HAVE YOU CONSIDERED MY SERVANT, JOB ?

Remember Job and the horrendous trials he faced? Here is an extremely wealthy man who feared and honored God and yet we are told that in a short matter of time, he lost everything he owned. If you ask me, this story is a bit overwhelming and wild to comprehend to say the least.

And so we are told that one day the Lord was sitting on His heavenly throne watching the angels come in when all of a sudden Satan rears his ugly head and let his presence be known. And when the Lord saw Satan, He asked him where He came from and Satan replied,“From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”

Ok, so first thing we need to grab a hold of is clearly Satan roams the earth. But what totally blows me away was the Lord’s answer where He asked Satan, for no apparent reason I might add, “Have you considered my servant Job? Job 1:6-12 NIV  

Seriously? Have you considered my servant Job? Now.....I know most folks wouldn’t question the Lord, but yes, I need to admit, my first thought was, “Lord, really? Why would you allow such a thing?” I mean it's almost as if the Lord was dangling Job in front of Satan’s eyes; tempting Satan to snatch Job from the Lord’s hands.  I tend to believe since the Lord knew Job and his character; He already knew Job would remain faithful; no matter what. Satan’s response is almost comical because he understood the Power of God as he pointed out, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? Clearly Satan was admitting that he was limited since the Lord placed a hedge around Job.  

Grab ahold of this.... 
If the Lord has a hedge around you and your household, Satan IS limited.

Yet he continued by saying, “You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” Job 1:9-12 NIV And the bible tells us that soon after, Job lost everything he possessed; including his servants, cattle and even his 7 sons and 3 daughters. We are told as one messenger would barely get done, the next messenger would bring Job more bad news. Yet, although Job was distraught, he still fell to the ground and worshipped the Lord saying, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrong doing. Job 1:20-22 NIV

Yet once again the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? However, this time Satan challenged the Lord, saying, “Skin for skin! A man will give all he has for his own life. But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.” The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.” And so Satan afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. Job’s wife tried to get him to curse God so he could die. However, Job said, “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said. Job 2:4-10 NIV

Job was in such bad shape that his friends didn’t recognize him. And yet he still found strength to proclaim, “I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” Job 19:25-27 NIV

Was he distraught & upset? Absolutely! Did he curse the day he was born and wish God would just take him home? Yes! But he still remained faithful and didn’t blame God for what had happened. Wow! Talk about faith! Yet the story doesn’t end there, because we are also told that when the testing was done, the Lord restored Job with twice as much as he had; blessing his later years more than the past.

So you see my friends, in all this, God remained faithful!

Does it ever seem like you barely get done with one obstacle life throws your way and soon find yourself battling another one? Ever sit back and wonder what just happened or what may have caused the situation you’re experiencing? Regardless of your circumstance, did you know it didn’t come as a surprise to the Lord? If anything, I am convinced whatever you may be experiencing at this moment, didn’t come to light to you before passing by the Lord’s throne. And although there are times we bring calamity & destruction on ourselves simply because of the choices we make, I am equally convinced that we are no different than Job and there are times we are simply being tested.

I mean, picture it for a moment. Can’t you just see Satan lurking around the Lord, taunting Him about your faithfulness and desire to serve Him? Now can’t you just see the Lord saying, “Have you considered my servant (add your name here)?

I am convinced that we are not any different than Job? And I have no doubt that regardless of what you or I have been thru or what may be up ahead, it cannot come near us or our household unless the Lord allows it to happen. And I choose to beleive no matter what, THE LORD IS IN CONTROL.

And like the Lord was for Job, there is no doubt in my mind that the Lord will remain faithful to you & me as well; regardless of our circumstance. But just like Job, we need need to remain faithful and believe Job 42:1-2 NIV, where it says, "I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.”

And most of all, we need to remember - God will remain faithful no matter what; even when we are too weak to stand!

