - Lake of Fire

3:34 AM….woke up to an urgent "Prayer for protection for a family member!"  I didn't ask the Lord, "Who?" but right away my Momma came to my mind.  I must admit that scared me.  But then I had a horrendous hot flash and the thought came to my mind, "Is someone going to hell?"  OK, so I know my Momma is going to heaven so it must not be her.  But even still I was thankful when the time came this morning that I could call and check on her.

Sometimes when the Lord wakes me to pray for someone I will ask who and sometimes I don't.  I think it's the human part of me that doesn't want to know such details.  Sometimes it's easier to pray without all the details.  No matter whether I know or don't know who or the circumstances I always do as the Lord asks of me.  

So this morning when I got up I prayed for the Lord to guide me to scripture to go along with my prayers during the night.  He took me to Revelation 20, specifically verses eleven through fifteen.

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

Those who don't have the promise of eternal life will go to the lake of fire.  What torture they will have there.  I have to chuckle as I think how bad my hot flashes are but they are nothing compared to what hell must be like.  Once again I wonder why would anyone choose death over life.  If someone has never heard of Jesus that's one thing but to know what He is all about and still choose hell is incomprehensible to me.  I know some believe life in the world is easier and more fun than that of a life for Christ.  I totally disagree.  I am so blessed as I live for the Lord. Life isn't always easy but it is always blessed.

Dear Jesus,
I don't know who it was You had me praying for during the night but I pray whoever it was will know there was something going on.  I pray they will have their eyes opened to You.  I also pray they will realize a life with satan is not the way to live.  Father, thank You for loving me and blessing me in such abundance!  Thank You for being My Promise of Eternity.  Amen.

James 1:2-18 - Trials

I just don't understand why so many people are going through such tough days.  Every day for the last week I've had calls, texts, or emails from ladies asking me to pray for them.  Most of them are going through a time of feeling worthless or confused in their relationship with the Lord.  I saw this picture this morning and it reminded me that the Lord loves each and every one of us.  He is always there for us.  

I keep going back to James 1 that tells us to be joyful in all things and to persevere through everything we go through...

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faithproduces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. 9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business. 12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. 13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.

Verse twelve encourages us.  Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.  In order to have eternal life, we must persevere through all of the trials of life.  I have dealt for weeks with physical ailments.  It seems like I go from one to another to another.  There have been times where I wanted to stay in bed and give up.  But then the Lord reminded me that I must persevere.  

Dear Jesus,
I pray for the ladies who are going through tough times.  I pray they will find Your Strength to persevere through the trials before them.  Lord, I also ask for an added dose of Your Strength with the pain I am dealing with.  I especially pray for people to be encouraged instead of discouraged.  I pray against the enemy who seems to be going crazy.  Lord, if You are the One to be putting these trials in their lives to draw them closer to You, I pray You will become so very real to them.  Thank You Jesus for being My Promise.  Amen.

Ephesians 4:26 - Anger

Last night I became so angry when I heard about a parent and what they allowed their children to be exposed to.  I don't get angry very often and when I do I struggle with it.  I remember growing up seeing my Daddy jump up and down in the middle of the living room, clenching his fist and yelling.  I often wondered what Jesus was thinking when He saw him reacting that way.  I also had been taught in church that it was OK to be angry but it was how we responded with the anger that determined if we sinned.  

Righteous anger is when we become angry over sin.  Jesus expressed righteous anger when He became angry with what was happening in the temple with the money changers.
Matthew 21:12-13 reads,  Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’”  He let them know exactly how He felt.  When I read these verses I wonder, "Was His behavior appropriate?"  He physically showed His displeasure.  If I were to react to a situation as He did, would it be considered sin?  Ephesians 4:26 reads, When you are angry, do not sin, and be sure to stop being angry before the end of the day.  

So I must ask myself when I become angry, "Is it justified before the Lord?"  If my answer is yes then I must ask myself, "Did I handle my anger appropriately?"  Did I adhere to the words of James 1:19-20 in my response?   Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.  
If my answer to the first question is no, I need to ask for forgiveness.  

