The Faith Zone

Truly My Redeemer Lives

2011-06-21T06:41:00.002-04:00

"It is beyond my power to do this," Joseph replied." But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease."

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are. You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours."

Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt." Genesis 41:16, 39–41

Encouragement for Today from New Living Translation:

Overnight, Joseph went from literally the lowest place in the kingdom—prison—to the highest, just under the king in authority. It was God's doing. Joseph gave the king God's words and gave God the glory. He never took credit himself or claimed to have wisdom, except what God revealed to him. He was deemed worthy of great responsibility because of his faithfulness to God. What might God do in, through, and for you when you are faithful and give him the glory? Though you may have been waiting for years, as Joseph did, your change can come overnight.
—Diane Eble, author of Abundant Gifts: A Daybook of Grace-Filled Devotions

On November 18, 2010 the Lord gave me this encouragement from Joseph Prince:

Beloved, see God’s heart for you today. He wants to prosper you greatly. Don’t settle for anything less, thinking that He only supplies your needs and not your wants. If you need a job, know that He wants you to pray not just for a job, but for a position. When you have a position, you have influence and you are able to impact lives. Maybe what you need is a pay increment. Then, pray not just for that, but also to be in a position to give increments!

On April 28, 2011 I was set free from prison; the Spirit lifted up and away from the desk and my heart was at last free to leave the previous job. I walked into the new one on May 2nd.

By mid-May I was convinced of my own helplessness and utter reliance upon the Lord to help me make sense of chaos; it seemed as though there were no way to make heads or tails of the new situation.

Today I sit in the position the Lord showed me back in November. Truly, God is good; God is faithful; and how merciful and kind He is to me. He is my God, my Deliverer, my Strong and Mighty Tower of Protection, and truly promotion cometh from Him alone.

The Return Visit to Ghana

2011-06-18T08:41:00.002-04:00

I have been listening, listening, listening for direction with regard to the return visit to Ghana, and this morning I clearly heard in my heart to consider Philip, who was told, “Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.” Philip followed the instruction to go south down the desert road and along the way he encountered the eunuch reading aloud from Isaiah.

The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.”

Philip was obedient to set forth from Jerusalem to Gaza, but he did not make his destination his priority; he simply arose and set forth. The Lord knew that the eunuch would be on that desert road and Philip was sensitive enough to the Spirit to divert his destination to explain the Word of God to him. Many would have considered the eunuch a distraction or an obstacle in achieving the destination; I confess that I can see the Hand of the Lord having worked a great change in my heart in this very area. The destinations are no longer so vital; it is the Way I walk and the opportunities He places on it that are vital.

I have been asking the Lord, "When will I return to Ghana? When will things be in place? When will I know that it is time?" And there has been no response until today, when I considered Philip:

When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing. Meanwhile, Philip found himself farther north at the town of Azotus. He preached the Good News there and in every town along the way until he came to Caesarea.

The Lord transported Philip when it suited Him to do so, and He did not transport him south as first instructed, but "farther north." And so, dear Ike, when I have that "Philip moment", I will be in Ghana; until then, I continue my walk.

Christ is the Standard, and in Him, I Have Met It

2011-05-26T06:28:00.001-04:00

It has been a slow dawning in my spirit that there are no standards to live up to, no expectations whatsoever, that in Christ I simply can do all things. That is such an encouragement to me to do my best, no matter what it does or does not measure up to, for in Christ, my Father joyfully boasts about this little child who simply seeks to please His heart.

Thoughts on Sowing

2011-04-30T07:44:00.002-04:00

A little lesson in needing money: it is not the money that we need; the world operates on the foundation of money, but the Kingdom operates on the foundation of sowing. Money has its end in the object of its pursuit, for whatever it can buy will eventually be destroyed by the same sin that is destroying the Creation, which is groaning and crying out for its own Redemption.

What we do need is seed, for Jesus taught us emphatically in Mark 4 and continually throughout the Gospel records that we must sow seed according to the Word of God. A seed sown will yield an abundance that will meet not only the need of the sower, but will also fulfill God's Word to put seed into the hand of the sower in order to meet the needs of others. Seed sowing is perpetual; even famine cannot keep the seed that God gives His children from producing abundance, for if we take what we have in our hand and worship Him with it, seek Him for direction as to where to sow it, and then water it with more of His Word, with praise and thanksgiving, the harvest will come and there will be abundance in the House of God, which is His Body, His Church, His Bride....in other words, in you and me.

He is Risen!

2011-04-15T06:27:00.004-04:00

Charles Dickens opened one of his most famous works with the words, "It was the best of times; it was the worst of times." I am sure that many have quoted those words with reference to their day and age, but as we look around us at our world, how much truer could they be? The earth is physically breaking apart as it groans for its day of redemption; the weight of sin is overcoming it.

As the day of celebration of the Resurrection of our dear Lord Jesus Christ approaches, take time to read the Scriptures that so graphically detail the great love with which He loves us; ask the Spirit to put Life into them; and make them personal, for all that He did, He did for you. It was personal, very personal. You are His treasure, and He gave all that He was and all that He had to find you.

Sit back and enjoy the extended version of Father's Love Letter and then take time to worship Him. Just click the title, He is Risen!, and you will be redirected to the video. Then pour out your heart to Him in praise, in worship, with tears, with joy; just come before Him and sit in His Presence, for He so longs for your company.

Every one is familiar with the heart-moving melody of "Amazing Grace," and some know the words to the first verse. Meditate the words of this wonderful song as you bring your heart before your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Time is coming to its end and He is returning on that white horse soon, very soon.