Be blessed my family & friends. Lifting you up in prayer and standing in unity & agreement with you; that the Holy Spirit will move in your situation this very hour! Praying His favor will shine over you as bright as the morning sun!

Love you all!
Cyndy

"After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation.And so Job died, an old man and full of years." Job 42:16-17 NIV

CHOOSE TODAY TO JUST OBEY!

We can hide our sins from others; pretend our lives are going well. 
But it won't change a thing on judgment day if lost souls are sent to hell.
We can close our eyes and look elsewhere; wear blinders like a shield. 
Close our ears to those around us; even though we’re told to yield.

Yield to My Holy Spirit! Water fields and pull the weeds!

Hear the cry of the forgotten! Help the lost and take the lead!
And on the Day of Judgment, as believers give account;
Rest assured we’ll be accountable; even if we choose to doubt.

God has called us to do something; He has a purpose and a plan.
He gave His One and Only Son for all; in hopes to rescue every man. 
So heed to the Lord as He calls you; Trust Him as He shows the way.
Stop running from the Holy One! Choose today to just obey!
                                 (Cynthia E. Bagaglia-Wood © August 14, 2013)

“But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 NLT

Blessings my family & friends!  Continuing to pray the Lord's total favor over you as you continue to seek Him diligently!

Love you all!
Cyndy

THERE IS NOTHING - NOT ONE THING IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD!!!!

1 Samuel 17:4-7 NLT is a good example of how The Lord sees things so differently....and only proves....His ways are not our ways. 

Goliath was a Philistine champion from Gath who the bible describes as being over nine feet tall.   He wore a bronze helmet & coat that weighed 125 pounds by itself, along with bronze leg armor and a bronze javelin he carried on his shoulder.  The shaft of his spear was as heavy and thick as a weaver’s beam (approximately 2 – 2 ½ inches thick) and just the iron spearhead by itself weighed about 15 pounds.  There is no doubt that he was intimidating to say the least.  Yet, I had to laugh at the fact that even though Goliath was covered in armor and ready for battle, he still felt the need to have his armor bearer walk ahead of him carrying a shield.

Seriously folks!  Goliath may have been a big man in stature, but certainly not brave; at least not in my eyes.   

Now think about David.  He was just a young shepherd boy who spent his days tending to his father’s sheep.  And yet the Lord decided to use him to fight against Goliath.  (Not only do we see the Lord’s hand in this situation, but He also gives us a glimpse of His sense of humor.)

When David faced Goliath, he said to him, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel!”  1 Samuel 17:45-46 NLT

And with the flick of David’s wrist and one stone, the bible tells us David killed Goliath, smack dab in the center of his forehead. Talk about an aim! 

So I ask you.....

Are you face to face with Goliath today; maybe a sickness, financial difficulty, stressed or maybe depressed?  Feeling abandoned or alone?  Has discouragement taken root in your heart?  Each one of us has something in our lives we are struggling with at this moment. If you deny it, then, chances are pride may be your Goliath!

Have you ever considered just how big God is?  Take a moment and “try” to picture it.  Bit difficult, isn’t it?

The bible tells us in Isaiah 40:12  NLT, "Who else has held the oceans in his hand?  Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers?  Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale?"  

Folks…..

We serve a God with hands big enough to hold the ocean.

HE IS A BIG GOD!!!! 

If we serve a God of this magnitude......is there really anything too difficult for Him to handle?  The bible tells us Luke 1:37 NLT “For nothing is impossible with God.” 

No matter what language you say it in – Nothing, niente, nada, τίποτα, nichts)...it still means NOTHING!!!!!

So be encouraged today and know without doubt –

There is NOTHING - NOT ONE THING impossible with God!!!!

Be blessed my family & friends!  I pray that as you continue to seek the Lord, His favor would shine over you completely!

Love you all!

Cyndy

“Oh God, Help me! I can’t do this alone!”

