Jesus, Our Advocate, Our Propitiation

I'm so bless and honored to have Jesus on my side as my Advocate. God knows that we are not perfect. He knows in some form or another we will sin everyday. But because our heavenly Father loves us so much, He appointed Jesus as our defense attorney to plead our case. In addition to being an Advocate, Jesus is also our Helper, Counselor (Lawyer), Intercessor through and by the power of the Holy Spirit. 1 John 2:1-2 reminds me of a Helen Baylor's song,






"If It Had, Not, Been For The Lord, On My Side
Where Would I Be?, Where Would I Be?.....

He Never Left Me All Alone
He Gave Me Peace And Joy I've Never Known
He Answered When I Knelt To Him In Prayer
And In Victory The Lord Brought Me This Way,
So...

If It Had, Not, Been For The Lord, On My Side
Where Would I Be?, Where Would I Be?....."





I don't think I even want to begin to imagine my life without Jesus in it!! Do you? Not only has God appointed Jesus as our Advocate, but He also provided Jesus to be the "propitiation for our sins", a covering for our sins. Propitiation means the appeasement of divine wrath by a sacrificial offering. Romans 3:25 says (amplified version),

"Whom God put forward [before the eyes of all]

as a mercy seat and PROPITIATION by His blood

[the cleansing and life-giving sacrifice of atonement

and reconciliation, to be received] through faith.

This was to show God’s righteousness, because in His

divine forbearance He had passed over and ignored

former sins without punishment."

I thank Jesus and give him all the praise for standing in the gap for my sin and coming before our Heavenly Father to plead my case, when at times I felt like I didn't deserve it. WHAT A MIGHTY GOD WE SERVE IN THE NAME JESUS!!! HALLELUJAH AND AMEN!!!

A Prayer for Spiritual Growth

Have you ever wanted to pray, but wasn't quite sure what to pray for? Well, if you are ever loss for words, you can always pray the word of God. You can't ever go wrong with praying God's word. One of the prayers I like to read as well as pray from the Bible is Apostle Paul's prayer for spiritual growth in Ephesians 3:14-21. It reads....




"For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, the  
He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell     in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
 
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,  to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
         

 

 

 

   
Paul prayed that the Holy Spirit's power would fill every Christian in Christ Jesus. We cannot grow spiritually without the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul prayed that the Holy Spirit's power would take effect in three ways through Residency, Comprehension, and Fullness.

1. Residency. Paul prayed that Christ may dwell, be at home, take up residence in our hearts through faith, which means Jesus won't be a mere acquaintance but a close friend. Having Jesus take up residence in our hearts, will keep Him the center of everything, top priority.

2. Comprehension. Paul prayed that we would be able to comprehend and experience God's love without feeling the need to understand it theologically and/or intellectually. Can you imagine if every Christian grasp God's unconditionally love? Wow, that would be amazing!! God's love doesn't require us to be birth from a royal bloodline or to attend a prestigious university. God loves us for we are and who He created us to be. God's love is not partial; And if we can comprehend that we would definitely be on fire for the Lord more than ever.

3.Fullness. Paul prayed that we would be filled with the fullness of God, so that the Holy Spirit can give us revelation on scriptures, Jesus and His works, and so much more. With the fullness of God, you can boldly say with full authority that..."Now to Him who is able to do EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY above all that we ask or think, according to the POWER (the fullness of God) that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." (emphasis added mine).

 

If you want to grow more in Christ Jesus and be fill with the fullness of God pray the prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21. Meditate on the words, let them sink into your spirit. In turn, the Holy Spirit will enable you to grasp God's unconditional love and fill you to the point where your cup runs over in the name of Jesus!!





In The Midst of Trouble

Sometimes we have the tendency to fear the unknown. When you are in a midst of distress or despair, it's naturally to fear the worst at first. However, you must be careful not to wallow in it. This is where you should not feed into your fear, but into your faith. One of the many reasons why I love the book of Psalms is that you can get a clear sense of his heartfelt relationship with God. David was in trouble so many times. Nonetheless, he knew His God, our God, will bring him out.


Psalm 138 is a psalm written by David about "The Lord's Goodness to the Faithful." Verses seven and eight are my favorite. It says,





"Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me;
You will stretch out Your hand
Against the wrath of my enemies,
And Your right hand will save me.
The Lord will perfect that which concerns me;
Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands."