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, Who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.

Words: John Newton (1779)

Have a most blessed Resurrection Celebration.

Blessings, hugs, and smiles,
Colleen

Missions Outreach 2011 Ghana, West Africa

2011-02-27T08:34:00.000-05:00

Dear Friends,

It has been six years since I first went to Ghana on my first missions outreach. Since returning, my thoughts have often travelled back, but not my heart. This week, however, the Lord has touched my heart.

The emails that I had sent home from the first two visits became the manuscript for a book; the book was never published, although it is print ready. Yesterday, a gentleman from a publishing company contacted me and we had a delightful discussion, not just about the book, but about missions. He said to me that he could hear the Lord calling me back to Ghana as I spoke; my heart leapt at those words, but I quickly pushed them away.

Then, I received a message from a dear man of God in Ghana, someone I have not conversed with for several years. Here is the text of his last comments to me:

"Hi Colleen, Thank you for your prompt response I am so grateful to God for you. Yes Doe is in Prampram with the wife and the twins. But I don't work with him. Actually we are friends but working in separate ministries. As for Prosper I may or may not know him, the reason is in this African proverb "Names are different from faces" Once again I am so grateful to the Lord for you. I remember the first time we met and was traveling in my car, I felt as if I have known you for a long time. There was something about you that was African. Something that is beyond description but very warm, genuine and sensitive.

"Actually I am no more in Prampram. I now reside in Gulf City (Sacki) which is closer to Ashaiman. I now pastor the Power Center Assemblies of God Church.

"Colleen, like I have stated earlier, most of our children teachers in the local churches (about 26 churches) are not trained. Most of these children do not even have a shelter or meeting places. Some meet in the same auditorium as the adults.

"What I want you to do is to organize some resources that could be used in the training of the teachers or if possible coming down to Ghana to help in the training of the teachers. Like I said earlier I am willing to organize all the Children Teachers in my new District for the training.

"I know it is very difficult to raise the funds for a round trip to Ghana, but I believe that we have a God who is able to provide beyond our request, expectation and imagination. Thank you for outline of your children church. I think it is helpful. I am now trying to start up a nursery for secular education at my new place. Please pray with me for God's wisdom and guidance at my new station. I really covet your prayers. Thank you once again for your friendship and time. Remain Blessed. Ike."

Well, my heart has taken up the call. This gentleman is the one person whom I met in Ghana whose heart totally connected with mine. The car ride he mentions is the single most vivid memory of my visit, and yes, we shared hearts and visions for children's ministry that exceeded any I have had before or since that time.

Pastor Ike is blessed to be able to think outside of his culture and inside the heart of God for his people. Although I met many ministers in my travels in Ghana six years ago, this one man is the one who stands out in my memories and prayers. His work among his people is honorable and exemplary.

At the Village of Faith Church, I am the children's minister and administrate the children's church. The Lord has blessed me with strong administrative skills and this is what Pastor Ike is seeking in his ministry. It seems that the Lord has enough confidence in me to bring what I have learned back to Ghana; this time, however, there is a ready and eager reception for it.

So, I will be keeping this in prayer to hear the Lord's direction as to how to get myself back to Ghana, and when I should go. Please bring this petition before the Lord in your prayer time so that I can hear very clearly when He speaks.

Should you find your prayer time nudging you to help with airfare and expenses, please send your donation to the Village of Faith Church, 1070 Portion Road, Farmingville, NY 11738, with a memo for Colleen-Ghana. Currently, the Missions Outreach is scheduled for late October/early November 2011.

I bless you in the Name of Jesus. Remember, please, that without prayer, there can be no success. smiles

Believing and Speaking

2011-02-27T08:31:00.000-05:00

The woman with the issue of blood kept SAYING (Amplified), "If I only touch the hem of His garment, I shall be restored to health" (Mark 5:28). A moment later, when bad news came for Jairus, Jesus immediately spoke to him, "only keep on BELIEVING" (verse 36).

What did the woman keep on saying? I shall be healed. She said it until she had it. Once she had it, fear came against her to steal it away, yet she boldly defied fear and kept on SAYING it.

What was Jairus to keep on believing? That if Jesus would touch his daughter, she would be healed. Jairus believed it until he had it within his grasp. When fear came against him to make him lose his grip, he was to go on believing what he had said.

Keep on believing, keep on speaking, for faith is believing and speaking, believing and speaking, believing and speaking the Word only. As we continue to believe and speak, believe and speak, believe and speak, filling our hearts with the Truth of God's Word, the abundance of our hearts will speak that same Word, releasing the power of God's Word into our atmosphere, our sphere of influence, and that Word will change situations, heal the sick, set the captive free, and raise the dead.

Never change your testimony, for it is by the word of our testimony and Blood of the Lamb that seals it that we overcome every adversity. Believe the Word only, speak the Word only, and your soul shall be healed and its strongholds removed. Believing and speaking is the Way to victory.

I Glory in the Mercies of God

2010-11-20T03:48:00.002-05:00

Well, it is now nearly 4 am and there seems to be no sleep in sight. I was awakened at 1:41 am, turned over, and gave up at 2 am to arise to a new day. Walking directly to the PC and turning it on, I began to wonder what was wrong with me.

As the Messenger list loaded, I noticed a certain person online and realized why I was awake and on the computer. Several years ago, I visited chat rooms to minister to whomever the Lord would lead me. The person online was the young man I used to minister to; how the Lord has our footsteps ordered! And so, I reached out to him once more and shared with him that God is still looking for his attention and will do so until he gives it. We had a few minutes chat and left it to prayer.

