Heart, Soul, and Strength

...he should no longer live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God... - [1 Peter 4:2]  Abba, help me daily to align myself to Your will for i long and yearn for my reward that white stone with the new name You've already given me.  That's what gives me joy, knowing that You will provide for me a new name in a new dwelling.  One crown is okay, but the white stone seems to matter to me the most right now.  So i pray. The only fear i have is of You, Heavenly Father, and all the people and circumstances have no power over me at all.  So i pray.  And You keep me calm and confident as You spend Your time to work for me as You see fit. i am waiting on You, Lord, to open the way.  Help me to take the next logical step by faith, not by my own will.  Because of Your presence, Abba, my fight or flight days are over.  The Lord your God walks in the midst of your camp, to deliver you. - [Deuteronomy 23:14] Any...

 Lord, You are my Shepherd and my shield.  With You in my life, i don't have any issues with categorizing now.  When i study Your Word i am focused on Your Word and not daydreaming about being in some community theater presentation or getting the chance to go see Jaws  at the local theater or distracted by some attractive swimmers at the community pool.  Lord, thank You for helping me to categorize and to focus on Your Word.   i don't have a gift for gab anyway and i usually can tune out those who do. i realize now that You mean for me to be where i am.  i may not understand why, but i will understand later on when You deem it appropriate.  You will make a way for me where no foot has been before.  For now, i'm able to focus on glorifying You, Lord, rather than concern myself so much with my own relief.  i seek Your divine grace.  My soul will be balanced in Your time, and Your time only and only You have the right to understa...

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your wrath- [Ephesians 4:26] My goal today is not to give place to the devil.  O that i were not a son of disobedience; rather a child of light - [Ephesians 5:6]  i want to eat and digest the fruit of Your Spirit.  Goodness, righteousness, and truth.  At times, and already this morning, i am miles and miles from obtaining them.   He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit- [1 Peter 3:10] O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth.  Who have set Your glory above the heavens!  Out of the mouths of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies That You may silence the enemy and the avenger. - -[Psalm 8: 1-2] May You enter all rooms when the doors are shut.  Bless this Monday,  my Sabbath Day.  i wish to spend it exclusively with You with only my ...

 My heavenly Father, i know You know that things won't be easy for me, with the devil and his wiles.  i'm putting on Your armor for the rest of this journey and that's really going to take focus and prayer.  i praise You, Lord, and in my heart i rejoice for Jesus Christ putting these obstacles and adversities in my path.  Love, peace, joy, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance--may i obtain and maintain the fruit of Your branches, Jesus.  With You, love drips in and the flow shall be constant because i accept the gift You gave me on the Cross. i want God's best not only for me but also for those who have wronged me.  In theory.  Actually it's more than just a theory.  Yet the gadgets in the electronics sections aren't looking do devilishly inviting and exciting as they once were.  What gadgets could possibly glorify You, Abba?  Gadgets--the only reason they exist in the first place is because of Your resurr...

  If there's any striking back to be done then i will trust in God to do the striking as He sees fit. Lord, please take the fight out of me.  i am sure i'm not that much better than a year ago when i asked You this. May my five senses be ever searching for the Your presence. Thank You for being my surrogate Parent, as You've been all along.  When i refrain from doing bad to another i'm only put into  neutral position.  i must do good to one who treats me bad.  If someone were to say, "I need to smack your face, " i should say, "and i need to give you the last dollar in my wallet." The salt and light of America will be sucked away in an instant over time.  Support of Israel is waning.  President Biden hasn't made things clear.  The Israel/Palestinian two state solution is not the solution.  The way things are stewing in the pot these days i'm finding it harder dealing with people in general .  i feel like i'm not getting much work do...

 i must constantly remind myself that the Cross was enough.  If i'm unwilling to forgive then what i'm saying is that the Cross wasn't enough.  What sin do i need to confess?  i must admit that the prospect of a lot of people i've run across these past four years not getting to heaven doesn't bother me at all.  Shame on me, i know.  i'm selfish enough to think that i'll be better off without them, so i need to pray for my enemies more.  God, please bless my enemies and may the ones who purport to be Christians begin abiding in Christ and building a strong, sincere bond with Him.  i know You want me to show the same grace and mercy towards others as You have shown to me who seeks it and You freely give it. i'm thinking of someone now who continues to anger me ever time she opens her mouth--one who is slave to two masters.  i've caught her counting money. Then i got the sense of who her real masert was, and the closer i get to God the farther a...

