THE WOMEN: COMPASSIONATE, KIND, HUMBLE, GENTLE, PATIENT:GOD STRONG

Scripture is filled with women and stories of their accomplishments, doings, misfortunes, failures, successes and just about all aspects of their lives. From Eve forward The Holy Word talks about all kinds of women of faith, even though they may not be titled as such.  In our times today, when we read about them in the Scriptures, we can see their faith and belief in GOD.   They talked to GOD, (think Hannah), became warriors for GOD's people,(think Jael, Debra), and of course, did what The Creator created them to do, have children. That  alone can cause this writer to write on that subject alone, but the spirit that is upon me is taking me in another direction. I will say this: There is only one way to come into this world, if you are a human being, and that is through the womb of a woman.  The process that GOD created before the foundations of the world has not changed, nor has it been altered in any form.  It is so, period.  But that is not what this post is about either.  The title tells the story:  The Women.... The Women. Which women? I am glad you asked.  I could have chosen any women out of the  scriptures to write about.  They all have a relevant, important place then and now.  It would be difficult to pick one of them  and talk about them.  When I wrote a past post entitled The Men, (see 2010) it was easy to choose them.  I chose my favorite ones.  But The Women are different.  All women in scripture would fit that description, even those that had  'issues', if I can call it that.  What can I say,  I am a full 21st century girl complete with catch phrases and all (lol).  Well anyway, the chosen women for this post are the 4 mentioned by name, title, or description in the family lineage of Jesus in Matthew 1.  Actually 5 if you include Mary Joseph's wife the mother of Jesus.  At this point before I go any further, let it be known and understood that all the begetting mentioned in the family lineage of Jesus had to be through women,  of course.  But  4 are mentioned  specifically and I will write of these 4.  I looked for commonality and differences about the 4 and found a few in each category. But the Holy Spirit said look at their lives and write from there.  I found women who wanted things badly, that they went to extremes to get it, women who said profound things, girls that behaved badly @ times, Faith - filled women, believers in GOD Almighty, strong and courageous. Women who kept their faith through hardships, the threat of death starring them in the face.  At times things may not go as planned or predicted but as long as we remember Romans 8:28, we will understand that it is ok if the plan goes left, or if I do this, that will happen, and it doesn't.  Give it all to GOD and step back and watch The Creator work it, Glory to GOD, Praise GOD!  So The Women I am fixin to write about are: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba.  What a group of women these are!  Sister girls were in it to win it at all cost.  Nothing got in their way despite making wrong choices, bad behavior, and being from the wrong side of the tracks, so to speak.  Or being too beautiful/ desirable, when you aint trying to be.  In order of appearance and as time goes, we meet Tamar first.  Tamar married 2 brothers, 1 after the other, both of them died leaving her childless.  The custom is to marry a brother's widow and have a child to keep the dead brother's seed line strong. 1st brother was evil in the sight of the LORD so the LORD took his life.  So brother # 2 married  her, and because he did not want his dead brother to be the noted father of his child, he refused to complete the necessary step to make pregnancy occur.  The LORD took his life as well for this evil act.  Well Judah said to her "remain in your father's house until brother # 3 is old enough to marry.  Well it wasn't happening, so sister girl took it to another level.  She disguised herself and lay with father-n-law Judah with out him knowing it was daughter - n -law and low and behold, pregnancy! One of the twins, (Perez & Zerah) she was carrying was what got the ball rolling later on in the lineage.  She may have behaved badly,  but  she got what she deserved to have, a child, two that is. Genesis 38.  Next up is one of my favorites in this important quad and that is Rahab, the harlot.  I like what she said and what she did, (not her job choice). These moves caused Ms. Girl to be among the few to be saved out of the entire nation of Jericho.  In fact only those in her father's household were saved. When the spies Joshua sent out stayed at her house, she told them the whole story.  She hid the spies from the searchers the king of Jericho sent  there.  "We  was scared every since we heard how your GOD opened up the sea so yall could walk through on dry land and about all the kings and nations yall completely destroyed along the way; now yall here in Jericho" (author's paraphrase, in 21st century, deep south lingo).   