"Abba" Father

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. -- Psalm 121:1,2 KJV… Isn’t is comforting to know that God, our Creator, is looking down on His creation and saying that it is good? It is good, not just because He created us in His image, but because we are Redeemed by the Blood of Christ. Angels rejoice when we worship Him! Selah. Pause and reflect for a moment. Now, when we stop and think of the Goodness of Jesus and all that He has done for us, our souls cannot help but to cry out, Hallelujah! Rejoice and be Glad in Him for His Mercy surely endures for all generations… for we cry out “Abba” Father, for you have been so good!

Hallelujah! Christ is Risen!!!

“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you.” -- Mark 16:6,7 NIV…  I often wonder what it would have been like in the Biblical times that we read of in the Holy Scriptures.  Would we have had to courage like Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome to run and tell the Disciples what they had just witnessed as the Angel of God told them to do?  I am honored that even though I did not physically witness this, I know without a shadow of a doubt that Jesus Christ indeed is Risen and that He Lives!  As the hymnist, Alfred H. Ackley writes, “He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way. He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart!”  I am so glad about it today!  Because Christ died for us, we can live eternally with Him! Hallelujah and Amen!! He is Risen!!!

What is Victorious Living?

Victorious Living is about standing up in the truth of all that is God. It is also about knowing who you are in Him and in the Body of Christ. It is not always about feeling good. Just as Jesus Christ was not accepted and hated by His own people, you will also be. You may even lose friends or be talked about because you are growing in Him and that is alright. Jesus Christ defeated death and remains Victorious! As we are also in Him! Victorious Living is about having the courage to know and do what is right even if it does not “feel” right. We have the comfort and assurance that we will have our crown when we are united in Him. There is a time and a place for everything… a time to Worship, Praise and Rejoice, and also a time to stand up for Him! A time for standing up in Truth, as in Him there is no error. Let us not forget about how much Our Savior cares for us. We are shaped in His image. We are Conquerors. Christ died so that we can live for Him… therefore, we are Victorious!

... Saints, I know that you are standing in God’s Truth.  Lord Jesus, I ask that you renew the strength of Saints, as we stand for you.  I pray Your Will over our lives as we continue to spread the Good News about You. I pray protection over our families and ask that you give us whatever we stand in need of right now in the Precious Name of Jesus, Amen.

Hallelujah! Stay Blessed!

Forever Grateful

And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counselor; and he was a good man, and a just: (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them); he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. And he took it down, and wrapped... it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. And that day was the preparation, and the Sabbath drew on. And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment. -- Luke 23:50-56 KJV

… Saints, as we remember Christ’s Burial and Resurrection today, let us be forever grateful for His Unconditional Love and Compassion for us, just as God the Father. Lord, there are no words that can ever express just how much we are thankful. For we know that only You, the Son of God, could endure all of this. Our spirits are is saddened at the thought of all the pain and agony that you went through, but we rejoice in the fact the You defeated death and rose to save us. Lord, it is by Your stripes, we are healed. Rejoice, Rejoice – for Jesus Christ is Risen!!!

O Lord, How Excellent is Your Name!

O LORD, our Lord, how Excellent is Thy name in all the earth!  Who hast set Thy glory above the heavens.  – Psalm 8:1 KJV.  Richard Smallwood and Vision go on to sing, “There is none like You” - Jesus, Excellent… is Thy Name!!!  Hallelujah!!!  Let us rejoice in You, Lord Jesus… the Name above all other names... The Lamb of God, Lily of the Valley, Prince of Peace, Lord of Lords, Counselor, Redeemer, The Son of [God - Elohim, El Shaddai] - Our Beautiful Savior!!!  As we remember Your Trials, Burial and most importantly, Your Resurrection this coming Sunday, let us remember the sacrifice You made for us, in obedience to Your (Our) Father.  Lord, we will never, ever be able to repay You, and if we had a million tongues… we still would not be able to thank You enough!  Lord, You died for us, let us LIVE FOR YOU!

We are His

The Psalmist Fred Hammond writes, “What is man that Thou art mindful of him?”  Psalm 8:4 KJV … Could an Awesome God find common ground within?  Just to know that You delight to be with me, it fills my heart with so much Joy.  Perfect and true – Pure in all Your ways, Oh Lord there is none else like You… No one like You!  And all these things keep me in Awe of You, for I’m overwhelmed that You would call me friend.   I believe that I understand what the Psalmist is saying here.  I too. have wondered this - because God is so huge that words cannot describe Him, how can He be mindful of little ole me?  In Genesis 1:27, God said that we were created in His image.  Therefore, I must believe that even though He created millions and millions of people, He still has time to be concerned about me, His child. So much so, that He sent His Only Begotten Son (now our Joint Heir) to save us from this world of sin.  Not only was Jesus the ultimate sacrifice, but He agreed (Rejoicing – He agreed!), and chose to do the Will of His Father (our Abba Father) and die for our sins.  Even if we had one million tongues, we would still not be able to thank Him enough!  My friends, this is the reason that God is so mindful and cares so much for us … simply, we are His. 

You are the Potter, I am the Clay

The Word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.  Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.  And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.  Then the Word of the LORD came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter?  Saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in Mine hand, O house of Israel. -- Jeremiah 18:1-6 KJV… Many of us have heard the metaphor that the Lord is the Potter and we are the clay.  Clay is pliable and easily able to be molded.  Are we willing to allow God to mold us?  Are we inclined to yield to Him and the Holy Spirit?  Are we open to change, be corrected and to follow the example of Christ Jesus?  Prayerfully, we are learning from our experiences and mistakes of the past.  In the passage, we also see the Potter’s dedication as the clay is described as marred; meaning it was less than perfect or not useful. Yet, the Potter did not discard of it.  The Potter is later shown reworking the clay to a vessel of which he is very satisfied.  God does not see us as a work in vain; He sees us as a work in progress… perfect only in Him.

The Living Water

Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.  --John 4:10 KJV … Think about how refreshing that glass of ice cold water is on a hot Summer Day.  Ahhh, now how wonderful it is to think about the “Living Water”.  The Living Water that restores our souls, replenishes our spirits and makes us whole!  Thirst for more of Him today.

Reflect on God's Goodness

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. –Philippians 4:8 KJV… As I take a moment to reflect on all of God’s Goodness, it is breathtaking to soak in all of His Awe. I am sitting here reflecting on His Grace and watching the sun begin to set.  As I look out of my window at God’s Beautiful Creation – I have to stop and say what my Mother often tells me, “Look at God”.  

Rejoice in the Lord Always

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.  Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  – Philippians4:4-7 KJV. -- Be careful, or as the NIV translation says, do not be anxious about anything.  In essence, we do not have to fret over anything because God always has us in the palm of His Loving Hands.  Stay prayerful and allow God’s Peace to envelope you.  Doesn’t the word Peace remind you of God’s Perfect Will?  Peace that calms our spirits and enables us to trust and believe the words of Jesus when He said, “And, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Amen.– Matthew 28:20 KJV