Neighborhood Watch

Reblogged from Living Simply In Abundance:

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Photo Source: wordinthewilderness.org

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. (1 Peter 5:8, 9 ESV)

Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,

My prayer for you today is to be alert, waking up each day you are given with a mindset that evil is always lurking; always searching for a crack to seep into to mess up your day.

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Compassion--In Honor of Mothers Everywhere

Reblogged from godschick:

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She wakes up as morning light leaks through cracks in the walls of her home. Outside her door, the neighborhood comes alive. She lives in one of the largest slums in Africa.

Her two oldest daughters wake and help her with chores. Her son grabs his water jug and begins his two hour walk for drinking water. Her baby cries.

Read more… 546 more words

May our eyes see, ears hear and hearts move to do something for others besides ourselves. This Mothers Day share is full of love and compassion. God bless all mothers around the world.

Philippians 4:6-7

Reblogged from processingtheword:

Here's my version of Philippians 4:6-7:

Stop worrying. Give every single thing you're anxious about and fearful of to God...talk, cry out, whisper, be silent, sing, groan...however you like to do it. Just lay it all out before Him. He hears you and will answer, so go ahead and thank Him in advance. Move forward in faith and thankfulness, praising Him.

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Solid Foundation: Who’s Building Your House?

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (II Timothy 3:16, 17 NKJV)

No other ground I know to stand on that will not sink is Christ. He is the Solid Rock, the Cornerstone, the great Foundation that were are able to affix ourselves to without falling if we so choose. Choosing our own paths may provide a temporary fix but we will ultimately be back at square one. Choosing the wrong foundation will have us stressed out, angry, confused, bitter and perhaps even destructive towards ourselves and others.

There is no peace. No true peace and contentment when we are our own guide, builder and god. We cannot always blame others or Satan for things not working out.

Is it ever taken into account that things may be going wrong for a reason? Maybe God closed a door for your own good or it could even be that its just not the right time.

Questions.
Are we attempting to solve things in our own thinking? Are we speeding up the process because we cannot wait on God and His timing? Do we feel that God has not given us the answer(s) that we want?

Let’s pause and think about that shall we….

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” (Matthew 7:24-27 NKJV)

We should not continue to keep doing things in our own thinking and understanding when we do nothing but fail time and time again in the end. We cannot work in our own strength when we will eventually grow weary in doing so.

The Bible is our manual for life. It should not be pulled out and used like cake for special occasions catering to the quick fix “God I need You real quick, so can I get some help?” type of meal. God isn’t fast food.

Instead, it is our Daily Bread. Jesus is our daily bread. The Word will feed us, nourish us, provide peace, give us joy, hope, comfort, healing, understanding and correction along the way. To have righteous living and to be holy we need to align our ways with His. God is love. He is our eternal Word that sustains us through all circumstances.

Who is your Builder? Self or Christ?

Life will bring ups and downs. We cannot avoid them. What can take place is an unsurpassable peace residing within us that Christ himself provides. We will not become consumed with doubt and fear or filled with anxiety if we are standing on the Solid Foundation that keeps us from falling or sinking.

May we look to God at all times rather than when it accommodates us.

“I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. (Psalms 121:1-3 NKJV)

Our Lord will not fail us. He can not error. His building codes have been tested and founded to be true and stamped with approval.

Who wouldn’t want a lifetime guarantee?

Be encouraged today as the the Master Architect builds your home with loving and supportive care. ❤

Pierced through Darkness

Photo Source: Divine Creations Photography

 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. ⁴ In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵ And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend^[a] it.

John’s Witness: The True Light

⁶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷ This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. ⁸ He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. ⁹ That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.^[b]

¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. ¹¹ He came to His own,^[c]and His own^[d] did not receive Him. ¹² But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: ¹³ who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:1-13)

Jesus came to this world to save the sick; the lost souls who do not realize that they can come up out of darkness through Him. Salvation is found in The Light. Jesus is The Light. He chose to die for us and our sins so that we could be made blameless before the Father.

Isaiah 53:5

^{But He was pierced because of our transgressions,
crushed because of our iniquities;
punishment for our peace was on Him,
and we are healed by His wounds.}

 

There is no greater love on this earth. Jesus made a way for you and me. He laid down His life for ours. We can come up out of darkness and into the marvelous light for He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. If you don’t know Him, I ask you to try Him for yourself. I did. I wanted to be set free from darkness. I wanted eyes to see, ears to hear and a life that was pleasing unto Him. The chains of bondage were broken, the veil on my eyes have been removed and my deafened ears can hear the sweet melody of truth that has set me free. Now I can see the light.

