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

 

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