David knew that God will stretch out His hand in his time of trouble and at the right time.  In addition, David knew that God will fulfill (perfect) all of His promises. One of them being, (just as He promised the children of Israel twice),.....






"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)

   

"For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand,
Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’"
(Isaiah 41:13)





In the midst of your trouble, whether it's financial trouble, relationship trouble, work-related trouble, etc., FEAR NOT!! Take hold of God's hand when he stretches it out to you. Grab hold of it tight and don't let go. Remember, no matter what you are going through God will fulfill His purposes that He has planned for your life.

Wisdom Word Wednesday ~ Sing

   
Welcome to Wisdom Word Wednesday!! For a quick review, our theme scripture for this week is, "Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing," (Psalms 100:1-2). I love the last part of this scripture...."Come before His presence with singing." The Contemporary English Version says, "Be joyful and sing as you come in to worship the Lord!" To read more bible translations for Psalms 100:1-2, click here.



The reason I love the last part of this scripture is because it expresses one of the ways to enter in God's presence, which is through singing. And, boy, do I love to sing. It's the best of both worlds. I love to get into God's presence; And I love to sing! Now, how about that!!  For Wisdom Word Wednesday, we should be wise to SING to God every chance we get.



"But, Toia, I cannot carry a tune in a bucket, if my life depended on it." I am here to tell you that God doesn't care anything about that. He just loves the sound of our voices. I believe that in heaven the sound of our voices singing His praises is music to His ears. God delights in the praises of His sons and daughters. Furthermore, He will bless you when you give Him a sacrifice of praise. A sacrifice of praise is getting out of your comfort zone of your usual form of worship so that you can express and prove to God how deep your love runs for Him.



So, I encourage you to lift up your voice and sing. Let it be a sweet sound straight from your heart to His ears in the name of Jesus!! Whether you are in tune or out of tune, just SING!! Sing joyfully!! Sing with gladness!! Sing His praises!! Sing of His marvelous and glorious works!!





       

"Sing praises to God,
sing praises!
Sing praises to our King,
sing praises!"
(Psalms 47:6)      
 

Manic Monday ~ Void and Prosper

It's Manic Monday!!  This week our themed scripture is Isaiah 55:11, "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper  in the thing  for which I sent it." We are going to look at two words:  VOID and PROSPER.


Dictionary.com defines void as useless; ineffectual; vain, without contents; empty. God's word is 100% opposite from all of that. His word is not useless, ineffectual, and definitely not empty. God's holy word is full of life and purpose. And whatever God says it is, then that's what it will be. There is power in God's word. Amen and Amen.


Prosper is the completele opposite of void. Just as void is to emptiness; prosper is to fulfillment. Prosper means to make progress, succeed, and to be profitable. God's word never fails. When you delight in God's Word, you "shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever you do shall prosper,"
(Psalm 1:3).


Whenever you feel a sense of emptiness or feel like something is missing, read and meditate on God's word. Allow your spirit man to get full and let His word do the work. One thing I know for sure when you allow His word to sow into your heart, it will produce good fruit in the name of Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Scripture References to Isaiah 55:11
"For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does." (James 1:23-25)


"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15)


"I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, And shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall take an oath." (Isaiah 45:23)



"Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away." (Matthew 24:35)

Tuesday's Prayer ~ Based on 2 Samuel 22:1-51

My Dearest Heavenly Father,


I speak to you the same words that David spoke to you, which are so true. I praise You for deliverance. Lord, You are my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, My stronghold and my refuge; My Savior, You save me...I will call upon You, Oh Lord, because You are worthy to be praised;


I know that when I am feeling down or in distress, I can call upon You and cry my heart out to You, Oh God. And You will hear my voice and incline Your ears to my prayer. Show me Your ways Father; And teach me how to keep them. I know in due time you will reward me according to my righteousness.

Oh Lord, You are my lamp. You enlighten all the dark areas of life; So that I can shine and reflect Your glory. I will follow You. Your way is perfect. Your word is proven; And You are a shield to all who trust in You. Father, I thank you in the name of Jesus for being my Rock, my Strength, and my Power.

You make my feet like the feet of deer and sets me on my high places.  You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your gentleness has made me great. You enlarged my path under me; So my feet did not slip.  I will forever proclaim that...


“The Lord lives!
Blessed be my Rock!
Let God be exalted,
The Rock of my salvation!


