THE ONLY GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING

Gifts we receive at Christmas no doubt will be nice. We'll enjoy them and possibly treasure some for sentimental reasons. And honestly, some we may not even like. But eventually those gifts will become old and fade away. Eventually they will blend in with all the other materialistic things we may own and just end up being something else that collects dust on a shelf. So we need to heed the warning in Matthew 6:19 NLT where it says, “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.”

And yes, giving and receiving gifts is nice and so I am not suggesting not to give or receive them.  But I do want you to know there is ONE gift that will never grow old and will never go away. And that my family & friends is the gift of eternal life.  It’s the only gift that keeps on giving.

If you already know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, that's awesome! You've already received this special gift!  But don't hoard it for yourself!  Remember to share it with others so that they too can experience all God has in store for them!

Or maybe you just need to make a fresh start with God or possibly you've never received this gift.  Did you know that God loves YOU so much that He gave His One and Only Son to redeem all of us from our sins? And YES! That includes you too! 

Over 2000 years ago, God allowed Jesus to be born of a virgin outside in a manger. You see, even though God owns the world, it wasn't about wealth and materialistic things. God’s only concern and priority was the salvation of people. And so when the time came for Jesus to be sacrificed, God literally stepped back and allowed His One and Only Son to die a horrendous death for you and for me.   And Jesus willingly went to the cross; was crucified; died and was buried!  But oh my friends, it didn’t end at the cross.  On the 3rd day, Jesus arose from the grave and is seated at the right hand of God! He did all this hoping we would make Him Lord of our lives.

All the wealth in the world can’t save you.  Materialistic things can’t save you.  Your job can’t save you.  And other people can’t save you either.    

Jesus reigns as King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

He is the Only One that holds this place of honor!
Jesus is the ONLY ONE that can save you!

So my family & friends, whether this is your first time of accepting Jesus or you need to make a fresh start with God, simply repent of your sins and ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior of your life.  But not just part of it; all of it!  Won’t you accept His gift today?  Not sure what to do after you accept Jesus.  Simply pray this little prayer from Psalms 143:10 NLT "Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing."

And then, my family & friends, you too will have this precious & priceless gift that will last for eternity! No one can ever take it away from you; it cost you nothing; and it will never fade away.

And remember...

It's the only gift that keeps on giving.

Praying God's richest blessings and complete favor over you as you continue to draw close to Him.

Love you all!

Cyndy

"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14 NKJV

 

 

 

 

The Master's Link: JESUS SHOWED UP

The Master's Link: JESUS SHOWED UP: Jesus was quick to forgive....   I think about the woman who was about to be stoned because she was accused of adultery. I can just p...

JESUS SHOWED UP

Jesus was quick to forgive.... 

I think about the woman who was about to be stoned because she was accused of adultery. I can just picture it now: the Pharisees were standing around ready to throw a stone and Jesus showed up. And when Jesus started questioning them, they tried to trap Him into saying something that would incriminate Him too. But Jesus just bends down and starts writing something in the sand.  No clue what He was writing, but personally, I always thought He was writing all the names of the men she committed adultery with.  After all, it does take two to tango.

Yet they wouldn't let up and kept demanding an answer.  So Jesus gave them one that would change the course of that moment.  John 8:7 NLT tells us He stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!”  And the bible tells us that one by one all the Pharisees left.

Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” John 8:10-11 NLT

This is truly an awesome testimony of just how quick God is to forgive us our sins. But folks, sometimes it seems we forget one of the most important things He said to this woman. 

"Go and sin no more." John 8:11 NLT 

Let me encourage you today to make a fresh start with God.  And when you do, let go of the things your flesh craves and cling to the things of God. I promise you....Jesus will show up!

Be blessed my family & friends!

 

Praying the Lord's total favor over-shadows each of you, as you reflect on His love, forgiveness and faithfulness! 

Love you all,

Cyndy 

 

 

 

 

 

FIGHTING YOUR FLESH?

Ever struggle with fighting your flesh in different areas of your life or am I the only one? Don't be fooled.  Struggles come in various sizes and shapes and they come to everyone; regardless of who you may be.   

