Heart, Soul, and Strength

  Abba Father how can i fulfill Your will?  How can i over come by being a bright light in this darkness?  How can i glorify You because it's not about me nor about anybody else?  If i am indeed saved, help me to walk in righteousness, holiness, and show me exactly what righteousness and holiness means.  Show me how i can be conformed to the image of Christ.   Remind me that i died to sin the moment You died for the sins of all the world.  Show me how to be only a small part of those who can convince non-Christians and nonbelievers to come to that realization, so that they too can glorify You. Those who are closest to the war in Israel may they be converted. Let all begin to understand the absurdity of Hamas and that they need to abandon their past, drop their weapons and turn away from the concept of destroying the Temple Mount because we all know whose feet will be touching down there one day sooner than we think. Protect the innocent women and ...

 Abba Father, help me to be consistently fervent in spirit for i am filled with the Holy Spirit.  Help me to strengthen myself in Your wisdom so that i can be a testimony to the name of Jesus.  Keep me from comparing myself to others.  This is not my home.  May mediocrity NOT be in my vocabulary when it comes to serving Your Kingdom.  i may look back on my youth and see that i was mediocre in many areas; i have NO excuses NOW that i know my Jesus.  i'm happy with pleasing You and my actions can only be between You and me.  i'm not talking to anyone besides You, so i'm not about to do anything for anybody else but You.  i'm doing for You  because i am blessed. And it it turns out that i do something to bless others, it's because i've been blessed by You.  Only by Your design can i be moved to a higher level of excellence.  May no other area of my life be a poor testimony to You.  All i ask of You is to get me to a higher le...

May i always experience needed change? Let me find ways to improve my life even as i'm pushing 70.  My parents didn't raise me up in a mediocre existence.  i was up and out never allowed to sit on my butt rocking  in the rocking chair in my room.  Sometimes i wonder why did they put it there.  i may be retired now, but i refuse to be pigeon-holed into being just another invalid or cripple living off the state.  Oh, i received food stamps and unemployment benefits at one time, but i was always more than happy to be free of that dependence. i thank God for the many years i've worked so that i can receive the Social Security benefits i have earned. Rocking in the rocking chair in my room growing up in my parents house--didn't happen!  Since i'm becoming a better Christian which is always a work in progress---on going---the Lord is guiding me into being a more useful Christian than the one i was back when i was working.  Thank You, Abba Father, for gi...

 Once saved, always saved is a false premise.  i'm beginning to realize that first in myself and then when i observe others who claim to be Christian.  Being spoon-fed Christian music has become something i'm beginning to take a second look at.  Listening to and blasting Christian music so everyone on the other side of the wall or beneath on the floor below misses the mark totally. Same with blasting somebody preaching on Sunday at 8:00 in the morning on TBN when the preacher is a false one misses the mark as well.  i'm beginning to be more discerning and see how far i've come along on my Christian journey, knowing that i have so much further to go. i've been able to whittle down the long list of preachers, some of whom i eliminated not long after i heard each of them open their mouth.  i'm beginning to imagine myself attacking someone who's ranting and raving with his sheep-dip by calmly telling them, "i don't like your mouth." i want to be ri...

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin.  For I acknowledge my transgressions.  And my sin is always before me.  Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight--That You may be found just when You speak.  And blameless when You judge. -[Psalm 51: 2-4] Maybe soon i'll attend a church regularly, but it can't be just any church.  i've been so disappointed because i never find any one- not one-- who has died the necessary death.  i know this kind because i was the same way.  i didn't want to bury the old me because i believed the old me was happier without any restrictions.  i was headed straight into hell  because i was constantly against God, but finally i had come to repentance with the full understanding that it's an ongoing process that takes place every day of my life now. Where once i mocked at virtue i'm constantly seeking virtue to become consistently a part of my life.  i'm not going t...

Help me, Abba Father, to know Your word better so i can teach others about You and help me serve You better in this falling world.  In Jesus' name.  Amen  This country is becoming darker as it is becoming more polarized.  Perhaps this is the design You want because You see how it's all going to play out anyway.  Tanks are flooding into Damascus, where a blinded Saul converted to Paul.  i can only imagine that many enemies who are blind won't be blind anymore and will turn out to serve the Messiah who's coming shortly. The righteous of this hour must shine a candle in the night against the darkness to light up the night.   Help me, Abba Father, not to bow down to obey, submit to, give an heed to these bent on being evil.  You know i have a weakness and my need to strike out in anger.  i've hurt my hand already this morning, especially when all the evil ones will only say, "Come around front, there's no door there!"  Yet i know nothin...

Sometimes i think it would be better for me to fear evil because i get tired of always needing to attack it, but sometimes the earplugs just don't work because i can still feel the vibrations anyway.  i want to reach out and smack  someone's head with a 2 by 4.  King Solomon saw a few women i've run across some 3,000 years ago.  i don't think that would help--the 2 by 4, that is--i learned recently just exactly what pig-ignorant  means... i pray, Heavenly Father, that You guide me in dealing with people who are never going to learn to behave any differently than they do now.  My schedule is in Your hands as i now take on the shield of faith, knowing for myself and not so much by some false teacher, that Your favor surrounds me like a shield.  Help me to remember that any fearlessness is good only because i'm situated beneath the shadows of Your wings when i'm living beneath the dumb-ass mule who thinks she's the only one living here.  Please forgi...