She knew what was going to happen to her nation and people and she wanted her family spared.  She had faith in what GOD was doing through the Israelites. This harlot's faith caused her whole family; brother's, sisters their families, mother/ father to be saved, before the spies agreed to it.  Joshua 2, 6.   She later married Salmon and they had Boaz.  Salmon was from Perez lineage, one of Tamar's twins.  See where this is going.  Rahab may have been a harlot,  but this was a  faith - filled believer.  She said,  "GOD was the Supreme GOD in the heavens above and the earth below".  RECOGNIZE!! So the Israelites crossed into the promise land conquering all along the way.  Countless nations were utterly destroyed and the land had new owners.  Soon to come was  Ruth a Moabite.  After her Judean Husband died, she decided to go with mother -n- law Naomi back to Naomi's hometown of Bethlehem. They left Bethlehem years earlier when there was a famine in the land.  So they returned.  Naomi's husband and 2 sons died and the 2 daughter -n- law, both Moabites were left without husbands. Daughter -n- law #1 decided to stay in Moab, but daughter -n-law #2 Ruth chose to cling to Naomi.  Naomi tried to persuade her to stay, telling her that she is too old to have more sons for Ruth to marry.  Ruth was not persuaded and said 2 mega  profound statements to Naomi that show deep love and compassionate commitment.  She told Naomi," where you go, I will go...your people shall be my people and your GOD shall be my GOD... let nothing but death separate us"...  Being a Moabite meant you worshipped a god that required the life of a child to be sacrificed in the fire.  Ruth had  little knowledge about Naomi's GOD, but she wanted Him.  She had no idea about the people or the land  she was about to enter but wanted to live there until she died.  Her faith made her  look deep and feel deeply for  her mother -n-law.  She saw this through a woman who just had her world turn up side down with the deaths of her family.  Ruth's compassion made Ruth cling to Naomi.  So much I could say about Ruth.  But this I will say about Ruth;  I have learned a deeper level of compassion from the book of Ruth. Ruth 1.  My last woman in this note  worthy quad is titled in the lineage, the wife of Uriah, the Hittite.  Bathsheba by name, she was beautiful and desire able.  At the time King David saw this woman, his manliness said "get this woman for me" .  Being a king, you don't refuse his requests, so Bathsheba went with the messengers King David sent to fetch her.  Well fast forward a bit and she became pregnant by the king, while husband Uriah was away fighting for David's army.  Uriah was very loyal to king David and would not allow himself any kind of pleasures while fighting the war. No delicate foods, fun recreation or spousal pleasures at all which the king gave him permission to do.  Uriah would not indulge while at war. King David in order to conceal the pregnancy arranged for Uriah's death, so that he could marry Bathsheba and have the child with her. His scheme worked but it displeased GOD so GOD sent the prophet  to David to tell him the child will not live after doing such a wicked act.  When the child was born, he was sickly and the King fasted, prayed and confessed his guilt and depended on the LORD's mercy.  After the child's death, the King and Bathsheba had another child, Solomon.  God told King David that it will be Solomon that will build my temple. In Bathsheba's time , she was both wife of a king and mother of a king.  Her beauty and desirability  captured the attention of a great King.  He had other wives, but he loved Bathsheba. 2 Sam 11,12. The Women in Jesus family line were people with "issues", and "drama" and yet they get honorable mention because they are family.  Much like today in our own families we have "issues" and  "drama", but we are family.  Scripture says that  some will need more care, love, attention, patience, and covering than others.  Jesus himself said that the sick need the doctor not the well.  Whatever the case may be,  Jesus is the answer.  His own family lineage indicated  early on that there will be issues, drama showing all  along the way the need for the Savior that is to come. This is only a small part of the family lineage, but an important part. Had I chosen the male members of Jesus lineage to write about,  I would be another 3 weeks on the rough draft.  Families are knit together by GOD Almighty and He knows each person intimately.  He is The CREATOR.  Celebrate, Talk, and Pray and trust our Faithful GOD at all times!!!   Jesus is LORD!!! Psalm 139.

ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD TO THOSE WHO LOVE THE LORD AND ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE.

