I believe that knowing Jesus is the key to an amazing grace-filled life, and I’m excited to share my journey with you.
I recently sold a cute little purple scooter to a young mom and I’ve been thinking about the reaction of her lttle girl. Apparently there was a discussion between the mom and daughter before the arrived, because she jumped out of the car, looking for her surprise. Her mom said something like, “now wasn’t that a nice surprise?” The little girl stood at the end of the drive waiting for me to bring it to her. I couldn’t see her smile because both hands were over her mouth, but the twinkle in her eyes gave away her delight.
I was reminded that we are the children of a good, good Father. Of how Jesus taught the importance of child-like faith — and that its the delight of a daddy (or mommy) to give their children good gifts. That’s how God is too. He wants to bless us, but to receive from Him we must believe Him — Have faith in what He says. Hebrews 11:6 makes it clear:
And without faith living within us it would be impossible to please God. For we come to God in faith knowing that he is real and that he rewards the faith of those who passionately seek him.
Hebrews 11:6 TPT
And without trusting, it is impossible to be well pleasing to God, because whoever approaches him must trust that he does exist and that he becomes a Rewarder to those who seek him out.
Hebrews 11:6 CJB
I can imagine how very sad the mommy would feel if her little girl didn’t believe there was a surprise for her, if she doubted her mommy (who loved and cared for her all the time) and just sat in the car. I never want to act or react in a way that would make God feel that way.
Instead, when I face challenging circumstances and even I can’t see or know what’s next… I will remind myself that He is love, His child and that He loves me. I will trust Him, believe that what He says in His Word He absolutely means. I will remember that He is faithful and that He rewards those who seek Him.
Oh dear ones how deeply loved you and I are by God. Let’s thank our good, good Father, Let’s give Him the gift of faith and please Him by trusting Him. Let’s live with a joyfilled expectation of experiencing His goodness! And let’s praise Him with these words of King David:
But in the day that I’m afraid, I lay all my fears before you and trust in you with all my heart. What harm could a man bring to me? With God on my side, I will not be afraid of what comes. The roaring praises of God fill my heart as I trust his promises. You’ve kept track of all my wandering and my weeping. You’ve stored my many tears in your bottle—not one will be lost. For they are all recorded in your book of remembrance. The very moment I call to you for a father’s help the tide of battle turns and my enemies flee. This one thing I know: God is on my side! I trust in the Lord. And I praise him! I trust in the Word of God. And I praise him! So I’m thanking you with all my heart, with gratitude for all you’ve done. I will do everything I’ve promised you, Lord. For you have saved my soul from death and my feet from stumbling so that I can walk before the Lord bathed in his life-giving light.
Psalms 56:3-4, 8-10, 12-13 TPT
Here’s what I’ve learned through it all: Don’t give up; don’t be impatient; be entwined as one with the Lord. Be brave and courageous, and never lose hope. Yes, keep on waiting—for he will never disappoint you!
Psalms 27:14 TPT
I was reading Ephesians 3 in The Passion today, and the words in the title of this blog resonated within me. As believers, it’s our privilege, honor, and our responsibility to live by faith. The Bible says more than once that “The just shall live by faith.”
You’ve probably heard that before, me too. But I had not seen so clearly before that living by faith, trusting Him, actually brings us to the place where the resting place of His love becomes the very source and root of our lives. Just as hope is an achor to our souls, our lives become rooted in rest, the resting place of His love.
Once again, I am learning more about rest, His rest, and the deep and wide impact of choosing to remain in rest in Him. And that everything that God asks us to do has a benefit. He is such a good, good Father.
Oh dear ones, how He loves you and me. The enemy of our souls would have us live distracted, anxious lives. Let us instead turn our faces to Heaven, and to Him, and believe and receive these words of Jesus:
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation].
Matthew 11:28 AMP
So I kneel humbly in awe before the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, the perfect Father of every father and child in heaven and on the earth.
And I pray that he would unveil within you the unlimited riches of his glory and favor until supernatural strength floods your innermost being with his divine might and explosive power.
Then, by constantly using your faith, the life of Christ will be released deep inside you, and the resting place of his love will become the very source and root of your life.
Then you will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences—the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions.
How deeply intimate and far-reaching is his love! How enduring and inclusive it is! Endless love beyond measurement that transcends our understanding—this extravagant love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God!
Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you.
Ephesians 3:14-20 TPT
Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017, 2018 by Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ThePassionTranslation.com.
The following is an excerpt from the book titled, “His Voice in My Heart.” by Lori O’Neil. It is shared with the permission of the author and publisher. It is book 1 in a series of three, a jouuney that speaks from the Heart of God, messages to heal, confirm and deepen our relationships with Him.
My birth is not a season, it is the beginning of the end — which is the beginning.
All must die for the body is not eternal. The spirit would live forever were it not for sin. Sin brought death to the spirit, while the body lived on — for the spirit to live for eternity it must be born anew, made new.
“– Jesus answered him, ‘Truly, truly I say unto you, unless one is born anew he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3
RENEW
I came as a child that you might see, I came as a babe that you might believe…
That you could be made new — totally freed, from a life of sin and death. A life without Me — yearns to be free,
Invite Me to your home this night. Ask me in — I’ll bring the light. Then you’ll see that all you need is the gift that was given — the One True Light. (John 1:4, 9) That light is Me.
There was no room at the Inn, will you ask Me in?
“And the angel of the Lord said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he wil reign over the house of Jacob, forever; and of his kingdom there will be no end'” Luke 1:30-33
“And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid hin in a manger, for there was no room in the inn.” Luke 2:7
Read also: John 1:12-14 and Romans 6:23. — “But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave the power to become children of God… “ “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life…”
His Voice in My Heart, His Voice in My Heart, the Journey and His Voice in My Heart, to Freedom! can be purchased from Nation Of Women Publishing.
You can larn more about Lori, her books, and her vision to reach the lost and hurting, as well as opportunities to participate on Wordscroll.org.
On a personal note, I met Lori on a trip to Israel in May/June of 2019. It truly has been a grace connection. The Lord enabled me to connect her to Nation of Women Publishing, which brings me joy. However our connection goes much deeper as she has been there for me, encouraging me in the Lord, praying for me and my husband as we walked through the last three years. Its been a faith walk and I am SO very grateful for her love, late night texts and all. She truly “put skin on” Jesus for me. I treasure and hold close the word that God gave her for me — “Stand on your faith, I have heard your prayer. This will not happen quickly, but it will happen. And I believe!
Oh how HE loves you and me. Remember always, He is Immanuel – God with US — God with YOU.
We see this word used a lot this time of year, particularly in Christmas movies. While I thoroughly enjoy a good Christmas story, they are not real or a basis for belief.
In reality, BELIEVE is a word to be treasured and meditated upon. What we choose to believe goes to the very core of who we are and it impacts our lives.
As a believer in Jesus Christ, what He says, what His Word says, and His promises are the anchor of my soul. In good times, in stormy/hard times and every other time, I choose to stay anchored, believing that He is the way, the truth, and the life.
Storms may come, but He is a good Father, perfect, never changing, so this is what I BELIEVE:
Jesus explained, “I am the Way, I am the Truth, and I am the Life. No one comes next to the Father except through union with me. To know me is to know my Father too.
John 14:6 TPT
…I am the Resurrection, and I am Life Eternal. Anyone who clings to me in faith, even though he dies, will live forever.
John 11:25 TPT
My own sheep will hear my voice and I know each one, and they will follow me. I give to them the gift of eternal life and they will never be lost and no one has the power to snatch them out of my hands.
John 10:27-28 TPT
A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect —life in its fullness until you overflow! I am the Good Shepherd who lays down my life as a sacrifice for the sheep.
John 10:10-11 TPT
“I leave the gift of peace with you—my peace. Not the kind of fragile peace given by the world, but my perfect peace. Don’t yield to fear or be troubled in your hearts—instead, be courageous!
John 14:27 TPT
For the Father tenderly loves you, because you love me and believe that I’ve come from God.
John 16:27 TPT
We have this certain hope like a strong, unbreakable anchor holding our souls to God himself. Our anchor of hope is fastened to the mercy seat in the heavenly realm beyond the sacred threshold,
Hebrews 6:19 TPT
So now wrap your heart tightly around the hope that lives within us, knowing that God always keeps his promises!
Hebrews 10:23 TPT
Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017, 2018 by Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ThePassionTranslation.com.
