Beloved, I Hear You

 

Beloved, 

I hear you. The Holy Spirit groans to me for the healing of those whom you are praying for. I love you and your family. You shall be and are protected by your faith. Stay in the shadow of Father God. He is protecting you. He hears the Holy Spirit groaning through me. The Holy Spirit feels the weight of your care and concern for others. Give me that burden so you may feel joy. I will carry the burden. Let your light shine!

Romans 8:26 NKJV

[26] Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 

Psalms 17:7-8 NKJV

[7] Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You From those who rise up against them. [8] Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings,

Matthew 11:28 NKJV

[28] Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 

Trust in the Lord : Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

Trust. Believe He is taking care of everything. Have no doubt. Believe this 100%. Have no doubt.

And lean not on your own understanding

Do not do it my way. My way takes me out of His way. Have faith and do not try and deal with life on my own.

In all your ways acknowledge Him

Talk to Him. All. The. Time.  Say thank you for blessings. Ask for help in all things. That's not weakness. It's strength. Ask for guidance today in all things. Acknowledge that God is first in all my activities. Pray. Talk. Share.

And He shall direct your paths.

Shall means will. He will direct my paths. Right now. He is in charge. He is the director. I am not. 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV

Standing on Psalm 91

Bill and I have adopted Psalm 91 to stand on as the world goes through the COVID-19 pandemic. Pray this scripture prayer with us.

Psalm 91 Prayer

The LORD is my refuge and my fortress. I will trust Him. He will keep me from the traps of Satan and from the perilous pestilence. He will cover me with His feathers and keep me under his wings. His truth will be my shield and buckler. I will not be afraid of the terror by night. I will not be afraid of the pestilence that walks in darkness. I will not be afraid of the destruction that lays waste even if thousands fall by my side and ten thousand falls by my right. I will not be touched. I will watch with my eyes and see the reward of the wicked. Because I have taken refuge with the LORD, no evil shall befall me, nor will any plague come near my home. God has given His angels charge over me to keep me in all my ways. The angels will bear me up so that I will not injure myself. I will keep God on high because he has set his love on me and he has known my name. He shall call on me and I will answer him. I will be with him in times of trouble. I will live a long life for him. I pray this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ who is my Lord and Savior. Amen. 

Psalm 91

1. He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust."
3. Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence.
4. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler
5. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6. Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
7. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. 
8. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. 
9. Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, 
10. No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; 
11. For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.
12. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
14. Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high because he has known My name.
15. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.
16. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.

Verse of the Week - Galatians 2:9

God had a plan for each of the disciples. 

Paul and Barnabus were to go to the Gentiles to preach Jesus' message and the other disciples were preaching to the Hebrew people. 

God has a plan for me today.

Today, I am reaching out to my sisters-in-faith and encouraging them to pray and listen for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised this wise counselor would come so that we would not be orphans. Amen? Part of God's plan for me is to help my sisters stand firm in their faith. I know this.

Additionally, I am called to write.

I don't know why, but I am being obedient. I may not be the greatest writer of all time, but I am being obedient. My writing is based on my faith and how I arrived at this point in my faith journey. Anytime I don't write for a week or two, the Holy Spirit calls me back to it. Yes, I feel discouraged at times, but my husband reminds me that what I am doing isn't about reaching masses of people. I am writing to be obedient to God. Hopefully, what I write will help someone but the point is----I am being obedient when I can't see a reward for my commitment. I am being obedient when I don't understand the plan. 

John 14:16-18

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 

Psalm 27:14

 14 Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD.

30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 28

30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 24

30 Days of Thanksgiving - Day 18

The Right Hand of God - Psalm 110:1

Sitting is a resting posture:
after services and sufferings, to give law, to give judgment. It is a remaining posture: he sits like a king for ever. 
All his enemies are now in a chain, but not yet made his footstool. 
And his kingdom, being set up, shall be kept up in the world, in despite of all the powers of darkness. 
Has the gospel of Christ been to us the power of God in to salvation? 

• Has his kingdom been set up in our hearts? 
• Are we his willing subjects? Once we knew not our need of his salvation, and we were not willing that he should reign over us. 
• Are we willing to give up every sin, to turn from a wicked, ensnaring world, and rely only on his merits and mercy, to have him for our Prophet, Priest, and King? 
• Do we desire to be holy? 

