He Has Always Been With Us!

I trust You.  I believe in You.  You are God.  You created the earth.  You lay with me from when I was just a single cell, a single fertilized cell!  And as I grew to 16 cells, You watched and formed.  And I started to look like my parents and like You, because I was created in Your image, and You shaped me, right there in my mother's womb!

You shared that small space with me!  You were in my mother with me!  You let me lay my head on Your shoulder!  You were the first one to hold me and let me curl my tiny fingers around Yours!

You gave me dark brown eyes and curly hair.  You gave me my mother's smile and my father's lips.  You gave me long legs and told me to be tall!  You touched my hands and blessed them so that one day I would do as You said in Isaiah 50:4, that "The Lord God gives me the right words to encourage the weary.  Each day He awakens me eager to learn His teaching."  (CEV)

You smiled at me.  You told me You loved me.  You nurtured me, and put something so holy into my heart that I knew, even when I wanted to die because I felt so unloved, that there was hope.  You always stopped me from making a big mistake.

Is deja vu real?  Did You show me my life before I was born?  Did You show me heaven?  Is it all my imagination when I start thinking about how You placed me at a certain spot at a certain time and changed my life?  I don't think so.

When You said You would never leave nor forsake me, You meant that from the moment I was conceived, didn't You?  It wasn't words of encouragement only for when I was an adult and going through hardship!  No!  It was during those sweet moments of sheer bliss when I got a home run or won the race, or heard my baby's heartbeat within me.  You were there when I passed my summer school classes and when I graduated, and when I could have died in a car accident.  You shielded me from a much greater harm!  You called Your angels to spread their wings around me and to turn my body just right so that I didn't break my neck.  It was You walking beside me when I was going home after dark keeping me safe.  It was You who made me courageous when I wanted to hide!  It was You who mended my broken heart time after time, and it was YOU who gave me a heart to forgive!  You, Jesus, only You!

You brought laughter into my life and showed me how good it feels!  You brought people who are fun and funny to me to be friends with so that I could have joy in my heart and smile and laugh, because a merry heart is good medicine!

Thank You!  Thank You!  Thank You!  I love You so much!

© dft

"Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness..."  Genesis 1:26

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”  Jeremiah 1:5

"A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones."  Proverbs 17:22

Vision of the Storm

I see myself up close (waist up) in a terrible storm.  The wind is blowing the rain sideways, making it look silver.  I am wearing my blue windbreaker, and it is stuck to my body.  My hair is plastered to my forehead, and I have a huge smile on my face.

It is night, but there is a light coming from my upper right.  I know that Jesus is holding me close to Him, the light I see is from Him.  I don’t see His face, but His nearness makes me so happy.  He is taller than me.

Lord, what does it mean?

I am with you in the storm. During the storm I am holding you. I am protecting you.  You are not afraid, are you?

No, I’m not, I’m actually fascinated!  We are okay.  I am comfortable and at peace.  I would like to get out of the storm, but I’m okay because You are shielding me.

That’s the way it always is!  I want you to keep that picture in your mind when you are going through trials. You are not alone in the storm.  My love for you is great, and My love will see you through, even though you feel like if I wasn’t holding you , you would fly away in the wind.  Hold that thought!  That is the truth!  Without Me you have no anchor.  You can be in the middle of any trial or storm, any attack of the enemy, and I have wrapped My arm around you and am keeping you safe.  You can feel at peace in the most difficult of situations if you will draw on that vision and hold it in your heart.

I promise you I will not leave you nor forsake you.  You are my child.  Remember that!  I will always be by your side.  Listen to me and learn from me.  I love you. 

I lift up my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from?  My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth."  Psalm 121:1-2

Please click below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtdNjYBCLso

What Kind of Tree Are You?

Look where this tree is growing!  It is surrounded by rock.  Except for the couple standing in its shade, it is the only thing in the picture that looks alive and thriving.  In the middle of nowhere! How is that?  How deep its roots must be to find enough water to keep it alive!  We are likened to trees many times in the Bible. 

I want to be like this terebinth tree.  I want to stay connected to the living water that runs through my roots and gives me life.  John 7:38 says:  “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”

 I want to be strong and give shade and peace to the weary traveler.  I want to stand out as life in a world of death and dying and suffering.  I want to remain supple when the environment is cruel and rigid.  Psalm 28:8 says: ‘The LORD is the strength of his people,” and I know that as long as I keep seeking God and stay rooted in Him, that He is with me and breathing life into me, supplying my every need, that I shall continue to grow and bear good fruit.  I want to be what He has always desired for me to be.