Ever have one of those days where you want to just throw your hands up in the air and scream? This past week I had one of those days.  It started out being a pretty quiet morning; until about 8:30 – 9 am. Now mind you, I actually love my job and enjoy it about 99% of the time.  But there are days where the pressure gets to be a bit much, and well, Friday was just one of those days.  It seemed like all the demands hit at one time.  Everything was urgent and everyone needed an answer “now”.   And if that wasn’t enough; some folks pushed the right buttons that would soon cause my flesh to war against my spirit man as I fought the resistance in responding back in a negative way.  Instead, I found myself with an inward war; one that no one else could see, except the good Lord, Himself.  It took everything I had not to burst into tears and all I kept hearing is “Don’t respond.” 

Oh Lord, seriously?  Don’t respond?  But didn’t you hear what was said just now?  Didn’t you see, Lord? 

And still nothing but, “Don’t respond.”

 I fought my flesh and forced my thoughts to dwell on hearing the Lord’s voice as He continued to speak softly “Don’t respond”.   Talk about a challenge.  Anyone that knows me knows it is indeed a challenge at times.  As the morning went by, things did not seem to get any better.  As lunch time drew near, I went to the fridge, warmed up my lunch and sat at my desk eating as I continued to fight back the tears.

 I wanted to scream!!!!  “Oh God, Help me!  I can’t do this alone!”  And yet, I knew without doubt that I wasn’t alone.  The Holy Spirit reminded me that He was there and that it was nothing more than spiritual warfare.  Satan was doing his best to pull my attention away from the Lord in hopes he could tempt me to fall into a situation where I would respond in a negative manner to those around me.  Satan knows that if I allowed him to persuade me into something contrary to God’s word, it would damage my character as a servant of God, make me lose credibility with those around me and ultimately bring separation between me & my Lord.

I felt compelled to finish my lunch and go find a quiet place where it could be just me & God; no one else!  As I stood up to leave, I grabbed my water and some tissues and then went to grab my cell phone; just in case something urgent came up.  The Lord spoke softly again, “Don’t take it.  Leave it there.”  And I did.  Without any further hesitation, I went outside, found my favorite spot and sat quietly in His presence.   As I looked up, my tears became my silent prayer.  The sun gently pierced thru the clouds that gloomed over it, covering me with gentle warmth of God’s presence.  I noticed the clouds kept trying to cover over the sun again, leaving me feeling cold and alienated.  But then the sun would find its way to pierce thru the clouds as if the clouds didn’t exist.  (I know this is a normal thing, but this particular day it actually captivated my attention.)

As I could see the sun vaguely thru the clouds, the Holy Spirit showed me that no matter what may try to come between us, He is still there.   Nothing but His peace flooded my soul.  I knew God was at work and I was assured that this would somehow bring glory to Him, for He has a plan greater than what I can see.

Later that afternoon, some of the people I had a run in with earlier kept coming around acting as if they knew they hurt or offended me.  It was obvious they were trying to make things right between us and yet, unsure of what to say as they grabbed thru straws to hold a conversation.  At that moment, I was able to respond with true compassion and genuineness of heart; only because I heeded to the voice of the Holy Spirit.  Apart from Him, I would not have had the strength to do so otherwise.

What about you?  Are you in the middle of an inward war other’s can’t see?  Wondering where God is at in the midst of your circumstance?  You’re not alone.   Trust me when I tell you; there are others just like you & me.  Let me encourage you to find a quiet place; a place where you can be alone with God.  No need to say anything.  Your submission in His presence will say it all.  He knows what you’re going thru and has already prepared a plan to see you thru.  Allow His peace to flood your mind and be open to His direction. 

Remember, He has promised us in Hebrews 13:5 NIV  “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Be blessed my family & friends. 

I pray as you continue to seek the Lord with all your heart, that His total favor will pour over you like a tsunami! 

Love you all,

Cyndy

Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty; listen to me, God of Jacob. Look on our shield, O God; look with favor on your anointed one. Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you. Psalm 84:8-12 NIV

DOES YOUR FAITH TEETER TOTTER UP AND DOWN?

