“You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭4:11‬ ‭

I am speechless and in awe of the fact that MY GOD IS WORTHY! Worthy to receive all that I can give Him: my time, my respect, and my life!

He created me and the world I live in. The air I breathe, the food I eat and the people I love are all created by Him. They are a gift from Him to me to enjoy! My heart full of gratitude and thanks is the least I can give back to Him.
Everything in the world is created by Him and all glory, honor and power are due Him!
Today, I am struck with this Truth….the sunshine I see brightening my day, the breeze I feel softly on my face and the birds I hear singing their song are all created by The Creator Himself! He hung every star, He gave every flower it’s scent and He created each and every human being with their own unique fingerprint and character. He made you and He made me and He is worthy my friend.

Truth Bomb

Our God is worthy to receive all glory and honor and praise!

Our God is worthy of all we have and all we are!

Speak Truth Love

How is your day going? Did your week start off with a “BANG,” or a “FIZZLE?” Are you feeling full of the “Joy of The Lord,” after your Easter celebration, or are you feeling the exhaustion of the holiday preparations and festivities?

Regardless, God has a FRESH word for you!

“Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin AFRESH each morning.”                                                                                           Lamentations 3:2

I pray that this encourages you no matter what state you find yourself in today. But, please do not miss the power this truth holds! This does not just roll off the lips of one who is having a “bad hair day!” It is not voiced by one who’s Easter outfit didn’t make the “Best Dressed List!” It’s not spoken by one who burnt their Easter dinner or woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

This claim that the “mercies of God are new every morning,” is stated confidently by one whose “peace has been stripped away,” one who has been “rolled in the dust, with face down in the gravel! By someone who has had the “good things of this world”, and has “lost all their splendor!” One who has hoped, and has witnessed that hope squashed! One who has suffered from homelessness and careless words, one who has grieved so deeply that the grief felt endless!

Yet still, in spite of the seemingly insurmountable circumstances knew that the “faithful love of the Lord never ends!”

Do you need something fresh, something new? I know I do! God is offering it to us each and every day!

“The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.”     Lamentations 3: 22–23

TRUTH BOMB

His mercies begin afresh each morning!

Step into this new and fresh attitude with me friend, will you? All God is asking us to do is start each new day with Him. 

Pray, read His word, and allow His mercies to fall afresh on you!

Happy New Day!

Speak Truth Love

In religious circles, this week is known as ‘Holy Week.’ It is the single most important week in Christendom!

Between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, two world changing events happen. Both result in one supernatural phenomenon that bridges the gap between sinful mankind and Holy Perfect God.

The first event happens in Garden of Gethsemane.

Jesus finishes the Passover meal with His 12 disciples. Passover, in the Jewish tradition occurs during the full moon and represents God rescuing His people from slavery in Egypt. Jesus knew that what Isaiah had prophesied some 700 years before, was about to happen!

“But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.”         Isaiah 53:5

So, He called His disciples to follow Him to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray to His Father in Heaven.

He prays with such intensity and such agony that He sweats drop of blood!

“…He became deeply troubled and distressed. He told them, (His disciples), “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death.” Mark 14:32,33

Jesus then pleads with His heavenly Father to take this “Cup of Suffering” away from Him.

“Abba, Father’ (meaning Daddy), He cried out, ‘everything is possible for You! Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.’”    Mark 14:35–36

Jesus knows that a horrible fate awaits Him, and He asks His Father to take it away. 

What is that horrible fate? Is it the physical death that He is about to endure? True, it is a painful, excruciating death, but I do not believe that is it. Other believers before Him had suffered and died a painful physical death. Physical death alone was not the reason.

Was it the attacks of Satan? Jesus had already endured and confronted and defeated the attacks of Satan in the wilderness. He had fasted, prayed and taken Satan on, and Jesus returned after 40 days strengthened by the Holy Spirit! As hard and difficult as that was, I do not believe that was the reason.

Was it the betrayal of Judas? Judas was a close friend, a disciple, one that Jesus loved and trusted. While this surly brought Jesus pain and disappointment, I do not believe it brought Him, “anguish to the point of death!”

No,  ‘Gethsemane’s Cup’ that Jesus willing drank for you and for me was the pollution of sin mixed with the punishment of sin! It was the vile, ugly, evil sin of all mankind that Jesus took on Himself. It was also the punishment for that sin that Jesus accepted for you and for me! And, ultimately, it was the separation from His Holy perfect Father, as He turned His face away from His son who took our sin on Himself!

The first world changing event is accomplished as Jesus submits His will to the will of the Father and takes on the Sin of all mankind!

THE VICTORY WAS WON IN GETHSEMANE!

Later that week, the second world changing event occurs.

