A tribute to my husband

What a wonderful husband I am so blest

He's a giver and a lover But a friend at best.

I'm so proud to be called his bride

And to know that in Christ He does abide.

One of the greatest blessings That I'll ever know

Is that I'm loved by my husband And he won't let me go.

To me and our children Love has kept the course

In times of testing His love has shone forth.

He's a man of great courage And I am so thankful

To be his wife and his friend To me he's so faithful.

What great security I have as his wife

To know that my husband Hears God for our life.

There's no greater pleasure Than to see him grow

As a follower of God And to make Him his goal.

He's a man of his word With integrity he leads

For this is God's way And to that he will cleave.

He loves unconditionally And that is to say

God's love in his life He will display.

I thank you Lord For your good plan

You placed him in my life And he's a wonderful man.

I love you honey

Are you ready?

Mt. 25: 1-13 (1) Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

(2) And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

(3) They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

(4) But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

(5) While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

(6) And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

(7) Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

(8) And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

(9) But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy, for yourselves.

(10) And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

(11) Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

(12) But he answered and said , Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

(13) Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Are you ready? Are you prepared? Do you have plenty of oil for your lamp. What does this mean some may ask? In the Word of God, lamp/light is symbolic of God's Word. His Word is a Lamp unto my feet and a Light unto my path. Oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. If you do a study on oil in the old and new testament you will find that it's purpose/it's meaning and it's use was for anointing and consecrating purposes. Oil was used to anoint as to dedicate something or someone to some service or goal. Oil was used to make or declare sacredness. Oil was also used for medicinal purposes as to bring healing. By the Power of the Holy Spirit in us we are anointed, dedicated, sacred and even healed.

If a lamp is shining long and bright it has plenty of oil. This is the same with us spiritually speaking. The Word of God in us can only burn brightly if we are full of the Holy Spirit, thus being sanctified (set apart and anointed). Oil (Holy Spirit) brings forth the Light (Word), the Light/Word will thus shine forth from our lives for all to see.

You are the light of the world a city upon a hill, men will see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Jesus is the Light within us and it is by His Spirit that we burn brightly. Hide not your light under a bushel. Let it shine forth for all to see.

The foolish virgins did not have enough oil and their lamps went out. They were not prepared. They slumbered, they slept, they became lax in their waiting for the bridegroom. Their connection/communion with their bridegroom was void and on empty. They had no oil. Now they wanted a quick fix. "Give us some of your oil" they told the wise virgins. They think they can conveniently ride the coat tails of the wise virgins in requesting the use of some of their oil. But the wise virgins being wise as they were said "NO."

We are accountable for ourselves to be ready for Christ's return. No one can ride the coat tails of someone else into the chamber room of Christ (the bridegroom). To be His Bride you must have an intimate connection of communication with Him (for your own sake) by and through the power of His Holy Spirit in your own life.

Always be ready and prepared. Keep full of the oil (His Holy Spirit). Watch therefore for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the son of man cometh. The wise virgins had plenty of oil in their lamps plus they even had extra vessels of oil with them. Are you filled with the Holy Spirit? Is the Light of Christ/His Word, His love, His Truth burning brightly in your life? 

Our communion with God only comes through the Holy Spirit of Christ Jesus in us. Christ Jesus in us the hope of glory. If you are not filled with the Holy Spirit your light is not burning, which means that there is no communion/connection with Christ in your life. Don't be like the foolish virgins that was not prepared and came to late knocking on the Bridegroom's door only to hear Him say, "I know you not."

The Spirit and the Bridegroom say COME. The Spirit and the Bridegroom is calling to His Bride. Don't close your ears to His calling. AWAKE! Bride of Christ. May you long to know Him more intimately through the fullness of His Holy Spirit in you. Be filled, ready, and prepared for His coming!

For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire

Duet. 4:24 says it all. The Lord your God is a consuming fire.

Are there times when you will look around and say where is God at? You will think He is so far away. Because you're struggling with a problem you just can't be rid of, even though you have fought with all your might to overcome, but still no victory. Does the road look to long or too high? Do you think to yourself I just can't do it, I'll never be able to have the victory? You say, oh well this is my lot in life. I guess this is the way I'll be till I die. Or you have said, life is to hard, I give up.

Well have I got good news for you. Our God is a consuming fire. He wants to burn up your problems to get them out of your life. He is waiting to consume your situation no matter what it is. It is all up to you. He is waiting for us to hand it over to him and when we do He will take it and burn it out of our lives.