Remember growing up; playing on a teeter totter with your siblings or friends? We would spend a long time going up & down; taking turns being the one at the top and eventually being at the bottom. Every now & then, if a kid was ornery enough & capable, they would sit at the bottom of the teeter totter holding the other person up in the air; at least until the one at the bottom decided to jump off quickly, causing the person at the top to come crashing down. (At least that’s the way we used to play. Not a good thing! LOL)

What about our faith? Does it tend to bounce up & down depending on the severity of our problem? In all the years of being a Christ follower, it’s been my experience that we all struggle with the lack of faith in God at one time or another. But why do we; especially when many of us desire to trust Him? What is hindering our faith from growing and taking God at His word? I know for myself, there are times that my human mind just can’t grab a hold of how big God really is and sometimes my situation seems impossible to fix. But then, I’m reminded of what God’s word says in Luke 1:37(NLT) “For nothing is impossible with God.”

The question is, “Do I believe it? I find that when I stay diligent in reading God’s Word and enter into a daily fellowship with Him, my faith is stronger. However, at times when fear grips my heart and I’m struggling to trust Him, it tends to be at a time when I’ve lost my focus on His direction and have not been in daily fellowship with Him. Depression & discouragement set in and I seem to lose all hope. Then it’s an uphill battle trying to see where I went wrong.

Truth is; those are the times I’ve been spiritually lazy and desperately in need of getting my daily devotional time back on track with the Lord; right where it belongs! I find it’s the only way to stay connected with Him! If I want to get back on track, I need to heed to God’s Word where it says in Romans 10:17 (NKJV) “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Staying in God’s Word, being fed spiritually in church and communicating directly with the Lord all work together in helping my faith to grow strong.

Unfortunately, there are some that choose to be spiritually lazy; simply because it seems like the easier path to take. If our lives are consumed with the cares of this world; be it relationships, work, TV, gaming, you name it; just about anything that would consume our time, it hinders our time with the Lord and we become spiritually lazy. The end result is the need for constant encouragement from others 24/7 and ultimately the need to depend on them to pray on our behalf. Just to be clear, there is nothing wrong with partnering with other believers & coming into agreement for our situations to be resolved. As a matter of fact, God’s Word tells us to join others in agreement in Matthew 18:19-20 (NLT) “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” 

However, when we expect others to carry the load while we choose to sit back and do nothing; no praying, no fasting; no desire to know God personally, it is a problem. We end up putting our faith in the faith of other believers instead of exercising our faith in trusting God; the ONLY ONE that knows & understands exactly what we need; the ONLY ONE that has the answer to our problems.  

Let’s face it folks, being committed to a daily prayer time and striving to follow God’s direction takes commitment on our part; it doesn’t just happen because we want it too. It happens only when we choose be committed to growing our faith on a daily basis.

The Holy Spirit revealed an interesting perspective to me regarding this clip art. Look at the faces on Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, Tigger & Rabbit. They appear paralyzed and full of fear, while Heffalump sits at the bottom holding them up with every ounce of strength possible. The same is true about the believer with a lot of faith. Seldom do we know the load they are carrying; their own burdens & other believer’s burdens too. They are actually the one at the bottom of the teeter totter, using every ounce of strength & faith within themselves to hold us up when we choose to be spiritually lazy.

 

When fear grips your heart, remember what God says in Psalm 56:3-4 (NKJV) “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?”

 

Simply put; trust God to meet your needs; not people. Don’t put your faith in others that can grow weary and possibly jump off the “teeter totter” because you’ve gotten too heavy to carry; or you might come crashing down. Instead, put your faith in the only One that has the ability to hold you up; the only One that knows your need and knows what is best for you; Jesus.

It’s that simple folks!

Be blessed my family & friends and I pray the Lord's total favor overshadows you this very hour.  

