I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS

I was talking to my youngest daughter today about feelings, more specifically about being afraid of making people mad, getting in trouble, etc.  She had some very wise words for a young woman.  She said, "I used to be like that, I wanted to make everyone happy, and do everything right.  I could never even take up for myself.  I started thinking about end times and how Christians will be killed for being Christians and (I) DECIDED that I needed to get a backbone.  I didn't want to be 'afraid' to be who I am and have to go to the fiery pits because I was 'afraid' to stand up for myself and the God that loves me."
There was more to our conversation and who knows, the rest of it might end up being another blog lol.  What my mind has been on this evening is we need to DECIDE, we need to CHOOSE how we want to be.  She took action in her life to make sure she did not deny God.
We all need to take action in our lives.  We need to be prayed up and battle ready because we DO NOT know what we will have to face.  I see a lot of going back and forth Pre-trib, Mid-trib, Post-trib.  I'm not going to argue that in this blog post.  What I am going to say is no matter when Jesus comes back, NO ONE said we would not have trials.  NO ONE promised that bad things wouldn't happen to us just because we are Christian.  What God did promise is that HE would be with us.
Look at Daniel, look at Shadrach, Meshach and Abednigo, Jesus, Peter, Paul, etc. etc. etc.  They were following God, they were true believers and yet they suffered.  I hear a lot of people say, we are going to be raptured out and not feel the wrath of God.  What about the wrath of satan?  and who says we won't be in a battle?  We are in one everyday, that's why we have to put on our armor every single day.
The Bible says in Ephesians 6:10-13,  ¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
We are in the battle of our lives, for our souls.  We are fighting the powers already of this dark world.
There may come a day when you have to stand up for God, will you be able to?  Think of the shootings that have been going on.  We are precious children of God, however, look at Job in Job 1:1, 1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil.  He was also a precious child of God and in the end God restored everything to Job, because He stood.  When the day of evil came upon him, he stood his ground and when he had done all he could, he just stood.  BUT, he went through a battle, one most of us would not be able to withstand.
We have to decide today for each daily battle that we are going through.  The Bible says, "choose this day who you will serve" in the book of Joshua.  Don't wait around until a fiery trial comes upon you.  Decide today.  So if you end up in the lion's den, or walking in the fiery furnace, looking down a gun barrel with someone saying deny Jesus or die you can stand knowing that He died for you and He will be there to bring you home. Things are wrapping up, I've never seen or heard of so many prophecies coming to pass as there are in our life time but it doesn't mean it's over.  It's the beginning of birth pains.  (I'll let you look that up :-)
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
God bless you and love to all. 

When God Has Another Plan

Jeremiah 29:11 (King James Version)