I  absolutely love when the scriptures speak to me and awaken my sometimes sleepy spirit.  Sleepy meaning lax in the Living Word and the Power of it.  I take the Living Word daily as medicine for my soul and flesh(Prov. 3:8,22). So this post is about the way my Holy, Heavenly Father takes His Word and takes care of me and those who choose Him and walk by faith in His Holy Word, Praise God!!  His promises in His Word are truth and it is up to us to take them, confess them, believe them and walk by faith in them (2Corinth.5:7, John 17:17).  As my theme for 2018,  I chose scripture from John 14:27:  "Peace I leave with you, My Peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid".  Jesus said this to the disciples as He would soon leave them for a while. It was meant to comfort them and also empower them. They had the choice to let their hearts be troubled or not at this difficult time ahead. That choice was in their hands  to make much like the choice to choose life and the BLESSING or death and the CURSE (Deut. 11:26-28,Deut. 30:19-20), and the choice of what comes off the tongue, Life or Death (Prov.18:21) is to us.  Jesus wanted them to know and understand that they alone could choose to be troubled or not. I set this scripture at the head of my year this year (2018) because it too is power-filled.  Romans 8:28 is where this title post comes from.  Another Power-filled Word that is loaded with promises to those that take this living Word and walk in it.  All things, no matter what they are: good things, bad things, high things, low things, happy things, sad things, little things, big things, bright things, dark things, ALL THINGS work together for the good, to them that Love God, to them who are called according to His purpose. Look at the conditions that are attached to this scripture.  Let's unpack them one by one. "To them that Love God": Jesus has said that this is the first and greatest commandment: to love GOD with all your heart, mind and soul (Matt.22:37-38).  If you are not walking in this love for GOD, the "All things...." conditional part of this scripture  wont work for you.  This is a must in order for this scripture to work. GOD is Love (1John 4:8) and His love is true LOVE, not what this world calls love. I say THANK GOD  right here cause I have tasted this world's love, OMG!!!  This LOVE stood on the substance of what was unseen and called forth, created, spoke into existence all things seen and unseen and blew the breath of LIFE into everything we see and then laid the BLESSING on it all and gave it to the man He created in His image to be like HIM, GLORY TO GOD ALMIGHTY!!!  What a great and Mighty FATHER He is!! ABBA!!  Our Father in Heaven declares His great Love for us in that while we were sinners, He sent Christ to die for us. Christ became the sacrifice, before the foundations of the world, because GOD being The ALPHA  and THE OMEGA knew we as His beloved masterpieces would have to have a Sacrifice to wipe away, forever the sins that could otherwise doom us and separate us forever from the Father that loves us with an everlasting love (Rom.5:8-21, 1John 4:9-10). Understanding that makes my heart love the Lord God with all my heart, mind, soul.  It is unimaginable to me that not all people love GOD (a hard sentence to even type) my understanding  wont allow that statement to be true in my being.  So one of my prayers is that all living, beating hearts in creation will love GOD ALMIGHTY, CREATOR OF HEAVEN, EARTH and everything seen, unseen, walking, running, flying, swimming, language, noised, muted, existing,  with all that is within. GLORY TO GOD ALMIGHTY!!SELAH! "And are called according to His purpose":  God put purpose (aim, goal, intention) on and in each person and animal He created. Focusing on the human, walking in a close personal relationship with GOD is every humans main purpose. Think about it. I didn't say it GOD did, read for yourself in His Word. In that He reveals more to the heart of His.  The enemy does not want their to be a relationship (ask yourself why) with GOD and to not ever know what the Life's call is. That is why he distracts, tempts, kills, steals, destroys, and throws stumbling blocks in the path.  Even so, walking with GOD is the only way to know His purpose and for the call to be revealed.  He said His ways and thoughts are higher than ours, neither are they the same as ours. God's plans and purposes are always good with a touch of mystery attached to them.  Faith and Trust are essentials in the progression of purpose.  God said through the Holy Spirit via Paul that we walk by faith not by sight (2Corinth.5:7).  And Scripture already tells us  to Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding...(Prov.3:5). All of this and His great commission to Joshua,  as the children of Israel went forth into the promised land,  is the best advice in this covenant and dispensation as well: (Josh. 1:7-9) "Be strong and very courageous.... This Book of the Law(Holy Bible) shall not depart out of thy mouth but meditate in it day and night doing all that is written in it .... Have not I commanded thee... Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid neither be dismayed (confused)"...  GOD is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). So He is telling those who have made Jesus the Lord of their life to do like He commanded Joshua and all His people.  So, for the "All things work together for good to those who love the Lord, and are called according to His purpose for them," to work out good and perfect, we will need to meet the criteria and conditions in His Word for success. And He is a Good, Good Father and will help us do so. His Word tells us so!(Prov. 4)   Blessings on all GOD'S people!!  PRAISE GOD ALMIGHTY, CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, GLORY TO GOD!!!!   Psalm 148, 149,145, 150.