Love you all!
Cyndy

FROM RAGS TO RICHES

Moses was an awesome example of someone with strong faith. Remember the story?

Pharaoh was fearful because the Israelites were starting to outnumber the Egyptians. And so he sent out an order to kill all Israelite babies. In an attempt to protect her son, Moses’ mother placed him in a basket and sent him down the Nile River. She watched closely as Pharaoh’s daughter pulled him from the waters and claimed him as her own. But when Moses got older and realized he was really an Israelite, he made a decision that would change his life forever.

Hechose to follow The Lord instead of enjoying the worldly riches he had grown accustom too. Let’s face it folks, he could of had it all since he was raised the son of Pharaoh's daughter. And yes, it appears that Moses literally went from rags to riches from a simple little boat ride down the river. But we are told in Hebrews 11:24-26 NLT, "It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward.”

You might think, really? That’s faith that he went from rags to riches and then back to rags again?

Oh contraire, my friends. The Holy Spirit revealed to me that the true rags were the riches of this world Pharaoh & his daughter had to offer Moses. Only when Moses chose to acknowledge his true identity in the Lord did he become rich.

God’s word reminds us in Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV,“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

And so I ask you my friends, what great reward are you looking for? Trusting in what the world has to offer you here on earth? What treasures are you clinging too? "He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage." Proverbs 11:28 NKJV

Looking to everything & everyone other than God to meet your needs? Matthew 6:8 NKJV tells us, “Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”

Are you lacking the faith to trust God and believe what His word tells you? Maybe you’ve faced hard times lately and your faith has been shaken. Let me encourage you to take time right now and ask the Lord to renew your faith in Him. Remember Hebrews 11:6 NKJV says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Look ahead just like Moses did and see your great reward. Then watch how God blesses you as you diligently seek Him.

Be blessed my family & friends and walk in the Lord’s total favor!

Love you all,

Cyndy

IF JESUS WAS TEMPTED......

Ever have one of those days where you almost jeopardized your character?  Well you’re not alone!  I had one of those days just this past week as I struggled with a temptation that came my way. For a moment there, I actually stopped and wondered if there was scripture that would justify me “if” I gave in to this temptation.  But I knew without doubt it would be a wrong decision; one that would have not only damaged my character but would have completely destroyed my witness as a Christian. 

In an attempt to run away from acknowledging this temptation, the thought even went thru my head to just skip Monday evening prayer; a time I look forward to on a weekly basis. But without fail, the Holy Spirit prompted me to go.  I knew in my heart that I needed to be there if for no other reason but to lay this temptation at the Lord's feet.  I am reminded and grateful that as a child of the Most High God, I have the right to enter into His throne room with a boldness and assurance that He is there.  He understands my weakness and He is eager to take that struggle away from me once I purpose it in my heart to let it go and give it completely to Him.

Hebrews 4:15-16 NLT tells us, “This High Priest of ours (Jesus) understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”

Maybe you think you’re above temptation to do wrong because you consider yourself a stable, seasoned Christian. But consider this my friend.  If temptation came to Jesus, how much more will it come to those of us who are weak within our own strength? It is only by the Power of the Holy Spirit that we are strengthened to do that which pleases Him. 

Trust me when I say that admitting I actually stopped and wondered if there was scripture that would justify me was not an easy thing to do.  I shared it because it’s important to understand that if we need to manipulate scripture to justify our actions, then something is wrong with what we want to do. The Apostle Paul warns Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 NLT , “In the last days there will be very difficult times.  For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly."  He further explains “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” 2 Timothy 3:16 NLT

It’s important to understand that regardless if we justify our actions by manipulating scripture, we are still be held accountable for our choices; especially if they don’t line up with the Word of God. 

Proverbs 21:2 NLT warns us saying “People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart."  So don’t think you can flirt & give into temptation and it not be revealed in the end.  Even thought we may fool those around us, Hebrews 4:13 NLT says “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and He is the one to whom we are accountable.”   