I can so relate to the Apostle Paul; especially where he shares with us in 2 Corinthians12 NLT about having a thorn in his flesh.  That thorn was Paul’s reminder that he needed the Lord in his life and that in himself, he was not strong. And folks, I am just as weak as Paul and many of you reading this blog today.  I have found that fighting the flesh doesn't work simply by wishing worldly desires away.  Trust me when I tell you I have tried many times; only to fail when I try within my own strength. And quite honestly, it tends to be a daily battle; with some days tougher than others.  You heard me right; just being honest. 

However, I also know that when I cling to Jesus and His word, that is the only time I am successful in choosing what pleases the Lord over what pleases my flesh.  I know without doubt I can lay every emotion, whether good or bad, at the feet of Jesus.  I know He takes every temptation from that moment.  But here’s the key.  I have to be willing to let it go and remove my hands from snatching it back if I really want His help.  And trust me when I say, there are times it takes everything within me to push thru my flesh and in what I want versus what I know to be right in the eyes of God.  So folks, I’m not denying the hold our flesh can have over our spirit man.  That’s why it’s so important to cling to God’s word; reading it daily and allowing it to take deep root within us. We need to allow His word to ultimately make the necessary changes within our hearts and minds; renewing both on a daily basis. 

One of the scriptures I hold tightly too is found in 2 Corinthians12:8-10 NLT, where the Apostle Paul shares, "Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 

Many times I find myself begging the Lord, just like Paul, to take every fleshly temptation or desire away from me too.  However, I only find the strength to walk away from those desires when I quickly obey the prompting of His Holy Spirit.  If I don’t obey quickly, I fall prey to the sins of this world, just like everyone else. 

And in case you may be wondering, there is a middle ground and the bible is very clear about too!  Don’t think you can trick the Lord by pretending you don't struggle in the same way. Don't be fooled.  The Lord knows our very thoughts and every desire within our souls.  He knows everything about us; including our fleshly desires.  

In Revelation3:15-16 NLT, The Lord warns us where He says, "I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!

Folks...don't ride the fence. Don't you think it's time to stop lying to yourself and admit that without the Lord, you too are weak? It's actually liberating to know we don't have to be strong when we have the Lord in our lives. He prefers that we be weak and that we draw our strength only thru Him.   

So why not take a moment right now to make a fresh start with God? It's as simple as repenting of your sins, acknowledging that you need Jesus and asking Him to be The Lord and Savior of your life. 

 

It really is that simple folks! 

 

Be blessed my family & friends. Praying you find strength in the Lord as you cling to His promises found in His word.  Know that His total favor will pour over you with renewed strength  as you continue to draw close to Him.  

 

Love you all!

Cyndy

TOUCH NOT GOD'S ANOINTED

Soon after posting my last blog, THE LITTLE CHURCH UP NORTH, someone asked my thoughts regarding the balance between not “murmuring” and resolving honestly dissenting opinions with leadership. And folks, in my opinion, there is a big difference in resolving honestly dissenting opinions with leadership and the murmuring that goes on in the pews and outside of the church.

First of all, leadership is there for a reason and I honestly believe we need to respect and honor those the Lord puts in authority; whether in a ministry or at work.  Romans 13:1-5 NLT tells us all authority is from God.  Secondly, according to Merriam-Webster dictionary, an opinion is nothing more than a belief, judgment, or way of thinking about something; what someone thinks about a particular thing and it is certainly not considered “fact”.

If the problem is with a particular leader of any sort, (Pastor or teacher), then, here is my stand on it; especially knowing they are called to a higher level of accountability. Preaching or teaching heresy is definitely a problem but should be handled biblically.   Matthew 18:15-17 is the biblical reference I would follow, although I believe these steps should be taken regardless of who it is. If I questioned something I would go to that particular person and ask them (in love) to clarify just in case I took something out of context. I know too well how I could misunderstand something.  Personal experience has shown me how easy it is for a person to speak out of “self”, especially when talking in front of a group of people.  It doesn’t mean they meant to speak it; rather self may have surfaced which happens to everyone since no man (or woman) is perfect.

