The Spirit of the Lord gives life; my flesh counts for nothing. The words I have written to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.
I am just repeating what the Lord has shared with me as I study His word from John 6: 63
I am not the author of any of these words that I write, I can only testify to the truth that has set me free from a life of sin.
I am not a prophet and I have no special abilities, it is the Spirit of God who makes me to minister of the new covenant.
The laws I keep do not save me. They do not give me life, they only point out my sin. The Holy Spirit is who gives life. 2 Corth 3-6
The Word says in 1 Corth 3 the Lord gave to Paul and Apollo’s the water (which is the Spirit) it was their job to share it.
So it is my job to do the same this would be my the them of my autobiography, and if you who are reading this and believe in the living Word of God, it is yours as well. To be an open book in how we live our life here, as we seek the Kingdom of God. A pilgrims progress.
He called us to proclaim the good news, but this is not all.
His Word says a new covenant to the house of Israel was given. Accepting the righteousness of Christ because He loved us, we also should reflect this in our hearts.
Jerimiah 31:31 It is very clear the outcome of His new covenant.
“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me? ‘ Jeremiah 32:27
He is God to ALL. We are not following Him if we believe only a certain tribe, tongue or literal nation is saved.
The One true God is not bias, plays no favorites, there is no division, this is not the Spirit of the Lord.
He calls everyone and they chose whom they will serve.
In Romans 2:27-29 it reads that a real Jew is if he’s been circumcised in his heart by the Holy Spirit. And true Israelite is one who is praise worthy in the eyes of God, not men. You are not going to find safety in numbers, there is not us and them. If you don’t find yourself in the middle of the battle in this life. You are on the wrong side.
I encourage you to seek Him with all your heart; mind and soul and then share the truth of His Word wherever you are.
It is not a life of works that we are to pursue.
The works of the law are under a curse.
No it is that the just shall live by faith. Gal 3:10
It is by faith we receive the promise of the Spirit.
Friends, just as a siren sounds to alert a coming danger, so should we warn of the day of the Lord.
Stay in the Word of truth put away all foolishness, pray that the Lord will guide you into all understanding, give you light for understanding and discernment to know the truth from the lies, because if possible even the very elect with be deceived.
Lately I’ve been watching a lot of body cam videos on law enforcement officers. I’m sure I have only scratched the surface of what happens but I have seen enough to spot the character differences of those who are rebellious and those who are humble. This is not about the justice system but about the citizens reaction towards it.
The common thread of the rebellious citizen is that most are not law abiding; they are quick tempered and most of the time will try to lie their way out of a situation and act as if they are entitled.
Their attitudes are hostile even at the onset, when others are using common courtesy. I understand good manners don’t make up for stressful situations, however it should deescalate any type of defensive attitudes. But this is not the case with a rebellious attitude, which seem to behave ugly in nature, and most often abusive. It makes perfect sense as to why there’s so much lawlessness and aggravated events.
And even before the law is involved these rebellious characters are subjective and demanding towards the public in their nature with irrational attitudes which cause unrest and disrupting the peace.
These are those who have no regard for others, and no respect towards civility in the law of the land. They want all the considerations, and are unwilling to be humble.
The other side is this, those who confess and admit to wrong or foul play. They are better able to listen, their behavior demonstrates they made a bad choice but it doesn’t define them.
In every situation if we handled ourselves in humility we would deescalate and attract better outcomes. A lesson I am learning.
The problem is we are quick to anger, quick to speak and slow to listen. We believe the lie in our mind that says we will be treated unfairly unless we control of the narrative.
This never works out – and it’s actually the scheme of the devil to cause this kind of stinking thinking which causes division. James 4:7 tells us.
While those who are humble minded will submit to God’s will – in that they can resist the devils lies and he will flee.
We are told to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger. That’s the fruit of humility. James 1:19
And most of all God is a shield to all who trust Him.
This is why I need to give my battles to the Lord, you should also.
And let’s be mindful to pray for those whose jobs it is to keep the peace, it’s a hard job to keep balance, they are faced with more then you could imagine. Without law, we have no order.
I am guilty of looking at and listening to misinformation, scrolling along I’ll give a few seconds to platforms that continue to give their opinions of what they perceive as truth in the times we are living in.
Some even sound legit but then I’ll hear or see something that registers as an untruth and I’ll know it is time to move on.