You can too.

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. (John 15:13)

These miles we've walked and the cross we carry

Reblogged from godschick:

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It's May Day. The sun rises and spring's arrival brings light. Some of our legs have carried us over some long hard winters.

The ground we've walked has bruised our soles and etched our souls. Like years that callous our feet, these miles have put deep cracks in our hearts. Like cracked pots that leak water, we leak life and grace.

Read more… 759 more words

Trust and Obey: Life of the Thirsty

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (John 7:38 KJV)
Photo credit: self/Divine Creations Photography

Daniel 2:21

New King James Version (NKJV)

²¹And He changes the times and the seasons;
He removes kings and raises up kings;
He gives wisdom to the wise
And knowledge to those who have understanding.

God surely has a divine way of drawing us to Him through various cirmcumstances. Some of us will yeild right away and some of us won’t. I can honestly say that in the last week I have gone through some challenging times emotionally and physically. Good and not so good.

Routinely my family and I always have morning prayer together before we part ways for the day. Christ Jesus is our Foundation. We cannot stand without Him in our lives. This world is so broken and full of evil and idolatry. It would be selfish of us to only pray for ourselves so we always ask the Lord to work in the lives of others who are going through something whether it’s here in America or in another part of the world. My kids pray for their schools, teachers and classmates as well as themselves, asking that God be with them as a light shining around those they encounter personally or from a distance. They know that being a Christian that they are set apart when they choose to live for Him and not others.

In general, it is hard to see people self destructing. My heart aches to see people I love and care about just give up on life, to give up on God, to give up fighting for what’s right especially when it is so easy to follow the ways of the world and what it’s doing.

I have been very sensitive the last couple of days seeing the hand of God moving in my emotions and thought pattern. I am naturally a sensitive person who can cry “at the drop of a dime.” (is that saying correct?) My Lord surely has heard my grief and my prayers. He has also heard my praise and rejoicing. Things have been changing to a point that I really cannot put into words how His PEACE has kept me daily. I have cried out and asked the Lord to provide; to make my path known and clear. I have asked for wisdom and courage. His strength carries me in such a way that I cannot help but sing praises unto Him even if the water seems troubled.

Time after time God will remind me that He is in control. Not I. He will allow things to happen for a reason. I have to step aside and allow Him to do what He does best. All I have to do is trust and obey.

Some things have been going on in the life of my family back home. It has bothered me, it has even angered me and it has also brought me to tears. One thing I have not ceased to stop doing is praying. Not just for my parents and siblings but that also for extended family. As the days have passed and I continue to seek the Lord, I am starting to see more of my purpose and what He has called me to. My life at times seems to be an open book. This transparency seems to pour out with more courage as I share my faith, my hope and my trust in the Lord even when I fall or see myself falling into fear.

Amongst many things that I have faced, I have not stopped praising the Lord. Even when I do not see the outcome or have seen the fruit of my labor for some years now, I STILL trust The Almighty to work things out as He sees fit.

The seeds have been planted.

“Have Your way Lord! May I not trust in my own thoughts, plans and understanding but may they be of Yours for they far outweigh mine!”

Recently I learned that my dear mother has been bleeding internally and has had to get a blood transfusion. That stopped me dead in my tracks as I am listening over the phone to what has been going on. The first thing I thought was Cancer because she has battled various types since I was 13yrs of age. This woman has gone through some stuff. While I have yet to know what is going on, I am relieved that she is doing better. It’s hard not being close to home. She lives in Ohio and I in North Carolina. One thing I rest in is that prayer travels instantly. I do not have to be with someone in the physical for God to hear my prayers and before He lays His mighty hand upon them.

There is POWER in prayer. There is POWER in Jesus’ name which is above every name. Hallelujah!!! When I pray, it’s like a fire shut up in my bones that I just have to release. I can’t keep Jesus to myself. I can’t keep the goodness of the Lord covered. I have to let it out so that the world may know whether they receive it or not.

Dear reader, I encourage you to seek God and praise Him for the unknown and the unanswered. Remember that His timing is not ours and even if He does not answer know that there is a reason behind. So do not worry about things you cannot change. Pray and move on.

Hebrews 11:1

[ By Faith We Understand ] Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

I hope you take a little time to listen to the words of the songs below. May they minister to your heart the way they did mine this morning.

Blessings,

~Terra

Related post: Bring the Rain