 ¹¹For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
This translates to:  I know the plans I have for you.
God knows us from the beginning to the end, the Bible says He knows the very hairs of our head.  So why do we not realize His plans for us are perfect?  We seem to think we can do a better job with our own lives.  A little bit like our children do us isn't it?
Proverbs 16:9 says, "A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps."   This tells me that I can do "nothing" on my own without the Lord's help.  Even when my steps falter and I turn in the other direction, He is STILL with me. PTL!
God's plans for us have always been for us to prosper and flourish.  If we aren't it isn't God that is directing us!  The Bible says satan goes around as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.  When we turn away from God's plan for our lives, satan believes he has won.  However, we can rest assured that when we are ready to turn back to God, He will be right where we left Him.   The other part of that is that He will finish the work He started in you if you will allow Him.  You see God will never force our will but His plans DO NOT change.  We can remove ourselves from those plans but the minute we come back to God the plans remain the same.  He doesn't come up with "another plan"  He continues the original plan He had for our life.  Then is when you start to realize what a perfect plan it was.
Do you like a hot shower?  Most of us do.  What happens if you stay in the shower too long?  What happens when the water starts to get cold?  You can tell it's going to and you can tell if you keep standing under it that it's going to go completely cold.  It goes from really hot to completely cold!!  That's how some Christians are today!  We start out hot, on fire for God, then we stay in the world too long and we start to get lukewarm, if we keep staying in it, soon we are cold.  Now I don't know about you but once my water starts getting cold I have to get out.  That's just common sense, right?  Being a Christian is the same way.  It takes a little faith (the size of a grain of mustard seed), and at least a smidgen of common sense.  Now if you know what either of those are, you know they are tiny, very tiny.  It takes such a small amount to be a Christian, at least in the beginning.  Hebrews 11:1, Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  Common sense is what tells you that if you lie down with dogs, you are going to get fleas!  Common sense tells you to get out of the shower (the world) before you get cold!  Common sense tells you that you have to be in this world but you don't have to be "of" this world.
Revelation 3:16 says, "So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth."  If you stay in the ways of the world to long, you will grow first lukewarm, then cold.  It really doesn't matter if you are lukewarm or cold, either way you will NOT be walking with God.
Again, God knows the end from the beginning - He knows the plans He has for us.  His will be done.  His will, His ways are perfect.  The fun and happiness that satan offers in this world are only fleeting.  He can imitate some of what God gives us but he can't carry through.  Here today, gone tomorrow.  It was never, ever part of God's plan for any to perish.  However, just like satan, many think they are the God of their own lives and they can run it better.  Soon they grow cold and it's too late to step out of the shower.  You see, satan knows the plans he knows for you also.
Which plans do you choose?  God's perfect plan for your life or satan's plan of destruction.  If God is speaking to your heart right now, don't let the water grow cold.
God bless,
til next time,
TawanaB
(3-13-11a.m.)

Learn the truth, use the authority and break the bonds

BONDAGE:

And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: Galations 2:4 (false teachers)

Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matthew 18:18 (think about that, if we are in bondage on earth, we are bound in Heaven also!!)

TRUTH:

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32 (John 14:6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.)

AUTHORITY:

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Luke 10:19

When we know the truth, we can break free of our bonds (break out of bondage) using the truth and the authority that God gave us through Jesus Christ. Can I get a big amen :) That excites me. There is absolutely NOTHING that God did not make provision for us already!! Our God is truly morethan enough!!

Think of some of the synonyms for saved: rescued, delivered, liberated, set free. Can we add out of bondage after each word? Yes we can!

A true christian believes inwardly and outwardly that Jesus death has allowed God to offer them forgiveness and eternal life as a gift. They have "accepted" that gift through "faith" and are seeking (desiring - not forced) to live a life free of bondage and a life of obedient "gratitude" for what God has done for them.

Many are being led astray by every wind of doctrine and cunning craftiness of men.(Ephes. 4:14)

Mankind is in bondage. Some are in bondage to satan and thus to self and sin. Others are in bondage, held captive by the enemies lies because they don't know the truth. Still others are in bondage to the law or to a legalistic style of Christianity that snuffs the life and joy out of their walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.(excerpt, FREE FROM BONDAGE - GOD'S WAY by Kay Arthur)

Sin has everyone in it's grip. We are trapped (bondage) by sin, beaten down by past mistakes, and choked by desires we know are wrong. God knows we are sin's prisoners, and He has provided a way of escape - faith in Jesus Christ. All are caught in sin's grasp and only those who place their faith in Jesus Christ ever get out of it. Look to Him. He has already paid the price to set you free.

Don't be tossed around by "every wind of doctrine", don't be one of those who only wants to hear the good news of the gospel, don't be a man pleaser (another blog God is giving me). Pray, read, study to show thyself approved - to God, not man. Learn the truth, use the authority, break those bonds. Do not let satan dull your sword, it's your only weapon of defense, he would have you stay in bondage and the more you study and spend time with God, it's guaranteed the more satan will attack. He's had thousands upon thousands of years to plot and plan, compared to our 20, 30, 40, even 70 years some of us have lived. That's why we need Jesus, we need God as our refuge.

God gives us the authority through Jesus to fight the good fight, to overcome and to claim victory, over sin, over death, over bondage. All we have to do is learn it, use it, believe it. Have faith.

