Please read ...Faith and Intervention :)

"In three missionary journeys, covering a large portion of the Roman Empire, God only intervened in this way on two significant occasions.

On one occasion Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia pleading with him to come preach to them, and on another occasion Paul was heading to Asia when the "spirit of Christ"kept him from going (Acts 6).

In either case, there was no ambiguity as to whether God was speaking to him.

There was no second-guessing—it was crystal clear—and I think the same thing will be true of us in the rare circumstance when God shows up in order to stop us.

It will be so clear that we won't dare question whether or not it was him.

Just as he did with Paul, God intervenes when necessary in our lives in order to ensure that his will is accomplished.

This means that we don't have to be terrified about the consequences of our choices; God is never surprised by our choices, never horrified, even when we think we've ruined our lives with a bad decision.

He takes this into account as he organizes the world and writes our own stories.

You can rest assured that our benevolent God will intervene if we get off course.

Sometimes we'll find him quietly, invisibly moving the world on our behalf, and occasionally we might find a door slammed in our faces to keep us from going the wrong way.

Regardless, it's his job to keep us on track, and our job to just do our best.

He knows us, and is comfortable with our imperfections.

He knew what he was getting himself into when he brought us into his family.

This ought to be a source of constant comfort for us when we are fighting to decide how we want to move forward in our lives, and when we bite our lips and take the next logical step.

Actually, it takes more faith to do this than it does to follow a pillar of fire in the right direction.

Faith is only necessary when we don't know exactly where we're going, and we have to hold on to belief that God is walking by our side.

In other words, it's our job to keep our car on the road.

He'll take care of the guardrails, and he's got quite the track record.

No one has ever driven off his road."

- "What am I supposed to do with my life?"  By Johnnie Moore

Stay Strong! !

Two for Thursday - Overflowing with Thankfulness

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."
(Colossians 2:6–7, NIV)

Have you ever thought about what it means to be overflowing with thankfulness?

Don't just think your thanks, show it!

In other words, you shouldn't let the kindness of others go unnoticed.

Sometimes it's easy to take the people closest to us for granted. But your family, your friends, the ones who love and support you are the ones who should feel your gratitude the most.

Notice this verse also says to live in Christ and be built up in Him.

When you keep yourself built up spiritually by studying the Word and praying in the Spirit, then the second part of the verse will just come naturally — you will be strengthened in your faith, and your heart will be filled with thankfulness!

Today, look for new ways to show your thankfulness to those around you.

Let it overflow.

Sow seeds of gratitude and blessing.

Keep yourself built up in faith and reap the abundant harvest God has for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father, thank You for strengthening me with Your love today. Help me to be a blessing to those around me and show me creative ways to let my life overflow with thankfulness in Jesus' name.
Amen

- Joel Osteen

Stay Strong! !

Perfected in Weakness

WHEN SOME BASIC NEED IS LACKING—time, energy, money—consider yourself blessed.

Your very lack is an opportunity to latch onto Me in unashamed dependence.

When you begin a day with inadequate resources, you must concentrate your efforts on the present moment.

This is where you are meant to live—in the present; it is the place where I always await you.

Awareness of your inadequacy is a rich blessing, training you to rely wholeheartedly on Me.

The truth is that self-sufficiency is a myth perpetuated by pride and temporary success.

Health and wealth can disappear instantly, as can life itself.

Rejoice in your insufficiency, knowing that My Power is made perfect in weakness.

"Jesus Calling"

Stay Strong!

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds."
—JAMES 1: 2

"And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness."Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me."
—2 CORINTHIANS 12: 9 NASB

A Gift not to be taken for granted

LET ME TEACH YOU THANKFULNESS.

Begin by acknowledging that everything—all your possessions and all that you are—belongs to Me.

The dawning of each new day is a gift from Me, not to be taken for granted.

The earth is vibrantly alive with My blessings, giving vivid testimony to My Presence.

If you slow down your pace of life, you can find Me anywhere.

Some of My most precious children have been laid aside in sickbeds or shut away in prisons.

Others have voluntarily learned the discipline of spending time alone with Me.

The secret of being thankful is learning to see everything from My perspective.

My world is your classroom.

My Word is a lamp to your feet and a light for your path.

-"Jesus Calling"

Stay Strong! 