Those of you who know what I’m talking about. Even if you are not well studied in the Bible, in our little understanding we know because of the we are given spiritual discernment, which the Word of God gives to those who accept and read it. Proverbs 2
The same happened in the days of Noah before the great flood, you see a message was sent from heaven to the world in Noah’s time, He shared it and listened to God about building an ark to save that which God appointed. The creatures, and those who would respond to the message. Their salvation depended upon how they accepted it, yet only Noah’s family escaped because the rest of humanity rejected the warning of God. Gen 6
The Spirit of God was withdrawn from the sinful race and they all perished. By choice.
The same happened again in the days of Abraham who pleaded for Sodom.Gen 18: 16 Only three survived. By choice.
The same fate is true for those in the days when Christ comes back again. Those who do not have the love of truth, but reject Christ Jesus the Lord and Savior, who delight in unrighteousness.
Matthew 23:37 is how Jesus expressed His lament over Jerusalem’s rejection. Continue reading through 24 and you will see what He says about His coming.
Those who reject the teachings of His Word. God will have no choice but to withdraw His Spirit and leave them to the deception which they love.
Friends, the way we spend our time is showing what we love.
Let’s purpose to put down those things that distract us from learning the truth of God’s love towards us.
Let’s ask God to help us learn to put away foolishness and instead nourish our minds to have the love of the truth.
According to Romans 6 ~ I am no longer a slave to sin.
Living as a new creation saved by grace through Jesus Christ.
Sin shall have no dominion over me because I am no longer under the law but under grace.
To be obedient to this word so I may be lead to ” right living” righteousness. My life – body – mind – spirit needs to be a willing vessel to right living, instead of wrong living which makes one under the penalty of sin.
By grace = saved through faith not of myself but a Gift from God, not by works. However created new in Christ for good works which God prepared beforehand that I should walk in them.
The end is near ( at hand) therefore I need to be serious and watchful in prayers.
When prompted to pray..do it.
And above all things have love for one another for love will cover a multitude of sins. Love of family in their weakness – love of friends in their own “lost sense” because we know love heals.
This a foretaste of Heaven, if love was used this way.
Be hospitable towards others without grumbling.
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I just shared the working out of the scriptures in study. Did you notice how one layer of truth builds upon another and another giving a firm foundation? This helps us to understand better the way the Lord is wanting us to walk.
This is why it is so vital to study to understand. Acts 17:11
The only way I can speak about the Word is by the ability He gives me in bringing it forward to my mind, my part is to study to put it there so that I will be able to see and testify to His glory.
In this, He creates within us the gift of life to share with others freely. Being tender hearted, compassionate and courteous, this is what He calls us to do so that HE may be blessed and seen.
Better is the end of a thing than its beginning and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Ecc 7:8
I encourage you to journal your study times to see how He leads you in understanding, it only takes willingness.
Are you walking around with a dark cloud over your head?
I’m not talking about clinical depression or anxiety which tend to feel this way.
This cloud is more spiritual and today it’s becoming more common in the times we are living in, everyone is being oppressed.
In 2010 my life was actually good. I was raising three healthy children, I was able to be a stay at home mom, great marriage.
But I was walking around with that dark cloud over my head.
For whatever reason I couldn’t shake it, I tried lots of natural approaches, went to a doctor to get a diagnosis and he said
“I’m not prescribing you anything, just eat better and exercise.” And I did. But I was still so unhappy.
I remember having a conversation with a mentor who was telling me about a new prayer ministry she was involved in, I became curious about it because she was seeing God heal others through this ministry.
I don’t plan to promote the “type of ministry” because if used wrong it becomes a tool for the enemy. Instead I’m going to tell you that prayer in itself is key, so vital to our healing journey. Looking back I didn’t have the same attitude about prayer as I do now.
At that time I felt lead to investigate this and because I trusted my friend “E” she was a walking light for Him and had the fruit of His Spirit. She was also like a mother figure, she loved the Lord and loved to share His Word. She was our groups prayer warrior, I knew that God had her in my life for this reason. We prayed often together prior to this ministry.
I remember asking my pastor about this new prayer ministry and he didn’t know about it but encouraged me to be cautious. I even talked with another church member who was studying mental health at that time and she didn’t know about it either but again encouraged me to use caution.
Then I asked my husband who said that if I felt lead to try this that it should be ok. But the final authority is when Jesus says in Matt 18:18-20 when we are together in His name and we agree, He is in the midst.
This is when I said, “Lord, “E” is my sister in Christ, I can trust her because I know she serves and loves You, and I trust that You will bless and be there.”
What happened next is surreal and every time I share it, I still can’t believe I had the privilege of experiencing it.
We decided to meet up at her church one late afternoon, it was overcast and rainy.