Learn the truth, use the authority, break the bonds. In Jesus name.

until next time

His servant

Lord give me an "attitude" of "gratitude" in Jesus name. Amen

And that's the Truth (Or is it?)

A perversion or twisting of the truth is more difficult to spot than an outright lie. That's why satan when he sets out to deceive will even quote you scripture. Take it straight to the Word of God and as the Bible says, try the spirits. We live in a time when many who profess to know Jesus really don't hunger and thirst for sound doctrine. In 2 Corinthians, Paul warns that satan masquerades as an angel of light. He (Paul) invokes a curse on any angel who spreads false teaching, actually on anyone!

1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

How can we tell when people are twisting the truth? Before accepting any teaching, find out what they teach about Jesus. If any teaching does not match up with the Word of God then it's false. InJohn 17:17, Jesus prayed , "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."

When people think of satan, they see the character drawn in story books and depicted in pictures of an evil looking character with horns and a sharp arrow like tail carrying a pitchfork. Because satan is evil this might be a good example of his character but the Bible says he was one of God's most beautiful angels. Those who know God also know satan for what he truly is. However, if we don't put on the whole armor of God daily we are just as susceptible to satan's pillaging as anyone else, maybe more so because when he is trying to turn a child of God away from God, he is much more subtle. He is an eloquent speaker, pleasing to the eye and the senses. He is evil, but he doesn't appear evil, quite the contrary, he tries to make evil look good. The Bible says he can quote scripture. You know why? Because he was an angel, he knows God's plan and he knows he is going to lose, he doesn't care about winning the battle, he cares about taking as many of God's creation with him as he can. Using someone to twist scripture, bringing doubt in your mind about your faith, using your past against you are just some of the tools he will use to bring about his plan. Satan will use scripture to bring doubt into your mind, he will use scripture to destroy your faith, he will use scripture to justify a wrong, again he will use whatever he can to make evil appear good.

He knows our weaknesses. He will bring up the past, not to rebuke you but to cause the flesh to rise up and want to do things of the past that we've already been forgiven for. Remember if you are being tried, rejoice as Paul did. The bible says (paraphrasing) trials and tests of our faith produces patience. If satan isn't tempting you or attacking you, he isn't worried about you. You are no threat to him!!

If you are no threat to satan, you are no good to God! Don't misunderstand what I'm saying,God loves you-you are His most beloved child. However, satan should tremble when your feet hit the floor (not the other way around). Resist the devil and he will flee. If you aren't resisting him you aren't helping/serving God. Choose ye this day......

That's why it is so important to know the truth, to search out the truth on your own as well as being taught. Effective fervent prayer is communication with the Lord. He will show you the truth, all you have to do is ask.

Again, try the spirits, God will show you the truth in His word and the Holy Spirit will reveal it to you in your prayer life. I pray constantly for God to give me knowledge and understanding of His word for myself and to share with you. I know the seriousness of misleading or teaching someone wrong. As this battle rages my favorite verse always comes to mind. Phil. 4:13.

God provided for us in this war. He has given us the whole armor, all we have to do is put it on. What is the first piece of armor mentioned in Eph. 6:10-19? "Having your loins gird about withtruth."