If it’s about materialistic things like how the church is run, how it’s decorated or anything that has nothing to do with reaching the lost, I honestly can’t find anything that would support folks in the body of Christ to complain just because they don’t like something. Just because a person may or may not like something doesn’t make it right or wrong.  And it certainly doesn’t determine winning souls for the Lord, which should be our first and foremost mission as the body of Christ who claim to be Godly. 

Or maybe the way leadership brings on God’s word isn’t in agreement with someone else; but again, it doesn’t make it wrong.  We have no way of knowing how the Holy Spirit is working in others that may need to hear the sermon the way it was said or done.  Isn’t it best to reach even one lost soul in hopes they accept Jesus instead of being critical about something that adds no value or purpose to someone’s salvation?  As “seasoned Christians” it is our job to sit and intercede with expectation that not one lost soul would leave without making Jesus the Lord of their life.

Honestly folks, if I can’t respect someone in any type of leadership, then, I remove myself from under their leadership.  That includes my job, church ministry or the church all together.  In a church setting, it would be better for someone to leave and find a church that works for them instead of being partakers in causing separation or division and ultimately destroying the church.

Personally, I tend to tread very carefully when it comes to other believers; although honestly, not always successful.  The scripture that comes to mind is Psalms 105:15 where we are warned not to touch God’s anointed. As Christians, no man (or woman) has the right to decide who God anoints and who He doesn’t?  I’d rather err on not touching anyone (even verbally) versus being wrong and stand in judgment before the Lord. Just not worth it to me.

One thing I know for sure - Murmuring, bickering & gossip do nothing but destroy the church and the church family.  

On a final note; one day I was sitting and thinking about the church that closed and I sobbed like a baby before the Lord.  From that moment, The Holy Spirit kept encouraging me to write about it.  But with many attempts, I just couldn’t put it in a normal blog like I was hoping too.  Then one day the Holy Spirit told me to write it again, but this time He said to write a poem and so I did.  Every time I tried proofing the poem, I would break out in tears as I read the Lord’s response to the church.  Although a gentle rebuke, I do think the Lord is calling His children, all of us, to a higher level in unity in Him.

And folks, it really is that simple!

Be blessed my family & friends. Praying God's total blessings and favor pour over you with wisdom, knowledge & understanding as you continue to draw close to Him.

Love you all!

Cyndy

“Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God,” 2 Corinthians 1:21 NKJV

GOSPEL OR HERESY?

Being a Christian isn't about what denomination a person belongs too. Being a Christian is all about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. All churches have man-made doctrine that set ideologies members or partners agree upon. These values should be based according to God's word and not man’s likes or dislikes.

The question we should be asking ourselves is, “Does my church preach according to the gospel or do they preach heresy?

Too many times people depend on the person behind the pulpit to be infallible. However, although held at a higher accountability by God, the truth is, all pastors in all denominations are just as human as everyone else; none are perfect. Many times there is an expectation put on them to be perfect, which isn't possible; nor is it fair to the pastor behind the pulpit.

Folks, there’s only one way to know for sure if the Gospel we are hearing is the true word of God and that is to hold ourselves accountable. Along with hearing the Gospel preached, we need to read & study the scriptures ourselves. The Holy Spirit is more than sufficient and willing to impart wisdom & understanding to anyone who asks. James 1:5 NKJV tells us, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him."

The Gospel is meant to build, encourage, strengthen and even challenge believers to draw closer to the Lord. It’s meant to reach the lost & hurting people of this world to a saving knowledge of the only One that can save their souls; Jesus Christ.

The bible tells us in Romans 3:22-26 NLT, "We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus."

Bottom line –
I have yet to find a perfect person; including myself. So in reality, the lack of perfect people makes it impossible to have a perfect church. It’s all about believing in Jesus and making Him the Lord and Savior of our lives. Salvation nor forgiveness can be earned or bought. And folks, we certainly do not deserve either one. Yet Jesus made it possible for anyone simply by asking Him to be the Lord & Savior of their life. That's all there is too it!

Maybe you don’t have this personal relationship with Him or maybe you just need to make a fresh start. My friend, it's not too late. Take a moment now; repent of your sins and invite Jesus to be a part of your life. You need to do nothing more to earn His love or forgiveness. The price was already paid the day Jesus bore our sins on the cross. And remember – By asking Jesus to be the Lord of your life, it puts you in right standing with God; simply because He loves you more than anything.

