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Archive for the ‘The Father’ Category

How Are You Doing?

Posted in Knowing God, Love, The Father, The Righteous on January 28, 2011| Leave a Comment »

You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. Psalm 16:11

Are you happy?  The other day I was watching Oprah and she had this question as her topic of the day.  Most people in the audience said they were happy.  A lot of the questions about happiness were based on people’s circumstance.  I think most people will say they are happy based on their circumstance.  They also talked about how happiness is both genetic and can be influenced by the environment.

Recent polls show that many people are not happy with the direction our country is going.  They also are not happy with the economy or how our government is running the country.  So there are many people out there who are not happy.

These past few years have been some of the most challenging times in my life and at times the most difficult but I can say with confidence that I am at my most happiest.  Why?  I have really discovered that true joy can only be experienced in God.  It has been through these challenges and difficulties that I have learned to just stay in the presence of God.  It is in His presence that we experience fullness of joy and pleasures forever.  In God’s presence you do not experience the heaviness and burdens of the world.  Whenever I feel stressed or discouraged I seek the Lord and just rest in His presence.  His joy is my strength.

Too often we have imagined an angry God, or God being aloof and not interested in what is going on in our life.  This simply is not true.  God knows everything about us and has a will and purpose for our life.  He has a hope and a future for us.  He does not wish us harm but wants to see us prosper in everything.  So if you are looking for happiness you will find it in God.  You may find it in other things or circumstances but those are just temporary things.  In the presence of God there is fullness of joy – it is complete.  It is an eternal joy that has no end.

The world needs to experience this joy.  They are hungry for it.  So let’s continue to abide in the presence of God so that the world may experience the fullness of joy.

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Clean Bill of Health

Posted in Healing, Jesus, The Father on January 27, 2011| Leave a Comment »

9“Pray, then, in this way:
‘Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10‘Your kingdom come
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:9-10

In the summer of 2009,  I was diagnosed with a rare tumor that had to be treated with chemotherapy.  I have been under the care of an oncologist since that time.  Finally, I received news from my oncologist that I had a clean bill of health and was being discharged.  I praise God for my healing.

I learned a lot during my sickness about healing and God.  I grew up believing that God did allow sickness in our life to either build our faith or correct us.  I now know that Healing is for today and God wants to heal us.  It is God’s will for us to be healed and walk in wholeness.

Sickness does not exist in heaven.  God does not give us what He does not have.  God did not cause my sickness.  Based on the disease I had (a growing tumor that could have killed me) I knew it was not from God.  I learned to pray God’s will as Jesus taught us to pray.  Once I understood that healing is God’s will I prayed that His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

We should never think that God does not want to heal.  It is His will to heal the sick.  So whenever we pray for healing either for ourselves or others we should know that God can heal and will heal. Remember God is moved by faith and not by need.

I completed my treatment at the end of the summer of 2009.  I was healed then, but continued being monitored by doctors to ensure the tumor did not return.  Every blood test and exam just confirmed what heaven had already declared – I was healed.

When we pray we pray for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven.  So the next time you pray think about heaven and pray from heaven to earth; this is how Jesus taught us to pray.

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24 Hour Access

Posted in government, Grace, Jesus, Knowing God, Love, Salvation, The Father, The Righteous on January 25, 2011| Leave a Comment »

The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD is on his heavenly throne.  He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them. Psalm 11:4 (NIV)

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.  Hebrews 4:16

If I wanted to call the President of the United States, I would probably get no further than the operator at the White House.  If I showed up unannounced I would probably get arrested.  The President does not know me and I do not know anyone who has access to the President.  I am of no importance to the President.  The same goes for any celebrity, government official, king, prince, etc.  You have to know someone to reach a person of significance like the President of the United States.  But that is not how it is with God.

I have access to the Father at all times.  He is seated on His heavenly throne observing everyone on earth.  Jesus who is our High Priest died for our sins and we have been given His righteousness.  All those that belong to Jesus have access to the throne of grace.  We have direct access to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.  I may not be able to call the President but I can call God at any time.  We are told to boldly approach the throne.

Think about it.  The one who created heaven and earth; who sets the seasons and time; the one that is the Alpha and Omega, is accessible 24 hours a day seven days a week.  No appointment needed, no operator to contact.  Our relationship with the Father has been restored by our relationship with Jesus.

Not only do we have access to the throne but God already knows everything about us.  He knows our history, our worse days and our best.  He even knows the number of hairs on our head.  He knows our rising up and lying down.  He has hemmed us in and out.  He even knitted us together in our mother’s womb.  So when we call on Him, He answers.  He is always there and will never leave nor forsake us.

The President may not know me and I may not be welcomed at the White House; but the Father, He knows me and welcomes me anytime to boldly approach His throne of grace.  What a mighty God we serve.