On Sunday, Pastor George Pearsons read Psalm 100 and a little later in the service, Pastor Terri encouraged us to close our eyes and focus on just one thing and then to express thankfulness to God for it. So we took a few minutes and did just that.
You know what, that act of choosing to be thankful and give thanks for that one thing was very good. But in a really positive way, it wasn’t enough. I couldn’t stop there. More and more blessings, both large and small, came to mind, leading to me being more thankful.
It’s been really good for me all week. Life isn’t perfect. Relationships are challenging, things don’t always go the way I want, and work can be stressful this time of year… But then I remember Sunday and choose to give thanks. By doing that, both my attitude and outlook get adjusted. I feel His grace, peace, and presence, and I am grateful.
Based on this Psalm, here are some things to meditate on or do:
Serve the Lord with gladness and delight; Come before His presence with joyful singing. Know and fully recognize with gratitude that the Lord Himself is God; It is He who has made us, not we ourselves [and we are His]. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with a song of thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, bless and praise His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy and lovingkindness are everlasting, His faithfulness [endures] to all generations.
Psalms 100:2-5 AMP
Happy Thanksgiving, dear ones. Oh, how He loves you and me!
I’ve heard and said this prayer more times than I can count, and possibly you have too. But tonight I ŕead it in The Passion translation for the first time. Then I read it again and again while thinking on His great love, of the king of the universe, the Almighty, Most High God. And I was reminded that FIRST of all, his desire is to be known as our beloved father.
OH how He loves you and me.
God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I’m not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure. You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing. Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I’m back home in the house of God for the rest of my life.
Psalms 23:1-6 MSG
It’s been a long night and now its early morning. One of my loved ones is in the recovery room after emergency surgery. I am reading the Word and feeling grateful for the peaceful presence of the Holy Spirit and for the faithful love of God. I read this version of Psalm 23 in The Messsage, and I am grateful to be His. I hope it will encourage you today too.
I remember a time in the last year or so, things seemed so hard, overwhelming, impossible, but God. I heard Holy Spirit whisper to my heart, sing a hallelujah. It wasn’t easy to start. I went out to my back porch and turned the volume up all the way, and I started to sing a long as loud as I could, with tears streaming down my face ….I sing a hallelujah, in the presence of my enemies…fear has lost its hold on me… By the time the song was done, I felt his grace surrounding me, I was stronger, knowing He is for me.
It isn’t always easy to praise God when we are going through difficult times. But it is so important, so freeing, so healing, so right. Praise is powerful and it drowns out the enemy. As we praise God we are resisting Satan and his lies, and he must flee! I can imagine him screaming nooooo….as he runs away.
Think about this… if the praises of toddlers and babies are powerful enough to shut the enemy up, we (as his children) can expect the sane when we praise with child like faith!
You have built a stronghold by the songs of children. Strength rises up with the chorus of infants. This kind of praise has power to shut Satan’s mouth. Childlike worship will silence the madness of those who oppose you.
Psalms 8:2 TPT
Nursing infants gurgle choruses about you; toddlers shout the songs That drown out enemy talk, and silence atheist babble.
Psalms 8:2 MSG
According to the Websters 1828 Dictionary, A refuge can be defined as “That which shelters or protects from danger, distress or calamity; a strong hold which protects by its strength, or a sanctuary which secures safety by its sacredness; any place inaccessible to an enemy.“
I think at times we all know that we need a refuge. I sure know I do. To reinforce my awareness I recently added scriptures and sayings to my bedroom walls. Now no matter where I look I am reminded of Him. To look unto Jesus. The author and finisher of my faith. My refuge, my strength, and my secure hiding place. To trust Him every day, in every circumstance.
God, you’re such a safe and powerful place to find refuge! You’re a proven help in time of trouble— more than enough and always available whenever I need you.
Psalms 46:1 TPT
He’s the hope that holds me and the stronghold to shelter me, the only God for me, and my great confidence.
Psalms 91:2 TPT
So it is impossible for God to lie for we know that his promise and his vow will never change! And now we have run into his heart to hide ourselves in his faithfulness. This is where we find his strength and comfort, for he empowers us to seize what has already been established ahead of time—an unshakable hope!
Hebrews 6:18 TPT
Be encouraged dear ones. Oh how He loves you and me!
A Grateful Grace-full Life 