Take forgiveness for example: We can say oh I forgive them because the Word says to forgive and I am trying to be obedient to the Word. But forgiveness must be of the heart not the mind. The Lord is the one that changes the heart. You see, He takes our hearts of stone and makes them hearts of flesh. When He does that He has to consume some things in our life. He has to burn out some things. He uses a refiners fire to make us pure. I have seen what fire does, it is hungry, it will consume everything until it is all gone. That is what the Lord does, He consumes it until it is completely gone, because He is hungry to bring you to the place as He sees you. His child redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Glory to His Name. He brings us from Glory to Glory, from one level to another level. All of this so that He can prepare you to be the bride without spot or blemish, beautified for the groom.

So today let Him consume you. Let Him refine you. Let Him take you to the next level in Him. He has said You shall not be ashamed. What you will do is rejoice in the King of kings and the Lord of lords and praise Him for the greatness of His love and grace.
Shalom
Joe

If it's screaming don't answer it!

It's hard to get away from all the noise in life and find that place of peace and serenity. The world screams. Our own thoughts will scream. Addictions scream. The enemy will scream to get our attention. We try hard to shut it out. But the noise can be relentless at times.

Is there any thing that is screaming in your life today? Is nicotine screaming in your life? Is alcohol screaming in your life? Could worry be screaming in your life? Is depression screaming in your life? How do we combat the screams? How do we stop the noise?

Here is an idea. One that God had to teach me. When it screams don't answer it! Don't pacify it! Don't cater to it! Don't react to it! Don't respond to it! Know this, if it is screaming it is not of God. If it is demanding your attention and you know that it's intention is to bring you heartache, pain or even possible death, it is not the voice of God but the lies of the enemy.

I want to encourage you as well as challenge you to take this screaming off the walls of your heart and life. Unplug him from his outlet which gives him access to his energy and throw him away. Plug your heart and life into the voice of the Holy Spirit which speaks only Truth, Love and Peace. Remain steadfast and speak God's word into your life and the screaming will be the defeated one this time and not you.

When you stop giving the enemy ground in your life and no place for him to set up camp he has no choice but to flee. Submit to God and resist the devil and he will flee from you! He has no other options and that is final. God and you have the last say!

Read God's Word! Study His Word! Embrace His Word and Live His Word and have the victory today in your life!!

Climb into the hand of God

Will you climb into His hand today and trust Him. God longs to hold you safely in His hands. There you will find rest for yourself. I was listening to a sermon last night and he was saying that if you are not resting you are not trusting. I was thinking about that and just how true of a statement that is.

I of course had to learn that the hard way. Like so many of us if we would of only trusted God to begin with we could of saved ourselves so much heart-ache and pain. Not to mention sickness that would come into our bodies because of worry and stress and not trusting God to take care of things. Part of entering into God's rest is receiving the Kingdom of God into our lives. Which by the way God longs to give His children the Kingdom. Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom! (Lk. 10:32 Amp.) Don't confuse the Kingdom of Heaven with the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is here and now and within us. Jesus says that the Kingdom of God is within you (Lk. 17:21). The Kingdom of God is not meat or drink but it is Peace, Joy and righteousness in the Holy Ghost (Rom. 14:17)

The goal of the enemy is to rob you of the Kingdom of God. If He can rob you of your Peace, Joy or Righteousness which comes to us by the Power of the Holy Spirit in us than he can rob us of the Kingdom of God. Without the Kingdom of God ( the power of the Holy Spirit ) at work in us we can accomplish nothing for the glory of God and for the advancing of His Kingdom.

The Disciples went forth proclaiming that the Kingdom of God is at hand and they healed the sick and cast out demons and brought freedom, peace, joy and righteousness in the Holy Ghost every where that they went. We are to do the very same thing. It didn't end with the disciples it began with them.

When I look back at the times that I just couldn't rest in the care of God's hands and was worrying about everything I didn't realize it at the time but I was telling God with my actions that He couldn't be trusted. How ashamed I was at myself when I got that revelation from the Spirit God. After all that Jesus had done for me in showing His love for me, here I was neglecting to thank Him for His faithfulness and trust Him for today. I was allowing the enemy to rob me of my peace and joy and thus I was allowing him to rob me of the Kingdom of God.
The enemy had me right where he wanted me. I was destroying myself and doing no good for anybody else either. What a lousy witness I was to others.