To those who are thus changed, the Saviour's sacrifice, intercession, and blessing belong to the the Lord through Jesus Christ. 
adapted from Matthew Henry's Bible Commentary

Satan the Movie Star - James 4:7

         
In the final battle of Transformers: The Movie
Optimus Prime and Megatron stand face to face with each other. After a moment, Optimus Prime tells his enemy,"One  shall stand, one shall fall." The battle begins and the rock n roll lyrics tell us, "you got the power" as the giant machines crash, smash, and bash each other. Optimus Prime and Megatron hurl each other around until finally, Megatron is lying on the ground and a wounded Optimus Prime is the weary winner.
Satan the Movie Star
Christians have succumbed to a movie version of Satan that portrays him as being a big, powerful enemy who can easily toss God's people around in a battle. We have to sweat and struggle to win against our towering, formidable enemy just like Optimus Prime struggled against Megatron. However, this is not true! We Christians have been deceived, and who is the biggest deceiver there is? That is right, Satan.
A Good Soldier Will Submit, or Follow Orders
The word, submit, has a military meaning. A good soldier follows the orders of his commanding officer without questioning him. A good soldier resists, or stands fast in a battle because he is following his orders. Our weapons are not fists, feet, knives, guns, or other weapons. Our weapons are knowledge of the Bible, prayer, and reliance on God.
Submit to God
When Christians submit to God and resist the devil, the devil will flee. Yes, that's right, Satan will take flight, fly away, scamper off, or run away.  This is not just an assurance from a Biblical writer; it is a promise of God. So let us get this television movie version of Satan OUT of our thinking. It is a lie. Again, I ask you, who is the biggest deceiver and liar in the Bible? That is right, it is our foe who rules this world. BUT he cannot defeat us when we have submitted to our heavenly Father and resisted him. When a spirit-led, coheir of the heavenly kingdom is wearing the armor of God and stands up against the enemy; he will flee, run away, take flight, or scamper off. Satan cannot make Christians do anything.
And the Victor Is A Child of God
I feel like standing up and cheering aloud. Oh yeah! I am the winner in this fight every time! I can just picture myself standing toe to toe with the Deceiver and claiming God's promise by saying, " I am holding fast against you. You cannot defeat me because I am a child of God!" Then the enemy will turn around and scamper away in full flight from the power of God's promise that I just proclaimed aloud. Amen? 

Rescued and Redeemed - Psalm 105:28

Psalm 105 was speaking of the plague that God sent so the Egyptian pharaoh would release the Israelites from bondage. 

Matthew Henry wrote this about Psalm 105:24-45:

As the believer commonly thrives best in his soul when under the cross; so the church also flourishes most in true holiness, and increases in number, while under persecution. 

• Yet instruments shall be raised up for their deliverance, and plagues may be expected by persecutors. 
• And see the special care God took of his people in the wilderness. 

All the benefits bestowed on Israel as a nation, were shadows of spiritual blessings with which we are blessed in Christ Jesus. 

• Having redeemed us with his blood, restored our souls to holiness, and set us at liberty from Satan's bondage, he guides and guards us all the way. 
• He satisfies our souls with the bread of heaven, and the water of life from the Rock of salvation, and will bring us safely to heaven. 
• He redeems his servants from all iniquity, and purifies them unto himself, to be a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Adapted from Matthew Henry's Concise Bible Commentary

Your Grief will Turn into Joy - John 16:20

Ours isn't a life focused on the world, ours should be a life focused on Jesus Christ. 

Knowing Jesus and being comforted by the Holy Spirit, should turn our grief into joy. Grief is a natural feeling, but it shouldn't take away the joy that believers have in Christ. 

• The sorrows of the disciples would soon be turned into joy; as those of a mother, at the sight of her infant. 
• The Holy Spirit would be their Comforter, and neither men nor devils, neither sufferings in life nor in death, would ever deprive them of their joy. 
• Believers have joy or sorrow, according to their sight of Christ, and the tokens of his presence.

The believer is an heir to joy which no one can take away.     

adapted from Matthew Henry's Bible Commentary

Trust God - Psalm 56:3-4

David was not bragging, he does not claim never to be afraid.

• He saw the imminence of his peril, or danger from the Philistines, and was afraid.
• He feared, but that fear did not fill the whole area of his mind, for he adds, "I will trust in thee."

It is possible, then, for fear and faith to occupy the mind at the same moment. 

• We are strange beings, and our experience in the divine life is stranger still. We are often in a twilight, where light and darkness are both present, and it is hard to tell which dominates. 

If I fear man I have only to trust God, and I have the best antidote. 

• To trust when there is no cause for fear, is but the name of faith, but to be reliant upon God when occasions for alarm are abundant and pressing, is the conquering faith of God's children.

Though the verse is in the form of a resolve, it became a fact in David's life, let us make it so in ours. 

• Whether the fear arises from without or within, from past, present, or future, from temporals, or spirituals, from men or demons, let us maintain faith, and we shall soon recover courage.

"In God I will praise his word." 

• Faith brings forth praise. 
• He who can trust will soon sing praise. 
• God's promise, when fulfilled, is a great subject for praise.

It is in or through God that we are able to praise. 

• We praise as well as pray in the Spirit. 
• Or we may read it - in celebrating the Lord one of the main points for thanksgiving is his revealed will in the Scriptures, and the fidelity with which he keeps his word of promise. 