F O R W A R D

Forward.  That is the word that came to me after a compelling dream, I know came from GOD Himself.  I am reminded of the dreams GOD gave Joseph, Daniel, Pharaoh, the cup bearer, the chief baker and oh yes, Nebuchadnezzar, his servant, also the (trance) dream of Peter.  The common thread being that they are from on HIGH, which means there is a meaning behind them.  Not all dreams are from HIMSELF. GOD is talking about something He wants known, accomplished, made aware of, to be done,  His will.  Thy will be done GOD! (Matt.6:10)  So back to this compelling dream of mine.  There I was traveling from one location to another at night.  I had to walk (that is alright with me, I walk by Faith any way)through sand.  Very high and loose sand.  It reminds me of sand box sand, but high.  (rabbit trail: one of the locations I stop along on my bus ride journeys that I take as I go to and fro in daily life, has a huge area where  construction is going on.  They are in the process of putting in sand and I go over and watch them move the sand while waiting for my next bus to arrive. That sand is so high, like a mountain, but soft, one could sink in it)  Well, back to my dream, that is what type of sand it was in my dream.  I was walking  through this high sand moving FORWARD, without any hindrance, except the sand itself was high, but walkable. Although it was at night, the sand itself reflected the night sky, which had no moon, no stars, but not total darkness.  I looked at the sand and saw my way FORWARD. I  could tell it was a large area I had to cover  to get to a location. There were no lights, houses, buildings or anything around my journey, but sand to get through. I felt like if I went FORWARD along I would eventually run into something, some dwelling, business, something, but I must keep going. That I felt compelled to do.  At one point, I thought of turning back, but that seemed wrong, so I kept on. Nothing prevented me from lifting one leg after the other.  The sand was not wet or muddy or as the Bible calls miry,  just sand. I wasn't tired or fearful, just wondering when I would see 'civilization'.  I did see a dump truck parked,  and I thought about sleeping in the back of it (think Toy Story)and then when who ever came to work to drive it would see me, but I kept going FORWARD. I was certain I would see something soon.  Onward and FORWARD I went.  The sand showing me the way through its night reflection.  It looked like a white beach sand at night, no trees, water, nothing illuminating it, or so it seemed. I kept going and going and then I came to the end of this sand and stepped down, probably 3 or 4  feet onto a ground that was quite different in texture and more walkable.  It looked like normal ground, leveled but moist.  I was concerned about getting my white Chuck Taylors I was wearing muddy (lol). I kept going, and soon I saw a building with lights and windows and people inside, lots of people.  I woke up from this dream and began to seek GOD for understanding about the dream. Did you know reader that if you PRAY and ask GOD for wisdom, HE will answer you.  The Bible says so. (James 1:5)  I needed wisdom about this dream, so I did what Scripture says to do, I asked. GOD began to show me what parts of the dream were actually talking to me.  The word FORWARD  stayed in my thinking, so I looked at the dream again, in light of the word FORWARD.  GOD said: "look at what is trying to hinder your walk, (high sand), a different way. Yes, it is high, but you can still maneuver through it. Look at how it is actually HELPING you, with the reflection of it and the ease of your travel through it. Your feet were not stopped, unless YOU stopped them, the sand, though high and much, isn't stopping you. Yes it was high sand, higher than normal ground, but doable. Lit up, which showed the way FORWARD,  and in its own way, a compass.  The opposite: it could have been pitch black, with no way of seeing where the next step would take me or how far the way was. You could have sunk inside the sand. I'm saying it could have been worse than what was".  There was a time in Scripture when Jacob left a place due to the drama his sons caused because their sister Dinah was abused by a prince in the land they dwelled in. Brothers being protective decided to avenge her mistreatment and they burned the entire place down and killed the men there.  