  So He brought me to the door of the northgate of the Lord's house; and to my dismay, women were sitting there weeping for Tammuz.  --[Ezekiel 8:14] In pagan practices, Tammuze was a Sumerian shepherd who married the goddess Ishtar.  When he died, fertility ceased on the earth.  Since he was a vegetation deity the women of Judah were weeping for him in order to restore fertility by bringing him back from the dead.  ...at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the alter were about twenty-five men with their backs toward the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the east, and they were worshipping the sun toward the east...For they have filled the land with violence; then they have returned to provoke Me to anger...My eye will not spare nor will I have pity; and though they cry in My ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them." --[Ezekiel 8:16-18] Repentance isn't punishment; it's joyful reunion wit the One who loves us perfectl...

i know You hear, O Lord Now it's just a matter of Whether i'm hearing or not For they are a rebellious house Whether they hear or whether they refuse,  For they are a rebellious house! "...when I give the rebellious no warning...as I was once one of the rebellious--nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that some wicked men shall die in his iniquity but his blook I will require at your hand."  - [Ezekiel 3:18]   Repentance isn't a resolution to do better next time.  It includes confession, a course correction in my life and a renewed relationship with You, Lord.  Now i shall rejoice that i was made sorry but that my sorrow led to repentance.  For i was made sorry in a godly manner that i might suffer loss.  For godly sorrow produces repentance, leading to salvation, not to be regretted.   Repentance  isn't something i do only once.  It's an ongoing process by which i continuously return to the ...

 If they're gonna spy...stare...glare...sneer...spit at me, i'll give 'em something to spy...stare...glare...sneer...and spit at... Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it.  This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. - [Ezekiel 1:28] As long as i hear what You are saying, Lord...that's all that matters.  I shall not murder, nor be afraid for my body should anyone consider murdering me, either randomly or premeditated; I have no fear of death because all but one of Your disciples were executed for Your name.  i shall lay down my life for another just as Jesus Christ had laid down His life for me.  Repentance is a wonderful gift You've granted me, and i humbly accept.  May i know and always be aware of Your Truth.  Repentance isn't a self-help tool.  It's a humble response to a good and holy God.   i am listening for whatever You deci...

...Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.  for the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.  - [Galatians 5: 16-17] O, to have this snow on my roof!  older and ...wiser?  maybe just as energetic as i was when i was younger.  i find that as i'm paying more attention to Scripture i'm beginning to put the foolishness of my youth in perspective.  i don't want unity from my oppressors, i want freedom.   Discouragement is one of Satan's greatest weapons. ...There will be just a word from Him who sits astride the great white horse.  Once He spoke a word to a fig tree and it withered away.  Now He speaks a word and the war is over. -[John Phillips] Folks think that there's safety in numbers...so invincible...so deluded into thinking they can will what they believe to happen.  i have no sympathy for those a...

 Forgive me, Lord, for giving in to the sarx.  The flesh can have its way and lead to destruction.  It destroyed the old man before, yet now, Your Holy Spirit is around to protect me.  What a beautiful, rainy and cool morning You've given me today.  You are the Creator of a masterpiece.  Your Holy Spirit is producing the life of Jesus Christ in me. i am Your temple.  Your instrument.  The old flesh nature will not dominate me anymore.  i know You will purify me and make me a worthy vessel for the work of Your Kingdom. Oh, i've seen the "act of worship" and the "performance of rituals" in churches, but just as i myself am guilty, others are so busy observing and criticizing one another to see who's really performing best.  Or should i say worse?  Heavenly Father, it is You who puts this marvelous food on my table and provides the income and the increase.  You have put Your love and trust in me to be the best steward of Your mone...

 Abba, You saw what happened yesterday when i went to church.  You knew what was going to happen when i got there.  i realize it wasn't about me or anybody else who was there.  It was about You.  And was there any glorification of You?  i can tell already who i should hang with and who i shouldn't.  Normally, i just wouldn't go back, but i want to volunteer at the food pantry.  O Lord, i praise You.  i exalt You.  That is Your house.  Your church and i was humbled just being there.  We are all faulty humans with our weaknesses.  i am not fond of those with diarrhea mouths and You were there to remind me to be faithful and true and to keep walking with You, Abba.  i may not even be worthy to call You that, but i don't think You mind. i wanted to reduce the noise of aliens!  Diminish substantially their arrogant songs!  Yet in You i have strength when my mind is stayed on You, i can overcome because --no matte...

 Abba, thank You for being patient with me as i attempt to be and do as a good follower of Jesus.  i know You'll protect me against persecution and marginalization, as others soon will attempt to diminish my voice in the world that hates Him, so who am i not to be hated?  As You say in Isaiah 54:17, no weapon formed against me shall prosper.  i accept the heritage as one of Your servants.  Any present suffering will be followed by future glory.  i will do my best to avoid observing and complaining about the lack of morality in this world; after all, it's just life.  A lot of Christians do that, i've noticed. And even among us Christians there is the cult of self.  Keep me from that idolatry Abba.  In Jesus' name.  Amen   Help me to walk in the Spirit so that i will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.  For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that i d...

