THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR

This is truly the MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!!! The time when the SAVIOR is being placed in the earth for all that choose to receive HIM,  can.  I love thinking and putting this wonderful event in literal, today terms, because if this happened today,  this is probably how it would go down. So it could have happened this way, I wasn't there but I do live now.  Here is my version of this Wonderful telling of THE SAVIOR'S upcoming birth found in Luke 2, among many places.  So the powers that be, also known as the government,  said its time for all to pay taxes again.  Go back to your homeland, or the place where you were born and pay taxes there. Joseph, being from a small town in the city of Judea called Bethlehem,  needed to leave where he was in Nazareth,  and travel there with his soon to be wife, Mary. Mary was 9 months pregnant and ready for a delivery she was made aware of some months earlier by a Holy visitor who called her "highly favored, and blessed among all women" and told her not to fear, Luke 1:26-30.GLORY TO GOD ALMIGHTY!!!  Imagine at 9 months pregnant sitting side saddle on a donkey for many miles. I can imagine Joseph doing the spouse thing at this time for Mary:  rubbing her swollen feet, holding her close as they walked a bit, rubbing the large belly and cooing and talking to the coming child, perhaps carring Mary when needed, sweetly caring for the woman he believed in and trusted.The Bible doesn't say any of this,  this is the authors viewpoint. Joseph's job was so important  on so many levels because of the care, trust and protection this situation needed. They didn't know any more than what the Holy visitor told them, nor were there any manuals around about Savior birthing and raising. Joseph is one of the 3 people I want to meet in Heaven when the time comes.  Just a side note.  So they are traveling this great distance to Bethlehem and upon arrival in this small town it is very crowded. The streets, homes, and the inns are all jammed packed with people. Mary is having contractions and it is time. Joseph didn't panick, he is diligent and determined to find a place for Mary. He strikes me as a calm, sturdy, tree that is planted deep. What is happening above the surface has not affected him or deterred him, he is focused and set. So he found a place in a stable, and Joseph did what was needed to make it as comfortable as he could under the circumstances. He must have been the deliverer of the Savior, cause the Bible doesn't speak of anyone else being there. The God- child was born and Mary wrapped Him in cloths she must have torn from what she was wearing. Imagine for a minute the environment and surroundings the Savior came into. A stable is a place where horses, donkeys,cows, sheep(perhaps),chickens live and frequent.  They probably had prior knowledge about what is to soon take place in their stable. God is Creator of every living thing and He commands them and they listen and obey, Genesis 1: 1-31. They were the first witnesses to this most BLESSED event, but they couldn't talk.  The angel of the Lord told the shepherds who were watching their flocks, on this silent night,  this great news, and from there this news spread forth. Meanwhile Joseph is probably doing the spouse thing and now new daddy thing, caring for the two most precious things in the world. Bringing food and water to Mary and beaming with pride at being chosen to be the protector and caregiver to her and this BLESSED,MOST HOLY CHILD THAT CAME via HEAVEN.  The things that must be swirling around in his head at this time.  But they both trust and BELIEVE God and doubt has no place.  Praise GOD!! So as with the birth of a child, came the visitors and well wishers to see, but in this case all who came have a bit of knowledge about this most precious CHILD.  As we have today.  We know that as we celebrate this MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR, Jesus is the ONLY reason. It is because of this ONE EVENT that we have CHRISTMAS and a worldwide birthday party. No other reason is there for such a large scale spectacle of a celebration as Jesus' Birthday!!!  You are special reader, but not even you can command such a celebration, and me, I know I am all that,  but not even that can cause such a hoopla. Not a man, woman, boy, or girl can be a cause for such a MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR AS THE SAVIOR OF THE UNIVERSE, JESUS CHRIST IS ALL THAT!!!!!  We celebrate for that reason, and what joy to see our SAVIOR  being raised by every nation, tribe, and tongue!!!!HALLEUJAH.!!! So as I end this pathetic, yet heartfelt  retelling of Luke 2, this is my  gift I offer to you. Be Mary, pregnant with a promise, if but to tell someone about Jesus, those are words that are full of promise, Be Joseph, protect the seed and care and commit to the difficulty in a situation, it wont last forever, let JESUS live inside, it wont be easy, but when you call HIM, HE takes all calls.  BE BLESSED IN THIS MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!!!  GOD BLESS THE READER.  Luke 2:1-52. I still love God's people.