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire."
—HEBREWS 12: 28–29

'Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."
—PSALM 119: 105

What you Need, When you Need it

AS YOU LOOK into the day that stretches out before you, you see many choice-points along the way.

The myriad possibilities these choices present can confuse you.

Draw your mind back to the threshold of this day, where I stand beside you, lovingly preparing you for what is ahead.

You must make your choices one at a time, since each is contingent upon the decision that precedes it.

Instead of trying to create a mental map of your path through this day, focus on My loving Presence with you.

I will equip you as you go, so that you can handle whatever comes your way.

Trust Me to supply what you need when you need it.

-"Jesus Calling"

Stay Strong!

"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD."
—LAMENTATIONS 3: 22–26

"Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!"
—PSALM 34: 8 NKJ

Strength to the Weary

COME TO ME with empty hands and an open heart, ready to receive abundant blessings.

I know the depth and breadth of your neediness.

Your life-path has been difficult, draining you of strength.

Come to Me for nurture.

Let Me fill you up with My Presence: I in you, and you in Me.

My Power flows most freely into weak ones aware of their need for Me.

Faltering steps of dependence are not lack of faith; they are links to My Presence.

- "Jesus Calling"

Stay Strong!

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."
—JOHN 17: 20–23

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
—ISAIAH 40: 29–31

Fullness of Joy

KEEP YOUR EYES ON ME, not only for direction but also for empowerment.

I never lead you to do something without equipping you for the task.

That is why it's so important to seek My will in everything you do.

There are many burned-out Christians who think more is always better, who deem it unspiritual to say no.

In order to know My will, you must spend time with Me—enjoying My Presence.

This is not an onerous task but a delightful privilege.

I will show you the path of Life; in My Presence is fullness of Joy; at My right hand there are pleasures forevermore.

"Jesus Calling"

Stay Strong!

But my eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign LORD; in you I take refuge—do not give me over to death.
—PSALM 141: 8

You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. —PSALM 16: 11 NKJV

No Reason to be Afraid

REST IN THE STILLNESS of My Presence while I prepare you for this day.

Let the radiance of My Glory shine upon you, as you wait on Me in confident trust.

Be still and know that I am God.

There is both a passive and an active side to trusting Me.

As you rest in My Presence, focusing on Me, I quietly build bonds of trust between us.

When you respond to the circumstances of your life with affirmations of trust, you actively participate in this process.

I am always with you, so you have no reason to be afraid.

Your fear often manifests itself in excessive planning.

Your mind is so accustomed to this pattern of thinking that you are only now becoming aware of how pervasive it is and how much it hinders your intimacy with Me.

Repent of this tendency and resist it, whenever you realize you are wandering down this well-worn path.

Return to My Presence, which always awaits you in the present moment.

I accept you back with no condemnation.

Stay Strong!

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
—PSALM 46: 10

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
—ROMANS 8: 1

The Desires of your Heart

"I AM EVER SO NEAR YOU, hovering over your shoulder, reading every thought.

People think that thoughts are fleeting and worthless, but yours are precious to Me.

I smile when you think lovingly of Me.

My Spirit, who lives within you, helps you to think My thoughts.

As your thinking goes, so goes your entire being.

Let Me be your positive Focus.

When you look to Me, knowing Me as God with you, you experience Joy.

This is according to My ancient design, when I first crafted man.

Modern man seeks his positive focus elsewhere: in sports, sensations, acquiring new possessions.

Advertising capitalizes on the longing of people for a positive focus in their lives.

I planted that longing in human souls, knowing that only I could fully satisfy it.

Delight yourself in Me;

let Me become the Desire of your heart."

Stay Strong!

"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"— which means, "God with us."
    —MATTHEW 1: 23

"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart."
      —PSALM 37: 4

For when I am weak, then I am STRONG

"I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.

For when I am weak, then I am strong."
-  2 Corinthians 12: 7– 10

How many times in our lives have we felt weak, hopeless, lost and adrift at sea?

How often have we been at the helm of the ship and the crashing waves will not relent and the darkness will not seem to dissipate?

How many times have we been thrown into a storm that seems to never end and the thunder and lightning only seem to get louder as we move forward?

Well, this is life.

These storms are inevitable and every day will not be calm and sunny.

We were never promised smooth sailing or perpetually sunny days in our short time on this earth.

No one escapes the trials and challenges of life in this physical world of ours.

