Strengthen and Empower

"'...how can we know the way?' Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"
(John 14:5–6, NIV)

The Way
Do you need direction in your life today?

Not only is Jesus the way to life in eternity, but Jesus is the way to everything you need in this life here on earth.

Do you need to know the way out of debt?

Look to Jesus.

Do you need to know the way to having better relationships...
the way to overcome an addiction...
the way to live in peace and joy?

When you know Jesus, you know the Way!

No matter what you are facing today, no matter what challenges or obstacles are in your life, He will make a way for you even when you don't see how.

God loves you so much that He wants to strengthen and empower you to live in total victory.

That's why He sent His Son, Jesus, to this earth—to show you the way to live an abundant life!

Open your heart and receive all that God has for you through Jesus.

He is the way, and He made a way for you to live in victory in every area of your life!

A Prayer for Today
"Father, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to show me the way. I receive Your truth and commit my heart to You. I invite You into every area of my being and choose to follow You all the days of my life in Jesus' name!
Amen."
-JO

Stay Strong!

Trust Me and Don't be Afraid

TRUST ME, and Don't be Afraid.

I want you to view trials as exercises designed to develop your trust-muscles.

You live in the midst of fierce spiritual battles, and fear is one of Satan's favorite weapons.

When you start to feel afraid, affirm your trust in Me.

Speak out loud, if circumstances permit.

Resist the devil in My Name, and he will slink away from you.

Refresh yourself in My holy Presence.

Speak or sing praises to Me, and My Face will shine radiantly upon you.

Remember that there is no condemnation for those who belong to Me.

You have been judged NOT GUILTY for all eternity.

Trust Me, and don't be afraid; for I am your Strength, Song, and Salvation.

Stay Strong!

"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.'
—JAMES 4: 7

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death."
—ROMANS 8: 1–2

"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

Delight in your Trials

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again:  Rejoice!
     (Philippians 4: 4)

It is a good thing to "rejoice in the Lord."

Perhaps you have tried it but seemed to fail at first.

Don't give it a second thought, and forge ahead.

Even when you cannot feel any joy, there is no spring in your step, nor any comfort or encouragement in your life, continue to rejoice and "consider it pure joy"(James 1: 2).

"Whenever you face trials of many kinds"(James 1: 2), regard it as joy, delight in it, and God will reward your faith.

Do you believe that your heavenly Father will let you carry the banner of His victory and joy to the very front of the battle, only to calmly withdraw to see you captured or beaten back by the enemy?

NEVER!

His Holy Spirit will sustain you in your bold advance and fill your heart with gladness and praise.

You will find that your heart is exhilarated and refreshed by the fullness within."

Happy Saturday and Stay Strong!

Unwavering Strength

Surely I am with you always.
(Matthew 28: 20)

Never look ahead to the changes and challenges of this life in fear.

Instead, as they arise look at them with the full assurance that God, whose you are, will deliver you out of them.

Hasn't He kept you safe up to now?

So hold His loving hand tightly, and He will lead you safely through all things.

And when you cannot stand, He will carry you in His arms.

Do not look ahead to what may happen tomorrow.

The same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow and every day.

Either He will shield you from suffering or He will give you His unwavering strength that you may bear it.

Be at peace, then, and set aside all anxious thoughts and worries.
      --  Francis de Sales

The Lord is my shepherd.
Psalm 23: 1

Not was, not may be, nor will be.

"The Lord IS my shepherd."

He is on Sunday, on Monday, and through every day of the week.

He is in January, in December, and every month of the year.

He is when I'm at home and in China.

He is during peace or war, and in times of abundance or poverty.
     - J. Hudson Taylor

Stay Strong!

Promise of Peace -Today!

"I will listen to what God the Lord says; he promises peace to his people..."
(Psalm 85:8, NIV)

The Promises of Peace
No matter what is going on in your life right now, the Lord promises that you can have peace.

It doesn't matter what's happening in the economy, in your relationships or at the office; nothing in this world can take His peace from you.

But notice the first part of this verse—we have to do our part.

We have to listen to what He tells us to do.

You may be thinking to yourself, "God doesn't speak to me."

But once you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you become His.

The Bible says that you are His sheep, and you can hear His voice, and the voice of a stranger you will not follow.

The Lord speaks in many ways.

First of all, He speaks through the Word of God.

But sometimes, He speaks through the encouragement of a friend, or through a song, or in the beauty of nature.

Sometimes it's a simple "knowing" deep down on the inside of you in your spirit.

If you aren't sure how God speaks to you, ask Him to teach you.

Open your heart and be willing to hear His voice.