   IT'S  HOT..... DRINK DEEP!!!

The temperature lately has been extremely high. Our local weather men have dubbed it "extreme heat" when they talk about the weather. Here in the mid-southeast we have had our temps hover between 95 and 105 degrees. There was relief in the evening and then at night but that was last summer.  Night doesn't bring much relief,  not lately.  I have a friend I was speaking with recently and she said something to me concerning flowers and it hit  my heart and I knew there was wisdom from above in what she said,  so I am going to try to make  it's  (wisdom) case. My friend said one evening at about 7:00 p.m.  when there was a slight,  much needed,  much appreciated,  breeze that made us both say "Thank You Jesus", that she was going to water the flowers,  this is the time to give them a big drink  because it would help them stand in the "extreme heat" much better because of the water saturation  in their roots.  This would help them in the "heat of the day" when temps were at their  highest. You gardeners probably already know this.  But this blog is all about  The ALL POWERFUL,  HOLY TRINITY:  THE FATHER,  THE SON,  AND THE HOLY SPIRIT,  so when she said that,  my heart heard something else totally different  than what she was talking about,  but the same,  an analogy of sorts. Those flowers needed water given to them at a particular time to help them survive a  difficult time,  likewise,  we as believers need God's  Holy Word  in us so that we can survive  in the difficult times as well.  When His Word,  which is a LIVING WORD, is  inside,  residing,   abiding,  spoken   and believed,  it has the power to do for us  what the water does for the flowers,  help us survive in the difficult times.  Faith makes this WORD come to life and perform  what it promises.  Saturated with the WORD,  makes a soul flourish when the "heat" is on  and becomes a reservoir in which to draw from.  That doesn't mean that difficulties wont come,  nor am I talking to those that have no problems,   they have it all together I suppose,  whatever.   No I am talking to God's people that face the everyday challenges of this life,   and ask that question we all ask at times:   Where are you Lord?  This deep abiding WORD in me has kept me from going: crazy, off, bonkers, loco, ballistic, the deep end, on drugs, alcohol, tabacco, into  a life of crime and any other ills of society.  Because His WORD is truth  (John 17:17) and saturated with it  I dwell in that secret place (Psalm 91). He said in His WORD to be still and know...(Psalm 46:10)  that be still stuff means in the difficult times when things are topsy and turvy. When all is well, you have no need to be still, it is when the heat is "extreme" and the  "heat is on", that abiding WORD  will steady you. His promises are in His WORD and faith in this abiding WORD makes it act. Psalm 1 is full of good water and my cup is full on verses 2 - 3 (kj) where it says "but his delight is in the law of the Lord....meditating day and night on his law...he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water...fruitful...not withering, prospering". (authors paraphrase) I will not write and say all I do is read God's WORD day and night, that would be a lie,  but I do feed on His WORD and allow ONLY His WORD as nourishment for my soul and spiritman.  Nothing else satisfies like GOD!!! As I look at my life, I ask what can be sustaining me this many decades, and the answer is not man, woman, boy, or girl.  It is the goodness and faithfulness of my GOD! (Psalm118: 13-14).  The WORD comes out of me in the dark hour and helps me, it comes out down in the valley, and lifts me to higher ground, it comes out in the rain and stormy season and His voice says  "peace, be still", "this far and no farther" it comes out when the sun is high and brings with it a rainbow signaling God' promises in HIS WORD. So  I will continue to DRINK DEEP, cause IT'S HOT!!    God Bless The reader!   Jesus is LORD!!  GOD LOVES YOU!!   Psalm 100,  Psalm118:24, Psalm 63.

