Monthly Archives: July 2020

Devotional Series, Holy Habitation

The River’s Streams

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“There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.” – Psalms‬ ‭46:4-5‬ ‭NASB‬‬

As I read this in preparation to post it, I saw us – the people – as the river that flows through the dwelling place of God. We flow in and out, primed with the Presence of Him who is ever in the midst of us. Flowing with and trough our lives, He touches all we touch and feeds all we flow through.

Of course the Psalmist is speaking of Israel and Jerusalem. But in this vision, we, the dwelling place of God, indwelling Him, are the streams of the river, fed by God. God, in us, is faithful to help us every morning to be His springs of life on the earth. Let Him help you as you head into this day. A spring is only as deep as the river feeding into it. Feast on God and have a BLESSed day.

Devotional Series, Holy Habitation, Trust

That’s worth repeating!

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“O Lord, our Lord, Your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens. You have taught children and infants to tell of Your strength, silencing Your enemies and all who oppose You.” Psalms‬ ‭8:1-2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Did you see it? Did your heart thrill? Like mine!

Look at the victory given to us here, through this truth about God’s victory that forms a weapon given our mouths. As we “tell of Your strength,” we silence “Your enemies and all who oppose You.”

God’s enemy attacks Him through his assault against God’s people and our faith to believe and trust Him. When we STAND, stubbornly set to trust God’s strength, speaking that believing faith from hearts set on Him, we enter His victory!

Praise the Lord!

Articles, opinion piece

Red and Yellow, Black and White! Precious.

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All the racist reports of late truly rial me. Stuff like the subject matter of this report causes me to ask who the true racist is? The one pointed at as being racist? Or the one pointing the finger? Top that with raising the blame card at any one race while ignoring each person’s responsibility, no matter the color is socially irresponsible, adding fuel to a fire that’s already out of control.

You know, I believe all any of us want is to be treated fairly, righteously, with respect, and equitably, as people of worth and value. Two examples from my younger years come to mind.

One involves a black man my daddy worked with. No disrespect intended in the use of the word “black”. It’s what we grew up calling one another, black and white; and I was raised to do so, not in disrespect, but as a distinguishing characteristic. We’re still called “white” today. Black, white, brown, red, etc, is fair and equitable.

Anyway, back to my dad’s friend and co-worker, Mr. Benny (given name, not sir-name) was a fellow mechanic in the same shop. He was such a nice, smart, and caring man, and daddy called him “friend”. He still gets credit today for helping my daddy quit smoking. He is a beloved man from our past.

He told daddy one day in some conversation they had, “Just call me niger. It’s what I am and have always been called. It doesn’t bother me.” Daddy balked, “I’ll call you a black man or a negro – which means black, but a niger is a worthless person; and, Benny, that’s not you.”

I am acquainted with numerous black people. Not one of those are a niger. But I know numerous white nigers that I will not run with. Worthless people can come in all colors. I was taught that being a worthless person is a choice we make in the way we live life and the person we want to be. Choose better.

The second memorable occasion happened when I was a young divorcée, working a night job at a local mini-mart. A nice looking black man came to the counter to pay out and struck up a conversation. He shortly asked me out. When I declined, he said, “What? Are you racist? Too good for me?” My facial expression was obviously shocked in a way that put a surprised expression on his face. I never thought such a thing. I replied strongly, “No. it’s just my choice to not mix. I’m simply not interested. Besides, I have a boyfriend and am not in the market.” He then looked pleasantly stunned at the straight forward honesty, and replied, “Well, ok. I can respect that.” That was that. No problem. No trouble when he came in. No trouble with others.

Today I am aunt to three, beautiful nieces, a nephew, and several great nieces and nephews that are black-white mix. They are beautiful people who add strength to our society. And they are greatly loved by my husband and me. I also have a granddaughter who is seriously dating a young black man. I haven’t met him personally yet, but I am told he is a Christian man of great worth, making a good life for himself, and for Savannah, if their relationship continues to flourish.

I am extremely upset with all the racist horror going on in our nation today. Those who are working with honest hearts of integrity to make a better world for our babies, I stand with you. But those using this situation for evil means and destruction, that is worthless behavior. And it’s not just blacks out there. I’ve seen a lot of whites in the mix as well. Racism and the rainbows of colors that could be deemed as a niger is a heart issue. Many pointing fingers reveal the truth of their own hearts. And programs that only serve to bring further separation and produce hate should be outlawed.