Reality folks!  If Adam & Eve couldn’t hide the fact that they gave into temptation and ended up disobeying the Lord, what makes us think we can?   Genesis 3 NLT

Remember……..

If you find that you have to manipulate God’s word to gratify your flesh, then something is wrong.  Why not take time right now to enter into His throne room with a boldness and assurance that He is there.  He understands your weakness and He is eager to take that struggle away from you once you purpose it in your heart to let it go and give it completely to Him.

It’s that simple folks!

Be blessed my family & friends!  I pray the Lord’s total favor overshadows you as you continue to seek His face!

Love you all,

Cyndy

ACTS

Have you taken time today to tell The Lord how much you love Him or did you simply hand Him your “Lord, Please Do List"? You know the one I’m talking about. It’s just like your “honey do list”; except this one contains your wants& needs for today that only the Lord can provide. Maybe it contains a physical healing, financial provision or possibly mending on a relationship.

Whatever the case may be, it’s important we remember that He is our Lord and Savior; not our personal servant. It’s important we understand the Lord is there for more than meeting our needs or providing our every heart’s desire.

God desires that we have a personal relationship with Him and that above all else, we will take time to worship & adore Him for who He is. He desires that our relationship with Him is more than mere words, uttered with selfish desires of our needs being met. He wants to know that He is first in our lives and that whether or not He answers our prayers the way we want Him too, we will love & trust Him regardless of our circumstance. He wants to know that we see Him as all sufficient and that we hold no one else above Him.

In Exodus 20:3-6 NLT, the Lord warns us, “You must not have any other god but me. You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.”

If you haven't taken the time today, why not take a moment now and tell The Lord what He means to you? Don’t know how to start? It’s simple. Just remember the word “ACTS” (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving& Supplication).

Start with Adoration. The Lord desires to be honored. He wants to know that we are devoted to him and that we admire Him. He wants us to worship Him.

“Give to the Lord the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come into his presence. Worship the Lord in all His holy splendor.”1 Chronicles 16:29 NLT

Next, take time to Confess your sins too Him. Don’t try to hide your sins. Remember….He already knows everything about you; including your sins. He wants you to admit you’ve done wrong and that you are sincere; wanting to do what is right before Him. So make yourself accountable and ask the Lord to forgive you for your sins.

“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” 1 John 1:9 NLT

Then, give Thanks to the Lord. Remember, once you ask the Lord to forgive you, you are truly forgiven. Nothing else is required and you don’t have to do anything else to be forgiven. Also remember to be thankful for all the blessings, mercy and grace He has already given you.

“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT

And finally there's Supplication, which means to pray and give the Lord your request. Lay your needs, wants and desires before the Lord. Give it all to Him.

“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.” Philippians 4:6-7 NLT

ACTS - It’s that’s simple folks!

Be blessed my family & friends! I pray the Lord’s total favor overshadows you as you continue to seek His face!

Love you all,
Cyndy

Jesus said, “DO NOT BE AFRAID”

A while back ago, during praise & worship at church one evening, I found myself telling the Lord that I was scared to face tomorrow because my flesh seems to be in constant war against my spirit man; my flesh; desiring things of this world; my spirit man desiring only the good & acceptable Perfect Will of God. I just kept saying over & over, “I’m scared! I’m scared! I’m scared”; knowing that only the Lord could hear me.  Shortly after, our music Pastor interrupted praise & worship to remind us all of a story about a synagogue ruler named Jarius who had a daughter that was dying. Jarius asked Jesus to come & heal his daughter. On their way back to Jarius’ home, they were met along the way and were told that his daughter had already died. Jesus said to him, “DO NOT BE AFRAID”.    Mark 5:35-36 (NIV)

I capitalized those words because that is exactly how it smacked me ever so gently in my spirit man; ”DO NOT BE AFRAID”.  Peace flooded my soul; knowing that although I may not be perfect in my walk and I trip up quite often, the Lord was already preparing the way ahead of me. He is truly amazing and I am blessed to serve the only 1 true living God!!!!!