MUSTARD - SEED FAITH ONE SIZE FITS ALL

You have probably seen labels that read " one size fits all". You know they can range from flip flops to bathing suits, especially for kids. Maybe t- shirts and scarves,  all touting that slogan "one size fits all". Well this posting is not an ad for anything like that, neither is it about labels. No the commonality is the slogan itself.  I titled it  MUSTARD - SEED FAITH ONE SIZE FITS ALL because that is how FAITH  is and that amount is all you need to get GOD to hear and answer your request. Now surely the more FAITH a person has the better because when "those" times come  (they come in all our lives)  Having a strong, solid, unshakeable  FAITH in GOD will hold you firm. I know what I am speaking about, that is why HE gave me permission to write about it. I always rely on the HOLY WORD and the saints from the scriptures to guide me in these times. That is why THE WORD OF GOD is alive and sharper than any  2-edge sword dividing  the soul and the spirit, the joint and marrow ( Hebrews 4 :12). That is a close cut and only a sharp knife can cut that close. When  "those" times come to me, I depend on THE LIVING WORD to seperate the junk and reality and put me back on solid footing.  PRAISE GOD!!!!  The saints that I want to talk about this posting are from the old and new testament.  Each one used their FAITH and specifically asked, believed, (never wavering), and received from GOD the answer they requested. I am inspired by them and I pray that I can retell their events effectively.  I want to start with Hannah - she had to share her husband with his other wife and the other wife was pushing out babies left right and side ways. Every time Hannah turned around Peninnah was having another kid.  Elkanah loved Hannah the most but Hannah was barren.  So of course Peninnah would taunt Hannah about this and it would hurt. I can almost hear Peninnah asking her " when you gonna give him some babies" in a nasty sort of way.  Elkanah saw her pain and with love in his heart he said to her  "haven't I been better to you than 10 sons"!!!  He really loved her and did not sweat the issue. So Hannah decided to do something and so when she had her mind set, she  went after the Great sacrificial meal at Shiloh, she prayed to GOD and made a vow that if GOD would bless her with a son she would give him back to the LORD for his entire life and that is how Samuel came and was in GOD'S service for his lifetime.  Hannah asked, believed, and received from GOD as a result of her targeting her FAITH for it  (1Samuel 1:1-20).  She had many other children also. Out of a painful situation, Hannah's FAITH brought forth one of the greatest prophets that GOD spoke to one- on- one. GLORY!!!  Next FAITH person shows how FAITH works by love (1Corinthians 13:2) cause she was a prisoner, a captive slave.  The scriptures call her Naaman's servant girl.  She used her FAITH to help the person who captured her and took her away from her village and people.  Naaman was a mighty warrior commanding the army for king Aram, and beloved by the king but he had leprosy.  His wife' servant girl told him  to go see the prophet in Samaria and get healed. Proud Naaman went but he didn't like that the prophet didn't come and greet him and say special prayers and words over him and treat him like royalty and such so he went away mad. Fortunately another FAITH - FILLED believer reasoned with him and he did what he was told to get healed. His servant girl could have withheld that info. but love acts and that is what happened even in captivity. 