However!!!   No matter the storm you find yourself in today, not matter how long the darkness has been hanging over you, regardless of the damage your vessel has sustained in the storm or how vulnerable and weak you feel in your battles - know this and this alone - the storm will NOT last forever!

Although it seems impossible to you in the midst of your challenges that the sun will break through the storm clouds, they surely will and the seas will calm and all will be safe and well again!

Remember that even in the darkest nights you are never alone!! 

You are never abandoned and you will survive this strife and hardship - stronger  and wiser as a result.

Ask for help. Ask for strength. Ask for guidance.

The promise is that if you ask with a faithful heart, it will be granted to you!

Do not quit.

Do not give up.

Do not despair!!

Help is at your fingertips and all you need to do is ask for it! 

This too shall pass!

Stay Strong!

Faith

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."
(Hebrews 11:1, NIV)

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria

Faith is more than a feeling.

Faith is a confidence that comes from knowing God and His promises.

When you know a person well, and you know they always keep their word, and they tell you they are coming to your house at 6:00pm, then you have faith that they will come to your house at 6:00pm.

You aren't going to call them at 5:30pm and ask if they are still coming.

No, you trust that they are faithful to do what they said.

Faith in God works the same way.

When we know God's character and His promises, faith begins to grow.

That's why Romans says that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. That's how we get to know Him.

Today, I encourage you to build your faith by spending time in God's Word.

Get to know Him and His plans that are for your good.

Let faith rise up in your heart and bring to pass all that you've been hoping for!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father, thank You for confident hope and assurance found in You. Show me Your ways as I study Your Word. Let faith rise in my heart as I seek You first in all that I do in Jesus' name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

By Prayer, Petition, and Thanksgiving

PEACE IS MY CONTINUAL GIFT TO YOU.

It flows abundantly from My throne of grace.

Just as the Israelites could not store up manna for the future but had to gather it daily, so it is with My Peace.

The day-by-day collecting of manna kept My people aware of their dependence on Me.

Similarly, I give you sufficient Peace for the present, when you come to me by prayer and petition with thanksgiving.

If I gave you permanent Peace, independent of My Presence, you might fall into the trap of self-sufficiency.

May that never be!

I have designed you to need Me moment by moment.

As your awareness of your neediness increases, so does your realization of My abundant sufficiency.

I can meet every one of your needs without draining My resources at all.

Approach My throne of grace with bold confidence, receiving My Peace with a thankful heart.

"Jesus Calling"

Stay Strong!

"Moses said to them, "It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat. This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Each one is to gather as much as he needs.'. . . No one is to keep any of it until morning."
—EXODUS 16: 15–16, 19

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. . . . And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."
—PHILIPPIANS 4: 6–7, 19

"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
—HEBREWS 4: 16

Do Not be Afraid

DO NOT BE AFRAID, for I am with you.

Hear Me saying Peace, be still to your restless heart.

No matter what happens, I will NEVER leave you or forsake you.

Let this assurance soak into your mind and heart, until you overflow with Joy.

Though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, you need not fear!

The media relentlessly proclaim bad news: for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

A steady diet of their fare will sicken you.

Instead of focusing on fickle, ever-changing news broadcasts, tune in to the living Word—the One who is always the same.

Let Scripture saturate your mind and heart, and you will walk steadily along the path of Life.

Even though you don't know what will happen tomorrow, you can be absolutely sure of your ultimate destination.

I hold you by your right hand, and afterward I will take you into Glory.

"Jesus Calling"

Stay Strong!

"Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!"And the wind ceased and there was a great calm."
—MARK 4: 39 NKJV

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
—DEUTERONOMY 31: 6

"Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea."
—PSALM 46: 2

"Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory."
—PSALM 73: 23–24

Nothing and No One can Reverse it

I LOVE YOU regardless of how well you are performing.

Sometimes you feel uneasy, wondering if you are doing enough to be worthy of My Love.

No matter how exemplary your behavior, the answer to that question will always be no.

Your performance and My Love are totally different issues, which you need to sort out.

I love you with an everlasting Love that flows out from eternity without limits or conditions.

I have clothed you in My robe of righteousness, and this is an eternal transaction: Nothing and no one can reverse it.

Therefore, your accomplishment as a Christian has no bearing on My Love for you.

Even your ability to assess how well you are doing on a given day is flawed.