The situation at work has not improved but has become a living illustration of what faith is and what faith is not. My prayer is that my heart cease from priding itself at knowing better; Lord, help me. And help my boss; reach into his heart and help him recover himself from the snare he has walked into. No one wants to see another fail, yet we must learn to let go of people who insist on doing so.

Words are the most powerful weapon that exist, for words created all that is and words destroy it, as well. By our words we shall be justified, and by our words we shall be condemned. Lord, help me to understand that I shall have what I say, and to say it boldy in Your Name.

blessings

Prayerfully, A Confession, a Repentance, and a Restoration

2010-10-10T17:19:00.001-04:00

Before I was born into this world, the Lord separated me unto Himself and anointed me for the appointments on the path He has ordained for me to walk in this life; His plans for me are good plans, His thoughts toward me are for my good and not for evil. At that time, March 2007, it was a new meditation and determined element of faith to incorporate into my life and so there is nothing that has transpired in these last three-and-a-half years that was not somehow by Divine Determination. I will confess, however, that I frequently lost sight of that Truth and failed to consult the One Who ordained the walk. I so thank the Lord for His faithfulness; Who else could have had so many fail-safes in place for me?

I very clearly remember the day of my interview for the job I currently hold; nothing in me wanted to go. I was down to one week left on unemployment; pickings were slim, but this interview just did not appeal to me. But I had made the appointment and felt it was important that I keep my word; I told the caller that I would be there at 11 a.m. and I was.

The interview was interesting, mostly because the focus of it seemed to be on some sort of compatibility questionnaire rather than on my resume. At one point, an older woman poked her head rather tremulously around the door jam and told the employer that she had the employment application he had requested. Nothing but her head, anxiously looking directly at him. She handed the form to him from that same stance, revealing an arm and a hand. I did not see the rest of her until my first day in the office, and that for just a moment. She seemed to live behind her desk in her little office, trying to be invisible. My attempts at being friendly were not actually spurned or ignored; I can now understand that she was afraid to be caught speaking to anyone.

My (now) boss thanked her, calling her by name, but the entire ten second event felt much like an Alfred Hitchcock moment; there was fear on her face and his voice was practiced. I had no time to contemplate it and forgot about it completely till nearly two years later, yet it is etched in my memory. It turned out that the woman is his mother and that look on her face would become a commonplace expression as time went along as I witnessed one episode after another of his verbal abuse toward her and his seemingly plausible and sensible explanation of each word to me, complete with apology for what I had witnessed. That Alfred Hitchcock element was the insidious anger and disdain that charged the air between them. I have come to understand that she is simply the easiest target; his heart covets a wound so deep and it underscores his every moment. Up until recently, he had it fairly well contained and I was never a target.

Up until a few months ago, that demeaning demeanor was reserved for her, customers, and other employees he was angry at. How it did not occur to me that the angry, judgmental, critical, rude, disdainful, and demeaning words he shared with me about EVERYONE else would not someday be directed at me escapes me, except that I did not seek the Lord. Always, there was a distraction, a plausible explanation, a charming entreaty to feel as if he were truly a victim. How deceived was I!

If only I had sought the Lord about it but then, perhaps I was not supposed to do so. I will never know. The excitement of the prospect of a new job, the fawning over the prospective employee, and the amazing wonder of the man who actually called me in for the interview distracted me from doing so. The fellow is a headhunter and had met me several years earlier at another job. He had been so impressed by my ingenuity at having a little sale of piggy banks in my office to raise money for my first missionary outreach (that would make it late 2004). He had walked past my office, looked in, and kept walking, but backtracked at the sight of the piggy banks, asking me what they were for. How he remembered me and found my resume on Monster remains an act of God!!!!

I confess that I found myself not only involved in but participating in these critical conversations about other people. Always the topic was what they were doing wrong, how they had taken advantage of him, what they should be doing about everything from how they dressed to how they worshipped God. There was the continual presence of a conscience being over-ridden but at some point the Lord left me to my reprobate behavior. It is a shameful confession but not once did I truly seek the Lord about it; somehow, the "covering" of a Christian man as my boss had me utterly distracted and ultimately self-deceived.

When I became a target as well, I began to seek the Lord about it: What is going on here, Lord? What is going on?

Well, it was a painful repentance but glory to God for His Mercies that are new every Morning, for what sought to consume me was exposed. Breaking free from it, though, has been a fight for my life, it seems; many of you have read my FB posts. This has been a debilitating, painful, and costly lesson, but thanks to my God, I will survive.

A couple of months ago, my boss's grandson told him to stop being so mean to Nana. An employee who has since quit told him "you are always angry; you are crazy!!!!" A judge for whom we did some work picked up on my boss's state of being and told him to stop abusing Colleen; she is a wonderful person (there had been no conversation between the judge and me; he picked it up purely by my boss' proximity). A colleague in ministry recently asked him, "What is going on in your life?" And yet he deflected with vicious denial and retaliation.

I have apologized to his mother, asking forgiveness. The attitude I extended toward her was an adopted one; the woman is wonderful, delightful, and wiser than my boss and I will ever be. I have been giving my boss teachings on the words of his mouth, the Word of God, and the fact that no one reaps what he does not sow. I have been thoroughly told off and put in my place.

Please pray for the boss; this stronghold of pain will no longer be contained or controlled and it is destroying him, his business, and every relationship he has (I do not know what goes on in his home, but the wife has long ceased being friendly). Short of a sovereign move of God, the business is down the toilet and its agonizing death is seeking to destroy each one of us.