She was given a room dedicated to this ministry, it was a little office space with a love seat and some other comfortable chairs, decorated with some soft effects like a lamp, throw blanket and a few pillows, box of Kleenex nearby.
The ministry rules suggest two to one ratio unless the person is a believer, “E” arranged to have a her friend who was also in the prayer ministry join us, however at the last minute she had to cancel because she wasn’t feeling well.
I remember “E” asking me if I wanted to reschedule.
I didn’t, I trusted God was in this moment and it would work it out as it should.
As we sat down “E” asked me what I wanted to pray about, I expressed everything about how I was feeling and I didn’t know why and I couldn’t shake it.
Then “E” says: Lets pray.
And She did, she gave thanks to the Lord for His mercy and grace for all that He is and all that He does. She asked forgiveness and then she began proclaiming the promises of His Word as she pleaded with Him on my behalf.
She asked Him to reveal to me what I needed to know about these feelings and especially about this cloud hanging over me. As she was petitioning Him on my behalf I was hearing her prayer and I was also asking the Lord for the same thing.
I was moved to tears because I felt in that moment a safe warm embrace of someone who cared and was beseeching the Heavenly Father on my behalf. And even though it was “E” I heard I knew it was actually The Holy Spirit interceding on my behalf through “E” prayer. And then I saw it.
While she was still praying aloud for me, clear as day, I saw what looked to be a picture perfect day. Blue sky with a field of lush green grass. But as I looked up, I saw a black chalk board which becomes a huge obstacle in the middle of that beautiful day.
I could not see around it, and it was a stark contrast to what I was wanting to see.
If you are from the older generation a “black board” was something a teacher would use to show lesson examples and used also to write the names of those who were not doing good that day.
I never liked the black board, my name was on it more then I care to remember.
As I was looking at this black board I realize written across it was everything I had ever done wrong in my life, it was completely covered from top to bottom.
The whole board listed every thing I was guilty of.
I remember thinking “wait.. I thought I was forgiven of all this and yet here it is, a reminder of what I had done.”
I sat there feeling worse then when we started.
Then “E” ends the prayer.
I was crying.
I told her what I saw and that it made perfect sense now, I had a cloud over me, and it was all my down falls.
Everything I did wrong.
She sat and listened, she didn’t counsel me, she just listened and then said: Let’s pray.
I closed my eyes and saw that vision again like it was just sitting there waiting for me.
I heard “E” praying and asking the Lord on my behalf what I needed to know about this. She prayed the passages of the Bible on repentances and forgiveness. She continued to to ask Him on my behalf and I asked ” Lord what do I do now?”
From the top side of the vision I see a hand come down out of the sky and in one swoop it grabbed that intimidating black board chalk full of all my trespasses and crumbled it up and next threw it out like a piece of paper, it was forever cast away never to be seen again.
I was so confused, I sat there stunned waiting for “E” to finish praying. My face must have said it all. She says “what.. what happened?”
I told her what just happened then I said “it’s gone, what does this mean, now what am I supposed to do? ” ( still upset ~ crying)
She repeated it slowly. “it’s…. gone…?”
I said ” yea.. like it never existed, it’s not there anymore.. it’s gone, the hand took it and threw it out like it was never there, what do I do now? ” ( yes, I’m still crying..it hasn’t registered yet..)
She smiles and says again ” it’s… gone..?”
Her smile lights up her eyes and I finally see the answer.
It’s gone.
He took this from me because He loves me.
He has forgiven me and paid dearly for the privilege of crumbling up my sins and sending them away to set me free.
Of course you know what “E” did next.. “Let’s pray”.
She gave thanks. Oh boy! did She give thanks.
I sat there and yes I cried and thanked Him too.
I told Him I would never forget this and would tell everyone what He did. As we said Amen, she looked at me and said “girl I have never witnessed this happen so fast.. what a privilege to be apart of this, I am amazed, what a testimony!? Wow! ”
That was the last day I had the cloud of my past hanging over my head. It was a rainy day and there were a lot of tears but the sun was shining and the sky was blue in my mind.
Never had to deal with this cloud issue again.
Friends, if you are struggling with this, look to the Lord Jesus Christ. Look to His Word.
Look purposely to the promises that were written in love for you.
The Word is a love letter about how much God wants to save His children.
Look up “help or heal or grief” or whatever words you need to read about, Jesus will meet YOU there.
Ask Him to show you the fullness of His love towards you. Pray and remember with repentance, having forgiveness towards those who hurt you also. This is not for them, it’s for you. You don’t have to like what they did or even trust them, you just need to realize we are all guilty and sinful, falling very short of the glory of God.