It really is that simple, folks!

Be blessed my family & friends. Praying God's total blessings and favor as you continue to draw close to Him.

Love you all!
Cyndy

"But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy." James 3:17 NKJV

GOD IS QUICK TO FORGIVE

Has fear gripped your heart and caused spiritual paralysis within your soul? Do the circumstances surrounding you seem to dictate the situation you find yourself in this very hour?  1 Peter 5:6-7 NLT, reminds us where it says, "So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you."   

That's right folks! There is nothing you can't bring before God!  He said to bring ALL; not part of or just the things you think He knows about...Bring ALL your worries & cares to Him. 

If guilt & condemnation is stopping you, then, understand this truth - there's a big difference between conviction and condemnation.  

Just before Jesus was going to be crucified, He told His disciples to be expecting One (the Holy Spirit) that would come after Him.  In John 16:5-8 NLT He said, "But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate (Holy Spirit) won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment."

Simply put – He’ll convict our hearts in hopes we would repent before it’s too late.

Condemnation, on the other hand, is nothing but a lie from Satan.  He uses it to leave you feeling hopeless.  In reality, it has already acted as judge & jury against you; keeping you forever in the pit of gloom and despair. 

So you see, my family & friends, conviction thru the Holy Spirit brings hope of being restored and brought to a place of right standing before God.  It gives us a chance to see the errors of our ways and ask God to forgive us. We need to only repent and turn away from the sin that separates us from God.

And folks, forgiveness is as quick as asking God to forgive us.

GOD IS QUICK TO FORGIVE….yet too many times, we don’t ask because we think what we’ve done is unforgiveable.  Nothing can be farther from the truth.  Again, another lie from the pit of hell. Just one more thing Satan wants you to believe in hopes to keep you separated from the Lord.

So let me encourage you today! Cling to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Only then will you be able to see clear enough to move out of your present circumstance.  And remember- with The Lord...there is always renewed hope! "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 4:7 NLT

And remember -

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."  2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

Be blessed my family & friends. Praying as you heed to the conviction of the Holy Spirit, the favor of God will pour over you with an overwhelming assurance of His love, peace and forgiveness! 

Love you all!

Cyndy

THE LITTLE CHURCH UP NORTH

The little church up north held service twice a week.
It welcomed one, it welcomed all; the arrogant and meek.
The pastor preached with passion; reached the lost & hurting folks.
But soon there'd be the doubters, throwing jabs and some threw pokes.

The bickering and murmuring filtered thru the little church.

Gossip spread like wild fire, there was no need to search.
The pastor grew discouraged; every moment with dismay;
Yet sought The Lord for answers in hopes He'd make a way.

And as the Holy One looked down with tears upon His face;

He cried out loud so very grieved; "My house is in disgrace."
"My children, look around you and remember what you know.
The seeds you’re planting lately are never going to grow."

"My home is for my children who will live in one accord."

But the grumbling just continued; as they turned a deaf ear to The Lord.
And sad to say, as the story goes; the church couldn't take much more.
The little church up North, my friends, was forced to close it's doors.
                                     ©Cynthia E. Bagaglia-Wood / October 24, 2013

 “I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.” 1 Corinthians 1:10 NLT

Be blessed my family & friends. Praying the Lord pours out a fresh anointing of His complete favor and understanding as you continue to seek Him above all things.

Love you all!
Cyndy

CALLED TO GO OR TO SOW? That is the question!

Folks, it takes a lot of faith, courage and a close walk with The Lord to leave your comfort zone and go into unfamiliar places to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Many face rejection & at times persecution and even death; yet they choose to trust & obey God...and they go. Since the beginning of time, God has called various people to leave their homeland, family & friends to share His salvation plan with the lost & hurting people within the US and other nations.