Father, God, I love You and praise You. You are the most High God and the only God in my life. You are the great I Am and I'm so thankful You have made provision for me, for all of us. You are my comforter, my protector, my guide, my ever present strength in the face of danger and trials. Forgive me today for anything I have done or said that was not in line with Your word, or was/is displeasing to You. Help me likewise, to forgive those who have wronged me. Lord I pray today for myself and all those reading, that you help us put on Your whole armor. To choose today to serve You. Help us to be strong in the power of Your might. Help us to stand against the wiles of the devil, whatever he may bring against us. Help us to resist the devil so he will flee from us using the power You have given us through Your Son Jesus Christ. Help us Lord when all else seems to fail to remember Your armor. To stand with truth, righteousness and Your gospel. Above all, to hold up our shield of faith, wear our helmet of salvation and carry our sword of the Spirit so we are covered from the top of our head to the souls of our feet with Your power and might. Though satan rages against us, we are assured victory. Thank You Lord for Your armor, thank You for Your might, thank You for Your power and protection. Most of all thank you Lord for saving us, for adopting us in to Your family. Though the storm rages we are safe in Your care. Open our ears and our hearts to Your truths Father. Be with us and give us boldness in spreading Your gospel. Help us to realize the seriousness of the battle we are facing and give us a true heart for the lost. When Your Son, Jesus cast out demons He did not ask them quietly or timidly to leave the people alone, He used one word, "Go", using that same power and authority that You have given us as Your children. Help us to be able, knowledgeable, wise and available soldiers in this battle and we give You all honor and glory and praise, Heavenly Father, You are worthy. In Your Son Jesus, precious Heavenly name. Amen

God bless

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem

His servant

God has a plan

Luke 23:44-46 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45) And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple wast rent in the midst. 46) and when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, He said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said this He gave up the ghost.

What love. What total selflessness. What a mighty God we serve. Each time I read about Jesus crucifixion, it breaks my heart. What He did is beyond words, beyond what my mortal mind can truly comprehend. When we think of Jesus and what He did for us, we need to remember that although He was God, He went through all of that as a man, just like one of us. He was born, lived and died as a man. However, at any given moment He could have said stop! He could have said, "I don't want to do this? They are not worth it, they don't care what I'm doing for them." And, beloved, He would have had every right to do that. Even then most didn't believe who He was. Even in those days they did not accept Him for who He truly was and is. You know why God sent His only Son? God has a plan.

It was never His intention for man to be lost. At the risk of repeating myself, God cannot lie. His word says He will always give us an escape from temptation, that began with His sending Jesus to die for our sins. He was/is our escape from sin and temptation. If we fix our eyes, heart, mind on god - He will deliver us from temptation. He says it in His word, He has to do it, He cannot lie!

I am not writing to those who read this, again, every word of this is for me. I am compelled by the Spirit to share this with whomsoever will read it. I need what the Lord is saying just as much IF NOT MORE than those of you reading right now. The devil tempts and attacks me continually and sometimes I stumble, sometimes I fall down and fail miserably. I am NOT giving up. That is the lesson I have learned. Don't give up. God has a plan.

I have been accused of thinking I'm perfect and that my life is perfect and everything goes my way. All I can say to that is far from it! Do I strive to be perfect? Most definitely. Do I succeed? Most definitely NOT.

Do I have trials? Yes! Right now I'm going through a painful divorce, I have severe financial difficulties, my car needs an oil change and freon, my kids have problems (and any parent knows your kids troubles ARE your troubles also lol). My life is far from perfect. I claim His promise, He will provide. If I didn't have God, I shudder to think where I would be or what I would be doing. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be here to write this blog. I get angry, sometimes I allow myself to worry, I say things I shouldn't and then I have to repent. To be honest, sometimes that might take a day or two until the Holy Spirit shakes me up and reminds me where I came from and what can happen if I don't let things go and let God take care of them. I have to pray it through and like a rebellious child sometimes I don't want to! My life is a journey, not perfect but I've learned, most (if not all) of my problems are from trying to do things my own way my whole life, without waiting on God or asking His will. Now, in all truth and honesty, I'm reaping what "I" have sewn. But, God has a plan.

He could make my life perfect, He could clear up all my problems without blinking an eye but then what would that teach me. Just like a child, I must learn lessons from my mistakes. As I write this, I know He is working everything out. I know He is providing all my needs and even some of my wants, I have to wait on Him and I have to keep my faith in Him. How could I learn to depend on God for my every need if satan were not attacking me and I wasn't going through trials. God has a plan.

Now is the time -- for all of us. There may not be another day, or even another breath.

If you are facing trials and temptations, turn to Him. If you stumble or fail miserably, as I do daily, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, ask God for forgiveness and guidance and try again.

