livenlife

But seek ( aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness
(His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. (Matthew 6:33)

Why, of all the scriptures He could have led me to, why this one? And what does he want me to know about the Kingdom ?

‘Lord open my eyes, I know I’m missing something.’

In the beginning, I took hold of His promises and blessings. I’d read a few chapters on trials and struggles, glanced by verse after verse of His unfailing love for His children, and was still missing something.

Merely going to church on Sundays wasn’t enough. Expecting the preacher to preach a sermon and/or speak a word that would carry me to the next Sunday, wasn’t enough.

We have to open the book. Stay in prayer and ask God for direction, wisdom, and understanding.

It is God’s desire that we love Him for who He is. Not for what He can do for us or give us, but simply because He first loved us.

The only way I could attain my goal and live out my purpose was to spend time with Him. To spend time in His word (bible), in prayer, meditation, and worship. Then and only then did He allow my eyes to be open to the splendor of Him.

Father I thank you for your love. I thank you for opening up your word as a guide and reference to your children. Lord I am so grateful that you love us regardless of our faults. I am thankful that within our faults you find opportunity to mold us into the vessel you want us to be. We need you lord, during the good and bad times, we need you. In season and out of season, we need you. I thank you for covering us with your grace and mercy. Lord I pray you will open the eyes of all who need you and place a desire for you and your unfailing love in every individuals heart. In Jesus name I pray.

How does one live a purpose driven life? If purpose is defined as an intent or end to be attain. I suppose the next question one must ask is what is it we’re trying to attain? What’s the intent? For example, my goal (intent) is to live a life pleasing to God. To be able to do this I had to find out what pleases Him.

To give you a little back story into my life, I had an agenda. I didn’t realize it in the beginning, but being a young Christian, I was wrapped up in what I could get from Him, not purposely, but I wanted the wealth, health, and life in abundance.
I’m ashamed to say that I thought if I had these things it would prove how much God loved me.

As I prayed for guidance He provided me with the answer. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…. (Matthew 6:33).

This was the first step in understanding how to forfill my purpose.

(to be continued)

Previously we looked at Luke 17:15-19. Examining the actions of the Samaritian and how his faith and worship pleased God.(Did He Touch You? pg2)

Today I’d like to look at the woman in Mark 5:25-34

The bible doesn’t tell us her name, but describes her plight. Can you imagine going to see one physician after another and being told there’s no hope? Can you also imagine after twelve years and spending your last dollar, feeling worse than you did before?

Mark 5:27-29 She had heard the reports concerning Jesus, and she came up behind Him in the throng and touched His garments. 28. For she kept saying, If I only touch His garments, I shall be restored to health.

What I love about this woman, is she didn’t give up. She was down but refused to be out. I can’t say I can relate to being physically sick, especially for twelve years, but I can relate to being down. I know how it feels to give something your best and come up empty. To feel alone and so far from hope, and God.

The bible tells us that when she touched Jesus she felt her body being healed.

Mark 5:30, And Jesus, recognizing in Himself that the power proceeding out from Him had gone forth, turned around immediately in the crowd and said. Who touched My clothes?

With a multitude gathered around Him he ask ‘who touch me.’ He acknowledged her presence among the multitude. He felt his power leave him by the strength of her faith.

Mark 5:34 And He said to her, Daughter, your faith (your trust and confidence in Me, springing from faith in God) has restored you to health. Go in peace and be continually healed and freed from your (distressing bodily) disease.

Do you recall what He said to the Samaritan who’d return thank him for his healing?

And he said to him, get up and go on your way. Your faith (your trust and confidence that spring from your belief in God) has restored you to health. Luke 17:19

Their act of faith and trust in God caused Him to move on there behalf.

I imagine the Samaritan knew Jesus could cure him. He’d heard of the miracles Jesus had performed, but a tiny part of him probably felt Jesus wouldn’t help him because of who he was (Samaritan), an alien, not worthy.

Isn’t it interesting the labels we allow others to put on us, and take them for truth. Yet, when he realize God had blessed him, inspite of the negative labels others had attach to him, he turned back.

Luke 17:16-19
And he fell prostrate at Jesus feet thanking Him [over and over]. And he was a Samaritan. 17. Then Jesus asked, Where not [all] ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18. Was there no one found to return and to recognize and give thanks and praise to God except this alien? 19. And He said to him, Get up and go on your way. Your faith [your trust and confidence that spring from your belief in God] has restored you to health.