Dear Jesus,
I thank You for loving me enough to forgive me.  I also thank You for giving me emotions that I can learn to demonstrate in the right way.  Father, first I pray for these children who are being raised in such an awful situation.  I pray for protection over them.  I also pray You will put Christians in their path who will show them Your love.  Secondly, I pray for my emotion of anger to be checked each and every time it comes out.  Lord, give me more of You and less of me.  Thank You Jesus for being My Model to Live By.  Amen.

Rev. 3:7-13 - Open Doors

The Lord has been speaking to me about "open doors" these last few days.  Sometimes I don't understand when the Lord opens a door only to close it later on.  But when I question Him he says, "Daughter, I am allowed to change my mind."  LOL  He took me to the third chapter of Revelation where he was talking to the church of Philadelphia.  

7 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.  11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. 13 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

These words are encouraging to me to keep on keepin' on when the enemy comes knocking at my door.  I see believers who are faltering in their faith due to their circumstances.  Sometimes the Lord puts tough circumstances in our path to increase our faith.  Sometimes the enemy gives us roadblocks to trip us up.  The most important thing we can do, as a believer, is to be living in His Presence so we can hear the Lord's Voice.  When we live an on-again/off-again life for the Lord, we get confused with who we hear.  In order to have eternal victory, we must be listening only to the Lord.  

Dear Jesus,
I praise Your Holy Name for giving me the opportunity to live in Your Presence.  I am so grateful for the knowledge of this way of life.  You are so awesome, Lord, in the way You direct my path.  Woo hoo!  Thank You for being My Door Opener!  Amen.

Jeremiah 33:3 - Praying for Many

Sometimes I feel helpless in not knowing what to say to people I talk with who are going through a tough time.  I try to encourage them with my words.  I listen to what the Lord tells me to say to them.  But there are times I feel like I'm not being an effective encourager.  It hurts when people get mad at me when I tell them the truth.  Many times they don't want to hear the truth.  But I can't take it personally.  I am being the Lord's servant as I share with them what He gives me.  Hopefully I plant seeds that will harvested.  There are times when people are so stressed over their circumstances they aren't thinking clearly.  No matter what, I can't give up on people.

This morning I am praying scriptures over some who are going through tough stuff…

For the ones going through physical ailments including surgery…Josh 1:9............ "Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

For the ones who have recently lost a loved one…Philippians 4:6-7..."Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."

For the ones who are dealing with addiction…Rom 8:37............ "Yet in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."

For the ones who are under spiritual warfare…Josh 1:9............ "Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

For the ones who are dealing with problems in relationships…

Mt 21:21............Father, I come before You in prayer and in faith.
Rom 13:11........Your Word says that now is the time for all to awaken from sleep,
Rom 13:11.........For our salvation is nearer now than we first believed.
Col 1:13.............Lord, deliver my loved ones from the power of darkness,
Rom 13:12.........and cause them to put on the armor of light.
Rom 13:14.........Help them in their daily walk to put on the Lord Jesus Christ
Rom 13:13.........and to avoid the lusts and idolatry of life.
Ps 119:37..........Cause them to turn their eyes away from worthless things,
2Tim 2:26..........to come to their senses, and escape the snare of the devil.
Rom 13:13.........Deliver them from immorality, strife, and envy,
Heb 10:22..........and draw them near to You, Father, with a true heart.
Mt 5:6...............Create in them a hunger and thirst for You and Your righteousness,
Ps 119:37.........and revive them in Your ways.
Col 1:9..............I ask that You fill them with the knowledge of Your will
Col 1:9..............in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
Col 1:10............that they might have a walk worthy of You, Lord,
Col 1:10............fully pleasing You, being fruitful in every good work,
Col 1:10............and increasing in the knowledge of You,
Col 1:11............strengthened with all might, according to Your glorious power.
Rom 8:30..........Bring them into the calling that You have predestined for them;
1Chr 28:9..........help them to serve You with a loyal heart and with a willing mind,
Ps 32:8.............and instruct them in the way they should go.
Jas 1:22............Let them be doers of the Word and not hearers only,
Ps 119:97.........meditating in Your Word day and night.
Ps 112:6...........Establish their heart, so they will never be shaken,
1Cor 10:13........and show them a way of escape with every temptation.
Rom 13:8..........Let them owe no man anything except their love.
1Jn 3:18...........A love that is in deed and truth, not just in word and speech.
Ps 110:3..........Let them be volunteers serving You in the time of Your power.
Mt 6:33............Seeking first Your kingdom so that they will reap abundant blessings.
Prov 3:9...........I pray that they will honor You with their possessions
Prov 3:9...........and with the firstfruits of their increase;
Ps 111:1..........Praising the Lord with their whole heart in the assembly
Ps 111:1..........of the upright and in the congregation,
Mic 6:8............walking humbly with You Lord, being determined to act justly,
Ps 112:4..........loving mercy and righteousness,
Ps 112:4..........being gracious and full of compassion.

