It’s personal

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Some see God as sitting in the heavens watching from afar, yet God is compassionate, merciful, tender-hearted, and personally cares for each of His children.

Your salvation is personal, and God’s care is personal, “thus says the Lord, your Creator, … He who formed you, … ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior’” (Isaiah 43:1-3a, NASB). “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10, NASB).

God is with you, He will strengthen you, He will help you, He will uphold you. God is El Roi—the God who sees. God sees you. No one may seem to notice you. No one may see your brokenness as you sit in the dust of past failures, past sins, or past difficulties. No one knows your silent pain, your deepest needs and longings. No person may know the battle you are going through right now, but God does. He sees you. He knows your heart. He cares for you. “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the LORD, who has compassion on you” (Isaiah 54:10, NIV).

Therefore, “Be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might” (Ephesians 6:10, AMP). “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9, NASB). “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread … for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6, ESV). 

God’s unfailing love, peace, and compassion are always with you. God loves you. Rest in God’s personal love and care. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. (Matthew 11:28-29, AMPC).

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Float by Faith

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Float by Faith

I would love to float in clear skies, serene, carefree, and untethered from life’s difficulties. However, the problems of this world often weigh me down.

This quote challenged me, “It is a sign of weakness to always worry and fret, question everything, and mistrust everyone. Can anything be gained by it? Don’t we only make ourselves unfit for action, and separate our minds from the ability to make wise decisions? We simply sink in our struggles when we could float by faith.” ~ Lettie Cowman

Doesn’t floating by faith sound wonderful? Yet, how do we float by faith in a world filled with anxiety, fear, frustration, anger, health issues, negative news reports, unending distractions, and other life issues?

Join me as we explore ways to be fueled by God’s joyful peace and empowered with His power to Float by Faith through the obstacles and storms of life.

 

Crazy times

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We live in crazy times. Common sense, hard-work, and Christian ethics seem to have flown out the window and crashed to the ground. People are angry about all sorts of things, and I don’t think many are really sure why they are so angry. False reports, fake news, slander, and innuendo is common place in every form of media. It’s nasty out there!

Satan wants to silence, shame, and keep Christians afraid and fearful. The devil is an accuser, a liar who is out to steal, kill, and destroy. Godly people are persecuted and attacked. While we are on this earth, we will have battles. Hunkering down and hiding doesn’t make us victorious or grant victory.

If we remember who we are in Christ, the power we have in Christ, the inheritance in Christ, a glorious, wonderful, unending, beautiful inheritance, we would stand tall and stand firm. We are here, now, in these crazy times for an amazing purpose. We are not left defenseless.

I picture myself standing in front of an angry mob, my knees are knocking, and I want to run and hide. But then, the crowd is silenced, their eyes grow wide with fear. Not because of me, but He who is inside of me and stands with me. God has given His power through Christ to fight every battle. I don’t have to be brave and strong to fight; my help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.

Satan is getting louder, but his volume has no effect on our all-powerful God.

Our God who is greater than all, lives within us. Nothing, and no one, can stand against our God. The enemy roars, but our Savior is THE LION!

Be strong in the power of Christ. Speak truth. Live in love. Your future is secure and no one, not anyone, can ever take away your eternal security. You are a child of the King, are given His wisdom, and everything you need for these crazy times. Be fearless. Stand firm in ALL-MIGHTY GOD.

“Say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.’” ~ Isaiah 35:4 (NIV)

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control]. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord … continue to preach regardless of the circumstances, in accordance with the power of God for His power is invincible ~ 2 Timothy 1:7-8 (AMP)

“Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.” ~ Psalm 144:1-2 (NIV)

“Do not be agitated by evildoers; do not envy those who do wrong. For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender green plants. Trust in the Lord and do what is good; dwell in the land and live securely. Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires. Commit your way to the Lord; rust in Him, and He will act, making your righteousness shine like the dawn, your justice like the noonday. Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for Him; do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way, by the man who carries out evil plans. Refrain from anger and give up your rage; do not be agitated—it can only bring harm. For evildoers will be destroyed, but those who put their hope in the Lord will inherit the land. A little while, and the wicked person will be no more; though you look for him, he will not be there. But the humble will inherit the land and will enjoy abundant prosperity.” ~ Psalm 37:1-11 (HCSB)

“Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.” ~ 1 Peter 5:8 (AMP)

“We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” ~2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NLT),  Ephesians 6:12 (NLT)

“…O Lord, the God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You.” ~ 2 Chronicles 20:6 (NASB)

From We Were Meant for Paradise by Lisa Buffaloe https://amzn.to/2l3GBmf