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Gift Giving

Posted in Love, The Father, Uncategorized on December 22, 2010| Leave a Comment »

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:11

This is the first Christmas that my children (6 years old and 4 years old) are excited about the holiday and have asked for a specific gift.  In the past we just bought them things based on what they liked.  My 6 year old son is asking for one gift.  Every time someone asks him what he wants he mentions this one gift.  When we purchased the gift my husband said our son will be so happy.  We are looking forward to seeing his face when he opens the gift.  He doesn’t know we have already bought it but lets us know everyday what he wants for Christmas.

I began to meditate on the above scripture because there is nothing more than I want to do is give our children the desires of their heart.  I couldn’t imagine depriving my son of the one gift he wants, or buying him something he does not like.  So if I know how to give good gifts to my children how much more will our Father in Heaven give what we ask of Him?

The fullness of the earth belongs to God.  God takes great pleasure in giving us gifts; every good and perfect gift is from God.  He even gives us gifts we do not ask for but knows what is best for us.  I think of my own children, at times they want something that is not good for them to have.  I will not give them what may hurt them but will give them something even better.  Also, there are times I wish I could fulfill all of my children’s desires but sometimes I don’t have the ability.  However, God has the ability to give us good and perfect gifts.

My son doesn’t exactly know when he will receive his gift.  He knows it will be on Christmas but doesn’t fully understand when Christmas will come or even if he will get the gift he wants.  But I know when he will get his gift and I know it is what he has wanted for the past few months.  I’m holding onto his gift until the right moment.  God does the same thing.   He has what we want and knows the exact time we will receive what He has.  He is just as excited as we are and possibly even more excited anticipating our response to His goodness.

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When Healing Does Not Come The Way We Want

Posted in Healing, Love, Salvation, The Father, The Righteous on December 21, 2010| 2 Comments »


15“For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them.

16“They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat;

17for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”  Revelation 7:15-17

This past weekend I received news that a boy we prayed for during our mission trip in Uganda died.  We met this 16 year old boy and his mother during our mission trip in Kumi, Uganda.  This boy was malnourished, mentally disabled, and had spent a lot of the time tied by the neck with a rope so he wouldn’t run away.  The Lord led us to pray for this boy, baptize him and rename him Peter.  We prophesied to Peter and His mother that God had great plans for him.  Peter gave His life to the Lord.  As we walked away God said the greater miracle of salvation took place.  I knew that even the angels in heaven rejoiced.  We looked forward to see what God was going to do in Peter’s life.  Unfortunately, sometime later Peter died.

There are times that physical healing does not come like we want.  We pray for family members to become well but there are those who do not make it.  I do not know why everyone does not get healed but I know God is a healer.

This past year, I know several people who lost their loved ones (parents, spouse, children) to sickness even after prayer and having faith that God would heal them completely.  As I reflect on Peter I am reminded about where Peter is and that is heaven.  The above scripture gives me such comfort in knowing that Peter is home.  I have no doubt that our meeting Peter was a divine moment orchestrated by God because on that day, Peter gave his life to Jesus, was baptized, and was renamed by God.  Today he sits in the very presence of God without pain, no longer hungry or thirsty, his suffering has ended.

I don’t know why Peter died.  I don’t know why others died even after the prayer of the saints.  I have learned to rejoice even in the death of the believer because their life has not ended but they simply have passed from this life to the next.

We must remember that God is always concerned most about the condition of a man’s soul.  Salvation is greater than any physical healing that can take place.  What if Peter was physically healed and hadn’t given his life to Jesus would he really be better off?  No.  That is why I rejoice because God chose to save Peter’s soul.  The day Peter gave his life to Jesus was the day death lost its hold on Peter’s soul.

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God is Looking For You!

Posted in Grace, Jesus, Knowing God, Love, Salvation, The Father on November 9, 2010| Leave a Comment »

20“So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.  Luke 15:20

Often times our view of God is that He is just sitting on His throne watching the world go by, not really involved unless we engage Him.  Jesus showed us the Father when He was here on earth.  Jesus did not show us an aloof God but a Father that loves His children.  In Luke 15 Jesus tells of three parables dealing with the lost sheep, lost coin and the prodigal son.  In all three parables the person is looking for what has been lost and rejoices when they have found the thing they are looking for.

God is like the Father in the parable of the prodigal son.  When the son left with all his money, his father did not disown him but waited for him to return.  He probably looked out the door and window many times hoping his son would return.    When the son began to make his way back, the father saw him off in the distance and began to run toward his son.  God is the same way.  He is always looking for us and seeking after us to return to Him.

Unfortunately, we think God doesn’t care and many times washes his hands of us when we have sinned again and again or when we have wondered far from Him.  God loves us because He created us.  He created us in His image and breathed life into each one of us.  When we became separated from God, He sent Jesus to bridge the gap and to atone for our sins.  Through Jesus we have redemption and our relationship with God the Father has been restored.

See God is looking for you and wanting you to come home.  He doesn’t care where you have been or what you have done, just come home.  Even if you lost your way, He will find you – just call and He will come running.  As you approach God’s throne of grace, He will come embracing and kissing you just like Jesus tells us in the parable.