 Abba Father, i am hardly worthy to ask You of this, but will You help me to help distribute but one--if any--to the necessity of saints.  Show me how to make a difference in someone's life, even if it means reaching for an item on a shelf at Walmart for a woman who's even shorter than i am.  i've needed help reaching for items on the very top shelf in the past.  If i'm to be lead to help one who's gravely ill, then give me the wisdom to be the most effective aid i can be.   Repay no one evil for evil.  Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.- [Romans 12:17] "You do wrong to me and I'll do wrong to you -[ kakonanti kakou]  There's too much of that going on in my life now.  My flesh wants to retaliate--rebel!  But i know Jesus and the Holy Spirit don't want that from me.  Let me have a pure heart before You, Abba Father.  Help me to stop devising, contriving, and conniving bad intentions toward others even when they...

 i didn't realize that the Holy Spirit has the intense yearning to have me all to Himself, and i like that.  i don't mind that concept at all...or i should say i don't mind that Truth at all.  i find comfort in knowing that the Holy Spirit is actually lusting over me!  That's an eye-opening realization with all the ill-will and malice i can easily sense just hearing hushed whispers down the hall, especially when those voices have a history of making the point of being heard throughout an entire building.  The Holy Spirit made me kick my laptop the other night, i'm sure of it--to the point where i can no longer use it.  i had been meaning to get rid of it anyway because it is a distraction and Satan loves when i'm distracted from the Truth.  i can easily become too obsessed with being entertained to the point of being misguided.  i'd do anything to turn my devotion away from the world.  If my right arm caused me to sin and to devote more of my...

Knowing exactly where i am i still get the feeling of being displaced.  Perhaps this is Your intention, Abba Father.  And if that's the case then i have no problem with feeling displaced.   Even though it would be neat to run into other Christians who are feeling displaced as well we could have a club of displaced Christians.  i know i need a refresher course on being more hospitable.  i suppose as i get older, i'm becoming less of a "People" person; in fact, i hate that term now anyway. i'm remembering my turbulent 20s now when i was living in Florida.  i was more hospitable then, even if it mean i was taking dangerous risks or making unwise decisions.  When i was living in a trailer park near Fort Myers, i took in a young man who was fighting with his girlfriend in the wee houses of the morning.  i don't remember exactly how the events unfolded but the guy stayed in my trailer overnight and didn't get up and out of bed until after i had gon...

 Reaching out to God every day now.  Not one day goes by without me thinking of Him and the Holy Spirit.  The Word is always the best place to start.  Spreading His Word to the next generation is good, but there has to be more than listening to Christian music.  i am a child of God and can no longer love the world.  YAH, help me to channel in with those You approve of for me, so t hat Your Word i spread and people are living by the precepts of Your Word.  The Beatitudes are a great place to start.  Reaching out with love and humility is more Christian than anything else.  "And they'll know we are Christians by our love."  And that love is defined by God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and our guiding Holy Spirit within.  i can't just hear the song sung, i have to live it.  Help me, Abba Father, to display the kind of love that only You approve of. i like the concept of "Divine Disobedience" brought on by Pastor Jack Hibbs as ...

i'm still giving into my flesh lately, but not as bad as before, yet that means i'm not in the clear yet because little things can lead to bigger things.  The Holy Spirit won't leave me during these times.  i know i can always put earplugs in my ears because what else were they invented for?  Bless them who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  -[Romans 12:4]    Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. [Proverbs 18:21]  YAH, thank You for those adversaries because You are constantly reminding me to be humble and that without Your Holy Spirit, there's no way i could be doing anything right.  Your hand is power and You are using Your hand for Divine Providence, so i know i can be patient while waiting for Your results. i'm not concerned with having "clout" or "pull," You are the only one who is worthy and deserve all the glory when You put Your hand in anything and i pray that more people --my adver...

 Mother had been loaded down with her own issues, and i know toward the end of her life she had plenty of issues as she was just "waiting to die."  i don't recall many times when i was unable to come up with the appropriate emotional responses.  Presently, i'm pleased because i've been able to temper those responses and keep things in their proper perspective, but that's only because of the Holy Spirit dwelling within me. i find elation many times now when i'm behind closed doors, when i'm in my room by myself.  The Counselor is rejoicing with me.  Many times i can follow His lead. When people are rejoicing, that's the time for you to join in the celebration and rejoice along with them. -[Romans 12:15] Abba Father, help me to put my flesh out of the way for a few minutes and to follow the Holy Spirit's lead in rejoicing for another when he's feeling joy.  Keep reminding me to rejoice deliberately so i can be set free from the anger and rese...

 Mother was my last significant audience.  In fact, she told me whenever she heard Shirley Bassey sing "I'll Be Your Audience," that she thought about me!  Nicest thing she ever said to me, i think.  That was so long ago, yet unforgettable.  Within the past decade there moments when she had the opportunity to be my audience she wasn't as effective due to failing health or she just didn't want to be bothered or she was becoming much too self-absorbed.  i hope that doesn't happen to me.  i even learned not to bother to tell her about anything that was eventful in my life because i knew she wouldn't respond with the enthusiasm i expected.  i was beginning to wonder about her statement about thinking of me when she heard Shirley Bassey singing "I'll Be Your Audience."  Of course, during the past decade she hadn't been listening.   When your only friend just can't be found And you've got no one to hang around, just call on me   Baby...

Holy Spirit, convict me whenever i go astray and begin to think that i'm better than others.  Hepl me to show myself as an example of what it's like to be like Jesus, who washed away my sins just as He did for others.  Help me maintain a mind of Christ with a humble, simple, normal respect for all.  In Jesus' name.  Amen i would never say  that anybody who is on the path i once was was a filthy person.  i respect anybody who is on the path i've been on and pray that they will see the light as i have seen  --only through the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  They know who they are.  God knows who they are.  i may not know them ell but there have been plenty i have encountered over the years.  May all of them repent and accept Jesus as their personal Savior as i have.  It's so easy to become a victim of idolatry.  Satan has to be dancing in the streets when he sees us falling.  But i have made my min...