He believed he could be cured (healed) and when he realized he was cured he worshipped the Lord. His actions (faith & worship) ushered in health (wholeness) from God.

(to be continued)

(more…)

Have the dreams of the past finally come to the for-front? As Dr. Martin Luther King spoke of a tomorrow he did not live to see. With eyes of hope, spirit and truth, was he not God’s messenger then speaking to our now? It’s been a long journey but, one worth taking. I wish my grandparents were alive to witness it, and also my uncle’s who would have cherished the day.

Are we able to judge on the content of character and not the color of skin? I’d say on November 4th, we took a giant leap into the mirror of Martin’s dream.
On November 4th, vindication, admiration, respect and unspeakable love was found. As a nation we looked beyond the color of skin and into the heart of man. On November 4th, prayers were answered and dreams became a reality.
On November 4th a chance to rock the nation was created. Let us continue to step with strong legs and sound judgement. Let us flourish as a people with love for all, respect for all, and patience for all.
God Bless & keep dreaming

 These days are very crucial times, let us pray to keep our country, and those in office in prayer, we as Christians have a duty to pray God’s will  for our country, and those who He see fit to  run this country, please stay focus on what God   word says for us as Christian to look for in a leader of a country, this is not a black thing or a white thing but God’s principles and morals to be up lifted up in this country, the word of God say righteousness exalt a nation but Sin brings it down.(Proverbs 14:34
Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
 So please stay in a prayerful mode and with your spiritual eyes and ears open to what God will for this country is. We are not looking for changes in the way the world is looking for but the way the Lord ordain it to be.  Changes that this country would turn back to its Godly morals and principles based upon God word, which this country was founded on2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
. So let go out and vote.

Num 23:24……..Father, cause Your people to rise upEze 14:6……….Cause them to repent and to turn from their  wicked ways.
Hag 2:7…………Shake our  nation, so they will come to the Desire Jesus).
Isa 61:11………..Cause righteousness and praise to spring forth.Joel 3:12………..Let our nation be awakened!
Isa 1:2…………..Let the our nation hear the voice of the Lord!
Ps 9:20…………Judge our nation in Your sight, Father, and put them to fear,
Ps 9:20………….that they might know themselves to be but men.
Rom 8:22……….Father, the whole creation groans and labors
Rom 8:21……….to be delivered from the bondage of corruption,
Rom 8:21……….into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Jn 15:26………..Send forth Your Spirit of Truth into our  to bear witness of You,
Jn 16:8………….and to convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.

Father I thank you for hands on this election, and I pray your Mercy ,and grace over this election, and may your perfect will be done in whom you have chosen for such a time as this to be the President of the United States in Jesus name Amen
written by: Yoliegirl
(A Cafemom member) Join us in lifting up the name of the Lord.
http://www.cafemom.com/group/warriorspraying 

 Once you have identified your goal, what’s your next step?  
How do you plan on seeing it through? 
If the goal was work related one might make an outline or, put in their PDA, some put reminders on post-its, and stick them on there desk, or various places in there home; personally I like the to-do list.      
     Living a life pleasing to God is no small task and, one we must remain conscience of.   
I don’t use any of those techniques to accomplish my goal.   Realizing we must do something because the bible states, the devil roams around like a roaring lion.  Seeking whom he can devour.  Giving our lives to Christ means we have given Him a heart in which He can transform into His loving character.  The devil is ever present and sneaky.  He tries to confuse and trick us hoping he can weaken us, and our belief in God.    His goal is to destroy our relationship with God.  He’s a thief, therefore, we should stay alert and conscious of the games he tries to play.  Unfortunately her knows where we’re vulnerable. and tries his best to hit us in the right spot.  He often does his best work through those we know and love but, thanks be to God, we don’t have to stay ignorant to the devils plot or allow him access in our lives. 
     If I needed to keep an agenda to list the steps  in achieving my goal, on the first line I’d write, pray.  The Bible tell us to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17)  Prayer is a powerful weapon against the enemy.  Knowing he wants to stop us from living a life pleasing to God.  We must work to stop him in his tracks.  Pray.  When we pray we open our hearts to the father.  The Bible says … He meets our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearning and groaning to deep for utterance. (Romans 8:26).  He searches our heart and knows what’s on our mind.  That powerful.  When we don’t know what to pray for, the Holy spirit intercedes for us.  We can confidently take our concerns to Him. He too was tried, tested, and tempted but did not sin.  He understands our feelings, knows our need, see’s our weaknesses and loves us anyway.  (Hebrews 4:14-16)