In the name of Jesus, I pray this prayer, according to the words spoken to You by David in 2 Samuel 22:1-51. I give thanks to You and sing praises to Your matchless name. Amen.

Tuesday's Prayer ~ Take My Anxieties

My Dearest Heavenly Father,


I praise and give You all the glory. I thank You for being the head of my life. You are the Alpha and Omega of everything. You are my Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor, and my Everlasting Father. And I need You, O God. I need You to teach me.


Lord, please teach me how to cast all my cares, anxieties, and all my worries upon You and just let them go. Teach me how to pray more and worry less. I know sometimes I tend to let my anxieties get the best of me; And for that I repent and ask You to forgive me.


From this day forward, I am going to take heed of Philippians 4:6-7 and "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, I will let my requests be made known to You; and Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, will guard my heart and mind through Christ Jesus."


Thank You Lord for setting me free. Thank You for taking away my anxieties. And if at anytime I feel myself worrying about anything, I will take the time to stop and pray. I give you all the honor, all the glory, and all the praises. In the powerful name of Jesus I pray......Amen.





 “Every evening I turn my worries over to God.
He's going to be up all night anyway.”
~Mary C. Crowley

Wisdom Word Wednesday ~ Proverb 16:1-9

For this Wisdom Word Wednesday, we are going to look at Proverbs 16:1-9. When I read this, I was taken aback. It's straight to the point all meat and no milk. It was just what I needed to read. I pray that this passage is a blessing to you as it is for me.



Proverbs 16:1-9 (msg)
Everything with a Place and a Purpose


1 Mortals make elaborate plans, but God has the last word.


2 Humans are satisfied with whatever looks good;
God probes for what is good.

3 Put God in charge of your work,
then what you've planned will take place.


4 God made everything with a place and purpose;
even the wicked are included—but for judgment.


5 God can't stomach arrogance or pretense;
believe me, he'll put those upstarts in their place.

6 Guilt is banished through love and truth;
Fear-of-God deflects evil.


7 When God approves of your life,
even your enemies will end up shaking your hand.


8 Far better to be right and poor
than to be wrong and rich.

9 We plan the way we want to live,
but only God makes us able to live it.

---

“The next best thing to being wise oneself is to live in a circle of those who are”  - C.S. Lewis



For more Wisdom Word Wednesday, click here.

Jesus Is All We Need

Have you ever found yourself in a middle of a situation where do you not know if you are coming or going? And the more you try to "fix the problem" yourself, the worst it gets. Many times you probably searched and searched for a solution, but was not quite sure what you need or want. You can't exactly put your finger on it. However, you will know the very minute you come across it. (So, you think.)









Does this sound familiar? It does for me. Needless to say, once every thing is basically said and done (especially after I do more harm than good) I end up realizing that Jesus was all I needed from the beginning. And He is all I need now.

"When we are in a
situation where Jesus is all we have, we soon discover He is all we really need."
~ Gigi Graham Tchividjian

It's a matter of letting go of the problem, giving it completely to Him, and letting God work it out for the good. No matter what you may go through in life, God will take care of you. Trust Him and cast every burden/care on Him.





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. (Proverb 3:5-6)

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7)

The Word of God Stands Forever

"The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever." (Isaiah 40:8).

because "All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.  The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the LORD endures forever." Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.           (1 Peter 1:24-25)

The word of God lives and abides forever (1 Peter 1:24-25). Storms pass. Leaves wilt. Problems come and go. Things happen. People change. Rollercoasters go up, down, and around.


But, the one thing that will remain constant and forever true is God's word. It won't fade. It won't fail you. It's always there especially when you need it the most.

---

Lord, teach me how to trust and stand on your word for it endures and stands forever. Amen.

Lighten the Load

"For My yoke [is] easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:30)


How often do we find ourselves taking on more than we can carry?? If you are like me, probably more often than you can count on one hand. God wants us to allow Him to carry all of our heavy burdens.


This past month or so since my last post, I had a lot on my plate. I had to plan and prepare for the first day of preschool, where I am the assistant director, register my three children for school, paying facts and fees, buying school supplies, school clothes, and make transportation arrangements. All the while I had to maintain my sanity.


It was tough no doubt. Many times I felt overwhelmed. I was worrying about how much it was going to cost to get my three children ready for school. In addition to that, I was questioning my position as assistant director. So, it was a lot of emotions going on inside of me and all kinds of crazy thoughts running through my head.