2 Kings 5:1-14. Someone else can have FAITH for you and all you have to do is act on it.  How about Hezekiah??  He was given the death sentence. There he was king  and doing GOD's will for HIS people and  here comes Isaiah with the news. "Set your house in order, you are going to die, you will not recover from this sickness".  What words to hear when you are a servant of GOD, doing HIS will.  Hezekiah new he had the ear of GOD and he had FAITH to believe GOD would have mercy.   I love that he turned to the wall for a conference with his CREATOR  and HIM ONLY !!! He reminded GOD of his FAITHFULNESS,serving GOD single-mindedly, pleasing GOD only. The scriptures are profound,  stating that Hezekiah wept bitterly. Right here I will say that when you have to cry bitterly,  do so  in HIS LOVING arms,  there is MERCY, GRACE AND COMFORT in the arms of GOD.  Thank you Jesus!! So before Isaiah could leave the courtyard of the palace, GOD sent Isaiah back with a new message: ... " I will add 15 years to your life, and I will save this city from the enemy and here is the proof,  watch for the sun's shadow to move backward 10 steps on the sundial".Isaiah 38:1-8.  How good is my GOD???  Hezekiah's FAITH cried out to it's CREATOR and HE answered, GLORY TO GOD!!!  I could go on and on  about the 3 Hebrew boys,  Daniel,  King Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:1-9, 34 -37) and so many who had FAITH and used it and saw results. New testament FAITH people are astounding cause they walked with JESUS and instantly saw results. The woman with the issue of blood for so long, risked her life to get to JESUS.  FAITH caused that to rise up in her, cause stoning was what the law called for had she been caught out in public.  But her FAITH made her feet move towards THE SAVIOR. Matthew 9:20-22 . She was interrupting JESUS' trip to another FAITH persons situation,  Jairus was believing for his sick, near death, dead daughter, when he came to JESUS.  Finally blind Bartimeas is where I will try to close.  He  always sat by the road and he heard that JESUS was passing by. His MUSTARD SEED SIZE FAITH  rose up in him and cried out to GOD for help. Louder and louder he yelled,  inspite of people telling him to be quiet. JESUS called him and seeing his FAITH , healed him. He can now see and what joy came upon him!!   Mark10: 46-52. I could go on with many others like the Centurian and others,  all of whom had a MUSTARD - SEED SIZE FAITH and used it to get GOD to hear them and respond to their cries for help.  Scripture say it is impossible to please GOD without FAITH,  anyone who wants to come to HIM,  must believe that GOD exist,  and that HE rewards those who diligently seek HIM. Hebrews11:6.  Faith in GOD works for anyone who believes HE LIVES!!!  Believe, and receive what the SPIRIT says to HIS people. MUSTARD - SEED FAITH  ONE SIZE FITS ALL!!!   GOD bless HIS people!!  I love you !  Hebrews 11, Romans 1, Revelation  22.

HOW AWESOME IS MY GOD !!

What an AWESOME  GOD, The Creator of The Universe is!!!! He  has continueously displayed His greatness for all to see.  I can't be quiet about how good He is, His lovingkindness, His mercy, amazing grace, protection, faithfulness, provisions, unfailing love, mercy, goodness, and I could go on and on. He is a never ending God, with a lifetime supply of all that I need to make this life He blessed me with, sing about His Awesomeness!!