All on my friend lists, I know as people of worth. Knowing each makes me a better person by their influence. I am happy to work together for a stronger nation. Red and yellow, black and white, I love you!

Devotional Series, Holy Habitation

Speak to the Mountain

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“Truly I say to you, whoever

SAYS TO THIS MOUNTAIN,

‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.” – Mark‬ ‭11:23‬ ‭NASB‬‬

When God gives us a Word against a mountain in our lives, 1. We must trust The Word; 2. We must receive The Word as a gift to possess; 3. We must speak that Word TO THE MOUNTAIN from ever growing faith.

From personal experience, I can tell you that, when God gives us a Word of promise or instruction concerning some issue in life that looms over us like a mountain, that Word is a seed, planted. Each time that mountain pops up to grab our focus, but our hearts turn in faith to the seed of God’s Word to us, speaking it against the mountain is like rain to our souls, nourishing and growing those seeds. The stronger that seed grows within us, the more powerful our voice of authority in Christ. Before we know it, that mountain sinks to the bottom of the sea as pulverized dust, never to rise again.

Grasp hold of God’s Word to you, Beloved, and speak it out with the power of assurance in Christ. Have a BLESSed and glory-filled day.

Devotional Series, Holy Habitation

God-watched Path

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“The Lord watches over the path of the godly.” – Psalms‬ ‭1:6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The godly seek the Lord, desiring His will and way above all; desiring His very nature, His character to shine through their lives to the glory of His name. The godly seek the Lord and His righteousness first and foremost, to walk in it. Those who seek God with wholehearted fervor, find Him faithful. And His faithful love watches every step with care and affection, directing their path and protecting each footfall. Those who trust the God-watched path, find the path of peace.

Trust the Lord with each step in your day, Beloved, for your walk of faith pleases God. Have a BLESSed, glory-filled day.

Devotional Series, Holy Habitation

The Vital Materials of Healthy Boundaries

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In these strange times, we need to be people with “healthy boundaries – to have the proper wall and gates in place so as to keep the good things in and the bad things out.” Unknown

Not an exact quote, but adjusted from a reading I’ll link below, it is a desperately needed thought for me today. Father has been inspiring in me the past several days concerning the truth that I have lost focus.

The unbelievable chaos and upheaval and uncertainty of our days have grabbed my thoughts and broke down some vital walls. As a result, conspiracy theories, contradictory information, false reports, and the chaos of riots flowing too readily into my living room have me reacting out of confused flesh. God is telling me that, despite all these things, my focus as His child, His ambassador to this area in which I live, is unchanged: God, First and foremost, His Word, His truth, His message, His love, His faithfulness…etc. Just typing that out, my heart lifts, my spirit stills, my hope rises, I enter my Rest. That truth deserves a “Selah!” Pause, and calmly think on that.

Today, as I read the author’s reminder to remain within our healthy walls of protection, as I read it my prayer is to understand the materials of our walls and gates, so we have focus to reestablish and maintain it. Of those materials, two things arise in me: 1. our walls are all these things I’ve listed, that outlines our God and His faithfulness, and 2. our gates are the fruit of His Spirit working in us who represent and serve God.

God, His Word, His truth, His message, His love, His faithfulness…etc., provide the impenetrable wall and rampart of protection. Every arrow shot at us through this world chaos is stopped and it’s fiery dart squelched by God’s faithfulness. Keeping that vital focus is paramount to the strength of our walls against every attack of Satanic resource. Remembering that God is not the author of confusion, signals us when an area of our wall is under attack and in need of focused attention. Reaffirming our faith in God’s faithfulness is our tool for every repair job.

The fruit of the Spirit working in us are our gates with their powered control systems that help us know what can come in and go out from us. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control/temperance, along with humility, faith, and trust, are the 12 gates we possess as God’s temple: the gates through which we protect what we have and bless those around us, without the world getting at us and tearing down our walls – our faith in God’s faithfulness.

I am so grateful for God-thoughts, those truths of understanding inspired by God’s Spirit that are His voice to us, calming, stilling, instructing, and commissioning us for righteousness, fruitful service in our day, and peace with the still-more-excellent-way of love as our focus even now. These truths help me, causing me to STAND, and stand firm. I pray they help you as well.