Jonah was one of those men. God called Jonah to go to Nineveh. Out of fear, Jonah attempted to hide from God and tried to outwit God by running in the opposite direction. And as we are told, he found himself out in the middle of the sea where he would soon be tossed off the ship only to be swallowed by a large fish (whale), just to get to where God wanted him to go. Jonah 1-4 NIV

In Matthew 10:8-10 NIV, Jesus tells his disciples, "Freely you have received; freely give. Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts— no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep.

Jesus, also told them in Luke 10:2-4 NLT, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields. Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves."

Bottom line...If God calls us to go, then we need to go!

And likewise- If we are not called to go, then we are called to sow.

 

Yes! Those that don’t go have a vital role in sending missionaries to where the Lord sends them. That's right folks! When we claim to be followers of Jesus, then, we have also been called to reach those that don't know Him. When others are willing to go, the least we can do is sow into their ministry with prayer, financial support and whatever the Lord lays upon our hearts. Otherwise, there are some that may never hear about Jesus.  

Apostle Paul addresses those who supported him while he traveled sharing the love of Jesus. ”^“Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty. As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once.  I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.” Philippians 4:14-17 NLT

Bottom line folks – If God calls us to sow, then, we need to sow.

Question is.... "Which one has The Lord called you too?"

Be blessed my family & friends. Praying the Lord pours out a fresh anointing of His complete favor as you continue to seek Him above all things.

Love you all!

Cyndy

GOD'S GOT "THIS"! Whatever your "this" is!

Have you ever looked at the men & woman from years ago. I'm talking about people like Noah, who built an ark before he saw the rain.  Even though he was ridiculed by others he had faith as he obeyed  & trusted God. Or Sarah...how she trusted God for the promise she would have a son even though she was old and beyond child bearing years.  And there's Abraham, when his faith was tested, he was willing to give up his promised son Isaac,  because he had confidence God would raise him up again. Or Moses, who refused to be called the son of Pharaohs daughter.  

What about all the men & women that passed thru the Red Sea? Can you imagine how horrendous the waves must have been as they hovered over all those passing thru? Yet they didn't look back; rather they kept their eyes fixed on God's promise on where God was leading them.

We are told in Hebrews 11:36-40 NIV, "Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect."

What are you trusting God for today? Have faith and believe He has everything in His control. It may not be the answer you were hoping for; but it will be the right one....if you truly believe God's perfect will is best for you. 

Remember..we see our present circumstance while He sees what's up ahead.

Bottom line my family & friends,,,

Don't future trip; picturing what's going to happen. That will only harvest fear which is the complete opposite of faith!

 

Praying God pours out a fresh anointing of His Holy Spirit as you lean on Him and trust -

 

God's got this...Whatever your "this" is!

 

Be blessed my family & friends!
 

Love you all!

Cyndy

"Guide my steps by your word, so I will not be overcome by evil." Psalms 119:133 NLT

 

 

 

 

LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT…..

As I drove into work the other day, the skies were beautiful with rays of red streams sporadically filtering all around. I sort of chucked and said to myself, “Red at night, sailors delight. Red in the morning, sailors take warning.” And of course this saying usually meant either the weather was going to be good or storms were heading our way.

Soon after, the thought went thru my head, “How is it we can look at the skies and discern the weather; yet walk around lacking understanding of the signs of the times?

Remember the story about Esau and what happened to him in a moment of weakness where he felt the need to fulfill his own satisfaction? He begged his brother Jacob for Jacob’s bowl of chili (red stew) all because he “thought” he was starving. And so we are told Esau sold his birthright for that bowl of chili and Jacob inherited all the blessings of the firstborn child instead. Genesis 25:29-34 NLT

Simply put folks – Esau chose a momentary pleasure to gratify his flesh; and what a price he paid!

Many of us may look at Esau and say, “Man what were you thinking” and yet we tend to do the same thing ourselves. At least I know I have before and quite possibly will do again, simply because I’m far from perfect. To be honest, there have been times I’ve simply jumped ahead of the Lord and made decisions I would soon regret; whether in my relationships, finances or anything else that gave my flesh top priority. I can’t count the number of times I’ve been guilty of “choosing” something worldly over the things of God; even at times ignoring the answer, “No”. (Something most of us don’t like hearing.)

But my family & friends, we are told in Hebrews 12:16, 17 NLT, "Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears."