Jacob and family (the 12 tribes)left and went on the run to a place GOD once spoke to him at. What is interesting is what GOD told Jacob. He renamed him Israel, and restated the Blessing of Abraham (his grand father) to him.  GOD said, -in todays lingo-, move FORWARD,  I have a plan for you and the 12 tribes. (Gen. 35:1-15) FORWARD. Sometime afterward, Moses, the leader and the servant GOD used to deliver the children of Israel from Egypt, died.  GOD told Joshua, to Arise and go FORWARD over the Jordan with all my people to the land I will give them. After 30 days of mourning, it was time to move FORWARD. (Josh.1:2)  Many times in Scripture when moving FORWARD, it usually happened after an event, crisis, problem, some issue or something out of no where rose up.  GOD's plan is always move FORWARD.  The lepers even said, "Why sit here lest we die..." (2Kings 7:3) They knew moving FORWARD would cause something different to happen for them. GOD is reminding me that FORWARD means progress to some degree. It may or may not be by "leaps or bounds" but its all good when GOD says FORWARD. His plans, thoughts and ways are always higher than our own and good. Isaiah 55:8,9.   Jesus is LORD!!   AMEN.        Genesis 37, 40, 41, Acts 10:9 Daniel 2, 4, 7,  2Kings7, Psalm 17.        

LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS

Often times GOD will put a word picture in front of my vision to demonstrate His great and mighty Love He has for me.  Yes, Yes the scriptures tell the story, and with the various translations, it is hard not to understand His awesome love and how deep, wide, long, and high it is (Eph. 3:18). But a  word picture works so well for me that when He shows it,  it can be overwhelming as HE lets it rip!! Glory to The Most High!! It is so clear that it can't be misunderstood, unless you want to.  I have blogged in the past about scenes in life, that GOD has highlighted to me about HIM.  In Reading passages, we teach students to highlight important information that will be helpful in answering questions that will follow the reading.  It is a strategy proven to be  beneficial, as the reading passages get longer and more detailed.  Like wise this scene was highlighted for me and narrated, (Glory to GOD!!!) at the same time.  Let me explain.  Picture it,  I am on my porch on a cool June evening,  not yet dark.   Children are playing, riding bikes, skateboarding, pop - rocking, you know doing kid stuff that is fun.  They are different ages, from about 5yrs. -9/10yrs.  Moms/ dads are out in the yard, talking, working on cars, visiting, etc, enjoying the coolness of the evening I would say.  Then dad helps the little one learn to ride a bike-  without training wheels.  Yes, without training wheels! It was hard for the little one cause his little legs were pedaling fast as dad held the seat and ran along side him leaning in the opposite direction.  Jr. had his big smile on his face as he thought he was really going somewhere while dad held him and gave him instructions about how and which way to lean.  When dad let go, you guessed it, he fell. You could see his excitement as he got back up and tried again with dad. About 3/4 times down the street they went. I was thinking to myself, 'he needs training wheels first', I'm just saying. That is the traditional way it's done. I'm so bright , I know!!(lol)  I could hear dad lovingly  give him directions about how to lean,  when he feels like he might  fall.  I heard in my spirit man clear, " that this is how much I love you. I might not use the traditional ways (training wheels, in this case) to show you.  I demonstrated my love in a non- traditional way that will always speak volumes in your spirit.  I put my hands on you by sending Jesus, My one and only Son.(Rom. 5:8)  Everything went to the Cross with Him, and through His spotless blood is how I see you. I will always have My hands on you as you walk this faith walk".  Like the child with out training wheels, we may fall, life happens, but the Father is there with loving guidance, abundant mercy, and amazing Grace.  As I watched dad and Jr., dad eventually gave up, and the bike was put away. (perhaps till next time).  I heard a still, small voice say, "I wont give up on you ever, know that I am here, keep trying!"  In this crazy world, we need help!! GOD'S help!!  We should not be pushing Him away, we  need Him closer than ever if we are going to come through these times victoriously.  Pushing Him away allows the enemy to move in and take over.  