I want to always know that God is my sustenance.  That the outside world does not control who I am or what I have.  I want to always know that if all around me is empty and desolate, that if I am the only one standing, that I stand because my God has fed me.  Let me remember, Lord, that although the world may be dying, I am prospering and growing stronger every day that I spend in Your presence.  "He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper." Psalm 1:3

What kind of tree are you?  Do you blow away in the wind or snap in the gale?  Are your roots weak and superficial, or are they deep and thriving on the word of the Lord?  Do you bear fruit?  There is no reason why we can’t all be like the great terebinth tree, bearing fruit and shading the weary soul.  Give more of yourself today, spend some time in the Word and feel yourself grow stronger and stronger.  There is nothing that can touch us when we are focused on the Lord.  Romans 8:31 says, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Feed on Him, drink of His living water, lets all be like the terebinth tree!

Joy Fills My Heart!

"The ransomed of the Lord will return.  They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads.  Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away."  Isaiah 51:11 NIV

I am no longer held captive by those traits that had worn me down.  I left them in the waters of the baptismal pool last night.  I feel wonderfully hopeful about the future, and my heart is filled with joy!  I know that the enemy will try to dump all the same old junk on me, but I won't be biting this time.  He'd be better off just going away...forever!

I know that I will slip and fall on occasion, but I am consciously aware now of those things that I wish to be rid of.  "Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." Luke 10:20 NIV

My name is written in heaven!  Father God catches our tears in a jar, and has our faces etched on His hand!  I am a child of the Almighty God, and a joint heir to the throne with Jesus Christ, my Brother!  My heart sings with joy!

Dear Reader, 1 Thessalonians 5:16 tells us to "Be joyful always."  Find something beautiful today, whether it be the sun, the rain, the wind, the child, the dog, the cat, the dinner, whatever; and give thanks to the Lord for it, after all, His glory is all around you!  Let Him know how absolutely awesome He is!  Tell Him that your life is His!  Sing a song of joy!

Father in Heaven, thank You for the emotion of joy, which is so much more fulfilling than happiness.  Thank you that there are so many beautiful things to see and hear that come only from knowing you, things that I used to overlook, but now fascinate me.  Thank You that Your power and majesty is evident in all the world around me!  I adore You!  Amen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zlm9rzvZvXo&feature=related

Words of Peace for 2012

"Be anxious for nothing, but in all things, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus."  Philipians 4:6-7

"Jesus said, 'Peace I leave you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."  John 14:27

"Lord, You establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished You have done for us."  Isaiah 26:12

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace."  Colossians 3:15

"I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety."  Psalm 4:8

"The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace."  Psalm 29:11

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You."  Isaiah 26:3

"The meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace."  Psalm 37:11

"Great peace have they who love Your law, and nothing can make them stumble."  Psalm 119:165

"Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace.  And the God of love and peace will be with you."  2 Corinthians 13:11

"Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."  Ephesians 4:3

"The God of peace be with you."  Philippians 4:9

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."  Romans 12:18

"The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness."  James 3:17-18


Dear Reader, as the world is getting full of turmoil and the economy all over the world is taking a beating, remember that in God's Kingdom the rules are different.  Do not let the things of this world control you, remember that Jesus gave us the authority over all of it.  As we look to Him this new year, put peace in your heart.  Let not your heart be troubled, as He said more than once, he will not leave nor forsake you.  Take hold of that and find that serene comfort and peace that is abundant in His presence.  Get our your bible and spend a little time in the word.  Breathe deep and capture His love in your heart. 

Don't worry about the bills, the marriage, or the broken toe today.  Worrying will not fix it.  God will.  Find His peace and stay there until you're sure you can trust Him to get you through it all.  Be blessed my friends!

In Times of Problems

"The God of Peace is going to shatter the enemy under my feet without delay" (Rom 16:20).  In Luke 10:19 my Lord has promised that I will tread on Satan and his demons.  My feet are shod with the gospel of peace.  I am ready for the imminent victory - right now, in Jesus' name!

My God is Jehovah and I trust Him!!!!