Folks- Don't take your birthright as God's son or daughter for granted or trade it for the pleasures of this world! It’s just not worth it!

Make no mistake about it. Whether you believe it or not, the day is coming when Jesus will return. The bible tells us He will come like a thief in the night 2 Peter 3:10 NLT; when we least expect it. What will He find you doing when He returns; looking for Him or fulfilling the desires of your flesh & heart?

Maybe you used to follow the Lord, but have been sucked up in this ungodly world. Folks, it’s easy to do when we take our eyes off of God and ignore what His Word tells us.

Remember– As Christians, we live in this world, but, we are not of this world and the world is not our home.

And best of all – It’s not too late to make a fresh start with God!

“Like a thief in the night, redemption takes flight!”

“When the thief's out of sight, deceived will find plight”

Don’t miss out!

Why not take the time right now and ask Jesus to be the Lord of your life. It’s not about religion.

Remember -

It’s all about a personal relationship with Him.

Be blessed my family & friends! I pray the Holy Spirit pours out a fresh anointing of His truth and understanding as you continue to seek Him daily!

Love you all!

Cyndy

"And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him— speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction." 2 Peter 3:15-16 NLT

 

The Hem of Your Garment

At the hem of Your garment, when I kneel down and pray;

You show me Your mercy, as I live day by day.

I’ll cling to Your heal so I don’t jump ahead;

And wait for Your promises, just as You said.

Life is a journey, as I have concluded.

Yet, Your “Perfect Will” at times I’ve eluded.

At the hem of Your garment, if I stumble and fall;

You’ll be there to hold me throughout it all.

Keep one step ahead as You push through the gravel.

And keep clear the road You are having me travel.

Please speak to my heart; let Your Spirit fill my soul.

Then I’ll know Thou art with me, wherever I go.

Your grace lasts a lifetime; Your love I receive;

And by Your great mercy, You’ll help me believe.

Please show me Your path as I go on my way.

Then, guide me and teach me to “Trust and Obey”!!!

At the hem of Your garment when I kneel down to pray;

As Your love filters in and You show me “Your” way,

I’ll cling to Your heal so I don’t jump ahead;

And wait for Your promises, just as You said.

Cynthia E. Bagaglia-Wood ©February 2000

 

Based on the time I wrote this poem, I was going thru a difficult time in my life; trying to hold on to promises God had given me. But to be quite honest, I can’t remember exactly which promise I was expecting at the time. The good news is I had Jesus to cling too. And I knew if only I would hold on to Him, He would give me the strength to endure until His promise came to pass. 

Throughout the bible we hear of so many that waited & received promises from the Lord. Yet the one that sticks heavy in my mind is the one we read in Genesis about Abram (Abraham)& Sarai (Sarah); two people unable to have children of their own and way beyond childbearing years; yet God promised Abraham offspring; as many as the number of stars. And although it seemed impossible, Abraham held tightly to God’s promise. Oh it’s true; he & Sarah grew impatient and jumped ahead of God; tried to make His promise come to pass quicker, in their own way which only created a mess that would last for many years afterward. But that didn’t change God’s promise. It did however; throw obstacles in Abraham & Sarah’s path. Hurdles they just couldn’t jump over easily or quickly enough to move on with their own life. Remember the story? Sarah convinced her husband to have sexual relationship with her maidservant, Hagar. What on earth was Sarah thinking? Although the thought of this blows me away, I can’t help but wonder how desperate she must have felt to want a child she could call her own. None the less, there are always consequences when we jump ahead of God; and as a result that would prove to be very detrimental to everyone involved; including Hagar and Ishmael; Abraham’s son with Hagar. Abraham & Sarah’s decision to jump ahead of God cost them greatly. Yet, even this bad decision did not change their promise from God. The Lord was faithful and still counted Abraham as a righteous man.

About 13 years later, God appeared to Abraham and made a covenant with him. Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.” Genesis 17:15-16 (NKJV) 

And in God’s timing, Sarah gave birth to Isaac.