What about you?  Are you yelling on the inside where no one else can hear you, ““I’m scared! I’m scared! I’m scared!”  Has fear gripped your heart and possibly crippled you spiritually?  Be encouraged; the Lord hears you!  We serve a risen Savior, Jesus!  It was He who conquered Hell and the grave!  Remember?  There is NOTHING too difficult for Him; not even what you may be facing today.

Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV) Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Be blessed my family & friends!  I pray you walk in the Lord’s total favor!

Love you all,

Cyndy

 

GO TAKE A BATH!!!!!

“Go take a bath and don't forget to wash behind your ears. And while you are at it, be sure to scrub your dirty ankles too! And ALWAYS wear clean underwear on a daily basis because you never know if you’ll be in an accident and end up in the emergency room.”  Boy does that bring back memories of growing up. I can still hear Mom say it to me & my siblings. And of course; I sounded just like her while raising our three daughters.     

Let me share a little story about one of our daughters; who will remain nameless. She was around 11 or 12 years old and went thru a phase where she not only hated to take a bath but she fought against the idea of one every chance she got.  Regardless of the daily instruction I would give to her to “Go take a bath”; there seemed to always be a battle of the wills; hers & mine. Now get a picture of her stubborn attitude. In an attempt to convince me that a bath wasn’t necessary, she would actually smell her armpits and announce proudly, "I DON’T SMELL"!

And then one day…….”IT” HAPPENED!

When I was at work, I got a phone call and had to rush her to the emergency room with a possible appendicitis.  After a complete cat scan, we found out it was some type of viral infection that needed to run its course.  Unfortunately, she was so sick that they had no choice but to hospitalize her because she couldn’t stop vomiting & was extremely dehydrated.  It wasn’t until after she was placed in her hospital room, laying there practically lifeless that I noticed, not only was her ankles dirty, she was completely filthy and desperately needed a bath. Before you ask, let me just tell you….YES….I took time to bathe my weak, sick little girl right there in her hospital shower.  Why? Because as her Mom; I was having a hard time looking at my daughter in that filthy condition; I love her more than words could ever explain and I knew better than anyone else what was best for my little girl. 

The Lord does the same thing.  He loves us enough to tell us to bathe spiritually every day. And yet, I can’t count the number of times He would send His Holy Spirit to prompt me; take a bath Cyndy; use the scriptures I’ve provided to scrub the dirt and filth off of your mind and make sure you clean all the way around your heart too. Of course I would respond with the same stubborn attitude; denying I was doing anything wrong, finding ways to justify my sin and spiritually smell my armpits trying to convince the Lord that “I don’t smell”. 

And then one day…….”IT” HAPPENED!

Sin took its toll on me and I was becoming spiritually crippled; finding it difficult to focus on the road I had been traveling on.  My vision became blurry and I lost all sense of direction.  How could this have happened?  How could I have wondered so far away from the Lord?  And in desperation I cried out, “Where are you, Lord?  Your word tells me in Joshua 1:5 “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” And yet; when I look for You, I can’t see You.” As my dirty, lifeless “spiritual” body lay there all alone, the Holy Spirit gently reminds me that He is still exactly where I left Him; behind the path I chose to take.  My will won out; but at what price?  If only I had followed His will instead; where would I be and is it possible to get back to His will from here?  Then before I could utter another cry, the Holy Spirit ran a “spiritual cat scan” on me, located all my sin and immediately started mending my wounds; bathing me with His word; reminding me to not stray from His commands and to hide His word in my heart so that I wouldn’t continue sinning against Him.  (Psalm 119:10-11) 

Before I realized it, I slowly started to stand up again; attempting to walk according to God’s word; stumbling along the way and yet sensing the Holy Spirit pick me up as I moved forward; encouraging me to return to the Lord with all my heart; with fasting, weeping & mourning; taking off the “old spiritual” clothes I was wearing (Joel 12:12-13). 