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Grace

Posted in Grace, Jesus, Love, The Father on October 18, 2010| Leave a Comment »

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.'”

For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.

For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.  John 1: 14-17

Grace has many definitions.  One way grace is defined is God’s unmerited favor and love of God that is freely given.  We find this in the above scriptures.  Jesus was given as a gift to man from God the Father.  Jesus came full of grace and truth.  God so loved us that He gave us His only begotten Son Jesus Christ; through Jesus we have received God’s unmerited favor and love.

Before Jesus we had the law.  The law was given to us by Moses.  It was impossible to earn God’s favor and love by observing the law.  Jesus fulfilled the law but Jesus did not come to teach us to exist only by the law.  Jesus came to give us grace so that we may experience the love of the Father.  It is also this grace that enables us to live according to God’s word and purpose for our lives.  God never intended for us to live apart from Him and His word; that is why we have Jesus – God’s gift of Grace.

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The Prodigal’s Brother

Posted in Salvation, The Father on September 7, 2010| Leave a Comment »

“Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.  And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be.  And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’  But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him.”

“But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’  And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. ‘But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.'”  Luke 15: 25-32

In the story of the Prodigal Son Jesus tells us how the younger son had taken the money his father had for him and spent it all.  Then when he had nothing left, he then went back to his father to ask for forgiveness.  The father was so happy to have his son return home he embraced his son and rejoiced he was home.  The father also had a party to welcome the prodigal son home.  Unfortunately, the older brother, who remained with his father, was not as happy.  He was hurt and offended that after all the trouble his brother caused he gets a party.  The older brother wanted justice; he wanted to see his younger brother pay for everything he did wrong to the family.  However, the father was just so happy to see his son home and the past no longer mattered.  Once he was lost and now he was found.  The father did not discount the loyalty of the older son and said everything the father had belonged to him, but his young son was now home and he wanted to rejoice.

Many times as Christians we feel like the older brother in regards to unbelievers.  Many of us have been faithful in our walk with God, and sometimes hate to see those who have done God wrong suddenly say they are sorry and get saved and seem to get away with some pretty serious sins.  We must remember God is no respecter of persons and want all to come to salvation.  We must take the position of the Father and also look forward to the lost ones coming home.  We should rejoice the way heaven does when someone gives their life to the Lord no matter what they have done.

The older son would have been so much happier if he joined the celebration of his brother’s homecoming, and so should we.  We were all once lost and dead in our sin, but now we are made alive in Jesus Christ and we should beckon the lost ones home because this will make our Father in Heaven very happy.  Remember what it was like when you were found by the Father and He welcomed you home?  We should want every person to experience the same love and forgiveness.

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Jesus’ Death

Posted in Crucified, Jesus, The Father on April 2, 2010| Leave a Comment »

45Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour.

 46About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?” that is, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?”

 47And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, began saying, “This man is calling for Elijah.”

50And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.

 51And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split.  Matthew 27:45-47, 50-51

Jesus came to lay down His life for us.  He was without sin and became sin for us.  He was rejected and despised by man but gave Himself as a sacrifice and atonement for our sins.  The law required that blood be shed for the forgiveness of sins.  Jesus was perfect, sinless and lived amongst us.  He taught us and showed us the Father. 

When Jesus was crucified and put on the cross, God the Father judged our sin.  Jesus paid the price even the rejection of the Father.  God cannot be around sin and when Jesus became sin, the Father judged Jesus and Jesus died on our behalf.  He took the punishment of sin and the rejection by the Father.  Since, Jesus took our place we now can take His place.  He took our sin and gave us His righteousness. Jesus’ death has allowed us to have a relationship with the Father because our sins have been atoned for by Jesus. 

So even on this day that we remember Jesus’ death it is a Good Friday because we have been set free from the bondage of sin and death.  Jesus paid it all.  All we have to do is accept Jesus and receive Him as our Lord and Savior.  It is God’s will that no one should perish and all should come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  Today let’s report the good news of Jesus for it will save the souls of men.  Once we accept Jesus we never have to fear being rejected by God the Father the way Jesus was on the cross.

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Again God Praises Job

Posted in Job, Satan, The Father on March 31, 2010| Leave a Comment »

 1Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the LORD.

 2The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.”

 3The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil. And he still holds fast his integrity, although you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause.”  Job 2:1-3

God allowed Satan to test Job’s faith.  Satan had killed Job’s children, livestock and servants.  Once again God boasts that Job is a blameless and upright man who continues to hold onto his integrity despite all has happened.  God says no one on earth is like Job.  God also notes that Satan had no cause to ruin Job’s life.

Even though God blames Satan for inciting God against Job, Satan and those responsible for attacking Job’s family are still accountable for their actions.  We also have to keep in mind that Satan’s desire is to kill, steal, and destroy.  God only wants the best for us.  God does not want to harm us. 

Job is not aware of Satan and believes that all that has happened to him is because of God.  But even with that believe, Job still holds onto his integrity and faith.  He still believes that God is in control.  We can now see the kind of man Job was and that God’s words were true about him.

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