My plan, Lord willing, is to be able to remain till the end of November, by which time I will be able to close out this season, prepare next year's contract, and take care of reports required by the government. Winter is usually a sparse season, but there is no way he can afford to keep me with no work at all coming in. I will wind up unemployed one way or the other, and I choose to leave on a high note.

A New Beginning....Once Again

2010-10-01T21:28:00.002-04:00

Today I have realized the importance of keeping a log of my thoughts, emotions, and states of being. I do not know where this will lead me. But I do know that I must have some sort of accountability, and should you feel directed to do so, kindly comment on these posts.

I find myself once again facing loneliness, or more so, being alone. Being alone excludes accountability, and I feel the need to be accountable,urgently.

And so, I will do my best to capture myself on this page daily so that I can see the Lord moving in my life.

smiles

Today's Lesson from Life

2010-04-21T12:57:00.000-04:00

Ephesians 4:15–16 "Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love."

“Instead" is the operative Word. Speak the Word only, no matter how much that flesh fights it. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and your heart will speak forth the abundance of His Word in it. Learn to respond with the Word in love, not to react with the emotion that the attack has set in motion.

James 3:6 And the tongue [is] a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

What gets our tongues rolling? Words, the fiery darts of the enemy fired at us, words of false accusation, words of pain, words of rejection, words of judgment. They hang in the air, waiting for the reaction. They pierce deep within the soul and make the soul cry out for retaliation. It is at that moment that the tongue must be silent while the heart searches for the correct response, for if the tongue is allowed to run loose, it will only add fuel to the spark those words kindled inside and cause a fire to begin to rage.

Ephesians 6:16 In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. NLT

The tongue must be bridled with the discipline gained from understanding in the Word of God or else it will spew out the bitterness of the soul with the Truth of the spirit, and both bitter and sweet water cannot flow from the same fountain. It makes a demand on the faith of the Son of God that resides in our spirits to succeed, for the flesh just wants its own way and will give you no rest until it is either conquered by the Spirit or satisfied by the flesh. It seems like such a great battle, but truly this week I have learned that gaining the advantage is actually rather easy: just keep my mouth shut until I have heard from the Spirit of God.

Jesus spent an entire day in the temple observing and listening to the activities before that fateful day when He overturned the tables and cleaned house. No one knew He was there, He spoke to no one; He was hidden in the Secret Place of the Almighty, seeking His Father’s heart on the matters before Him.

Jesus said that He did nothing unless He heard His Father speak, did nothing unless He saw His Father act. Apparently, Father had not spoken on the first day, nor acted. But overnight, through prayer, Jesus must have gotten an earful

I am learning to take time more often to remember that the Spirit of God has already accomplished the will of God:

John 16:8 – 11 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Of sin, because they believe not on me;
Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

There is no weapon formed against me that can prosper, no fiery dart fired at me that can set my tongue on fire, unless I allow it. Jesus said to Martha and Mary that if they would believe, they would see the Glory of God. Well, I believe, and I am seeing the Glory of God.

smiles

How Merciful our Father is, Turning Ashes into Beauty!

2010-03-20T09:31:00.000-04:00

Events this week have been heated and painful once again, yet this time with much more peaceful and righteous harvest than before. What a difference in my soul when it has been listening to the spoken Word of God, reading the written Word of God, and meditating the infused Word of God. With no specific plan of rebuttal, the attacks of this week have been educational and actually uplifting, simply because the Word had been poured into my soul. There was fresh bread, new fuel, for my spirit to draw from, and it was in tune with the Holy Spirit, therefore more able to withstand the fiery darts of the enemy.

Briefly, this is the scenario: A customer had a credit on his account for services that were not performed last year. Because of a clerical error on my part, his invoice for this year's services did not reflect that credit and so the customer sent in full payment for the upcoming season. My immediate response was repentance, followed by the desire to return the check with a letter explaining my error and expressing my apology, but that was not to be.

The bookkeeper, who opens the mail, was determined from the moment she discovered the duplicate payment to find a way to keep it. I was immediately aware of two interconnected yet separate actions going on inside me: my gut reaction was disbelief at the bookkeeper's words, but my heart's response was Godly indignation at the calculated and deceitful motive of her heart. Although I was aware of it, I failed to take the correct course because I allowed the bookkeeper's reaction to my expression of disbelief to drag me into what became a contentious argument.

Lesson learned: speak the Truth only and do not entertain discussion. What I should have done, rather than attempt to reason with a mind outside the mind of Christ, was simply to have repeated the same Truth to her remarks, each designed to ensnare me further into the argument by diverting the conversation away from the issue at hand.

The argument ended on a most unpleasant note and stayed that way until the end of my day, when I simply left the office, leaving the bookkeeper locked away in her office where she had stormed after the argument.

Next morning, having prayed for help with the situation, I pulled up the customer's account to be sure that I had indeed been correct; if I owed the bookkeeper an apology, it had to be made. What I found, however, just plain shocked me: she had erased every trace of the credit from the customer's account. At that point, truly I lost all sense of righteousness, for I immediately began a frantic mission to expose the woman for what she had done.

I thank God my Savior for rescuing me from that course of action.

I had been listening to Kenneth Copeland during the week and a statement he made rose up in my spirit and enabled me to possess my soul. Jesus had spent an entire day in the temple, listening and observing, yet had spoken not a word. The next day, He returned and cleaned the place out. Whatever had been going on in the temple the day before was the same thing going on the day after; why was Jesus quiet the first day?