He is wanting to heal you and He will take care of what’s given to Him. Take hold of His promises.
As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalms 103:12
5 years ago, I was all over the map and here’s more of my journaling from that time. This is what helps me to experience a better life.
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I will trust in the Salvation of the Lord! Psalms 13
Again I turn the pages of the Bible and there’s another gift of scripture written out on a piece of paper from an earlier time at worship service.
Mark 13:33 ” Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is ..”
I’m lead to read 1 Thess 5:5-6 “you are all sons of light and sons fo the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. ”
My heart cries out what do I say, what do I pray Lord?! I want to say the right thing?! But the Spirit of the Lord says:
“Be still, and know that I am God.”
Be still meaning- get in the Word – to get knowledge/ wisdom from God.
Psalms 51:10 “create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.. “
Words from book of Daniel and Psalms ~ Your domain is everlasting from generation to generation. All nations before Him are as nothing. You do according to His will in the army of Heaven – whatever You please You do.
And you, He made alive who were dead in trespasses and sins. (Col 2) He made me alive together with Him ~ Christ Jesus forgiving me all my trespassing (Col 2:14)Having wiped out the handwriting against my sin!
Nailed to the cross. No longer held to the standards of this worlds power – not a statistic!
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I am sure that this is what the scripture means when it says :
How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth. Psalm 119:103
I have always had a sweet tooth but I asked that the Lord make it so I crave His Word instead. To get understanding..
I have another testimony that this journal entry has reminded me to share. I’ll be posting it next “eternal forgiveness” if you are interested in reading a supernatural experience make sure to subscribe.
This devotional post today is about a journal entry I wrote five years ago.
I was prompted to share by a gift of envelopes with the words “Open When you want a devotional prompt..” so when I opened it up and it read:
“How my spiritual life was 5 years ago compared to now and what changed ? “
What a great question and as you will soon learn timely also.
I hoped to be able to look back at my journaling to find something recorded. I went in search of my old journals and found one dated January of 2021. Truthfully I got excited because I wasn’t to sure I was actually writing during this time.
It gets more interesting, I had only done 14 days of entries that month and the the next entry was in March 21, 2021. So now I’m very curious what was going on then.
And here’s what I learned, it was the day I started writing and didn’t put it back down again for any stretch of time.
It was actually the year I picked up the sword “the infallible Word of God.” and started working with it to cut away fears and doubts of my faith. He became my shield because I purposely through prayer and study started to trust Him.
The Lord walked with me through many paths of uncertainty and here’s what I wrote about that started it all.
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All over the map..
You wake me with the words “Pray..pray.. “
I heed Your voice looking to say that which is pleasing and You provided the Word, reminding me that:
“No weapon formed against you will prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the hertiage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me. says the Lord.” … And their righteousness is from Me.”
I watch my kids drive all over the map(on Life 360)
I pray for their safety every day. For the Lord God their Father to protect and guard them from harms way. Your Word gives me comfort to know You will and have!
I pray for protection against the evil and harm the enemy seeks to do – and know that this is only possible if it is Your will Lord – but also there comes a time according to Your Word where Your arms are shorten because we choose to turn away, Numbers 11:23 :( – I seek to change this !!!
Even now You provide my own hearts cry?!
I find a note from my daughter stuck inside my bible just for this moment. THANK YOU!
Psalms 13:5 ” But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.”
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Please be near Hunter..
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I just shared with you the very intimate moment when I realized I didn’t want to shorten the Fathers arms towards me any longer. Because we have “free will” this happens as a result, not because He doesn’t’ hold out His arms, No, it’s because we limit Him with our free will.
We struggle and try to do everything ourselves and even at our best this is a pride and sin problem.
This is why Jesus said dying on the cross “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” because we continually live in sin and don’t even know it.
He has always provided for my needs, He knows my hearts desires. He will never leave nor forsake me, I may be all over the map but He is not.
He is the only right direction giver, He is the true North.
Pray continuously for the Lords leading – give Him first place every day, while you walk, when you sit or lie down – take hold of His hand and let Him lead you all the way.
You can trust Jesus, He is the Son of God and all power and dominion was given to Him, He is The Alpha and Omega, The Word and The Final Authority over all things. This is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. No other like HIM.
While you learn to abide in Him – your life will never be the same.
He will reveal to you all truth – you will learn to trust Him.
He will never leave you nor forsake you – He is able to do more then you could ever ask or imagine.
He is the only way – to eternal life. No other way but Jesus Christ.
