Good morning! I refuse to give in to discouragement. God is still GOD and HE has not forsaken us. Indeed, the BEST IS yet to come! I believe that! Interesting to note, I picked this scripture. And then after was listening to Elijah Streams where Johnny Enlow quoted it and did an entire message on Daniel Chapter 2. Coincidence? Or simply GOD reminding us all of just who HE is! Something about that encourages me. Anyway, have any of you ever read Bodie Thoene? She has written a large number of books, many of them connected to each other through historical events and wonderful characters that cross over into each and every one. It IS Historical Fiction at its finest. The first series I ever read of hers was "The Zion Chronicles" series which was a post WWII look at Israel's fight to become a nation. The next was "The Zion Covenant" series which was a Pre-WWII look at Hitler's rise to power and the fate of those good people who stood in opposition. Interesting that I would be thinking of THESE books in the world we are living in today. But take heart. All is not lost. God is still on his thrown and HE is still in control. No idea if any of these quotes are from this series but they are important to remember. "Apathy" is the devil's tool. We cannot turn a blind eye to evil in our land; we must pray against it and fight back in whatever way we can. Bodie Thoene has long been my favorite author. She has long lived at the top of my list of current authors and has many a book I haven't yet had time to read. Highly recommended reading. Have a blessed day!
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Good morning! Running a bit late this morning so will need to keep this short. I don't know about you, but I'm feeling a bit battle weary. Time to remind myself that the victory belongs to the Lord. We just need to TRUST HIM. There is NOTHING HE CAN'T DO! GOD WINS! Have a blessed day! Good morning, Watching the wrestling match taking place across the country for power over the people, easy to get angry. When obvious manipulation and cheating is happening, clear to anyone really paying attention, and it seems no one is doing anything to stop it, a righteous anger builds within our spirits. In the end, GOD WINS, we know this. But we need to remember who it is we are actually in a battle against. We need to pray for the powers of darkness to be defeated soundly. I found a wonderful study on this verse from Zechariah written by Clarence L. Haynes on a "Bible Study Tools" website that explains in context why these words were said to Zerubbabel in the book of Ezra. If you read it in context, it is quite significant for today. Here is a link, if anyone cares to read the study. Not by Might, nor by Power! Meaning and Promise of Zachariah 4:6 (biblestudytools.com) It is in the time of the Prophets, Zechariah and Haggai. Zerubbabel has been tasked with rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem but opposition to his work was strong and he had to stop progress on his important work because of an edict coming down from the King. Frustrated and discouraged, he had to end his work with no idea if he would be able to finish what he had started. These words coming to him from Zechariah the prophet, "Not by might nor by power but by MY spirit, says the Lord" was God's promise to him that HE would be with him to make sure that this task that GOD himself had given him to complete will not go unfinished. Very easy to put the issues of today into this context and realize that all is not lost; we just need to TRUST HIM to complete the work HE has started to defeat the "oppositions" coming against HIS plans for HIS people today. Have a blessed day! Good morning! The Joy of the Lord is my strength! I think the key to keeping my JOY is to turn off the news, turn off the talking heads and the constant chatter and just rest in Jesus. And apparently revisiting the days of my kids loving Veggie Tale videos. Flipped on the TV to pick some good songs on Joy to post here and found a broadcast of Veggie Tales happening on TBN. This episode is one about the Internet... "Knowledge is good; but Wisdom is better". This word of truth from Pa Grape. And a reminder that the place to learn good wisdom is NOT on the Internet but instead... it is right in the bible... The Book of Proverbs. ![]() Wisdom tells me that the convoluted news we get from Mainstream Media more often than not is trying to make me believe "lies" as "truth". IF you know this, why pay any attention to the mainstream media. I keep my JOY be remembering that GOD is in control of this and all the NOISE coming out of the news is just that.... noise. GOD WINS. Have a blessed day! And enjoy this lovely song from Tauren Wells. Good morning! Honestly, if you watch it all too closely... this roller coaster ride we are currently on as a nation... it would be easy to be discouraged and sad. I'm choosing not to be because I know that in the end... GOD WINS ... and that is all that is really important. But it is also important to pray, to not lose heart, to not listen to the voices that are there to confuse and divide (there has been a lot of that going around the last few days - much misinformation to make one think things are bleak and hopeless when that is simply not the case). Take heart and trust Jesus. For some reason, I was reminded of this song yesterday and wanted to share it today. Recorded back in the early 90's on an album entitled "Anonymous Confessions of a Lunatic Friend" - Which might be my favorite album title of all time... this song is one to touch the heart in all sorts of places. Hope you all enjoy. Bryan