God has a plan.

Think about Jesus - what He did for all of us. Trying to live in God's will is not easy, no one said it would be, but the rewards are "out of this world". Don't expect to never see trials, troubles or temptations again, what would that teach us? We must keep our faith, stay in touch with God through prayer and His written word. Claim His promises, they were written just for YOU.

God has a plan, a perfect plan.

If you enjoy reading these blogs about what God is doing and has done, check out my friend Joseph's blog http://serious-things.com/

May God richly bless you,

his servant

pray for the peace of Jerusalem

Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps. if you are not willing to move your feet.

He Truly Knows

I love the Lord God with all my heart. He is so faithful, the One true God, merciful, loving, just and faithful. No matter what I've done in my life, no matter where I've been. He has been there for me, even when I didn't serve Him. That is faithful. That is our God, He cannot lie, He says in His word He will never leave us or forsake us.
My heart was heavy this morning, my faith is strong but like a baby I was crying out to God to help me get my mind out of my situation and leave it with Him as it's supposed to be, to give me strength to overcome and remove my trials from my heart and mind, what I'm facing right now is not even one of the hardest things I have ever faced but it's consuming me and when I think I'm making progress satan is there to throw it right back in my face. I rebuked him in the name of Jesus to start with, then I asked God to give me a word for strength to meditate on today.
Being the mighty God He is and "knowing what I have need of even before I ask", this is the word God gave me today. Not what you might think or at least not what I thought it would be lol. I was sure He would lead me to one of His assurances, Lo, I am with you always, cast your cares on me, etc etc. Well, let me tell you, that isn't how God works. He does indeed know what we have need of before we ask!!!
This was my message (thump): Acts 6:4, But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of His word.!!! Double thump!
What an awesome God! In that one sentence this is what He told me:
My beloved child I AM answering your prayers as we speak, not just one but all. I AM Your Father who loves you more than I love the sparrows which are also my creation. I AM preparing a place for you. I AM making all things work for good because you serve Me. I AM supplying your every need according to My riches in glory. I AM.
All I ask you to do is this one thing, be faithful to Me continually in your prayers and spread My word. Leave the rest up to Me.
How can you not love a God like that, He is the great I AM, our provider, our comforter, our leader, our guide. He is worthy to be praised.
I share this with you today because He isn't only speaking to me, His word, His truths are meant to be shared...(the ministry of His word).
Beloved, God is not respecter of persons, what He does for one, He will do for all. (Acts 10:34, Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
That is what He wants us to know today. He is the great I AM. At this very moment, if we just hang onto our faith in Him, no matter our circumstances or what the devil is trying to throw at us, He is working ALL things out for our good. He keeps all His promises. He is not a God of chance but of second chances. God cannot lie, every promise He has given us He must keep. If you don't know Him, I challenge you today to pick up His word, meet Him in prayer and get to know Him. He is there waiting for you, He has all the answers to your prayers just waiting for you to ask. He is our Father who loves us more than the birds in the air and the beasts of the field which He also created. He doesn't want to see us struggling today, as He says in His word, "28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light". Matthew 11:28-30"
He is the conqueror, the great I AM.
Father, God I praise You and I adore You. I thank You for Your word, for Your mercy and grace and for loving me even when I am unlovable. You are ALL things to me. I love you Lord. Forgive me today for the sins I have committed both known and unknown. Help me to forgive others so I might walk in Your full blessings. Today Father for those who are struggling with mountains, I ask You in the name of Jesus to move those mountains for them, so they can focus on You and not their problems. I ask You to heal their bodies, deliver them from those addictions, heal their minds and their spirits, lift those financial burdens, those marital struggles, whatever their mountain is God. Heal their broken hearts and broken spirits, take away their doubts and help them to have a more meaningful relationship with You Father. Show them today that You are working in their lives just the same as You are working in mine. And if there is someone right now reading this that doesn't know You, Father God, draw them to You, speak to them right now Lord, in the name of Jesus that they might come to You, ask forgiveness and accept Jesus Christ as Your Son and Lord and Master. Bring them into Your fold, make them a part of Your inheritance. Help all who read this today to turn their mountains, their cares over to You and show them in a mighty way that You are God. They no longer have to fight their battles alone for Your word says clearly "the battle is Yours". Your mercy and grace are free to all who ask. I ask for them and for myself, Father, in Jesus mighty and powerful name, giving You all praise, honor and glory. Amen