Have you been anticipating a promise from God; one from long ago? Did doubt & fear creep into your heart; tantalizing you to turn & run in the opposite direction? Or maybe you grew tired waiting on God to move and you’ve taken the promise into your own hands; trying to make it come to pass in your own way and a lot sooner. Whatever the case may be, don’t lose heart. Admit to the Lord that you jumped ahead of Him and seek forgiveness with a true repentant heart. God hasn’t forgotten what He promised you. Be open to accept His promise in His way & His timing. Only then will it be made complete and come to pass.

For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.”And so, after he had patiently endured, he (Abraham) obtained the promise.” Hebrews 6:13-15 (NKJV)

Wait patiently on God; patiently endure!

And no, it’s not always that simple folks; but it is possible.

Remember; with God ALL things are possible! Matthew 19:26 (NKJV)

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

Love you all,
Cyndy

(Picture from a blog posted by Susan Cushman)

MARY, MARY, QUITE CONTRARY! How does your garden grow?

Oh, if only our garden could grow as easily as saying a nursery rhyme. But we all know that’s not reality. It takes a lot of hard work to plant a successful garden. There have been times when I planted my garden and the ground wasn’t plowed sufficiently before planting the seeds and I didn’t take the time to pull all the weeds that were in the way either. I just sort of mulched it all together and pretended the weeds didn’t exist. After all, it was way too much work and I found every angle to cut corners just so I could get my garden planted. I counted on the rain to water my garden and simply forgot to check the moisture on the soil when it was scorching hot outside. Yet, I couldn’t wait for the “fruit of my labor” to start paying off. What a big, big, mistake! It wasn’t long before the weeds took over and choked most of my beautiful tomato plants; and what wasn’t choked out by weeds was all dried up from lack of water. Needless to say, my garden barely produced any fruit that year. At the end of harvest time I reaped what I sowed, which was very little, simply because I chose to be lazy and take the easy way out.

Sounds a lot like the parable Jesus shares in Mark 4:3-8 (NKJV)  where He says, “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow.  And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it. Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty and some a hundred.”

And so it leaves the question in my mind, what happens with the seed (the Word of God) when I hear it preached? Do I allow it to go in one ear and out the other; allowing the birds of the air (Satan) to come and steal it away before it even has a chance to take root in my spirit man? Or does the Word appear to get into my spirit man only until an issue or crisis comes up; causing me to forget the scriptures when I need them the most? Has my life been so consumed with worldly things to the point that when God's Word attempts to take root, it quickly gets choked out by the weeds & thorns I have inside of me because of existing sin?

It’s so easy to take God’s Word for granted and twist it around to fit our own situations. I know; because I’m guilty of doing it myself; especially when I first decided to follow The Lord, over 30 years ago. Truth is; I was trying to find ways to justify my actions. But just because I twisted scripture in order to validate my choices didn’t change what God’s Word was saying to me. His Word remained the same; regardless of how I choose to apply it to my life. Hebrews 13:8 (NIV) “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

Take a moment now; search your heart and ask yourself, “How does my garden grow? Am I applying God’s Word in my life? Are the seeds that have been planted in my spirit man being watered so that they can grow, or have they been choked out by the choices I’ve made along the way?" Don’t’ lose hope in what the Holy Spirit reveals.  Simply start pulling the weeds and get rid of them completely.

Trust the Holy Spirit to reveal truth to you along the way and be open to His direction. There may be thistles that need to be uprooted; something that appears to be ok; but has jagged edges that could ultimately destroy your crops. When the good seed (God's Word) starts to grow in you, you will reap a harvest in due season.  Be patient and trust the Lord! Don’t let the birds of the air (Satan), to steal your harvest!

And remember –

If you find it’s necessary to twist a scripture and maneuver it around your particular situation in hopes it justifies you, a loved one or friend, you are most likely heading towards sin if not already in the midst of it. I can’t suggest strong enough that you stop and consider maneuvering your situation around until it lines up with the Word of God instead! It's important you understand you can’t expect God's total peace, blessings & favor if you don’t heed to the voice & direction of the Holy Spirit.

It’s that simple folks!

Be blessed my family & friends. Lifting you up in prayer and standing in agreement that as you seek His perfect will for your life, the Lord will pour out His favor to overflowing!

Love you all!
Cyndy