Your limited human perspective and the condition of your body, with its mercurial variations, distort your evaluations.

Bring your performance anxiety to Me, and receive in its place My unfailing Love.

Try to stay conscious of My loving Presence with you in all that you do, and I will direct your steps.

"Jesus Calling"

Stay Strong!

"The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness."
—JEREMIAH 31: 3

"I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.'
—ISAIAH 61: 10

"Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love."
—PSALM 31: 16

"Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men."
—PSALM 107: 8

[Stay Strong] Move on...

"Never look back unless you are planning to go that way."
     - Henry David Thoreau

There are 3 things that are a complete waste of time for all of us as human beings:

Number 1 is Worry! 

Worry is a proven waste of time and energy!  Don't cave into it. Move away from worry when you identify it and shift to asking yourself ''what is the worst that will come from the current issue?"

The answer is usually manageable and not worth the worry. 

Focus on the solution and take action in confidence and banish worry!

Number Two is Anger! 

There is nothing more damaging and wasteful than harboring anger toward someone or some circumstance! 

The only person that suffers from anger is the person who cannot move past it and cannot forgive - namely YOU!!!!

Shame on us if we foolishly let anger fester inside us and waste valuable time in that state. 

Forgive right now and move on!!! 

Otherwise you are doubly damaged and rooted in your current state!

Lastly - Number Three (3) is "The Past"! 

I don't care what you did yesterday!!

Nobody does!! 

And neither should you! 

We made mistakes and made some poor choices,  decisions, or actions.

Perhaps bad and unfair things happened to you! 

So what?  That is the life we have been given! 

We are all in this together and no one escapes the Storms of life!!

What can we do about it now?

Forgive and forget and move forward... that is all.

The beauty of this very short life is that we can change our course and path in an instant IF we use our minds and forget the past! 

We cannot change it BUT we can learn from it and take corrective action today to alter our present and future!!!

We as humans can rehash and torture ourselves for decades on an event or decision that lasted 2 minutes - and occurred over 20 years ago!!!!! 

Think about that!! 

Why????

We can sincerely change our direction and path in life this very instant but we have to declare it and have the discipline to stick to it!!!

Let the past go!!!  It is foolish to waste another second on the past!!

You are forgiven and have permission to re-start over again!!!

NOW is all that matters and we control it!!!

What is your choice going to be today?

Choose to LIVE in Faith and Hope and Love!!

Accept it and the rest will turn your way!!!

STAY STRONG!!

Break the Chains!

ALL THE DOORS WERE OPENED

"But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed"
(Acts 16:25-26).

As you read this, you may feel that life is passing you by.

You often experience success in one area and gross defeat in others.

You need a burning desire for the future, the kind of desire that overcomes past fear and inhibitions.

You will remain chained to your past and all the secrets therein until you decide: enough is enough!

I am telling you that when your desire for the future peaks, you can break out of prison.

I challenge you to sit down and write 30 things you would like to do with your life and scratch them off, one by one, as you accomplish them.

There is no way you can plan for the future and dwell in the past at the same time.

I feel an earthquake coming into your prison!

It is midnight—the turning point of days!

It is YOUR time for a change.

Praise God and escape out of the dungeons of your past.

Don't allow the enemy to plug into you and violate you through his subtle seductions.

He is a giver and he is looking for a receiver.

You must discern his influence if you are going to rebuke him.

Anything that comes, any mood that is not in agreement with God's Word, is satan trying to plug into the earthly realm through your life.

He wants you to believe you cannot change.

He loves prisons and chains!

Statements like, "This is just the way I am"or "I am in a terrible mood today"come from lips that accept what they ought to reject.

Never allow yourself to settle for anything less than the attitude God wants you to have in your heart."

Stay Strong!! 

No Fear of Bad News

I AM TRAINING YOU IN STEADINESS.

Too many things interrupt your awareness of Me.

I know that you live in a world of sight and sound, but you must not be a slave to those stimuli.

Awareness of Me can continue in all circumstances, no matter what happens.

This is the steadiness I desire for you.

Don't let unexpected events throw you off course.

Rather, respond calmly and confidently, remembering that I am with you.

As soon as something grabs your attention, talk with Me about it.

Thus I share your joys and your problems; I help you cope with whatever is before you.

This is how I live in you and work through you.

This is the way of Peace.

"Jesus Calling"

Stay Strong!