Duncan. Another one of those "golden age" of Christian music singers. He began his career as the Lead Singer for an early days of CCM band called "Sweet Comfort Band" but eventually went on to have a very successful solo career. This has always been one of my favorite songs of his. "We all feel lost sometimes; we all feel hurt inside; we all cry, we all need, the redeeming love of Jesus. It's STILL God's Grace we ALL need to know" What a beautiful message of comfort, hope, grace and redemption wrapped up in a three-minute song. All of his music can be found on Spotify, or the music streaming source of your choice. For all those people who refused to support Christian Music calling it sub-standard - nothing could be further from the truth. This beautiful song is proof of that. Have a blessed day! Good Morning, The discouragement of yesterday morning has made way for much encouragement today. I don't believe things are anywhere close to as bleak as it seemed a couple of nights aga... no, we have much reason to rejoice and be glad. So, let your heart not be troubled. Rejoice, for God is still doing great things and, in the end, we will ALL be able to see it clearly. God Wins! Still my daily reminder when I start to doubt; I remember that I read to the end of the book and in the end, no matter what we have to go through to get there.... GOD WINS! Have a blessed day! Good morning! Hard not to lose hope... until I remember.... We should have known that this wouldn't be easy. I haven't seen the latest, but I admit, I went to sleep troubled and very discouraged last night. All we can do is continue to pray because in the end... we KNOW without any doubt.... that GOD WINS! I hold on to the truth of this tightly. Have a blessed day! Good morning, Waymaker, Miracle Worker, Promise Keeper, Light in the Darkness. This is how I fight my Battles. Jesus Defeated the Darkness; He has never lost... a Battle. The worship songs I pick sometimes have a similar theme. I suppose because I'm fully awake to the spiritual battle this world is engaged in. Trusting God that He will go before us today and help us to make all the right choices. That He will give us wisdom. Help us to hear HIS voice. That he will open eyes and open hearts of those who are still asleep and lost. That the plans of our enemy will be crushed under the feet of Jesus. And that the outcome that HE wants will prevail. We trust you, Jesus, above all else. Have a Blessed Day! Nothing really to do with the theme of the day but there is some cool imagery in this video. Also... Keith Green. One of those song that touches your heart, makes you want to draw closer to Jesus.... and makes you miss Keith and his beautiful heart. Enjoy! Good Morning! I was thinking about this verse this morning, right before I heard Dutch Sheets quote it... so I'm taking that to mean I should make it our theme today. It's a key verse for such a time as this, don't you think? "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sins, and will heal their land". Lord Jesus, I pray for eyes to be opened, for hearts to be healed, for help from heaven for our nation, which is in dire need of help from you, Lord. Please, Jesus. Heal our land. We trust YOU, and YOU alone. Perhaps if continue to pray, we WILL feel the mountains tremble.... Have a blessed day! Good morning, The anticipation is building. I'm trusting God for the future of this Country. I'm trusting God that no matter what happens on Tuesday, HE is still in control. I'm holding strongly to the knowledge that GOD WINS no matter what things look like to my natural mind. Prayers for this nation as we move into this critical week. Lord Jesus, have YOUR way in the midst of the chaos we have been seeing for a couple of years. Thank you for all you have done to expose wickedness. We love you and we trust in YOU and YOU alone. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding". We all need to hold tightly to this scripture. Have a blessed Sunday! Good morning! I don't know about you but despite the trials of the last few years, my heart is remaining hopeful that God is in control and knows what He is doing. This is the month when we should all be considering what we are most thankful for; I'm most thankful for Jesus in my heart. I honestly do not know how anyone makes it through trials of any kind without Jesus. I have hope that all is well and in the end the truth of the last several years will be evident for all to see. And when I start to lose hope... I watch through this visual reminder of God's heart for his people that I was shown one day at Church in the Spring of 2020. This "Spoken Word" for America from an Australian Ministry is a beautiful reminder of the hope we have in God to set things right in HIS time. This video gives me hope... still. I watch it every time I need a boost. "Rise UP, Nehemiah's!" We should all be praying for our Nation and the Nations of the world to be set free. Arise and Rebuild! Have a blessed day! Good morning! Every battle belongs to the Lord. Good thing to remember. Prayers for our Country, our Families, our communities, our friends and neighbors. Jesus loves them all. Have a blessed day! Good Morning! Going to keep this short today. An unexpected issue with the car is causing me to have to start my day with an early morning errand before work so no lingering a long time over coffee while reading through some devotionals to find inspiration for a theme. No, listening to an hour's worth of early morning worship to pick just the right song to go with the theme. Nope, must get out of the house early. So, I hope you all have a wonderful