 Jesus never told us to run out for anything political.  He wants for those future believers who will come to Him.  Someone is going to be that "last believer" prior to the Rapture.  Part of the limited number of Gentiles chosen for salvation during the time of Israel's hardening.  For now, we shouldn't be trying to find a lighter cross to bear.  Jesus was led to the slaughter like a lamb, and He was silent as a sheep to the shearer.  They're going to start denying us fundamental human rights.  It is estimated that by 2025, an average of 210,000 Christians will be martyred manually.  Dear Lord, stay with me today.  Every second!  And erase the old tape that's been running through my mental tape recorder for over 30 years.  Make sure i'm smiling even when i don't feel it; make sure i'm loving even when i don't feel it.  In Jesus' name.  Amen If i love the people God blesses, then i love everybody...technically; and tha...

 And if i were to have nothing to do, i would soon die.  Is the death of Jesus on the Cross just an over-dramatic, corny fairy tale?  Is no one humbled by it?  Anyone who would disregard his final act is doing a huge disservice to several generations to come.  He would have no business speaking for them.  Jesus couldn't stop him from speaking to the next generation--He wouldn't want to--but he better not presume to speak FOR the next generation.  i don't deny my anger so i wouldn't expect anybody else to deny theirs.  It's healthier.  i want to misbehave and rebel when i feel like i'm being dissed for having snow on my head. God has required of me to be "all in."  All in for Christ.  i may not always get it right, but i have to try.  Jesus is bigger than anyone can even imagine Him to be.  He wants more followers than what He's getting.  There are those of us who ca't forget the Cross and who can't get the Cross out o...

Abba, help me set apart from others--perhaps a rebellious, angry man--yet godly and seeking righteousness.  Put Your hand in the middle of my back and push me up that hill.  i know You hear me when i call.  Let me know that i am being a worthy ambassador.  Help us to live in the light of Your coming.  Keep me successful not giving place to the devil.  Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.  And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. - [1 John 3: 2-3] You are the pioneer of compassion and the trailblazer of love, even in perilous times.  i must be ever ready to stand before You, so i must be as pure as i can be; perhaps, as saintly, too.  Let those people scoff and try to humor me with their false smiles. i put myself in a new category--i've already given the rainbow...

Abba, You are the only source of light and truth.  i'm left in total darkness when i'm disconnected from You and i only have my darkened mind to use in order to try and make sense of this world, left to my own self-based and self-biased speculations and devices.  The trumpets are about to sound and i have to take heed. The Enemy's goal is to weaken and deceive and to lead me astray.  He's done it for so long, and You, Abba, protect me.  i belong to You. i am strong when i am in You and in the power of Your might.  i can stand against the devil.  i can withstand in the evil day.  i need to be worthy of wearing Your breastplate of righteousness, my helmet of salvation.  Take me, Lord, and use me to further Your kingdom.  The heart is deceitful above all things And desperately wicked.  Who can know it?  - [Jeremiah 17:9] There will be no business as usual at the end of the Tribulation. The rain back on 10JUL23 prompted me to pray ...

 There was a time i thought every Abel has his Cain, when referring to my own brother and me.  i went through such a guilt trip when those thoughts crept up over the years.  i repented and circumstances warranted to two of us to open a line of communication again, no matter how short a time.  The guilt is gone, thanks to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  When it comes to hating, i refuse to participate.  i believe in following God's principles.  As Dr. Charles Stanley said, "Do the right thing and let God take care of the consequences." Shut up, don't ask?  i don't say that, gaslighting, you don't have any basis to make that claim.  Blood has to be shed to cover what i have done...prying eyes.  You will never get away with your phony, manipulative intrusiveness.   i told my brother that God loves us both a million times more than we could ever love each other.  Christ was manifested in the flesh so that He may take away o...

 i'm not a leader.  Nobody would listen to nor follow me, and i wouldn't expect them to.  i'm also realizing that i'm no follower of men .  Now that i've been saved.  The first Person i think about every morning when i awaken is You, Lord. Deliver me from the immoral seductress who flatters me with her words, who forsakes the compassion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God. - [Proverbs 2: 16-17]  Even if there is the Spiral of Silence  in regard to speaking out for You, i will continue to wear the garment of praise to You giving all the glory to You. That i may be filled to the full of my fancies.  The demoniacs are blending into the crowd after shooting the righteous, blending right back into the population.  The wounds they cause are serious enough to confuse everybody about what the Truth is anymore.  The demoniacs aim for folks like me who are trying to follow You and Your principles, who is trying to do the right thing ...

 Lord, keep me seeking Your wisdom continually so i could obtain even one iota of Your wisdom.  Thank You for this wonderful first day of August morning and for giving me the opportunity to enjoy another one...my 67th.  i don't to feel proud of anything i've done because if it weren't for You, i wouldn't be here to do any of them anyway.  You have passed many a flame to me and Your work never seems to be done.  i cannot hold anything in my hands now without Your help and wisdom to guide me, Lord.  You and only You give me strength.  If people were to immerse themselves in Your Word they would realize that for themselves.  Help them realize that for themselves. With or without the church's help, keep me focused and continuing on the narrow path of Your will.  Help me to always remember that too much pride causes too much shame, but with the humble there is wisdom.  "If you board the wrong train it is no use running along the corridor in t...