But I praise God for answers to my prayers. I said, "Lord I desire your peace and joy once again in my life." How do I attain it? He just simply and lovingly said: "Begin trusting me once again. Climb back into my hands and allow me to take care of everything." How relieved I was to find that place of peace once again in the hands of my Lord. There is no better place to be than in the safety of God's hands. Jesus said: "My father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand" (Jn. 10:29). No man can pluck us out of the hands of God. But we can choose to climb out of His hands or climb in. I don't know about you, but in His hands is where I belong and where I want to stay.

A Desperate and Determined Faith

Whatever you do, do it with your whole heart. Be determined to reach the finish line. God loves whole heartedness. Our God is the Author of great passion. He loves tenacity and loyalty. Everything about Him personifies VICTORY!!

Every example of healing in the scriptures whether spiritual or physical was accomplished when men and women became determined and or desperate for something miraculous to happen in their lives. In all of these situation Jesus said to them: "you have great faith" or "your faith has made you whole."

In Mk. 10 Jesus heals the blind man. The blind man is yelling with desperation. "Son of David have mercy on me." He was yelling so loud that those around Jesus were becoming annoyed by him. But blind Bartimaeus yelled all the more. Here we have a man yelling to Jesus with all of his heart. In desperation and with determination he desires mercy from Jesus as to have his sight restored. And what did Jesus do? He had mercy on him and healed him. And Jesus said to him: "Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole."

Another example of whole heartedness is found in Mk. 5. The woman with the issue of blood. She had suffered with this sickness for twelve years and had depleted all of her resources as to be healed of this plague but it had only gotten worse. She was desperate and determined to press through the crowd and just touch the hem of Jesus garment. She knew that if she could do this she would be healed. And she did just that, and Jesus felt healing issue flow out of Him and He immediately turned around and asked: "Who touched me?" Once again Jesus says: "Thy faith has made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague."

There are so many other examples of whole hearted faith and determination in the Word of God. Zacchaeus, climbing the tree just to get a glimpse of Jesus. Jesus seeing his desperation went to his house later and his whole household was saved. The centurion with the sick servant said to Jesus: "Just speak the word and my servant will be healed." The woman who washed Jesus feet. Her sin was great and she was desperate for much forgiveness, so with all of her heart she washed Jesus feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. These are all examples of great faith, desperation and determination to be healed as to have salvation come to them. Every time in these instances Jesus says: "Salvation has come to you." Whether they were healed spiritually or physically.. Salvation was theirs.. Their faith was pleasing to Jesus and their faith had saved them.

The Word of God says that faith is what pleases Him. God desires powerful, determined, desperate and persistent faith from us in receiving answers to our prayers. Please don't misunderstand, I am not talking about extreme emotions of the flesh here. I am talking about the zeal of our spirits which unite with the Holy Spirit. A faith that doesn't budge. It is steadfast, focused and sees the victory. Pressing in and praying through until there is a breakthrough in the spiritual realm. In that moment the power of the Holy Spirit is at work in us. Jesus interceding for us and in agreement with us. This is praying the will of the Father. If you have experienced this interlocking connection of the Holy Spirit with your spirit while in prayer, you will understand when I say, "That this is the power of God at work in you producing His will and His good pleasure in your life." This is the ultimate prayer of agreement because it is in agreement with Jesus Christ Himself for our lives, which brings the victory!

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Phil. 2:13)

A Desperate Heart

__________________

No hope in sight, do I give in?

A desperate heart takes over then

It's faith that's hot with holy fervor

It presses in, will it give up? No never

Jesus listens for the cry of a desperate heart

It's intense with faith, for that He won't depart

With a gleam in His eye and joy on His face

The desperate heart's cry He will embrace

Rise-up and walk be made whole my dear

Your faith is great, your desperate heart I hear

With deep sincerity you have cried unto Me

That's all I ask for that is faith you see

Behold, what you ask you shall receive

For your desperate heart tells Me you truly believe.

Tammy Greenwell

You are FORGIVEN!

It was our sins that nailed Him to the cross. But our sins He has forgiven us both then and now and forever.. You are FORGIVEN!!

As Far As The East

 
 

What was it? I can't remember

All I can remember is the hill

The roughness of the timber

And the piercing of the steel

As far as the East is from the West

I will remember no more this day

Any of your sins

Talking about things past?

All I heard was the prayer

Which will forever last

For it is covered by my love

As far as the East is from the West

I will remember no more this day

Any of your sins

Dwelling on sins of Yesterday?

I see the glory of the resurrection

The work I finished that day

Receive this day my promise

As far as the East is from the West

I will remember no more this day

Any of your sins

Joe Greenwell

Oh! how Jesus loves us so. He has cleansed us, covered us and now holds us tightly in His loving arms.