A perfect, sinless, willing lamb, was nailed to a cross and put to death for the transgressions of the world.

“It was nine in the morning when they crucified Him.”  Mark 15:25

As the soldiers scourged Him and nailed Him to the cross, Jesus cries out to His Father to forgive them, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.”

Seeing all of this and hearing the words of compassion Jesus speaks, a Roman soldier proclaims,

“Surely this man was the Son of God.”

Mark 15:39

The second greatest world changing event is accomplished when Jesus pays the cost for all of mankind’s sin at Calvary!

The cross was God’s choice. In His wisdom, God decided that the cross was the way to accomplish two great world changing events at the same time: One, Sin is punished, and Two, the sinner is forgiven!

These two world changing events during Holy Week brought us the greatest gift the world has ever or will ever receive! The greatest Supernatural Phenomenon occured bridging the gap forever between sinful man and Holy perfect God, The Resurrection of Jesus Christ!

“You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here!” Mark 16:6

This week we celebrate the Holy week of Jesus. Thursday night as He prayed and committed His will to the will of the Father, Friday as they scourged, beat Him and nailed Him to a cross, and finally Sunday when God raised Him from the dead!

TRUTH BOMB

THE VICTORY WAS WON IN GETHSEMANE AND PAID FOR AT CALVARY.

He lives my friends! Jesus is alive! 

HALLELUJAH! WHAT A SAVIOR!

Speak Truth Love

I know you have seen the signs of Spring beginning to pop, even through the rain.

The pink buds on the cherry trees, the white puffs of “popcorn” (we call it) on the apricot trees, and the endless fields of yellow flowers covering the new green grasses of the hillsides.

You have also seen, I’m sure, the array of Easter chocolates and Easter goodies, begging to be bought to fill your Easter baskets.

This week my eye has been drawn to the baby lambs following close beside their Mommies in the fields around us. There’s also baby goats and calves laying beside their Mamas, attempting to get up and walk on wobbly, young legs. Last week I even saw two twin colts following their mother in the corral beside the highway.

It is the season of New Life! Spring is in the air, and we are ready for lighter clothing, greater exposure to the sun, and longer walks outside in the warmer air.

Do you prepare for this? I do!

I start to panic that my over indulgence of baked items during the cold days of winter, may not make a good impression in my sleeveless spring wear. I look down at my pale arms and legs and push myself out the door to allow the sunshine to hit them. I even consider a new lotion with color in it!

But the truth is, Easter is not just the time for baskets, candy and new clothes. It also, is not just the time to go to church and sing His praises. It is the time to prepare our hearts for THE GREATEST EVENT IN HISTORY!!! 

The hard thing is, the greatest event in history begins with the saddest day in history.

Palm Sunday celebrates Jesus triumphant entry into Jerusalem, where palm branches are being waved in His honor and “Hosanna’s” are being sung to His glory. 

“Hosanna to the son of David!” Blessed is He who comes in the name of The Lord. Hosanna in the highest heaven.”                                             Matthew 21:9

The people, like you and I, are not only cheering for Him, they are giving Him the recognition and honor He is due. They are calling Him Lord, but in a matter of days, they are shouting insults and demanding his death!

How do hearts that praise Him, turn so quickly to curse Him?

I have to believe that their hearts were not prepared. They were not fixed on His glory, His kingship, or His power. Their hearts were led by emotion and fooled by deception. They were hearts that were not grounded in commitment and prayer.

Granted, they did not yet have access to the Holy Spirit, but WE DO! How much more important is it that we prepare our hearts for this season? We need to connect ourselves to the power of the Holy Spirit!

I know of no better way to do that than through FASTING. Fasting calls us to sacrifice and focus on something bigger than ourselves.

Jesus gets to the heart of the matter when He expresses His disappointment with His disciples. They had a lack of preparation as they fall asleep on Him while praying.

“Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?”   Matthew 26:40

The answer is No. They in and of themselves were too weak. Jesus tells them this truth,

“For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”                              Matthew 26:41

God knows that if we do not prepare our hearts for Him, we will be too weak in our own strength to grasp the depths of what Easter is truly all about!

TRUTH BOMB

When we fast, we exchange our power for God‘s power.

Fasting puts us in a posture to break our pride, and anything that holds us captive. It helps us to break bad habits in our lives and build good habits. Combined with prayer, fasting connects us to the Holy Spirit and His power.

Mark Batterson, in his book ‘Draw the Circle,’ put it this way:

“If we will live in a place of brokenness, (by fasting,) God will build us back up in the power of the Holy Spirit.”   pg.153

Are you willing to have your heart broken, so that it can be fully prepared by the Holy Spirit to receive all Immenseness of Palm Sunday and Easter?

You may already be preparing your hearts through this Lent season. But if you are not, would you consider a FAST in combination with prayer to prepare your heart this EASTER?

