Welcome To My Garden Of Prayer

IMG_1263

My special oasis where I meet with God every day where He refreshes my soul with living water. A garden filled with the beauty and fragrance not only of His creation but also His presence. Reminds me of the lyrics of the old gospel song:

I come to the garden alone,

While the dew is still on the roses,

And the voice I hear, falling on my ear,

The Son of God discloses.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own,

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice,

Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,

And the melody that He gave to me,

Within my heart is ringing.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own,

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known.

CHALLENGE: Find your own special time and place to fellowship with Him everyday where you can develop your own secret history with God. To help you on this exciting journey read more in my book “Developing A Secret History With God”.

Book available on Amazon/ Barnes&Noble/ Lulu/ itunes/ Kindle…English or French.

IMG_1344

 IMG_1254 IMG_1258 IMG_1261 IMG_1259 2 thumb_IMG_1242_1024 thumb_IMG_1243_1024

Freedom is Never Free

Screen Shot 2016-05-26 at 6.41.17 PM

Having had the honor to serve in the Women’s Royal Air Force I realize the sacrifice of so many at home and abroad in order that we might be free. This Memorial Day may we remember and honor those that have paid and are paying the price for our freedom, many of whom have paid the ultimate price. It may be a gift but remember to give thanks to those who are paying for that gift of freedom by being willing to lay down their lives.

Never abuse or take for granted your national freedom.

A sobering word to those who would speak out in condemnation against our military, just remember it was their sacrifice that paid for you to have the freedom to speak out against them.

FREEDOM IS NEVER FREE!

This brings to remembrance the ultimate price that was paid for our spiritual freedom by His willingness to lay down of His life on Calvary. Remember to thank Him for this gift of spiritual freedom.

2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed

A sobering word to those who would speak out against the Lord, just remember He was the one who gave you the freedom to accept or reject His Sacrifice of Love.

Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve;:but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord

Never abuse or take for granted your spiritual freedom.

Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh.

FREEDOM IS NEVER FREE

You may have never served in the military but remember, as believers, we are enrolled in the army of the Lord. One day we may be required to lay down our lives for His Kingdom, as many saints who have gone before us, who have paid that price for a martyr’s crown. We need to be trained in spiritual warfare for that battle is a much greater battle than we can see with our physical eyes.

Ephesians 6:12-18 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

2 Timothy 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called.

FREEDOM IS NEVER FREE

CHALLENGE: Are you enrolled in the Lord’s army or are you absent without leave? He is calling you today for active duty!

1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us:and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

What is a Hero?

Screen Shot 2014-05-26 at 10.24.32 PM

During Memorial weekend we have been honoring some of our greatest heroes who are paying and many who have paid the ultimate price that we all might enjoy our national freedom.You may be pondering “What is a hero?”

 A hero must live sacrificially for others and be a servant.

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends

 A hero does not chase after honor, rather honor follows him like a shadow.

1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

Proverbs 25:27  It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

 A hero must be willing to press on regardless of danger.“Failure is not an option.” /Apollo 13

2 Timothy1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Phillipians.3: 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

A hero, regardless of age, must have a mature attitude instead of a childish attitude that only cares for self-preservation with a “ what’s in it for me” mentality. God is looking for mature children not childish adults!

1Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

A hero does not only talk of his destiny but rather he lives his destiny.

1Timothy 4:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

A hero must be ready to cease the moment and rise to the occasion when the circumstances necessitate him to fulfill his destiny. “Carpe Diem”/ Dead Poets Society.

Esther 4:14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

A hero must have convictions that he is willing to lay down his life for. “Every man dies, not every man really lives.” William Wallace /Braveheart

A hero’s walk and talk must coincide because he becomes a role model.

1Corinthians11:1  Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

Philllipians 3:17  Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

 A hero is not shallow in character, but rather has a deep sense of commitment to a cause that constrains him to a character of authenticity and integrity.

2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us;

A hero must stay focused on the bigger cause outside of himself.

Isaiah 50: 7 For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.

If education, wealth, talent, fame or even beauty do not make a hero, what produces heroism? IT IS CHARACTER! The inner man of the heart!

Proverbs 4:23  Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

So therefore hidden within the heart of every individual is a potential hero!

Yes truly it has a cost, a life of discipline, self-sacrificing, humility and courage.