Jesus said that He spoke only what He heard the Father speak; He did only what He saw the Father do. Father had not spoken nor taken action the first day. Jesus took what He had seen and heard to the Father in prayer during the night in-between and returned the next day to do and say what Father had shown Him in His prayer time.

Immediate response, immediate reaction, is not always the best course. I thank God that He stopped my retaliatory actions before I threw myself into the snare that was set before me.

Next, I spoke with my employer and related the entire incident to him. Two days later, he spoke with the bookkeeper and came to give me his findings: no, she said, she had not erased any credit and yes, she said, the customer owed us the money. I thought I would fall out of my chair. How wicked a lie is when it is allowed to run rampant. In my spirit, this one had taken form and was standing in front of me, taunting me.

Another statement from that message from Kenneth Copeland rose up in my heart: does any of you lack wisdom? What wisdom? The wisdom that is needed for a particular situation. Well, I needed wisdom or the situation would eat me up like so many others before it.

What would be the normal reaction? To pick up the argument with my boss to prove what was true.

What was the correct response? Wisdom said to be still and know that God is God. Loose the Holy Spirit to convict hearts and walk in love, forgive and continue my life living, moving, and having ALL my being in Christ Jesus.

How? was my next question to the Lord. How do I remain silent and allow the Spirit to do His job without allowing this to eat up my insides?

Get my eyes off myself, that is how. This has nothing to do with me; I had allowed the bookkeeper's frailty to distract me from the Truth at hand. No one can make decisions for someone else. I must retreat from the situation and remove myself from it completely. The lesson Saul learned was a very costly one: have absolutely nothing to do with the enemy, no matter how sympathetic he may appear at the moment. God instructed him to destroy everyone and everything, yet Saul allowed what he saw to sway him from that command.

When the prodigal son returned home, he said, "I have sinned against God and against you." The sin standing before me took on the forms of Ananias and Sapphira, who lied in the Presence of God's children and died in their sin. My heart is wounded because of the great sin against the merciful God that the bookkeeper professes to serve; the personal offense I felt was the diversionary tactic the enemy uses to distract us from the Truth at hand. It is the Holiness of God being assailed, not me.

And so, as painful and distressing as the situation had been, the Lord has truly turned it around for good in my heart, for just as Jesus said, If you will believe, you will see the Glory of God. I have seen the Glory of God in this situation and I am thankful, very thankful.

Smiles

Thoughts on the Devastation of Haiti

2010-01-23T15:31:00.002-05:00

Has anyone else noticed the INTENSE increase in activity in the atmosphere? Words travelling from one's mouth to another's ears, just inches away, are twisted and warped to the extreme. What reaches the receiving ear has been perverted beyond recognition and contention and strife explode into the air. Simple greetings are interpreted as having undertones that were neither implicit nor explicit. Conversations turning into personal attacks, accusations without basis flying around like guided missiles.

A few years ago when the tsunami hit Asia, I had the distinct impression of hell trying to break loose into the atmosphere, ready to wreak revenge on God's creation. Not having enough strength to break through the waters, its force caused the waters to devastate that portion of our earth. What a warning.

Now, a few years later, the hatred, the strife, the contention, the misery, the murdering spirit, the wickedness in this world have given the forces of hell so much more strength that it has broken through into the atmophere, loosing itself throughout the world. What has happened in Haiti is not simply the destruction of the nation and I do not believe it is God's judgment on the people of that nation; I believe it is the fulfillment of John 16:

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

Of sin, because they believe not on me;

Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

The Holy Spirit has already reproved the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment; God's Word has been established before Time existed. The one who was judged was the prince of this world, not the people of this world. It is the sin of this world that keeps the people from the righteousness of God, and it is the Holy Spirit of Truth who guides us into all truth.

Dear family, we must give our lives unto earnest intercession for the people of this world who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ. The Comforter has already come to us; let us remain in His Presence and listen as we lift up the lost. We who have received Christ as Lord have received His Comfort; it is our responsibility to let Him loose into the atmosphere to battle the principalities and powers of the air, pulling the lost out of the snare of the enemy.

Don't be distracted by the event, although it is so tragic. Recognize a sign of the times.

A New Dream of Hope

2010-01-20T07:07:00.000-05:00

A dream from the Lord, a message of hope:

In the dream, I felt the necessity to get in my car and drive somewhere; there was no immediate understanding of a destination, just the need to drive. I found myself on what seemed like Middle Country Road on the way to the mall, which would have been traveling toward the west from where I live. The road was familiar for a while, lined with familiar shops and buildings, but then slowly began to lose perspective as it widened and widened, buildings becoming vaguely less familiar and fading into the distance as the road widened. Suddenly I was driving along an asphalt road in the midst of a great expanse. No buildings, no traffic lights, no signs of life; just an asphalt road in the middle of a great expanse of flat land. The atmosphere was empty, lifeless.

As I looked ahead, the horizon became shrouded in a mist, not a fog. The mist was coming off the ground, rising into the atmosphere, and I was aware that within the mist were the subtle shadings of color; the landscape I had been traveling had slowly been losing its color and had faded into muted tones of nondescript shadings, and I had not noticed.

I began to wonder at that point just where I was; perhaps I was driving in a different direction. I must be traveling east, I mused, and suddenly, very, very suddenly, I had driven past the mist and was driving atop freshly overturned earth, as on a farm.

The new landscape was an endless expanse of rich mounds of earth. It had been overturned as if plowed but there were no furrows, just mounds of earth that seemed to be rejoicing to greet the atmosphere. There were no stones or rocks, nor was there evidence of vegetation; it was pure, virgin earth, vibrant and resounding with anticipation. It was the same atmosphere of anticipation in the dream about the lion.