Friends take action today, give Him your life completely. This is where I was five years ago today, uncertain and scared. Today I have this hope that burns within my heart, hope in the coming of the Lord I am loved by Him and I am assured of His promises. Friends one day soon He will come again and He wants to know you and receive you into His Kingdom. But the choice is yours.
In Christ love, Amen
( The words in the picture) 5 years ago ..I started to journal about God’s Word. I have written many days of pages getting to know who He is and what I needed to do to be in one accord with Him.. today He reveals the reality of this walk with Him and His great LOVE.
The question is : How did you receive your name and what does it mean.
On the day I was born, my father went to call his mom on the hospitals payphone, ” mom it’s a girl!” the conversation was “a girl?! well what are you going to call her, you were going to name a boy after you son..?” he realized immediately that I was going to be called Dawn – because I was born at sunrise. He later told me it was fitting because it was a turning point in his life.
The name dawn represents the certainty of God’s mercy and faithfulness, often highlighting God’s rescue or the arrival of His light.
Psalms 30:5For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.
The term is frequently associated with the resurrection of Jesus and the dawn of a new, redemptive era.
This was how my dad viewed this time in his life. Previous to my birth he was caught up in Vietnam right out of high school after serving in the Navy he came home to numb his mind and live his life how he wanted, he bought a motorcycle, grew out his hair and frequented bars where he eventually would meet my mom. A little while later there’s a picture of my mom wearing a lavender dress holding the hand of my older sister and about 9 months along with me.
Here’s the thing all of us have a backstory and even if our parents didn’t plan it, God did.
Why do I say this? Because the Word of God says so. He is the life giver. This is why we should never feel like we are not wanted.
The Lord doesn’t make mistakes. He gives life and He knows each life intimately. In Psalms 139 it says God knows everything about us even before we were formed. In other parts of the Bible records that those He chose and set apart He ordained for those jobs.
So looking back at the time it would seem I was an unplanned accident and those in their circle would agree this was the case, but not God.
Regardless of my beginnings my Heavenly Father had plans for me and gave my life purpose. I know my name is a calling.
Isaiah 60:1: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you”.
But here’s another reason I believe this, one morning I was awaken to the words:
“You are called, you are set apart and you are chosen.”
I heard it so clearly that I knew it was the Lord letting me know He had a purpose for my life. Never have I ever felt so sure of anything. I begin searching the Word to understand what this would look like and here’s what I found:
It looks like surrendering your life, to walk with Him.
It looks like renewal, the leaving the past in the past.
It looks like being a vessel for the Lord to use whenever and wherever. Like a build board on the highway.
And it means having purpose and looking forward to the Kingdom of God.
So here a question for you, what do you think your purpose is?
If you have not accepted the invitation to learn from Christ the Lord, there’s no better way because His favor is forever and His joy truly does come in the morning.
We can list many examples of expecting something and it not turning out as we thought it would.
This is just the same with faith in Christ Jesus.
We know He is a Savior to all, He is. We hear that God is love and He is. But then like a teenager whose parents have always been there for them, we start to take them for granted that no matter how the teen child treats them they will be there.
However something changes and the parents can’t be there any longer. Have you seen this happen? It’s a shock to their system, they were not prepared for this turn of events. Their parents may have warned them and they didn’t hear them or just chose not to believe it.
Friends the Lord of heaven and earth the Creator God has also given us those same warnings.
In 1 John 2:3-6 we are warned if one does not walk with the Lord but exercises their own standards of living, they are without light.
John 15:1-8 says we are to be constantly connected to Him, abiding in Christ means a constant receiving of His Spirit, a life surrendered to Him in service.
Remember nothing good comes from us, but Christ – so just because we act good and giving does not mean we earn rights to the Kingdom – that’s presumption.
The channel of communication must be open continually between you and God. Just like that true vine that John writes about, so we are to cling to and draw “sap” from Jesus and in doing so we receive from Him by faith the strength and perfection of His own character. Colossians 1:23
This is how we are reconciled in Christ. This is what pleased the Father that in Him all fullness should dwell and by Him be reconciled.
So we need to ask ourselves ” do I just assume knowing about Him and believing in Him is enough”?
Living in faith is good. Being grounded meaning living connected and steadfast is better, as we will not be moved from the hope of the gospel which we have heard. And it is fruitful.
Friends sit down put away all the distractions of this world, pray and listen to the Word of the Lord.
He is very much interested in meeting you daily to solve the problems and issues of your heart and yes this is what every teen needs to hear, please encourage them as well.