I am NEVER going to let that happen in my life, not while GOD breathes the breath of life into me each day. He is the answer. Why should we let that happen, when HE who created everything, is wanting to help us through everything? (Heb. 13:5)   Who else has given us that kind of promise?  I was dumbfounded when I read the New Living Translation of Isaiah 65:1-2.  It made me think,  GOD is right here waiting and wanting to help, but no one asked!! Whoa! What!  Read it yourself and listen to what your own spirit tells you.  To paraphrase it this writer's understanding of this scripture is this: "I was ready to respond (decisively), but no one asked for help...Here I am, Here I am, call on me... I'm ready to help, My arms are open..." Sounds like a Good Loving Father ready to step in and HANDLE it, but not without the invitation to. My prayer is that this nation will start inviting GOD to 'Handle it', instead of being offended at the mention of THE MOST POWERFUL NAME EVER.   That Name, the Name of JESUS will cause anything and everything that has a name (think about that a minute, ponder, ponder) and tries to 'raise up' to instead bow it's knee and confess that JESUS IS BIGGER THAN THIS! (writer's 21st century translation of Philippians 2:10-11.)  He is our only hope,  there is no other way (John 14:6).  Let this condition of America, the World tell you the answer.  He whom we have pushed aside is our only salvation. Where else can we turn and who else will help? Only the CREATOR  can repair  HIS creation when it is broken. Ponder, ponder. ..... Be Blessed of GOD!!  Jesus is LORD..  Rev. 3:14-22  John 1  Josh.1:8-9  Rev. 1:8  Jude 20-25  2 Cor. 4 

ARISE, SHINE FOR THY LIGHT HAS COME........

  I  am not the type of person that makes a resolution @ the beginning of each new year.  I simply choose to improve and with GOD's help, be better than the year before.  What I do is ask GOD to help me get closer to Him than I was the year before.  More of Him and His purpose for my existence and less of me and my desires.  I have many desires,  do you reader?  But I want God alone to steer this ship, so I am down the line in this chain of command,  somewhere between 4th and 5th.  With GOD's help,  I chose Isaiah 60:1 (kjv)  for my theme this year:  'Arise Shine for thy light has come and the Glory of the LORD has risen upon thee'.   So that is what is happening after a some what challenging year, ending with the death of my beloved baby brother.  You may remember my post 4 years ago entitled 'Miracle Right in Front of Our Face'.  It talked about my brother being brought back from the dead while in the hospital, and us saying,  what we assumed to be good-bye to him.   GOD was merciful and revived the dead and gave him 3 more years of life, that he lived to the full. (think Hezekiah)  Nov. 2016, my brother died, and as  a family we were united again  to say goodbye, this time to a family member we all saw raised.  We rejoiced @ his memorial @  the goodness of our merciful, gracious GOD and we were comforted to know that sickness and disease can't take from us any longer.  Praise GOD!!  What was amazing to me  was the many people that loved my brother and talked @ his memorial  service about how he helped them and encouraged them even though he had health issues he struggled with.  The man in the wheel chair nearly brought me to tears when he took me aside privately and shared an event my brother helped him with.  I didn't know he was so loved by so many, people that are dealing with life's struggles and issues as JESUS said  we  would have down here. (John 16:33)   So with that said and done and other issues that arose,  I am in constant remembrance mode  of what GOD said in Hebrews 13:5 (Deuteronomy 31:6,8) 'He will never leave me nor forsake me'.  Arise - get up, get going,  I have things for you to do and your presence is what I need;  Shine for thy light has come - It is your time to bring ME into your existence an into where ever  this lighted path takes you each day;  And the Glory of the LORD has risen upon thee - you are MY choice Audrey,  some will hear and some wont, I want those that will hear.  Translate and Meditate is how I take the   Scriptures.  I pray for MORE of GOD,  so I have to be ready,  willing and ready to act when HE speaks.  Yes, HIS Word is alive and speaking to those that have ears to hear them.  That's where you will find GOD in HIS wide - open Word!!  Glory to GOD!!!   So after this challenging year and now into a brand new year and new beginning,  GOD is working His plan.  HE's moving out the clutter and inserting me into where HE wants me.  