As I was taking this in, it occurred to me that I should not be driving the car over this earth; the car would get stuck but more importantly I would harm the earth. I was suddenly no longer in the car; it had disappeared and I was reclining on the earth itself, propped up on my left elbow. I was running my right hand through the earth much the same way I run my hands through my cat’s thick, soft fur. The sensation was the same; there was such contentment, enjoyment, and pleasure, each of us responding to the other’s gentleness and kindness in turn. I realized that I was barefooted and that the earth was clinging to my feet yet it was pleasant. This earth was alive and lovely, so receptive to whatever I would give it and so lovingly eager to bless in return.

The enjoyment, the pleasure of the interaction was so like cradling an infant. An infant in its mother’s arms looks directly into her eyes, cooing and making delightful little faces, limbs waving akimbo, eagerly anticipating fragrant sounds of love. When the mother speaks, the child’s body and soul receive the life in her words, its body tightening up, its fists clenching and its feet kicking. Its mouth exclaims its joy. The earth was rejoicing at my presence the way the infant rejoices at its mother’s presence, eagerly anticipating the fragrant sounds of the words I would speak to it.

As I awoke, it was a new Today, the day the Lord had made. His mercies were new unto me and I was not consumed by the evils of yesterday. I shall rejoice in God my Saviour. I shall give voice to joy and speak the Word only that I may be continually saved.

I Know the Thoughts that I Have Toward You

2010-01-09T14:00:00.004-05:00

As I began my prayerful meditation this morning, I returned to God’s promise in Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the thoughts and the plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome (Amplified Bible). I am continually aware that "if I will believe, I will see the Glory of God." His Glory is dependent on His mercy, which is dependent on His forgiveness. There can be no mercy without forgiveness, and forgiveness brings the Glory. The Glory of God continues to remain in my thinking lately, perhaps because times are so challenging and the need to express and to see the Glory have become more needful.

Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew and approved of you as My chosen instrument, and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you; and I appointed you as a prophet to the nations (Amplified Bible).

If I truly believe that scripture, there is truly no weapon formed against me that can prosper, for I have been anointed for each appointment on the path my Father has ordained for me to walk in this life from before I was crafted in my mother's womb. My entry into Time was prepared from Eternity, and seeing the Glory of God in this life is the way to victoriously returning to Eternity and so I must walk in forgiveness always.

Father has appointed me as a prophet to the nations: there are no nations in Heaven, only in this world, and His command to the believer is to “ go…into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15

The outward movement of God's children from His presence into the world is a continual theme throughout the scripture, being removed from the Glory of His Presence. Yet, if we will believe, we will see His Glory in this world to which we have been cast out. Truly, we are the fishers of men, for as we live and move and have our being in Him, the Glory of the Lord is risen upon us and the anointing upon us to preach the Gospel—the Good News of Jesus Christ—will draw all men unto Himself.

Father God tells us that it is He Himself Who has caused us to be carried away from His Presence in Jeremiah 29:4: Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon. And He tells us why in Jeremiah 2:7: And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination.

We were cast out of His Presence in the Garden as an act of mercy so as to keep the wickedness of the enemy out of the Holy Place, which is our Home. That it was mercy and not punishment is so clear from the scripture, for it is the Holy Place where the enemy has always desired to place himself. What a hard taskmaster we would have been forced to serve for eternity had sinful man been allowed to eat that fruit of eternal life, for over and over in scripture the enemy built up for himself his own “high places”. This is the abomination mentioned throughout scripture: the wicked one on the seat of mercy, desecrating it. The enemy is incapable of mercy, for he has no forgiveness.

Yet we were not cast out of Father’s Presence without purpose and without redemption, for as always, in the midst of the storm He had prepared the Way:

Jeremiah 29:5-7 Build ye houses, and dwell [in them]; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished. And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.

It is the goodness of God that leads a man to repentance, and in repentance we must establish ourselves in this world with the promised hope of seeing His Glory in it. Praying for those around us, extending the mercy of God toward us to others is the means by which we will continue to see the Glory of God in our lives. We must daily forgive those who trespass against us that our Father in heaven may forgive us. The law of sowing and reaping is eternal and changes not; we shall reap what we sow.

All of this brings me back to the scripture that began this mediation, Jeremiah 29:11For I know the thoughts and the plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome (Amplified Bible).

Because the times are so challenging, I need to continually remind myself of God’s promise to me, to remind myself that His thoughts and plans for me are for my good and not for evil. There is nothing impossible with God, for my time is in His hands and has been since before there was Time. He knows the end of my life from its beginning, so why should I worry or fear the morrow? This is the Day the Lord has made and I shall be glad and rejoice in it, for Tomorrow will have its own challenges.

Jeremiah 29:12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find [me], when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

What a wonderful Father we have, that He hears my prayer; His promise is that I will find Him when I seek Him and that He will gather me back from the nations to which I have been cast out, to the Holy Place, to the Mercy Seat, where Forgiveness will bring me back into His Glory.

It is Good for Me to Draw Near to God

2010-01-08T05:44:00.004-05:00

It has been a long, difficult and most challenging season for the company for which I am employed; the economic status of the world has taken on momentum and malice, no longer slowly draining the life out of the company but viciously and mercilessly choking the life out of it. The situation has been bringing out the worst in each of us: the human nature demands to place blame and no matter how it manifests—-fear, anger, criticism, bitter words, sarcasm—-unbelief is an ugly spirit of antichrist.