But this life will inspire others to rise to their potential, when they witness qualities lived out in the life of the hero, qualities they admire and desire for their own lives.

It is worth it all when that life will hear from the greatest hero of all time

Matthew 25:21  His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

CHALLENGE: As we all walk this pilgrim life together, inspiring, encouraging, defending, and building each other up in the faith, let us all keep our eyes focused on the greatest hero and role model the world has ever known. Hebrews 12: 2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Pentecost

 

images

We can learn so much of the depth of God’s plan of salvation as we journey back to these feasts celebrated by the nation of Israel. This weekend the church remembers its birthday as we observe Pentecost. Many of us do not realize the significance of this Jewish feast.

It was to be celebrated 50 days after the feast of First Fruits which followed Passover. We know that Jesus became our perfect Passover Lamb and was sacrificed for us on the Jewish Passover. Three days later was the glorious resurrection of our Lord on the Feast of First Fruits, for He was the first fruit of them that slept. Now how awesome is that for God’s planning and detail?

The following feast was 50 days later, 10 days after His Ascension, known to us as Pentecost. Travel with me for a few moments back in time to Mount Sinai. Rabbinic scholars believe that it was on this day that God visited His people after their exodus from Egypt after the first Passover and through Moses, brought the Law down from Mount Sinai. This earthshaking day of visitation, trembling, and betrothal was the first Pentecost 50 days after the Passover in Egypt and became  THE BIRTHDAY OF THE  NATION OF ISREAL. Moses brings down the Torah or Law for the nation. Because of sin 3,000 die under the Law. The Old Covenant was a national covenant between God and His covenant people. And so the nation of Israel was established. They commit to follow Him in devotion and obedience.

The fulfillment of this Feast of Pentecost witnesses God visiting His people this time by His Holy Spirit. This is another earthshaking day of visitation and betrothal. But on this occasion God’s Presence is not as unapproachable as on the former visitation back at Sinai. Moses had ordered 12 boundary markers placed around the foot of the mountain to hold back the people lest the fire of God flash out upon them. Amidst the thundering and lightning God came down as a consuming fire and blackened the entire summit. Only Moses could stand in God’s Presence. But this next Pentecostal visitation was quite different. Tongues of fire descended from heaven to rest upon consecrated individuals gathered to wait upon God. All of them had received Messiah and had come to know Him in a personal way in the New Covenant. And so just as Moses had seen the burning bush that was not consumed, the fire that came down and rested upon the 120 in the upper room, was not to consume them but to fill them with the Holy Spirit and with power. This was the beginning of the Holy Spirit outpouring. And Joel saw this coming to a peak at the 6th seal at the very end of the latter days. See Joel 2:28-32. Whereas 3,000 had died under the Law on the previous visitation 3,000 are now saved by Grace as the Apostle Peter preaches to the crowds. And so on this awesome day in holy history, the 7th day of Sivan on the Hebrew calendar, the Feast of Pentecost comes to its appointed New Covenant fulfillment. The Feast of Pentecost, the fourth of the Seven Feasts of Israel is taken up to the next level. It becomes THE BIRTHDAY OF THE CHURCH.

CHALLENGE: God is asking you through the words of the apostle Paul “Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed” Acts 19:2

You may be like the believers in Ephesus in Acts 19 who answer Paul “We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.” Be watching my video “The Baptism of the Holy Spirit” to answer questions and inspire you to seek your own Pentecost.

Searching For HIM In The Word

Screen Shot 2016-04-18 at 9.16.09 PM

As believers we shouldn’t study the Word to merely become Bible literate but to become more like HIM as we grow to know HIM more and know ourselves more in the light of His Word. As I was meditating on this thought the Lord dropped this word in my heart. Praying this will also inspire you to search for HIM as you read the Word today.

Dear Child,

If you don’t find Me in the Word, you don’t see the Word with spiritual eyes, for am I not the Word? They speak of Me for I am the Word.

If you don’t see Me in the Word, you don’t see the Truth, for I am the Truth.

 If you don’t see Me in the Word, you don’t see the Way, for I am the Way.

If you don’t see Me in the Word you haven’t found Life for I am the Life!

Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself.

Excerpt from “Developing A Secret History with God” Page 133

Book available on Amazon/ Barnes&Noble/ Lulu/ itunes/ Kindle…

IMG_1344