However, when I was able to come to myself and pause for just enough time for God to speak to my heart. He told me not to worry, but to cast all my cares upon Him. I would make a way out of what seems like a no way to you.


I felt relieved and realized that I should have done that from the beginning. After everything was said and done, I was able to breathe out a sigh of relief. I don't feel overwhelmed and pressured anymore.


Besides, Matthew 11:30, a few scriptures came to mind that really helped me.

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (Matthew 6:34)


"Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)


"I will lift up my eyes to the hills--From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD,...."           (Psalm 121:1-2)

No matter how big or small of a problem you are trying to take on yourself. Give it to God. Let Him lighten the load. Even the smallest and tedious problem, can weigh you down tremdously and take your focus off of God.

---

Heavenly Father thank you for being our burden carrier and lightening our load. I pray for those who being weighted down by their circumstance that they will come themselves long enough to trust you and to let it go into your hands. All praise, all glory, and honor to You in the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Humble as a Child

AT THAT time the disciples came up and asked Jesus, Who then is [really] the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And He called a little child to Himself and put him in the midst of them, And said, Truly I say to you, unless you repent (change, turn about) and become like little children [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving], you can never enter the kingdom of heaven [at all]. Whoever will humble himself therefore and become like this little child [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving] is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:1-4)

To be or not be humble? That is the question. However, to be humble is the right answer. Many people might think humble is a sign of weakness. I am here to tell you that is simply not true. According to the bible, humility is a great thing, especially if that's your ticket to heaven.

Dictionary.com defines humble as:

1. not proud or arrogant; modest: to be humble although successful.

2. having a feeling of insignificance, inferiority, subservience, etc.: In the presence of so many world-famous writers I felt very humble.

3. low in rank, importance, status, quality, etc.; lowly: of humble origin; a humble home.

4. courteously respectful: In my humble opinion you are wrong.

5. low in height, level, etc.; small in size: a humble member of the galaxy.

God wants us to be humble. That's a wonderful characteristic to possess. God doesn't want us to prideful, arrogant, or have a huge ego. Humbling ourselves before God is acknowledging Him as having full authority over our lives.

Humble(s) - [tapeinoo; Strong's #5013] - Literally, "to make lowly," debase, humble, lower oneself. It describes a person who is devoid of all arrogance and self-exaltation - a person who is willingly submitted to God and His will. (The Spirit-Filled Bible)

We should come humbly God, worshipping Him in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24). Imagine lowering yourself from adultlikeness to childlikeness. How wonderful is that. Pursuing God with a lowly, loving, and forgiving heart is what He wants and desires from us. Please God wants to be childlike not childish. There is a big difference. Childlike spirit is one of the many keys to understanding God's kingdom.

Heavenly Father, I pray that we will always enter into your presence with a childlike spirit. Dear Father, I ask for forgiveness for all the times I have been prideful, stubborn, and/or even arrogant. You are my one true God. Thank you Jesus!! Amen.

We Are Not Our Behavior

There are people in this world who tend to behave a certain way; That is not exactly what I would call of Godly characteristics. There are even people who are just down-right mean, nasty, evil, and spiteful. The crazy (and yet sad) thing about is that all of us have at least one family member or know someone who behaves in an ungodly manner.

They are always the one who causes drama or turn a happy get-together into a not-so happy one. Many people who operate in such a way will try to push the boundaries just to see how far they can go and how much they can get away with. Sometimes you may even wonder how someone can have the audacity to say and do whatever they want to people without any remorse or an ounce of conviction.


It's simple:

Sin = ungodly characteristics (works of the flesh) = bad behavior

"Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries,..." (Galatians 5:19-21)

Salvation = Godly Characteristics (fruit of the Spirit) = Moral and Just Behavior

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."(Galatians 5:22-23)

We cannot expect anyone operating in the flesh to act any better than the characteristics listed in Galatians 5:19-21. It is the work of the flesh that causes people to behave in an ungodly manner. And this is where we have to keep mind that it's not the person who is behaving badly. It's their flesh. And because they are walking according to the flesh and not according to the Spirit, they are subjected to the flesh. Therefore, bound to sin. It's hard to look beyond the person (their physical being) and into their hearts. Nonetheless, we have pray for their spirit. We have to war in the spirit against the devil on their behalf. It is not the person we are warring against.