We are just three people, all believers. Several times I have reminded us that we are not of this world, just passing through it, that the economy of this world is not the economy of Heaven, from whence cometh our provision. The Lord Himself will provide. Father, let your will be done on earth Today as it is in Heaven; thank You that Your mercies are new Today that we are not consumed by this world. Yet we each get sucked in by the ravaging storm around us, forgetting that our God is always with us, and the cumulative effect of our agreement over the circumstance overpowers us.

I have forcibly extricated myself from the situation several times, none of them pleasant. It seemingly leaves behind nothing but more bitterness and anger with division as a bonus. Yet the scripture declares:

Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

The scripture takes on new meaning when one is forging ahead in faith, trusting the Lord only and not looking to the situation. The division it seems to cause—-not just from the world and the things in the world, but also from believers whose understanding is different from your own—-is not true division as much as it is the separation of one’s soul and spirit unto God Almighty and away from the grip of the enemy.

Psalm 73:28 But [it is] good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

When one draws near to God, it necessarily demands that one walk away from our fellow man, whether believer or unbeliever. We must get focused, not looking to the right or the left, only ahead to the mercy of God our Saviour, if we are to recover ourselves and escape the snare of the enemy that is unrelentingly seeking to destroy us. Perhaps that is how leaders are formed. In any event, it is the only way one can recover himself when he has been distracted and drawn into the wiles of the enemy. At that point, when he is focused on the Light of the World, he can be an encouragement to the others and help them find their way out of the darkness that has beset them.

Jam 4:7-8 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse [your] hands, [ye] sinners; and purify [your] hearts, [ye] double minded.

James is not addressing his words to unbelievers; he is addressing the Body of Christ, when he commands us to cleanse our hands and purify our hearts: he is addressing the sinful nature of the old man to which we revert when the pressures of this world overwhelm the precious faith of God that resides in our spirits. We must submit ourselves to God, for we cannot serve two masters at once.

The daily devotional for January 2nd in Daily Readings from the Life of Christ by John MacArthur states, “Though your belief and profession may be biblically sound and solid, does your daily interaction with life’s circumstances reveal a complete trust in God’s preeminence?”

What a succinct summary of my present situation: has my daily interaction with the situation revealed my complete trust in God or has it revealed the subtle transfer of my trust to the paycheck? Have the interactions of my fellow employee and my employer revealed their complete trust in God or have they revealed the subtle transfer of their trust to the world’s system? We have each gone astray from our faith:

Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Thank God He has laid upon our Christ the iniquity of us all. Thank God His mercies are new every morning that we are not consumed. Thank God that His Word never changes, that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

The January 5th devotion in Daily Readings from the Life of Christ states, “What does His light expose, both in the world and in yourself, refining your approach and strengthening your confidence as you journey though each day?”

The sin of unbelief has been exposed, both in the world and in me, and my approach to the situation remains one of faith, restored faith; the only promise of overcoming remains in returning to the Word, returning to the Truth. I can do nothing about the situation aside from the mercies and promises of God:

John 15:4-5 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

How to accomplish this victory?

John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all [men] unto me.

Worship. Always back to worship, lifting up the Name of Jesus above every other name, honoring Him for Who He is, recognizing His Lordship in my life, giving Glory to His Name as I live the Life He has so graciously given me.

Blessings and smiles.

Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the Glory of God?

2009-12-16T09:17:00.004-05:00

How many times have you heard it said that miracles do not produce faith? Many times I have witnessed miracles and found that to be true. Our gracious Father has actually blessed me to be an instrument in the manifestation of a few miracles, yet no amount of recalling or retelling the miracle increases my faith. It simply serves as an encouragement to continue living, moving, and having all of my being in Christ Jesus and as a cause for celebratory remembrance.

How many people do you know who call what they have experienced “ a miracle” yet do not have faith and continue to live life outside of Redemption? For the unbeliever, witnessing miracles does not instill faith in the spirit; they may instill fear or wonder, but not faith. Faith comes only by hearing the Word of God and receiving His forgiveness in repentance unto the new birth.

In John 11:40, Jesus speaks these words to Martha: Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the Glory of God?

He did not say, "If you believe, you will see miracles." He did not say, “You will receive your brother back to life.” He did not say, “You will have a marvelous testimony to share with the world.”

He said, "You will see the Glory of God."

The focus was not on what was about to happen or on the people involved; the focus was on the glorious Son of Man and the Almighty God of Creation. What was about to happen was not to satisfy the onlooker but to give Glory to God and Jesus the Christ. Believer and unbeliever alike would witness the Glory of God, but only the true believer would grasp the wondrous Glory of the Presence of God in His Resurrection Power. Everyone present would see the miracle but only believers would perceive its real significance: the Glory. Jesus' entire life was predicated upon the Glory of God that He would restore to God’s Creation on the Cross.

Pastor Lindell Cooley was recently at the Holding Out Hope Church in Middle Island, NY; what glorious services! He asked us what it means to give Glory to God; what are we doing when we say we are giving Glory to God? And then he spoke of the tree, planted firmly in the ground, whose branches are raised up toward heaven throughout the springtime of renewal, the summer of intense heat, the winter of storms and adversities, and the autumn of reflection. Throughout the many days and experiences of its life, the tree stands firm, offering shelter, protection, and sustenance to its surrounding creation, always with its arms held high in adoration to the God of heaven, trusting in its Creator. Its life is its Glory to God, its Creator. When we raise our arms in adoration and worship of our Father, the Glory of our Creator is reflected in us and we are become the Glory of God in this world.

Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the Glory of God?