"In God I have put my trust. I will not fear what flesh can do to me." 

• Faith exercised, fear is banished, and holy triumph ensues, so that the soul asks, "What can flesh do to me?" 
• What indeed? He can do me no real injury; all his ill will, spitefulness, or hatred shall be overruled for my good. 

Man is flesh, flesh is grass - Lord, in thy name I defy its utmost wrath. 

adapted from The Treasury of David by Charles H. Spurgeon

Take Joy in the Power and Protection of God and Jesus Christ

Psalm 5:11
But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.               

• Be glad when I take refuge in the Lord
• Sing for joy that God is there for me
• Keep a bubble of your protection over me
• I love the name of God and rejoice in the relationship

Ephesians 3:20-21 
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.          

• God can do more than I ever think to ask or imagine. He is infinite and I am not.
• His power that is at work within me
• I will glorify God in the church and in Christ Jesus for all generations - forever and ever 

Jude 24-25
24 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.                                                                                  

• Jesus is my salvation forever and will present me before God without fault
• Jesus will take great joy in my presence before him.
• Thank-you Jesus for keeping me from stumbling.

Joshua 1:5
5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.       

• God will not be separated from me.
• What God did for Moses and Joshua, he will do for me. 

Be a Believer AND a Receiver

A New Person
Today, I know and understand that I am a new person whose entire life changed once I told Jesus I would do anything he wanted me to do if he would just take away the pain of living life my way. 

I gave my life back to Jesus, but I didn't let go of the guilt, shame, and remorse that were caused by my alcoholic actions and attitudes. I believed it was my job to make myself into a "good" person. 

In early sobriety and the resumption of my childhood faith, I didn't truly understand that I didn't have to try and fix myself, or turn myself into a good believer. I couldn't grasp the simplicity of God giving me what I needed, in return for living a new life of faith. Instead, I strove to make myself a better person by fixing my own faults. That didn't turn out well because all I was truly doing was mentally beating myself up over past behavior that I couldn't change. This misconception caused me trouble for over 15 years. 

Freed from Misconception
Finally, the scriptures that I studied began to make sense. What changed? I started praying for the wisdom and discernment that I needed to understand the Bible. Slowly, I came to understand that as a believer in Jesus, I was freed from the baggage of my past. The alcoholic fueled life that I led for 33 years was washed clean by the blood of Jesus and all I had to do was try to be the best Sallee I could be today. God would fix me himself.

Equip Me and Fix Me
First, I came to believe that God would equip me and fix me as I walked down the path that best served him. That's right. I learned that my life isn't mine to live. My life belongs to Jesus Christ and Father God. 

I began to ask God to shape me and mold me into his will for me. I repeated this over and over to myself in order to let go of the urge to control my own life. I'm stubborn and change is difficult. 

My heart's desire became to be a good servant and do the will of God. As a new person through Christ, I choose to be a servant of Jesus Christ and God. Everything I have in my life, is through, from, and for Jesus Christ. 

I am a Receiver of Blessings 
Today, I am a receiver of blessings because, "the commandments of him we keep, and the things pleasing  before him, we practice." I believe the Bible and I keep the Word of God in my life, and do what is pleasing before him. Therefore, I know I will receive his blessings when I ask. 

Honestly, you just have to make up your mind that you belong to Jesus Christ from the top of your head to the tip of your toes. Make your heart's desire to be a servant. Give your life to him daily if necessary. Every day, look into the bathroom mirror and say,"I can't, He can, and I think I'll let Him." 

Live in Joy Daily! 
The only life any of us truly has is the moment in which we are alive right now. Life can change in the blink of an eye. Be joyful in your faith. You are beloved by Jesus and he wants to take care of you. Live his way and you will be equipped in everything good. 


Hebrews 9:14 NASB
how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Hebrews 10:10 NASB
but He (Jesus), having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD,

Hebrews 13: 21 NASB
equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.


1 John 3:22 NASB

and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.

Romans 11:36 NASB

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

Verse of the Week - Zechariah 6:12 - January 29, 2017

Even thought the prophet was speaking to Joshua, most understand that "The Branch" is also the coming Messiah. Below is a list of cross references for Zechariah 6:12.

Isaiah 11:1 

Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, And a branch from his roots will bear fruit.

Isaiah 53:2

For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.

Jeremiah 23:5

"Behold, the days are coming," declares the LORD, "When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely And do justice and righteousness in the land.

Jeremiah 33:15

'In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch of David to spring forth; and He shall execute justice and righteousness on the earth.

Psalm of the Week - 89:4 - January 29, 2017

God's faithfulness was sure. 

In Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, the true King of the everlasting kingdom was raised up - every pledge made to David was fulfilled. "Messiah the Prince," eternal King of an eternal kingdom, appeared as the true "Seed' intended, and began his spiritual reign over the spiritual Israel, which still continues, and will continue forever.                        Pulpit Commentary

Jesus - "The True Seed"

Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promise to King David. Through Jesus, all of the redeemed will ascend to the eternal kingdom in heaven. 

Salvation is through Jesus Christ, The True Seed

Every sinner can be redeemed because of the sacrifice of The True Seed, Jesus Christ

Eternal life is available for the redeemed children of God

Dear beloved, ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior today

How to Become a Christian     Click Here

Verse of the Week - 1 Corinthians 10:13 - December 4, 2016

Things to Remember

• Carnal desires gain strength by indulgence - Do not indulge them.
• Nothing in Scripture is written in vain; and it is our wisdom and duty to learn from it. Others have fallen, and so may we.  
• God is wise as well as faithful. He knows what we can bear. 
• He will make a way to escape; he will deliver either from the trial itself, or at least the mischief of it. 
• We have full encouragement to flee from sin, and to be faithful to God. 
• We cannot fall by temptation, if we hold fast to God. 
• Whether the world smiles or frowns, it is an enemy.
• Believers shall be strengthened to overcome the world, with all its terrors and enticements. 
• The awe and reverence of the Lord, put into the hearts of the faithful, will be the great means of safety from sin.

adapted from Matthew Henry's Bible Commentary

Psalm of the Week - 128:2 - November 20, 2016

Thanksgiving is Thursday and I felt this was an appropriate verse for this week. However, remember that for many folks this is not a time of happiness and joy. Pray for the sad at heart this week. Look around you and see if there is someone that needs encouraging. 

Celebration and Sadness with a Lot of Prayer

Celebrations and Sadness 
This list sums up my last couple of weeks.

• grandchild with viral meningitis - lots of prayer and faith in action have been required. 
• two coworkers and a member of my church family have babies on the way - joyful praise prayers and celebration cupcakes have been given. 
• 24 yr. old momma died in a car wreck - praying for the family and her babies who won't know her
• a faithful single friend turned 50 - prayer, encouragement, and a cupcake bouquet

My grandchild is healed, thank you Jesus! 

His mom was quite upset and stayed with him overnight at the hospital. However, it was an extremely light case of viral meningitis. The hubby and I are positive this is because of the surge of prayer offered by us and our prayer warrior friends and family.  

Aren't new babies awesome? 

I love making cupcakes to celebrate a little baby that is on the way. I am praying that the expecting moms remain healthy and that the Lord continue to protect. them. 

Praying for days about the loss of a young mom and her family. 

Her family includes two families that I am acquainted with and they seem to be seeing more than their share of sadness right now. Lift these folks up in prayer please. Jesus knows who they are. 

My Sister-in-Faith

I love my sister-in-faith whom I also work with and I felt an urgency to encourage her on her 50th birthday. This lovely lady has had her share of life happenings over the last six years. Divorce, empty nest, and losing a beloved family member have all happened to this gentle, lovely gal. I was happy to make her a beautiful, pull-a-part birthday cake that was part of a birthday card shower at work. 

During this time of celebrations and sadness, the guest preacher at church preached on Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt and how we have to step out in faith. 

God is exactly where he always is - right in front of us, or covering our backs. 

We just need remain faithful and not want to quit every time we get fearful, or it looks like the odds are against us. He will always watch over us.

"The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name." Exodus 15:3 NIV

God will always defend us. He is a warrior God. This thought comforts me. God and Jesus are fighting for me and you. We just have to keep on praying and being faithful. 

Psalm of the Week - 121:8 - October 9, 2016

God watches over his children in the same manner that a pet owner takes care of a beloved pet. 

I watch over the coming and going of my dog Beast every day.
Why do I do this? Because I love him and want to make sure he has everything that he needs to be happy and healthy. In the same way that I watch over Beast, the Heavenly Father, the Maker of Heaven and Earth, watches over me. I have absolutely no doubt about this.

Do you have a beloved pet that you ensure is happy, healthy, and wants for nothing? 

If you do, then you need to realize that God watches over you in the same manner that you see to the needs of your pet, or pets. God loves you. Yes, he wants to make sure that your needs are met, now and forevermore.

No Spoiling

I tend to over-pamper my pet. That is where God differs from me. He takes care of me and makes sure my needs are provided. However, he isn't going to spoil me. At least, that has been my experience. 

Spiritual and Physical Needs

God meets my spiritual needs and provides my must-have physical needs like food, a place to live, and clothing. I trust Him to do this in the same way that my pets don't doubt that I am going to provide their needs. I know they are dogs, but I can better understand my relationship with God in this context. 

The Analogy

I hope this analogy between the way we watch the comings and goings of our pets and how God watches our comings and goings helps you to find a closer relationship with God. He loves us. Trust Him to be watchful today and forevermore.