Doing it HIS way!! Glory to GOD!!!   GOD is not a hoarder.  He does not collect useless junk to store incase HE can use it later.   I have not had this much fruit of the Spirit oozing from my spirit ever! It is abundant!  My cup is overflowing!  It can only be an act of the All Powerful GOD Almighty,  cause from the outside looking in  it looks like a different picture. But GOD looks on the heart and JESUS said, 'lip service is useless,  it is the heart that I see' (author's paraphrase)  Matt. 12:35-36.  Wonder how many people GOD has chosen for doing something for HIM that did not answer HIS call?  ponder,  ponder.  You need  only look at the world's events to see that a shift is taking place.  You wont find answers on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, (social medias not listed), television, radio. All these are things the world says are must - haves and yes GOD himself uses @ times, (1Cor. 1:27 -28),  but FAITH in HIM alone is what HE says HE is pleased by. So Arise, Shine for thy light has come and the Glory of the LORD has risen upon thee; is my theme this year. This is the time to get into the deep things of GOD and do what ever is commanded  to do. Love  GOD first with all your being,  without hindrances, good, bad, come what may,  Love others  and pray for the sick,  laying hands on them.  Jesus said they will recover (Mark 16:15-18).  My choice, as long as I am in this body, (2Cor. 5:9) is to Raise - up, Shine bright,  Display the goodness of My GOD!!  (author's 2017 word translation of Isaiah 60:1).  Impactful and Effective are the buzz words  GOD is using to reach a people that will hear HIM.  These people may be located in the least expected places. The following is a small list of Bible people God used to do wonders for HIM.

1.Joseph - a kid     9. Solomon - womanizer
2.Rahab - a harlot       10.Paul - persecutor
3.Moses - a murderer    11.Ruth - an idol worshipper
4.Hannah - a barren believer  12. Jonah - fish food
5.Elijah - a fearful prophet
6.Esther - an orphan girl adopted by a family member
7.David - a lustful wife thief  
8.Jael - a dangerous girl with a tent peg
                         13. the woman @ the well- a town herald   14. Nebuchadnezzar- Babylonian king
15. the prodigal son - a party happy, lusty boy with money   16. Naaman's wife's captured Israelite maid -  carrier of a healing message

When the call from GOD came, Faithful people answered, no matter their station, condition, or status in life, Faith acted.

GOD's Blessings on all HIS people!!  Isaiah 60.
    

JOIN IN ON THE SONG

My post are always about the goodness, mercy and loving kindness of my GOD in all circumstances I have walked through.  GOD Al Mighty, Creator of Everything.  I could not ever exhaust the subject of the Greatness of such magnificence, majesty, Holy, Awesomeness , Greatness, so I wont try. No I am neither equipt nor eloquent enough to tell of the abundance of HIS Holiness. Others are and were much better at that than this writer. Moses, David, Solomon, John, Paul, Jesus are a few that come to mind that were skillful with words that tell of GOD'S Greatness. Joel Osteen, Kenneth Copeland, Paula White, TD Jakes, Greg Laurie, Toby Mack, David Crowder, Lacrea, Billy Graham, Al Bryce, Rosa Herman, Josh Goodman, Jentzen Franklin, Chris Tomlin, are a few that come to mind in todays generation that are skillful with descriptive words telling of His Greatness. I am sure there are many more. I'm not intending to name drop, just point out a fact. However, today's post is my attempt at telling of this Goodness and Great Love  of The Most High using one of my favorite tools: MUSIC! Yeah! Whoop, Whoop!!I have posted a blog in the past entitled:  Music, what would we do without music, where would we be without a song?  Feel free to re-read it, it is anointed.  This time I am using the song itself and let it tell the message. (NO copy right issues, don't worry). Thy will be done GOD, as I use music ministers materials to Breathe it in and let it out.  I believe whole heartedly that God uses every available, willing heart to bring His message of Love, Forgiveness, Redemption, and unending Mercy & Grace to a world filled with people He adores. These voices may use whatever God has called them to use to relay that message. Whether it is teaching it, preaching it, singing it, dancing it, writing it, whatever it takes, Scripture says He uses it. Some of the names mentioned above fall into each of these categories. The common thread is the willing, available heart God needs. There are many such hearts in every corner of this earth.  