I can talk of many things God has done for me, with me and to me, in this life so far, and that could take many, many blogs, but I shall focus on 3 powerful truths for me in my life, right now.  It is so hard to choose only 3, cause they don't even scratch the surface of How AWESOME MY GOD IS, but for this posting they will be the chosen ones. Powerful truth #1: I know that I can not live without the MERCY of GOD daily. The scriptures say,"It is of the Lord's Mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not"-Lamentations 3:22kjv. I could be so close to being consumed (existance over) but His MERCY said no. I am so grateful for God's MERCY in and over my life.  Psalm 6:2kjv, states it clearly, "Have MERCY upon me ,My LORD, for I am weak: My LORD, heal me, for my bones are vexed". What an awesome scripture, filled with faith, healing and promise. I read that with this MERCY  from GOD, I can depend on His strength, His healing, all of which I need in abundance. Websters dictionary gives the meaning of MERCY as: compassion; an act of forgiveness or compassion. He is full of forgiveness and His compassions towards me are numberless. I tried to count them and I loose count. They are infinite. HOW AWESOME IS MY GOD!!!! That is why Psalm 13:5kjv fits my life so well: "But I have trusted in Thy MERCY:my heart shall rejoice in THY salvation. Depending on the MERCY (COMPASSION) of God is how I survive. It is WELL with my soul!!!.   So when I cry out to Him, He hears my voice and His MERCY answers me and that same MERCY follows me all my days. (Psalm 27:7,23:6,30:10). Powerful truth#2: God's LOVINGKINDNESS is all over this existance. The Heavens declare His GLORY!! That LOVINGKINDNESS is all out, straight up, bout it- bout it, power-packed!! "How  excellent is THY LOVINGKINDNESS, My GOD!!therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings". (don't forget what is in and under those wings:HEALING AND PROTECTION!!!) "o continue THY LOVINGKINDNESS unto them that know thee;and THY righteousness to the upright in heart" Psalm 36:7,10. How's your Heart these days? HE commands HIS LOVINGKINDNESS in the daytime... blots out my transgressions and has MERCY on me according to HIS LOVINGKINDNESS (thank God!!) Psalm42:8, 51:1.  That blotting out part is important to me cause I have a lot of transgressions (sins) and I depend on it when I miss the mark. Until I reach perfection (Heaven) it will be hard if not impossible to walk without falling short of GOD"s perfect will. Thank God HE is looking at me through the BLOOD OF JESUS, that cleanses me from all unrighteousness.  Thank God for MERCY, GRACE, COMPASSION, AND LOVINGKINDESS. So because God's LOVINGKINDNESS is better than life, my lips shall praise HIM and He redeems my life from destruction and HE crowns me with LOVINGKINDNESS and TENDER MERCIES Psalm63:3, 103:4. So from days long ago until now and in the future HE has loved me with this everlasting love  and with HIS LOVINGKINDNESS,  HE has drawn me Jeremiah 31:3kjv. This is what I depend on and it helps me at all times, PRAISE GOD ALMIGHTY!!! Powerful truth #3 God's GOODNESS!!! You have heard people say (those who are not ashamed to say it ) "God is Good to me". Well that is His GOODNESS and it is marvelous!!! Remember in the scriptures when GOD told Moses HE would let HIS GOODNESS pass by him and proclaim the name of the Lord before him...Exodus 33:19kjv.  What did HE say about HIMSELF?  "THE LORD GOD, MERCIFUL,AND GRACIOUS, LONGSUFFERING, AND ABUNDANT IN GOODNESS AND TRUTH, Exodus 34:6kjv. HOW AWESOME IS MY GOD!!! His GOODNESS causes so many more of HIS attributes to manifest and display themselves, and all for our benefit, not His. That is GOODNESS!!! I will not make it daily if I don't believe I will see the GOODNESS of the LORD in this time of life each day. That is the author's paraphrase of Psalm27:13. I make the scriptures talk to me so that I can hear what the SPIRIT is saying to this hungry and thirsty heart.  The Bible says".... that the earth is full of the GOODNESS of GOD" and" HIS GOODNESS endureth continually" Psalm33:5, 52:1. Is that a good thing to know about The MOST HIGH, or what!!!
 I shall take Psalm 65:11 and 68:10 as one of HIS many personal promises to me and make it mine. Psalm 65:11nlt:" You crown the year with bountiful harvest, even the hard pathways overflow with abundance," and Psalm 68:10nlt: " There your people finally settled, and with a bountiful harvest, My GOD, you provided for your needy people. Only the GOODNESS and the MERCY and the LOVINGKINDNESS of MY GOD could do such wonders.  So these 3 powerful truths, as well as the intimacy of this personal relationship with THE MOST HIGH,  and walking by faith, will ensure that success in living down here for GOD,  is the only choice for me. It is WELL with my soul, HIS MERCY, LOVINGKINDNESS, and GOODNESS  has made it so!!! HOW AWESOME IS MY GOD!!! Be blessed of The Lord God Almighty!!  Jesus is LORD!!!  I love God's people!!