God is faithful. This we know full well. All the confusion and chaos of this world is squelched and set in order as we remain within the walls He provides and the gates He controls.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.” – Galatians‬ ‭5:22-26‬ ‭NASB‬‬

(Near quote is from Walk Through The Bible 365 – July: Day 23 • Devotional)

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Dr. Bartlett: effectively treating COVID

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Excellent interview of Dr. Richard Bartlett, a Midland, Texas, doctor using science in the use of inhaled anti inflammatory meds against COVID. Very good information, alleviating the fear of COVID with successful treatment using Budesonide. Scroll to the bottom of the article linked below and watch the video. Well worth your time. Take this to your doctor.

God Report interviews Dr. Bartlett

Devotional Series, Holy Habitation

Destroying A Lofty Thing

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“We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God.” (2 Corinthians 10:5 NASB)

There is a philosophy of man floating around that is as old as the ages. I conversed with one of this philosophy’s evangelists recently. The poor person does not see they are ensnared by the very sin that caused Lucifer and one third of the angelic hosts to be cast out of God’s kingdom.

This person was trying to convince me that not only can we grow in likeness to God – truth; but that we can eventually sit with Him as equals – lie. This is the sin of Satan, who thought himself God’s equal, which quickly turned to desire to overthrow the One True God and be god in His place. Such arrogance and pride not only led to Lucifer’s eviction, but it is the lie Satan used to cause the fall of man, getting them cast out of Eden.

Lucifer came to Eve through the voice of a serpent, using a luscious looking piece of fruit. “If you eat this fruit, God knows you will be just like Him, equal to Him, knowing good and evil.” Pride, arrogance, desire to not only emulate God as He desires, but to be His equal. Before you come down too hard on Eve who was tempted through her curiosity, realize Adam fell too, not out of deceit, but from a place of willful disobedience; desiring to please Eve, yes, but he also wanted this great, God-like power.

God is ALL knowing, ALL powerful, ever present, complete and perfect within Himself. He needs no help to be all that He is in purity and perfection; and He cannot be tempted to the dark side of all He is. He is love and He, alone, is good. We can be neither apart from Him.

We cannot come close to Him apart from His provision for us. Only Jesus can open the curtain and empower us to draw near and gaze on His glory. We cannot do that and live apart from the blood covering of Christ. Which leads to another aspect of the falsehood spoken by this deceived disciple of Satan. He not only denies Christ, but the God who would require His will done His way. This is the spirit of Antichrist, active in the world today. Beware this satanic ploy.

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete. …” (2 Corinthians 10:3-7 NASB)

“… I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. …” (John 15:1-8 NASB)

Devotional Series, Holy Habitation

Peace, Be Still.

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In these days, so many are finding themselves struggling with worry, fretting, depression, fear, and so many emotional issues that hinder function and ability to know Wisdom. We need peace of mind, heart, soul. But if we keep looking at things outside ourselves to bring it, we will continue to miss it, thinking it something we must chase after when, truly, if we know The Christ and are home to His Spirit, Peace – True Peace is within us, ready to flow to us and through us as a fresh, spring flow of Living Water.

We don’t have to chase it, learn it, or grapple for it. We only have to be still, cease striving, let be and know God, and He will give it – His good gift, pressed down, shaken together, and running over for others to feed off of while in our presence.

We can’t give others what we, ourselves, do not have, and we can’t truly possess that which we fail to recognize as belonging to us. Love, joy, peace PATIENCE, and all the nine flavors of the Spirit are our personal possession because we are His and He is within us. Take a deep Breath of stillness, receive your Peace, and have a BLESSed day.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:22-25‬ ‭NASB‬‬

Devotional Series, Holy Habitation

God’s Story In Each Tear

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“Tears are not our weakness. They represent everything we’ve endured to get to where we are right now, and maybe they ultimately speak of a truth that nothing else can.” Brian Hardin

Psalms tells us that God collects our tears in a tear bottle (Psalm 56:8). Tears through the ages have been collected as treasured memories. Happy tears, sad tears, angry tears, frustration, repentance. Whatever brings tears marks time in our lives, and, like women of old, God collects them. They are signs of all it took to make us as He is.