May God richly bless you all,
His servant - tawana b
Pray for peace in Jerusalem
"I am wonderfully made, beautifully designed, magnificently engineered, created by God, strong and powerful! I am built Lord tough!"

To Sin or Not to Sin, Is that the question

If God loves to forgive, why not give Him more to forgive? If forgiveness is guaranteed, do we have the freedom to sin as much as we want? Paul's answer in Romans is a very forceful NO!

Romans 6:1-2, What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid.

Such an attitude, deciding ahead of time to take advantage of God shows that we do not truly understand the seriousness of sin. Jesus paid for our sins with His very life so we could be forgiven. The availability of God's mercy and forgiveness must not become an excuse for careless living and moral laxness. In other words, we cannot deliberately do something we know is wrong and justify our fleshly wants and desires by saying, "it will be all right, God will forgive us for doing this because we want it so badly"!! And woe be to us if we cause another to sin also!! This goes back to a previous blog about the choices we make. If we choose to sin, we may not even believe anyone else is going to get hurt, or worse yet, we think it is okay if only one or two people get hurt! The choices we make ultimately affect more than us whether we think they do or not. The devil would have us think we are not hurting anyone but ourselves but just by our very witness to others we could be causing hurt, confusion, anger, anxiety. What if someone turns completely away from God just because they observed our behavior. God forbid!

God is holy and He WILL NOT be associated with sin. If your desires are contrary to any of God's laws-He is not in it. Again, God will NOT arrange anything for us that is contrary to His word. Therefore, if it isn't God, we must conclude it is satan once again trying to make a wrong look right. 1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

We can try to rationalize sin any way we want to but sin is still sin. In these last days even many preachers and pastors will be led astray. Many of those will lead others astray. 1 John 2:3-4 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

Romans 6:12-14 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

1 Peter 5:8-10 8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.10But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

We have assurance in God's word that He will deliver us from temptation, He will always provide a way of escape, it is, however, up to us to take that way and follow Him instead of our own fleshly desires. Do we want the world? Do we want God's permissable will? Or, do we want to walk in God's perfect will? Are we truly seeking His will or only our own? Those are the questions.

We are ALL called of God, teachers, preachers, singers, visiting the orphans and widows, cleaning the church, sharing the gospel in the grocery store, etc. all is a calling. We all have a responsibility to make sure we do not use our calling nor our gifts for personal gain. 1 Peter 5:2 2Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Our calling and our gifts from God are to edify Him and for the betterment of others, not to tear anyone down or justify our own desires. Ephesians 4:1-6 1I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Ephesians 1:4 4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Clearly to sin or not to sin is NOT the question.

Until next time,

His servant, tawanab

Pray for peace in Jerusalem

Facing the storms and finishing the book.

Mark 4:37-40 37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

Jesus has been with His people for 20 centuries and yet, we, like the disciples, underestimate His power to handle our storms. The disciples did not yet know Jesus but we do NOT have that excuse. We need to be prepared for the storms, prayed up and ready. God did not promise us no storms, only that He would keep us through the storms. When a storm rages around us we can pray, trust and move ahead. Lean into the wind and trust God, not running from the storms.