day! Remember, the Battle belongs to the Lord. We can trust HIM... and HIM alone. Have a blessed day! Make My Life A Prayer to You - Remembering Keith Green, Daily Devotion for Wednesday, November 2nd11/1/2022 Good morning! I'm declaring it "kitten" day just because they bring me such joy. Okay, got that out of my system. This probably belongs on that Music Blog page... but I'm doing it here because it is what I'm thinking about this morning. One night, months ago, I stumbled upon a video that blew my mind a little. Then make me chuckle. Then sent me on hunt to find a way to stream all of his albums so that I could re-live my early days as a Christian. (Spotify has them all). Here was that video. An ages ago episode of "What's My Line" which featured an 11 year old Keith Green who had just signed a contract as a rock and roll singer. If you wish to hear that long ago song that got him the contract, skip to about 5:22 or so. If you know anything about Keith Green, you know that despite the fact that he was being prepared his entire life for Rock Music Stardom, he grew up not to be a rock and roll star, but instead to be one of the greatest voices in Christian Music of his time. He was a preacher, as much as a songwriter. And he was a no-nonsense kind of guy. He was bold, and direct, and spoke truth no matter how hard it might be for some to hear. He was the first I ever heard say "going to Church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to McDonald's makes you a hamburger". A commentary on those who play the "church" game without actually having a real relationship with Jesus. Sobering thought: but it happens. He and his wife, Melody, established a ministry called "Last Days Ministries" that Melody still runs today (I think, but out of time to check for sure who runs it now - anyway), whose mission was to reach the lost and go where people are that would not be able to come to one of his free concerts (that's right; he refused to charge money for people to come hear him sing). Prisons... secular clubs... into the streets of the nations to reach as many people for Jesus as possible. He was one Christian who truly lived what he believed. Here is a link that gives you a clear picture of Keith and his life story and history. He was truly and inspiring singer, songwriter and man of faith. An excerpt from this bio... "Somewhat reluctantly, Keith was thrust into a "John the Baptist" type ministry -- calling believers to wake up, repent, and live a life that looked like what they said they believed. Keith felt he would have met Jesus sooner if not for Christians who led double lives. He made audiences squirm by saying, “If you praise and worship Jesus with your mouth, and your life does not praise and worship him, there's something wrong!" Last Days Ministries: Bio We could use a bit of that passion today, couldn't we, to help the complacent Church wake up! Keith has written some amazing songs. This is one of my favorites... and one we should all take to heart, especially in this time we are living in. "Make my life a prayer to You I wanna do what You want me to No empty words and no white lies No token prayers, no compromise I wanna shine the light You gave Through Your Son You sent to save us From ourselves and our despair It comforts me to know You're really there" Keith Green Another gifted musician we lost far too young when a small plane he was traveling in crashed with him and two of his young children inside. I recall how devastated I was when this tragedy occurred in the summer of 1982. Heartbreaking. But his music lives on and can be found on many streaming services and directly from the Last Days Ministries website. Make my life a prayer to you, Jesus. Have a blessed day! Good morning and Happy November 1st! When looking to find a theme for today, I came across this scripture. So inspiring... and it made me think of one of my favorite movies of the 80's. I'm sure you all know it. It had one of the most listened to theme songs of all time. Which later some turned into a worship song... "Give Glory to God, Church. Give Glory To God. Give Glory to God Church... Give Glory to God." The Movie told the contrasting stories of two men on the 1924 British Olympic Team. Scotsman Eric Liddell, a devout Christian. And Harold Abrahams, a devoted Jew. Both gifted sprinters. Both eager to compete and to win. But what a difference in attitude. Eric, son of missionaries to China, desires to run to honor God. Harold desires to win to establish glory for himself; despite being a part of the privileged class in Cambridge, he often stumbled over obstacles he felt were in his way to finding success. This last picture, of course, is not from the movie. It is a quote from Eric Liddell himself and what an inspiring one particularly given the circumstances in the last few years around the world. God IS present in the chaos. God's love IS still working. God WILL do just as HE promised. God Wins. It's been a while since I've seen the movie and the only explanation, I have for thinking of it today is simply that God reminded me of it... so one must ask why? I suppose just a simple reading of Eric's quote is the answer. "Circumstances seem to wreck our lives and God's plans... but God is not helpless among the ruins." No, He certainly isn't. God WILL win, in the end. The movie is an inspiring one. Both men great in their own right with vastly different stories and vastly different ideals who, in the end, find deep and lasting respect for each other. We could all learn something from these two men. Have a blessed day! |
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