So this author's heart will use her favorite tool music.  I love to praise & worship God at all times.  I wish that we as a nation could start the day corporately in worship & praise to God Almighty, as a nation.  Think about that for a moment. ponder, ponder Think Moses, Solomon, Hezekiah, Asa, Jehoshaphat etc.  Can you imagine the burdens that would be removed and OMG the blessings that would fall upon each of us!!  We would be Walking like Giants!  As a nation of believers  unafraid, unashamed to sing and proclaim loudly, We believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, and that HE alone is Worthy of Praise, Holy, Holy, Holy. Here we are to worship as a nation.  We would be flawless,  why, because of the Cross, Glory to GOD!! Making GOD first is the key to experiencing His best.  Love, Joy and Peace are some of the best fruit in the Fruit of the Spirit re-born.  Meditate these 3 for a moment.  Of these Love is my favorite. Why?  I am so glad you asked. God Himself is love.  Love Devine. And Love so loved the world that He put a plan in place that would redeem, restore all of that world back to Him.  Glory to GOD!! Now that's some  Love in Action right there.  He knew before the foundation of the world that people would "fall down".  Love said nothing you could ever do could separate My Love from you, just see that My Love Ran Red down the cross.  There will never be a moment when I was not loved by You. He loves us with an  everlasting Love, it never fails.  It is the Greatest!!  When I posted about Love awhile back,  I wrote from a certain place God was walking me through at that time.  Here again He is revealing another layer of intimacy in His Love.  For me it is deep, sweet for reasons that are extremely close and too personal to reveal publicly. Reader seek for that intimacy with GOD, a 1-on- 1 personal relationship that will hold you through whatever you will have to walk through.  I will say that Love took on my weakness, sickness, brokenness all on His Shoulders and said You will never be alone.  Now that is the GOD I know.  Search yourself reader,  I bet there is a song or 2 that you enjoy that puts you in that place of closeness with your Creator.  It is not hard to keep God first, all I need to do is look back on my life and see His Hand in it all. There was no way I alone could have come through all that darkness without God lighting up the sky to show His presence, a Mighty Fortress and a strong Hand guiding this ship. He was my Compass and my white flag all in one. The past addictions and rejections alone would have sunk the Titanic, let alone a girl uncovered. But I wasn't uncovered, there was Hope in Front of me all along and God was more than I thought He was. I saw broken, He saw mended. Yes, He is Worthy of my praise and it is His Word telling me to keep Fighting the good fight that keeps the ship sailing when the sea is turbulent.  He said live, walk, and stay in faith at all times.  Re-read some of my past post and you will see what Faith can do. (You probably already know from your own life). It can move mountains, raise the dead, heal a body, restore a relationship that was dead, provide, protect and countless other things,  Yes that's what Faith can do.  You gotta know the GOD I know!!!  He will do things that only He can do. He has said you will never be alone, I am there with you, I will dwell with you and in you so cast all the care over on Me. I hide that word in my heart and even when no one else is around, God is still with me, He is closer than I ever thought possible. He calms me down with a whisper, when my soul wants to "raise it".  That still, small voice speaks to the trembling inside of me and settles it. Glory!!  I am so glad His ways are not my ways and His thoughts are not mine. He knows what's best,  I am still learning.  It is in Christ Alone,  that HOPE is so big for me. I don't have to figure this out, I walk by faith. And doing so, I don't always know where I am being led, but I love, love, love Who leads me.  He knows the path for me to take,  walks with me, talks with me,  and lights the way.  The journey itself is more important than the earthly destination. Go ahead reader, Join in on the song in your heart.  GOD'S Blessings!!!   Ps.150, Ps.100, Ps.8, Ps.119:11,Rev.1:3, Rev. 5:11-14, Heb.11, Deut.32, Jerm.29:11, Is.40, Is.55:8-13,1Pet. 5:7, 2Cor. 5:7, Prov. 4:18