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12)

Sometimes, we have to love people where there are....for right now. However, it doesn't mean we have to stop praying for them to be save; so that they will no longer be bound to sin,and subjected to the works of the flesh. But, free from it and walking according to the Spirit. Hallelujah!!!

Bottom-line: We are not our behavior. But, we are all children of God saved by grace and mercy. Glory to God!!! Thank you Jesus!!!

Ephesians 2:1-8

1) AND YOU [He made alive], when you were dead (slain) by [your] trespasses and sins
2) In which at one time you walked [habitually]. You were following the course and fashion of this world [were under the sway of the tendency of this present age], following the prince of the power of the air. [You were obedient to and under the control of] the [demon] spirit that still constantly works in the sons of disobedience [the careless, the rebellious, and the unbelieving, who go against the purposes of God].

3) Among these we as well as you once lived and conducted ourselves in the passions of our flesh [our behavior governed by our corrupt and sensual nature], obeying the impulses of the flesh and the thoughts of the mind [our cravings dictated by our senses and our dark imaginings]. We were then by nature children of [God's] wrath and heirs of [His] indignation, like the rest of mankind.

4)But God--so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us,

5) Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation).

6) And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

7) He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in [His] kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus.

8) For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God;

The Word Discovers Our Condition

The word of God has the power to discover or diagnosis our condition as well as treat it. Before a doctor prescribes or recommends any type of medication or treatment, he must examine you and take notes of all your symptons. After that, comes your diagnosis (your condition). After the doctor informs you of your condition, then it's time for the necessary treatment so you can begin to heal/recover.

It's the same way with our spirits. Sometimes we may have a spiritual condition that may stunt our growth in Godliness. If you are spiritually under the weather, it is very hard to grow. Therefore, it's always great to get a spiritual check up every now and then.

That's why it is so important to read, study, and meditate on God's Holy Word. It is His Word that tell us if we are truly living a Godly and sanctify life. If we are not living a Godly life, then "Houston we have a problem" that needs immediate attention.

Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:11-13)

God's Word is an effective treatment for any condition we may have. As we read God's Word, we need to transition it from God's written word to God's spoken word. We need to speak God's Word into our hearts. Declare his Word and take authority over our any condition that is trying to hinder our spiritual growth. God's Word will pierce it at the root, destroying any form of infection or ailment. As a result, the healing process can officially begin.

"Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers." (3 John 2)

"So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11)

God has all the nutrients we need (and then some) to live a fruitful and productive life. In addition to that, it breathes life into our hearts. However, you have to receive God's Word humbly and wholeheartedly. Remember, God's Word is not barren. It's fruitful and productive. It's living and powerful and it's sharper than any two-edged sword. It's a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces, (Jeremiah 23:29).



I pray this post is a blessing to you spirit, soul, and body. And let The Word do the work.

Saturday Book of Psalms ~ Psalm 9:9-10

"The Lord also will be a refuge and
a high tower for the oppressed,
a refuge and a stronghold in times
of trouble (high cost, destitution, and desperation).

And they who know Your name
[who have experience and acquaintance with Your mercy]
will lean on and confidently put their trust in You,
for You, Lord, have not forsaken those
who seek (inquire of and for) You
[on the authority of God's Word and
the right of their necessity]."
(Psalm 9:9-10) Amplified Version


These scriptures really popped out at me. Knowing that I can confidently put my trust in the Lord, can definitely keep me steadfast in my faith. And He has never forsaken those who seek or inquire of Him. It's blessing to know that someone, who is able to the exceedingly, abundantly far above anything I can ask or think, has my back.

Blessings, Peace, and Confidence to you!!!
Toia

The True Vine ~ John 15:1-8

"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.

Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples."
(John 15:1-8)

---

My prayer is that we continue to grow in Christ.

That we bear fruit that is pleasing to God, whereas He can be

glorified through His Son, Jesus' name. In the process of bearing

fruit, I pray that we would always humble ourselves and open our

hearts to pruning so that in turn we can maintain a sold-out,

non-compromising relationship with our Vinedresser.

Finally, I pray that we will abide with the True and Living Vine, Jesus and always remain and stay forever in His Presence. In hopes, that we will experience a glorious opportunity to grow and be productive in the Kingdom of God. Amen.

Don't Run Away......Stand!!!