"He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD." —PSALM 112: 7

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."
—ISAIAH 41: 10 NKJ

By Faith, not Sight

I AM CALLING YOU to a life of thankfulness.

I want all your moments to be punctuated with thanksgiving.

The basis for your gratitude is My sovereignty.

I am the Creator and Controller of the universe.

Heaven and earth are filled with My glorious Presence.

When you criticize or complain, you are acting as if you think you could run the world better than I do.

From your limited human perspective, it may look as if I'm mismanaging things.

But you don't know what I know or see what I see.

If I pulled back the curtain to allow you to view heavenly realms, you would understand much more.

However, I have designed you to live by faith, not by sight.

I lovingly shield you from knowing the future or seeing into the spirit world.

Acknowledge My sovereignty by giving thanks in ALL circumstances.

"Jesus Calling"

Stay Strong!

"And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."—ISAIAH 6: 3

"We live by faith, not by sight."
—2 CORINTHIANS 5: 7

"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
—1 THESSALONIANS 5: 18

TRUST ME, and Don’t Be Afraid.

TRUST ME, and don't be afraid.

Many things feel out of control.

Your routines are not running smoothly.

You tend to feel more secure when your life is predictable.

Let Me lead you to the rock that is higher than you and your circumstances.

Take refuge in the shelter of My wings, where you are absolutely secure.

When you are shaken out of your comfortable routines, grip My hand tightly and look for growth opportunities.
Instead of bemoaning the loss of your comfort, accept the challenge of something new.

I lead you on from glory to glory, making you fit for My kingdom.

Say yes to the ways I work in your life.

Trust Me, and don't be afraid.

-"Jesus Calling"

Stay Strong!

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.
—ISAIAH 12: 2

From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.
—PSALM 61: 2–4

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
—2 CORINTHIANS 3: 18 NKJV

A "Successful" Day

"I AM CALLING YOU to a life of constant communion with Me.

Basic training includes learning to live above your circumstances, even while interacting on that cluttered plane of life.
You yearn for a simplified lifestyle, so that your communication with Me can be uninterrupted.

But I challenge you to relinquish the fantasy of an uncluttered world.

Accept each day just as it comes, and find Me in the midst of it all.

Talk with Me about every aspect of your day, including your feelings.

Remember that your ultimate goal is not to control or fix everything around you; it is to keep communing with Me.

A successful day is one in which you have stayed in touch with Me, even if many things remain undone at the end of the day.

Do not let your to-do list (written or mental) become an idol directing your life.

Instead, ask My Spirit to guide you moment by moment."

"Jesus Calling"

Stay Strong!

"He will keep you close to Me. Pray continually."
—1 THESSALONIANS 5: 17

"In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." —PROVERBS 3:

Lack of Faith and Trust

"Is God able?

Yes!

Paul, in fact, wrote a letter to the church in Ephesus, saying, "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"(Eph. 3: 20).

One dad discovered this truth for himself.

You see, his son was demon possessed, and even Jesus's disciples were unable to cast out the evil spirit. But when the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion.

Mark 9 continues the story:

Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?"

"From childhood,"he answered.

"It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."

"'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for one who believes."

Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!". . .

[Jesus] rebuked the impure spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit,"he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again."

The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out.

The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, "He's dead."

But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. (vv. 21–27)

Jesus healed the boy despite his dad's lack of faith, demonstrated by his saying, "If you can,"instead of, "If you will."

But as soon as this father realized his mistake, he professed his faith: "I believe."

Then he asked for even more faith: "Help my unbelief."

So even the dad's faith was a gift from God.

But get this. For the first few moments after Jesus prayed, the boy appeared to be dead.

Can you imagine the doubt the father must have felt?

Personally, I think this is good news for those of us who have gotten a bad report or for those of us who continue to pray or believe when our situation seems hopeless.

Through Christ and his power, those things that seem dead can be very much alive.

Pray this:

Dear Lord,

I know you "can," so I choose to trust you, even when I cannot see what you're doing. I choose to look not at the bad report, or the difficult time in a relationship, or the tough situation I find myself in today, or the storm in my life that will not relent, but to you.
In Jesus's name, amen."

Stay Strong!

Trust and Thanks

TRUST ME IN EVERY DETAIL of your life.
Nothing is random in My kingdom.

Everything that happens fits into a pattern for good, to those who love Me.