For the ones who feel worthless…Ephesians 2:10...For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

For the ones who are dealing with issues in their ministry…Rom 8:31......... "If God be for us, who can be against us? and 1Sam 12:16...... "...stand and see this great thing which the Lord will do before your eyes… and Col 3:23.......... "Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,… and Rom 8:28............ "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

Dear Jesus, 
I am praying Jeremiah 33:3 for myself.  I ask that You do exactly as this verse says.  The desire of my heart is as I call upon You for Your Words to give to others that You will show me "…great and mighty things, which I do not know."  I pray for Your Words to flow off my lips.  Not only for Your Words, Lord but I also pray for You to shine through me.  Lord, You are so awesome in the way You give me opportunities to be You to others.  I pray for more of You and less of me.  Thank You Jesus for being My Words.  Amen.

Psalm 1; 16:11 - Living In His Presence

Yesterday was such an amazing day!  Woo hoo!  Thank You Jesus!  I love to live in the Lord's Presence.  Without a doubt, there is no better way to live.  I love to hear His Voice and  I especially love knowing I am doing His Will.  

As I started with an opening prayer in the teen Sunday School class, the Lord gave me direction on how to pray.  I did as He said.  Then when I said "amen" He blew me away with telling me to put my lesson aside and talk about His the direction He gave me.  Once again I did as He said.  I was blown away by the conversation that came out.  I was really blown away when I checked my clock and 45 minutes had passed without the conversation stopping.  I thought, "Thank You Jesus for this time with my teens."  I was also thinking about how wonderful it was that I heard His Voice through this pain I'm dealing with.  What a blessing!

Then when it came time for Doc's sermon in church he told us to lay aside our handouts because the Lord changed what he was to say.  Woo hoo!  I absolutely love these times!  Doc talked asked us, "Where is your passion?"  He was very emotional throughout the time and I prayed the whole way through for him to hear the Lord's direction.  There were a couple times where he was silent and I knew he was listening to the Lord.  What a blessing he is to me and to our church.

I don't know that we would have ever been able to do what we did yesterday a few years back.  Before experiencing living in the Lord's Presence when the Lord tried to take us out of our comfort zones we would manipulate things so they worked for us.  We tried to figure things out the way we thought they should be done.  I praise His Holy Name for bringing us to where we are today.  I also praise Him for how we continue to grow in our relationship with Him.

The pain distracts me at times and it makes it hard to concentrate.  But yesterday showed me that the Lord is greater than this pain.  Woo hoo!   Yesterday showed me that no matter what I am going through He will bless me as I live in His Presence.  That's exciting!  I was thinking about how my day would have been so much different had I allowed my pain to be what I concentrated on.  I would have missed the blessing of allowing the Lord to work through me and I would have missed the blessing of seeing Him work through Doc.  Psalm 1 encourages me to be rooted in the Lord.  He will continue to bless me as I allow Him to work through me.

Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.

4 Not so the wicked!
    They are like chaff
    that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
    nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

Woo hoo!  I love to read the promises of His Word.  Psalm 16:11 reads, "You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."  Triple woo hoo!  As I live in His Presence, I hear His direction…I am filled with joy…and I have the promise of eternal life!  Those three things make everything I do worth the effort.  To answer Doc's question, "Where is your passion?"  I can say that my passion is in living in the Lord's Presence.  

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for all You did yesterday to draw me closer to You.  I also thank You for all You will do today to draw me closer to You.  Father, I pray for more of You and less of me.  I pray You will direct my path today so that I do Your Will.  Thank You for the doors that will be opened and thank You for the doors that will be shut today.  I praise You Lord for all that You do for me.  Thank You Lord for being My Presence.  Amen.