As you take time to be still and listen to Him, He will speak.

He will reveal Himself to you and give you peace all the days of your life.

A Prayer for Today
"Father, thank You for Your promise of peace. Today, I open my heart to You and ask that You teach me to hear Your voice clearly. I will listen, I will obey, and I will walk in Your ways in Jesus' name. Amen."

-J. Osteen

Stay Strong!

My Doing

Happy Wednesday!

Below is one of my favorite, inspirational passages to date.

It is a tad long but please try to read it all as I think you will find it a worthwhile and powerful message regardless of where you are on your current path and regardless of the challenges you face today! 

:)   Stay Strong!

This is my doing.
  -  (1 Kings 12: 24)

The disappointments of life are simply the hidden appointments of love.
- C. A. Fox

My child, I have a message for you today.

Let me whisper it in your ear so any storm clouds that may arise will shine with glory, and the rough places you may have to walk will be made smooth.

It is only four words, but let them sink into your inner being, and use them as a pillow to rest your weary head:

"This is my doing."

Have you ever realized that whatever concerns you concerns Me too?

"You are precious and honored in my sight"(Isa. 43: 4).

Therefore it is My special delight to teach you.

I want you to learn when temptations attack you, and the enemy comes in "like a pent-up flood"(Isa. 59: 19), that "this is my doing" and that your weakness needs My strength, and your safety lies in letting Me fight for you.

Are you in difficult circumstances, surrounded by people who do not understand you, never ask your opinion, and always push you aside?

"This is my doing."

I am the God of circumstances.

You did not come to this place by accident—you are exactly where I meant for you to be.

Have you not asked Me to make you humble?

Then see that I have placed you in the perfect school where this lesson is taught.

Your circumstances and the people around you are only being used to accomplish My will.

Are you having problems with money, finding it hard to make ends meet?

"This is my doing," for I am the One who keeps your finances, and I want you to learn to depend upon Me.

My supply is limitless and I "will meet all your needs"(Phil. 4: 19).

I want you to prove My promises so no one may say, "You did not trust in the Lord your God"(Deut. 1: 32).

Are you experiencing a time of sorrow?

"This is my doing."

I am "a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering"(Isa. 53: 3).

I have allowed your earthly comforters to fail you, so that by turning to Me you may receive "eternal encouragement and good hope"(2 Thess. 2: 16).

Have you longed to do some great work for Me but instead have been set aside on a bed of sickness and pain?

"This is my doing.

"You were so busy I could not get your attention, and I wanted to teach you some of My deepest truths.

"They also serve who only stand and wait."

In fact, some of My greatest workers are those physically unable to serve, but who have learned to wield the powerful weapon of prayer.

Today I place a cup of holy oil in your hands.

Use it freely, My child.

Anoint with it every new circumstance, every word that hurts you, every interruption that makes you impatient, and every weakness you have.

The pain will leave as you learn to see Me in all things."

-Laura A. Barter Snow

Allow Me to Fight for You

Everyone has problems in this world.

No one escapes that fact.

Sure, some problems that people face pale in comparison to others' trials and challenges.

That is always going to be a reality.

But therein lies the crux of why we must count our many blessings no matter the circumstance or storm we find ourselves battling today!

Whatever you are dealing with in your life today, remember that it can always be worse!  And there are people we know that are in the midst of their trials that would gladly exchange places with you and I in a heartbeat.

Pray for them and give thanks for your battle.

We were never promised a life of ease and perfect bliss.

The Promise was that we would NEVER have to endure our storms and adversities alone and we would NEVER be given more than we could handle!

Embrace the storm and know that you will get through it stronger and more peaceful than when you began!

Give Thanks and be Grateful - in times of joy but even more especially in times of strife and challenge!

Happy Tuesday - Stay Strong! :)

"EXPECT TO ENCOUNTER ADVERSITY in your life, remembering that you live in a deeply fallen world.

Stop trying to find a way that circumvents difficulties.

The main problem with an easy life is that it masks your need for Me.

When you became a Christian, I infused My very Life into you, empowering you to live on a supernatural plane by depending on Me.

Anticipate coming face to face with impossibilities: situations totally beyond your ability to handle.

This awareness of your inadequacy is not something you should try to evade.

It is precisely where I want you—the best place to encounter Me in My Glory and Power.

When you see armies of problems marching toward you, cry out to Me!

Allow Me to fight for you.

Watch Me working on your behalf, as you rest in the shadow of My Almighty Presence."

"After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God."
—REVELATION 19: 1

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty."
—PSALM 91: 1

- From "Jesus Calling"

Photo taken Jan 21, 2014 - Rye Beach DSF