Instead of trying to analyze the intricacies of the pattern, focus your energy on trusting Me and thanking Me at all times.

Nothing is wasted when you walk close to Me.

Even your mistakes and sins can be recycled into something good, through
My transforming grace.

While you were still living in darkness, I began to shine the Light of My Presence into your sin-stained life.

Finally, I lifted you up out of the mire into My marvelous Light.

Having sacrificed My very Life for you, I can be trusted in every facet of your life.

-"Jesus Calling"

Stay Strong!

"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him."
—JEREMIAH 17: 7

"We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose."
—ROMANS 8: 28 AMP

"He drew me up out of a horrible pit [a pit of tumult and of destruction], out of the miry clay (froth and slime), and set my feet upon a rock, steadying my steps and establishing my goings."
—PSALM 40: 2 AMP

"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."
—1 PETER 2: 9 NKJV

A Fork in the Road

TRUSTING ME is a moment-by-moment choice.

My people have not always understood this truth.

After I performed miracles in the wilderness, My chosen children trusted Me intensely—but only temporarily.

Soon the grumbling began again, testing My patience to the utmost.

Isn't it often the same way with you?

You trust Me when things go well, when you see Me working on your behalf.

This type of trust flows readily within you, requiring no exertion of your will.

When things go wrong, your trust-flow slows down and solidifies.

You are forced to choose between trusting Me intentionally or rebelling: resenting My ways with you.

This choice constitutes a fork in the road.

Stay on the path of Life with Me, enjoying My Presence.

Choose to trust Me in all circumstances.

- "Jesus Calling"

Stay Strong!

"Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.) So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?"Then Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the LORD made a decree and a law for them, and there he tested them.
—EXODUS 15: 22–25

But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God."
—PSALM 31: 14

Do not Worry

THIS IS THE DAY THAT I HAVE MADE. Rejoice and be glad in it.

Begin the day with open hands of faith, ready to receive all that I am pouring into this brief portion of your life.

Be careful not to complain about anything, even the weather, since I am the Author of your circumstances.

The best way to handle unwanted situations is to thank Me for them.

This act of faith frees you from resentment and frees Me to work My ways into the situation, so that good emerges from it.

To find Joy in this day, you must live within its boundaries.

I knew what I was doing when I divided time into twenty-four-hour segments.

I understand human frailty, and I know that you can bear the weight of only one day at a time.

Do not worry about tomorrow or get stuck in the past.

There is abundant Life in My Presence today.

"Jesus Calling"

Stay Strong!

"This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."
—PSALM 118: 24

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
—PHILIPPIANS 3: 13–14

In times of Trouble; opportunity

The Trust Factor

But I trust in you, Lord; I say, "You are my God."   Psalm 31: 14

Sometimes the only way we can learn how to trust God is to step into trouble.

Perhaps you've noticed it too; sometimes trouble comes in like a flood.
If you've ever been shocked by a circumstance of life, perhaps you've wondered, If God loves me, why would he allow horrible things to happen in the first place?

You may not realize it, but we actually live on a battlefield.

That's why we not only trip over the wounded or dying but also at times get wounded ourselves by flying shrapnel.

When life gives us pain, we sometimes lift an eyebrow at God as if to say, If you want me to trust you, why are you making it so difficult?

But honestly, how are we ever going to learn to walk on water if an occasional flood doesn't test us?

Could it be the Lord wants us to trust in him, regardless of the storms, shrapnel, or floods surging around us?

That's how the people in the Bible learned to trust God for miracles—by looking to him in times of trouble.

Did you know trouble can be found in every book of the Bible? Even the beloved apostle Paul experienced difficulties.  

So perhaps when God allows trouble into our lives, he is simply giving us the opportunity to seek him and to invite him to draw ever near.

So if you feel the need to call on God for help, count it as a good thing.

David, in the days before he became king, often called out to God, especially when he was on the run from King Saul, a man who wanted him dead.

It was on the battlefield that David learned to trust God with his whole heart.

David wrote of his experiences in the Psalms: "With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall"(18: 29).

David also said, "Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me"(Ps. 54: 4).

God is waiting in your trouble so he can teach you how to walk with him through the battlefield."

Adapted from "When you need a Miracle" by Linda Evans Shepherd

You are Never Alone

YOU ARE MINE FOR ALL TIME; nothing can separate you from My Love.