You will be amazed at what God will do in and through you if you do!

I am preparing my heart through a fast and I already can testify to the sensitivity I already feel coming up to Palm Sunday. I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE WHAT GOD WILL DO ON EASTER!

He is faithful friends! Fasting is not easy. Pray first about what God wants you to fast from. It can be food, it can be social media, T.V., movies…anything at all.

Fasting is an exercise in will power! But it is so worth it as we yield our personal will power to His great POWER!

You can do it! We can do it! We can be more like Jesus on Easter as we enter that day in the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Bible tells us that Jesus after fasting for 40 days, “returned to Galilee in the power of the Holy Spirit.”

My goal is to enter my church this Easter in the power of the Holy Spirit! I hope you will join me.

Blessings and prayers for strength and will power!

Speak Truth Love

 

I know the annual calendar has turned from Winter to Spring, but someone forgot to notify the weather!

“April showers bring May flowers,” but we are not having showers, we are having TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS!

I know that we all live in different states and countries, but I live in “Sunny California!”

You can not prove that by me! We have experienced torrential rains for the better part of this winter. We have experienced flooding with closed roads, ruined highways, even the closure of one of our favorite bakery cafe’s, all due to the torrential rains in our area. The flood damage was so severe that they could not redeem their bakery!

We have witnessed the rains pouring down with such strength and with little or no pause for days on end, causing damage to our church building and filling one of our nearby churches with over 6 feet of water as the Russian River rose to alarming heights!

Now it is finally Spring and yesterday was April 1st, but I see no signs of those “showers bringing flowers!” It is forecast to rain all week long again! I am seriously considering living in a boat. I could get to places a whole lot easier!

I don’t know about you, but I have had a little too much WINTER! That is a HUGE statement coming from me!  I am a Winter Lovin’ Gal!  I am not complaining about the massive amount of snow in the mountains! Nor am I denying the blessing of the rain and water reserve that we desperately needed, but for some reason this “WINTER” seemed to seep into my soul. The cold, dry, damp mornings seemed to be accompanied by a chill in my spirit.

It is a hard condition to describe because it is foreign to me. I get up with a joyful anticipation of the day and what it will hold normally. I approach most days with high energy and drive to accomplish what lies ahead of me. In the Winter, which I love, it offers me the opportunity to slow down a bit, stay in bed a little longer while I wait for the sunlight to make it’s way to the new day. I wear warmer jammies and sip my morning coffee a bit more slowly as I spend chilly mornings wrapped in a cozy blanket with God and His Word.

Winter is a good time in our lives, a necessary time when we are prompted by the colder weather, later mornings and earlier evenings, to slow down and recharge. I love the winter and the opportunity it affords me spiritually, but this “winter” in my life has lasted too long!

I have grown a bit too sluggish. I have felt the pressure of life and it’s responsibilities pressing in on me and causing doubt and frustration. My Winter has turned into frost in my spirit and has threatened to become a routine instead of a recharging.

In Hosea it speaks about God coming to us as we draw near to Him. It uses the metaphor of rain, both the Winter rain and the Spring rain. There is a need for both.

“Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge Him. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.”                                                               Hosea 6:3

I am in need of God’s “rain” on my spirit. I need it in the winter when I quiet my spirit to meet with Him for recharge. I also need it in the spring when I am ready for renewal in my spirit. If for some reason I need a longer winter rain from God, who am I to argue? I know I need Him Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall!

My prayer now is that my spirit will accept the recharge of God’s pouring out His torrential rains on my spirit this winter, so that I may enjoy the showers of spring rain He has in store for me this next season.

The dictionary definition of showers, as a noun is; “A brief fall of rain.”

However, when used as a verb, the definition is; “to bestow liberally or lavishly.”

That is exactly what I need spiritually!

God knows what we need friends. He knows if we need a torrential downpour in our spirits, or a brief fall of rain! But regardless, I ALWAYS desire the active participation of God in my life to “bestow Himself lavishly” on my spirit!

Finally, when the word “showers” is used as an adjective it is defined as “well-showered.”

Maybe, like me, your “winter season” has lasted a bit too long. Maybe you are looking toward the beautiful, light April showers that bring those “brief falls of rain,” which cause our spirits to bloom with renewal!

Or maybe you are just sick and tired of wearing your rain boots and opening up your umbrellas! Either way, we have the opportunity to allow each and every season to recharge us and renew in us a right and good spirit that God can use for His glory and purposes.

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”    Psalm 51:10

TRUTH BOMB

GODS RAIN RENEWS US BOTH IN WINTER AND SPRING!

So, Happy Spring! May you feel God’s refreshment as He recharges and renews you!

Speak Truth Love