The Holy Spirit also reminded me how important it was to clothe myself with Ephesians 6:10-18, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”

So there you have it; I have no more excuses.  The Lord loves me enough to remind me to take a bath, scrub the dirt and filth off of my mind and make sure I clean all the way around my heart.  Then all I have to do is get dressed in a fresh pair of “’spiritual” clothing He supplies for me on a daily basis.  And then it's up to me; I just need to pick it up and wear it.

Why did He do this for me? Because He is my Heavenly Father; He could not look at me covered in sin & filthy conditions; He loves me unconditionally; and He knows better than anyone else what is best for me; His little girl. 

What road are you on, “Your Will” located on Destruction Boulevard or “His Will” located on the corner of Favor & Blessing’s Highway?  It’s never too late to turn back to Him.  Can't you see?  He’s still where you left Him.

It’s that simple folks.

Be blessed my face book family & friends and walk in the Lord’s total favor!

Love you all,
Cyndy

STICKS & STONES

Do you remember this old saying we learned while growing up?  "Sticks & stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me." Yeah, right!  Who came up with that saying anyway and is it really true?  Not hardly! 

Quite possibly you are a victim of cruel, harsh words from the time you were a child.  When someone called you a name or even implied something bad about you; didn't it hurt?  How easy was it for you to forget those words or do they still ring clear in your ears?  Some words may have wounded you so badly that it has damaged your self esteem and possibly hindered you from the very calling God has placed on your life.

Or maybe you actually resort to name calling; tearing a person down until they are knocked out cold emotionally.  Perhaps that person offended you in some way and the only way you know how to respond is by lashing out with hurtful remarks or names.  

It’s easy to know when I’ve been offended; and much more difficult to see when I’m the offender.  Unfortunately, I can relate very well with both scenarios.  But many times, the Holy Spirit has chastised and convicted me of how I respond to someone in the heat of anger.  And it’s not always a pretty picture. 

God’s is very clear about the words that come out of our mouth.  Did you know that we actually have the power of life and death just with the use of our tongues?  It’s true!   In Proverbs 18:21 NIV it tells us that “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

And the Lord wasn’t just talking about the unbeliever.  Oh contraire, my friend!  He was speaking to those of us that call Him our Lord and Savior.  Don’t believe me? Read it in James 3:9, where it says “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.”

And it’s very easy to justify ourselves by saying, “It’s just the way I am” or “I really didn’t mean anything by what I said or called that person.  They are just words.”  Not so fast brothers & sisters, for you see, God removes that excuse from our lips as well by digging deeper within us; our hearts.  In Luke 6:45 NIV we read, “ A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”   

Simply put; whatever is in our heart will eventually come out.  So the truth is; it’s really a heart issue.  Ouch!  The bad remarks and bad names are buried in our hearts, waiting to come out at the next person that crosses our paths the wrong way.  Not a good thing and definitely does not please the Holy Spirit! 

If you can relate, don’t be discouraged. Rejoice in knowing the Lord loves us enough to reveal our sins and even shows us a way to fix it.  But it does take willingness from you to heed to the Holy Spirit and requires you to be completely honest with yourself.  Simply take a moment before God.  Be honest with Him and confess your sins; then sincerely ask the Lord for His forgiveness.  True repentance will start the healing process.  If possible, take the next step and apologize to those you’ve offended; even if you think they deserved it.  Then make it a habit to pray scriptures like Psalm 51:10 NIV, “Create, in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

 

If your heart is clean before God; the fruits of the Holy Spirit will flow freely from your lips.  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”. Galatians 5:22-23 NIV                                                                                             

It doesn’t get any simpler than that folks! 

Be blessed my family & friends and walk in the Lord’s total favor! 

Love you all!

Cyndy