Since I have invested My very Life in you, be well assured that I will also take care of you.

When your mind goes into neutral and your thoughts flow freely, you tend to feel anxious and alone.

Your focus becomes problem solving.

To get your mind back into gear, just turn toward Me, bringing yourself and your problems into My Presence.

Many problems vanish instantly in the Light of My Love, because you realize you are never alone.

Other problems may remain, but they become secondary to knowing Me and rejoicing in the relationship I so freely offer you.

Each moment you can choose to practice My Presence or to practice the presence of problems.

-"Jesus Calling"

Stay Strong!

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
—ROMANS 8: 38–39

"The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."
—EXODUS 33: 14

A Constant

I AM WITH YOU AND FOR YOU, your constant Companion and Provider.

The question is whether you are with Me and for Me.

Though I never leave you, you can essentially "leave"Me by ignoring Me: thinking or acting as if I am not with you.
When you feel distance in our relationship, you know where the problem lies.

My Love for you is constant; I am the same yesterday, today, and forever.

It is you who change like shifting sand, letting circumstances toss you this way and that.

When you feel far from Me, whisper My Name.

This simple act, done in childlike faith, opens your heart to My Presence.

Speak to Me in love-tones; prepare to receive My Love, which flows eternally from the cross.

I am delighted when you open yourself to My loving Presence.

"Jesus Calling"

Stay Strong!

"I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."
—GENESIS 28: 15

"What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?'"
—ROMANS 8: 31

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."
—HEBREWS 13: 8

Two for Tuesday!! Working behind the scenes!

It appears that this is one of those weeks where many of us need some strong reassurance, some reinforced faith, and some further guidance that we are on the right path and that we are not alone regardless of our daily storm or challenge!

This too shall pass and it will all be ok! 

You are not alone!

Stay Strong!

"God knows the secret petitions of your heart.

He knows every hidden dream He's placed within you.

He knows those things that you haven't told anybody about.

Maybe you thought they would never come to pass, or maybe you buried them because they didn't happen on your timetable.

Maybe, in the natural, you have every reason to give up on those dreams.

Be encouraged today — God is still working behind the scenes!

He still has a plan to bring those dreams to pass.

Do what the verse says and delight yourself in Him today.

That word delight actually means to make yourself soft and pliable.

It paints the picture of God as the Potter and you as the clay. Allow God to mold and shape your character today.

Allow Him to direct your plans and ideas.
Keep an attitude of faith and expectancy today, and as you submit your ways to the Lord and open your heart to His leading, He will fulfill those secret petitions of your heart!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father, You said the path of the righteous gets brighter and brighter. You said no good thing will You withhold because I walk uprightly before You. You said because I delight myself in You, You will give me the secret petitions of my heart.

So Father, I thank You today for being in control of my life and for the good things in store for my future in Jesus' name. Amen."

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

"Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart."
    (Psalm 37:4, AMP)

Through Treacherous Waters

I AM THE POTTER; you are My clay.

I designed you before the foundation of the world.

I arrange the events of each day to form you into this preconceived pattern.

My everlasting Love is at work in every event of your life.

On some days your will and Mine flow smoothly together.

You tend to feel in control of your life when our wills are in harmony.

On other days you feel as if you are swimming upstream, against the current of My purposes.

When that happens, stop and seek My Face.

The opposition you feel may be from Me, or it may be from the evil one.

Talk with Me about what you are experiencing.

Let My Spirit guide you through treacherous waters.

As you move through the turbulent stream with Me, let circumstances mold you into the one I desire you to be.

Say yes to your Potter as you go through this day.

- "JESUS CALLING"

STAY STRONG!

"Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand."
—ISAIAH 64: 8

"My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, LORD, I will seek."
—PSALM 27: 8

Take nothing for granted

BRING ME THE SACRIFICE of thanksgiving.

Take nothing for granted, NOT EVEN the rising of the sun.

Before Satan tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden, thankfulness was as natural as breathing.

Satan's temptation involved pointing Eve to the one thing that was forbidden her.

The garden was filled with luscious, desirable fruits, but Eve focused on the one fruit she couldn't have rather than being thankful for the many good things freely available.

This negative focus darkened her mind, and she succumbed to temptation.

When you focus on what you don't have or on situations that displease you, your mind also becomes darkened.