Share your faith with the lost, the destitute, the forgotten, the discarded, and all who live outside of Redemption this season of celebration. As you share, know that the Glory of the Lord is risen upon you, and that you are anointed to preach the good news to all who are downtrodden. Let your life so shine before men that your Father in heaven is glorified in you. Let us make this Christmas season the most awesome ever for unto us a Child is born.

Smiles.

Praying for Those in Authority

2009-12-14T13:16:00.002-05:00

Reading all the entries on the FB concerning the political climate of the world, my heart is continually moved to the scripture for wisdom and guidance. Below are some of the scriptures that rule my thought and prayers with reference to this subject; kindly take them to prayer and ask the Lord to show you how to apply them.

For me, I find instruction to pray for those in authority, for in doing so we (believers) shall live a quiet and peaceable life in all Godliness and honesty; does this mean we shall have no tribulations or challenges? I doubt that sincerely, but I know that in and through them, the Lord will lead us and guide us and be our Peace:

1 Timothy 2: I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, [and] giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and [for] all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty, for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior Who will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the Truth.

Do I profess to have all the answers or to be a teacher? No, humbly I submit to you, no. But I find instruction in the scripture as to how to address both my inadequacy and the situation:

Romans 8: Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what [is] the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to [the will of] God.

Should we bash the President, the government, the powers in the world? No. Do I like what is going on? NO. But we must speak the Truth in love, knowing that whoever sits on the seat of authority is there by divine appointment; do I understand the reasoning? No, again I humbly submit, no, but I find instruction in the scripture:

Romans 13: Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

Romans 9: For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

So what do I do when I am tempted to join in the rumors, the theories, the speculations, the fear mongering, the gossip? That inner need to express my own opinion or to join in someone else’s? I trust the scripture and order my conversation according to what the Lord has to say:

Romans 12: Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but [rather] give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

How can we give drink to those we fear or suspect or hate or disagree with? PRAY, PRAY, PRAY IN THE SPIRIT, FOR HE ALONE KNOWS OUR INFIRMITIES AND WEAKNESSES, AND HE ALONE KNOWS THE ENTIRE AND GLORIOUS WILL OF FATHER GOD. ONLY HE CAN LOOSE THAT TRUTH INTO THIS WORLD, AND ONLY WE CAN GIVE HIM VOICE.

Be blessed.

Thoughts on Isaiah 61

2009-12-14T13:11:00.003-05:00

Our dear Lord and Savior Jesus was born a human infant just as each of us was born an infant; He gave up His Divine Nature as Creator to become a part of His Creation. He grew in wisdom and stature before God and man, being obedient to his earthly parents, his parents in turn being obedient to the God they taught him about. It is declared in scripture that at the age of 13 Jesus captivated hearts with His discussion and discourse in the Word of God. It is in Isaiah 61:1 where we first discover that Jesus the Man had discovered Himself in God’s Word:

The Spirit of the Lord GOD [is] upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to [them that are] bound;

To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

In Luke 4:21, after quoting Isaiah 61, Jesus publicly declared the fulfillment of that Word in His Life: I am anointed to preach, to heal, to set free, to comfort, to deliver, to declare the Word of the Living God in power and demonstration. In Mark 16:15-20, Jesus bestowed that same calling and anointing upon all those who believe the Gospel: And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with [them], and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. It is the anointing of the Living God upon the man or woman who believes the Gospel that brings the manifestation of the spoken Word of God; receive that anointing on your life.

Meditate on the words of the prophet Jeremiah 1:5: Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, [and] I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

What does that mean to the one who believes? It means that God Himself created you in your mother’s womb and kept you safe there until the day appointed for your birth into this world. He did not allow you to come forth until He had separated you unto Himself, anointing you for the appointments He had put in place for you on the path He ordained for you to walk before the foundation of the world.

Living, moving and having all your being in Christ Jesus, receiving that anointing to go forth into all the world, and then following in the man Jesus Christ’s footsteps is the decided destiny of the Child of God. Have you received Jesus as your Savior and made Him Lord of your life? Then simply receive the same anointing from Isaiah 61 that Jesus received and simply GO. Make a declaration of that anointing on your life and let the world know that it is fulfilled in their hearing Today!

And what will be the result of your obedience? To those to whom you preach: And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. The Word shall not return to God void of fulfillment; the Kingdom of God shall increase and the kingdom of darkness shall have no choice but to loose what was once bound. The Glory of God shall be seen in all the earth.

The next verses declare the effect of walking in that anointing:

And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien [shall be] your plowmen and your vinedressers.

But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: [men] shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.

For your shame [ye shall have] double; and [for] confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.

For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they [are] the seed [which] the LORD hath blessed.

The world will recognize the anointing on your life and call you blessed, the ministers of the Lord God Almighty. That which once caused you sorrow and grief will be turned around for your good because you love the Lord God and are called according to His plans and purposes. Judgment has been declared and established in the Cross of Jesus Christ; there is no weapon formed against you that can prosper. The Lord Himself will guide you along that blessed path He has prepared for you. And your children and your children’s children will show forth the continued blessing of the Lord upon your life.

Isaiah 61 ends once again in the first person: the one who declares that the Spirit of the Lord is upon him can now declare: I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh [himself] with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth [herself] with her jewels. For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

I encourage you to rejoice in the Lord always. Rejoice that His mercies are new every morning so that the world may not consume you. Rejoice that you are called according to His plans and purposes. Rejoice that no weapon formed against you can prosper. Rejoice that you can declare as Jesus declares: I am anointed to preach, to heal, to set free, to comfort, to deliver, to declare the Word of the Living God in power and demonstration.

Smiles.