With faith, nothing is impossible. Our own outlook to everyday problems is a testimony of our faith. How do we react when the car won't start or things don't go as we have planned? Do we praise God through the storms or curse the storms? As children of God, we need to realize that the enemy is constantly seeking ways to destroy our faith. He does just what is necessary to compromise our walk with God. Does it take a little or does it take a lot? A small rain shower or a full blown thunderstorm? You know the closer you are walking with God, the bigger and stronger the storms will be, that is just the enemies way. The harder he fights you, the bigger the storm, rejoice in the knowledge that you are doing something right in the Lord or satan would not have a reason to fight you. Let me turn that around and repeat that, if he's NOT fighting you, something is wrong in your walk! Sound harsh? If you think about it, it's true. When you look around and see unbelievers enjoying wealth and happiness, what will they have when the storms hit? They can turn to the same God we do, but many won't. When it seems nothing is going your way, that the enemy is attacking from every side, health, happiness, finances, work, any area, rejoice because you are a thorn in satan's side. He knows he is defeated and you are living, breathing proof thrown in his face by your very faith. Remember that God has our lives all planned out.

I think of my life as a book, every chapter carefully illustrated by God. I picture sometimes that He has a big eraser that He uses when I've scribbled in new lines and changed what He has written for me. He, (God), has to erase what I've done (forgive me my sins, transgressions) and rewrite the story encompassing what I've done of my own free will. I'm here only by the Grace of God. He has sustained me and even at my age I know God can still use me and He does. My storms can and have been turned into testimonies for Him. At my lowest points, when I thought I was down to nothing, God was up to something. He teaches me daily how to lean on Him, pray and have faith. I seek Him out in the mornings, I'm excited for what the next pages and chapters hold that God has in store for me in my book of life. I've read the end of the book and it goes like this -- ...and she lived happily ever after with her King in the Kingdom He prepared for her, where there is no sorrow, no death, no tears and no more storms. (Thank you Jesus)

Heavenly Father, I pray the peace of God for all who are reading this blog. I ask that you bless them in whatever way they most need You today and that You work in and through them, Lord Jesus. I pray for their health, their spiritual well-being, their mental health, their finances, that You will bless them in ALL things. Most of all, I pray they put on Your full armor and stand strong against the storms the enemy brings against them, having faith in You that You will sustain them and keep them safe. For those who might not know You or may be struggling with their faith Father, I ask that You bless them in a special way, that You touch them in a way that they will have no doubt they have been in the presence of the Lord. Father I ask You in Jesus name to heal those who are sick today in a way that leaves no doubt it was a touch of Your hand. Those that have special prayers, special needs, storms they can't face, that You would especially answer their prayers and give them the help, the answers, the word, the shelter that they seek today. All these things I ask in Jesus name and believing Your word that anything we ask in Your son's name, you will do. I thank you and praise you and give you all the glory. I love you Lord. Amen

In His will,

God bless you

tawanab

A Fire I Can't Put Out

Or I should say "I don't want to". This past week I have been going to revival with one of my daughters and awesome doesn't even describe it. Seeing the Lord moving and seeing the Holy Spirit move has quenched my thirst and kindled the fires in my spirit. I want more, more of what the Lord has to offer. I want to serve Him and I don't want to let this fire grow dim or go out. I am no stranger to seeing the Lord move so I wonder why I've cooled off in the past. I can blame it on the enemy but much as I hate to make any concessions where he is concerned, he is not totally to blame. I have to accept some of the responsibility myself maybe even a large part of it. Now, before you shake your head at me saying I shouldn't give the devil any leeway, rest assured I'm not. I know he is a snake, a liar, a deceiver and as the Bible says in 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. Make no mistake, I'm not cutting the devil any slack and I'm not turning my back on him. However, he really can only do to me what "I" allow him to do. If I'm not reading my Bible, I'm not staying in touch with the Lord, then I give the devil a perfect opening into my life.
I should live my life as if I'm in revival everyday. The fires should be so bright in me that the heat touches anyone who gets near me! I've seen God move, I've been in His presence, I've been in the presence of the Holy Spirit, I have no excuses! I want more and if I want more all I have to do is stay hooked up :) I do want the fire in me to be so strong, I couldn't put it out if I wanted to. That's annointing, that's what I'm asking God for - annointing. You know what happens when you pour oil on a fire? It gets out of control. I want to be out of control for God.