You take for granted life, salvation, sunshine, flowers, and countless other gifts from Me.

You look for what is wrong and refuse to enjoy life until that is "fixed."

When you approach Me with thanksgiving, the Light of My Presence pours into you, transforming you through and through.

Walk in the Light with Me by practicing the discipline of thanksgiving.

- "Jesus Calling"

Stay Strong!

"I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD."
—PSALM 116: 17 NKJV

"The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'""You will not surely die,"the serpent said to the woman."
—GENESIS 3: 2–4

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."
—1 JOHN 1: 7

He is Risen

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said."
(Matthew 28:6, NIV)

Jesus is Risen!

That's a reason to celebrate today and every day!

Because He is risen, we can rise up, too.

We can have victory over sin and death and embrace eternal life and abundant life!

Jesus' resurrection represents a new beginning for all of mankind.

When we receive Him as Lord and Savior, believing He died for our sins and was raised from the dead, that's when life begins!

Today, know that God loves you and receives you just the way you are.

If you need a new beginning, there's no better time than right now.

Call on Him, receive Him by faith and join with us to celebrate resurrection!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father, today I receive a new beginning in my life. Thank You for sending your Son, Jesus to die on the cross and be raised from the dead so that I can have eternal life in Jesus' name
— Amen.

J. Osteen

Trust Me to Provide Strength

LET ME FILL YOU with my Love, Joy, and Peace.

These are Glorygifts, flowing from my living Presence.

Though you are an earthen vessel, I designed you to be filled with heavenly contents.

Your weakness is not a deterrent to being filled with My Spirit; on the contrary, it provides an opportunity for My Power to shine forth more brightly.

As you go through this day, trust Me to provide the strength that you need moment by moment.

Don't waste energy wondering whether you are adequate for today's journey.

My Spirit within you is more than sufficient to handle whatever this day may bring.

That is the basis for your confidence!

In quietness (spending time alone with Me) and confident trust (relying on My sufficiency) is your STRENGTH!

"Jesus Calling"

Happy Easter!!  Stay Strong!

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves."
—2 CORINTHIANS 4: 7 NASB

"This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it."
—ISAIAH 30: 15

No need I cannot meet

"IN ME YOU HAVE EVERYTHING.

In Me you are complete.

Your capacity to experience Me is increasing, through My removal of debris and clutter from your heart.

As your yearning for Me increases, other desires are gradually lessening.

Since I am infinite and abundantly accessible to you, desiring Me above all else is the best way to live.

It is impossible for you to have a need that I cannot meet.

After all, I created you and everything that is.

The world is still at My beck and call, though it often appears otherwise.

Do not be fooled by appearances.

Things that are visible are brief and fleeting, while things that are invisible are everlasting."

"Jesus Calling"

Stay Strong!

"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."
—EPHESIANS 3: 20

"Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting."
—2 CORINTHIANS 4: 18 AMP

Gratitude in the midst of trials

"I HAVE PROMISED to meet all your needs according to My glorious riches.

Your deepest, most constant need is for My Peace.

I have planted Peace in the garden of your heart, where I live; but there are weeds growing there too: pride, worry, selfishness, unbelief.

I am the Gardener, and I am working to rid your heart of those weeds.

I do My work in various ways.

When you sit quietly with Me, I shine the Light of My Presence directly into your heart.

In this heavenly Light, Peace grows abundantly and weeds shrivel up.

I also send trials into your life.

When you trust Me in the midst of trouble, Peace flourishes and weeds die away.

Thank Me for troublesome situations; the Peace they can produce far outweighs the trials you endure."

- "Jesus Calling"

Stay Strong!

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."
—PHILIPPIANS 4: 19

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. "
—2 CORINTHIANS 4: 17

Safety Net

I AM WITH YOU.

These four words are like a safety net, protecting you from falling into despair.

Because you are human, you will always have ups and downs in your life experience.

But the promise of My Presence LIMITS  how far down you can go.

Sometimes you may feel you are in a free fall, when people or things you have counted on let you down.

Yet as soon as you remember that I am with you, your perspective changes radically.

Instead of bemoaning your circumstances, you can look to Me for help.

You recall that not only am I with you, I am holding you by your right hand.

I guide you with My counsel, and afterwards I will take you into Glory."

"Jesus Calling"

Stay Strong!

"The presence of Jesus in our lives changes everything."