"So I said, 'Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.
Indeed, I would wander far off, [And] remain in the wilderness. Selah
I would hasten my escape
from the windy storm [and] tempest.'" (Psalm 55:6-8)

In this scripture, David would rather run away from his problem rather than stick around and fight. I'm sure a lot of us feel that way some (if not most) of the time. We would rather run away from or try as much as possible to avoid our problems. It's what I like to call the "Calgon Take Me Away" syndrome. Even though we can try, running away from our problems do not solve them. If anything, it can make matters worst.

Rest assure when it comes to facing our problems, (sticking around to fight for a solution), you don't have to do it alone. Even though David's initial reaction is to fly away like a dove, he knew his confidence in God would allow him to face difficulties.


"As for me, I will call upon God, And the LORD shall save me. Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice. He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle [that was] against me, For there were many against me." (Psalm 55:16-18)

We, too, should have that same confidence in God to stand in the midst of the storm. Realizing no matter how hard the wind blows, how much the thunder rolls, or how loud the lightning strikes, God will be there holding your hand and leading the way. All you have to do is trust in God and give everything, every problem or situation to solve or to work out on your behalf.


"Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved." (Psalm 55:22)

In the midst of it all, God will sustain (protect, support, nourish, maintain, supply, and defend) you, providing that you cast your burden(s) on Him. As a result, He will never permit you (the righteous) to be moved. You will be more than able to stand on God's word and His truth without wavering to the left or to the right.

It's more of a blessing to stand and fight than to run away. Facing your trials and tribulation builds your character and make you stronger in Christ.



"My brothers and sisters, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have [its] perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." (James1:2-4)


I pray this post is a blessing to your spirit and that you would be more than willing to face your difficulties. And realizing without a shadow of doubt that confidence in God and casting your burdens on Him will give you strength and stability to stand and not be moved.


Blessings, Peace, and Love,
Toia

He is a Great God!!!

"For You [are] great, and do wondrous things; You alone [are] God." (Psalm 86:10)

"He [is] your praise, and He [is] your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen." (Deut. 10:21)

"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us," (Eph. 2:4)


Reading these scriptures (among many others), always tend to make me feel so good in my spirit. One thing for sure, my God (our God) is truly great. He is great beyond expectations. His love is great. His mercy is great. His faithfulness is great. He is the Great I am. No one can compare to God and all His greatness. This is something we can truly praise God for.

If you need a lifting or encoragement in your spirit, think about how great God is and remember He can do the exceedingly, abundantly far above all we can ever ask or think according to the power that works in us.

"They are new every morning; Great [is] Your faithfulness." (Lam. 3:23)


Blessings to you,
Toia




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How Great Is Our God

"For the LORD [is] the great God, And the great King above all gods."(Psalm 95:3)


"For the LORD your God [is] God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe." (Deut. 10:17)







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Commit Everything To The Lord

"Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established." (Proverbs 16:3)

Commit - [Hebrew-galal; #1556] - To roll, roll down, roll away, remove, roll your works in God care

"Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed." (Proverbs 16:3) amplified

When you roll over or commit your works to the Lord, they will succeed and come to realization. "Commit your work to the Lord and then your plans will succeed," (Proverbs 16:3;NLT).

God wants us to succeed in everything we do as long as it give Him glory and edify His Kingdom. We cannot do anything without God's help, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the authority of Jesus' name. Also, we have to make sure our plans or works are God's will.

However, there are so many times that we want to go on our own will and understanding. When that happens, nothing seems to work and all our plans crumble right before our eyes. Then, during our cry of frustration, is when we decide to pray to God for help. But, not realizing we never committed our work to Him or prayed for His will in the first place. God cannot bless what we have not ask permission to do or committed to Him.

There are few ways that we fail to commit our works to the Lord.

*Commit superficially - You may say out loud the work being done is for the Lord, but deep down inside, it's being done for your benefit.

*Temporary Control - You give God full control at first. But the moment things are going great (just the way you planned), you're ready to take over and do your own thing.

*No effort - This is where we commit our work 100% to the Lord, but expect Him to do all the work. No effort or work is put forth. Then at the same time wonder why things are not working out.

Looking at this list, I realize majority of us don't intentionally mean to treat God that way. Sometimes we can caught up in the hype (or lack there of) of a new endeavor. However, the great thing about is that we can repent and communicate with God in the way He would want us to go. Once we get a clear word on His plan (His work) that He has for us, we can then commit every work of our hands and heart to Him.

If there is any plan (i.e. new business, new career, new ministry), roll it over to God. "No good [thing] will He withhold From those who walk uprightly," (Psalm 84:11).