God cares, Beloved. He sees all. He has purpose in it all. He is working a good plan. And one day, He will pour those tear bottles out on the altar of sacrifice, a fragrant aroma of His glory established in you. So rest all with Him. Tell Him about it, let it rest secure at His feet and in His special bottle, made just for you. Enter your Rest and have a BLESSed night.

Beginning quote From, Sneezing Jesus by Brian Hardin

Devotional Series, Holy Habitation

Choose Healthy Breeding Ground

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“This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” James‬ ‭1:19-20‬ ‭NASB‬‬

I don’t know about you, but in this season of discord with riots, business closures with COVID, inconvenience of shut downs and lock ins, I have been tempted to anger more than ever, that I can remember. On FB, I was too often using this response to posts: 😡.

God reminded me that anger and it’s stress are breeding ground for all sorts of sickness. He instructed me to change 😡 to 😢, grieving my sin and the sin of our nation before Him, surrendering all to Him. Following that instruction has helped my stress level, stopping up the flow of unrighteous anger, and increasing trust in God. Refusing anger over things out of my control has increased umpire-peace in me.

If you are struggling as I have, join me in standing against unrighteous anger, resting by faith in God, and, with surrendered spirit, shining of His strength in our troubled society today. “Hangeth thou in there, O Baby,” and have a BLESSed day. (Kay Arthur)

Articles, Devotional Series, Holy Habitation

Call Me “Sheep,” But Recognize My Shepherd.

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Lately I have seen posts calling those in face mask compliance, “sheep”. To me that is a compliment, not by the way intended, but from the standing of my knowing Him Who is my Shepherd, God, King, Lord, and Savior.

When I choose to comply with national, state, and city leaders, it is because I TRUST MY GOD, taking Him at His Word. When I choose to wear a mask in public, I make that choice out of the love my God calls me to walk out in His name.

My God’s word tells me that He controls the heart of kings-governing officials as a river flows at His bidding, for His purpose. He tells me to obey the dictates of those leaders – as long as it does not go against the Law of God – and to pray for them in their oversight.

I hear people making their decisions from what they believe is the heart purpose of those they believe are pushing their will on us. I don’t know the hearts of any, not even my own fully, so I cannot judge the heart of another. But I KNOW my God is trustworthy, so I choose to believe Him, knowing that when it comes time to take a stand one way or the other, I will not be following the opinion of man, but the dictates of God, my Rock on whom I stand. Thus, I continually advise to prove truth. Do not be swayed by the he says-she says, conspiracy theorists that fail to produce undeniable proof of their truth.

I choose to wear a mask in close quarters because I choose to love my neighbor as my God loves me, to my own hurt. Wearing a mask actually puts the wearer at greater risk, unless they have sufficient supply to change them out every 30 minutes or so. The good of a mask is to slow a breath/sneeze/cough and lesson it’s trajectory, so those nearby will be less likely to be reached by my germs. Even still, while masked, I should sneeze/cough in my elbow. But if a sneeze catches me by surprise, a mask helps me love you. So when I wear one, I choose to wear it for you. I CHOOSE. It is my right to do so.

People are correct that we are under attack. We are being assaulted and effected by two spirits that come readily to mind.

One is a spirit of rebellion. It is what turns a peaceful protest into a deadly and destructive riot. That is the spirit that pits the “my rights” movement over that of obedience to God in trusting the heart of kings to Him and obedience to do what is best for those around me out of a love that flows from Him, for others. It is the sound of a spirit of rebellion that saddened me when a nearby sheriff-hopeful voiced refusal to comply with state regulations. A spirit of rebellion looks to be against man made rules, but it truly stands against our ability and willingness to trust God and His plan.

The other enemy spirit I see working in our lives is that of fear. Fear is the biggest enemy against faith that trusts God at all times. When fear grabs us, we lose sight of God, His will, and His way. All our desire turns to self-protection, “my rights,” and “my wants”.

I choose to follow the Spirit of peace. In the AMPC version of Colossians 3, we are told that peace from God is an umpire, leading us on the path of His desire. I trust God to direct the heart of our governing officials because His peace tells me I can. I trust God to protect me while I choose to love you to my own detriment, because He gives me peace to know that as His desire for me. Follow peace.

Yes! I am a sheep, resting peacefully at the foot of the throne of my Shepherd-King. Demanding your right of choice while belittling me for practice my right of choice is between you and God. May He bless and keep you as only He can.