Who can fathom GOD?

GOD has set eternity in the human heart.  GOD made everything beautiful in its time.  But who can fathom what GOD has done from the beginning to the end?

Dear Christ followers, how privileged we are at this juncture as 2023 becomes 2024, to be able to call ourselves children of the MOST HIGH GOD.

Our FATHER created everything from the beginning. Our FATHER worked out our salvation.  Our FATHER forgives our sins, all we have to do is to accept Jesus Christ as our Redeemer.

Our FATHER created the seconds, the minutes, the hours, the days, the weeks and the years.  HE gives us 2023 and GOD willing, 2024.

As we enter into the new year, let us celebrate not the new year, but rather what our FATHER has done for us and in our lives.  HE has set eternity in our hearts.  And as believers in Jesus Christ, we know where we are going to spend eternity. 

Therefore, as we close out this year, let us kneel down and worship and praise and give adoration to our CREATOR FATHER.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER thank YOU for 2023 and thank YOU for eternity to come with YOU.  FATHER we adore YOU and we worship YOU and we give YOU all the honour and praise and glory for loving us and for giving us salvation through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, our Comforter.  We thank YOU in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay amazingly Jesus Blessed today!

Bless the LORD oh my soul! Worship HIS Holy Name!

 Dear Christ followers after such a difficult year I realize how faithful and good and kind and loving our FATHER in Heaven is.

Without the love and mercy of our FATHER, this year would have been an absolute disaster on so many fronts.  But our FATHER in Heaven has stayed true and faithful and I owe HIM honour and praise and glory.

Tonight I bow down and worship the HOLY Name of our FATHER in Heaven.

HE has loved me through the darkest times and brought me out of the miry clay to a place where there is hope and a future.  HE has held me tightly in the darkest of times.

All blessings I offer are to my ABBA FATHER and JESUS and THE HOLY SPIRIT.  Truly my REDEEMER lives.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER I humbly thank YOU for YOUR tender mercy YOU have shown to me.  I thank YOU that in my darkest times YOU have held me so tightly in YOUR loving arms.  All through these times, I have known that YOU never left me nor forsook me.  I thank YOU in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay amazingly Jesus Blessed today!

Wait upon the LORD!

 Dear Christ followers, it is so easy to become impatient whilst waiting to hear from GOD.  But we are called to wait upon the LORD.  And we are promised that if we wait upon the LORD, our strength shall be renewed and we shall mount up with wings like eagles.  We will run and not be weary and walk and shall not faint.

So let us resolve to pray to GOD and then to wait for GOD and not to run ahead of ourselves without the guidance of our FATHER in Heaven.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER thank YOU that I can wait for YOUR guidance.  FATHER I humbly pray that YOU teach me to wait for YOU and to renew my strength whilst I wait for YOU.  I humbly pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay truly Jesus Blessed today!

Do well!

 In this passage we are told to not grow weary in doing well.  If we continue to do well, in due season, we shall reap if we do not grow faint.

I must confess that this was a particularly difficult year, not just for me, but for a lot of people who I spoke to.  However, the dear LORD turned the year around for us and did unimaginable things in our lives.

During the year, there were times that I felt really tired of praying and praying to the LORD and asking HIM to help.  I wondered if what I was asking was out with of HIS will and plan for my life.  Then at the very end of the year, after so many continuous prayers, the LORD answered my prayers in a way that I could never have imagined.

Although it created a lot of stress for me, I pushed through, and the LORD turned the whole year around.

I give all the praise and worship and glory to the LORD.  I confess that I nearly grew weary and gave up a few times, but I pushed through despite near exhaustion.  Then the LORD allowed me to reap.  And It is a miracle that I will give thanks to the LORD for the rest of my life.

Our dear FATHER loves us and if we do not grow weary, in due time we shall reap.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, today I humbly thank YOU for allowing me to reap.  I very nearly grew faint and gave up, but somehow, YOU sustained me.  I humbly thank YOU and I praise YOU in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  My LORD and my REDEEMER.  Amen.

Stay patiently Jesus Blessed today!

GOD is my strength forever!

Dear Christ followers, we are so blessed to be children of GOD.  When we are weak, HE is strong.  When we are unable to cope, GOD is able to do all things.

So, no matter what trials and tribulations befall us, we are fortunate to have GOD with us.

When Jesus came to earth, HE tore the veil between GOD and us and we now have direct access to GOD.

GOD will never leave us nor forsake us. 

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, today I thank YOU that YOU are my strength.  An ever present help in times of trouble.  I humbly thank YOU in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay gratefully Jesus Blessed today!

The counsel of the LORD stands!

 Dear Christ followers, the counsel of the LORD shall stand.  

We may plan and make all the arrangements for our life, but if it is not in the plan of GOD, it will not work.

We need to pray to GOD and ask that HIS will be done on earth and not our will.  This is a very hard thing to accomplish.  Once we understand that GOD is completely trustworthy and wants the very best for each one of us, then it becomes easier to give over control.  

In order to trust GOD completely, we need to understand the nature and character of our FATHER.

The best way to get to know GOD is through a habitual daily reading of HIS word.  We need to pray to GOD and to wait to hear from GOD when we pray.  It is a two way communication.  We talk to GOD and GOD answers.

A lot of the times, we do not wait for the answer, and we rush ahead anyway.  But if we exercise patience, GOD will always answer us.  We may not get the answer we want, but GOD is faithful and GOD is true.

Today, let us undertake to wait on the LORD.  

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I thank YOU that YOU are always listening to me.  I pray that YOUR will be done in my life and that YOU help me to wait on YOU.  I humbly pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay patiently Jesus Blessed today!

Jesus - Immanuel, Christ with us!

 Jesus is the Messiah.  Jesus was born and lived on this earth.  Jesus knows exactly what it means to be faced with the trials and tribulations which we face on earth. 

There is a great difference between Jesus and us, Jesus never sinned.  Jesus was not conceived in sin.  Jesus was born of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus added humanity to HIS deity.

And the biggest difference, Jesus died to save us from our sins.  All of us have sinned and fall way short of the Glory of GOD.  

Only through Jesus can we be saved.  There is no other way.

Jesus is the Truth.  Jesus is the Way and Jesus is the Life.

Today let us thank GOD for HIS saving Grace which has saved us from eternity in hell. 

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, today I praise YOUR Holy Name and I thank YOU for YOUR grace and favour.  I thank YOU in the Holy Name of our LORD and SAVIOUR, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay faithfully Jesus Blessed today!

Jesus is the good news!

Dear Christ followers, can you imagine having been a shepherd watching your flocks when an angel of the LORD appeared to them?  How absolutely terrified they must have been.  But then the angel announced the GOOD NEWS.  A SAVIOUR was born on that night to the whole world.  We are privileged enough to be able to call that SAVIOUR our FATHER, our REDEEMER, our LIGHT, our WAY, our TRUTH.

Jesus brought hope into this world.  Jesus is the hope of a future that we can spend eternity in Heaven, without having to do anything except believe in HIM.

Tonight I want to thank Jesus for all that I have, all that I am and all the wonderful people HE has given me this Christmas.

I thank Jesus for my home, my family, my friends.  I thank Jesus for saving a wretch like me.  I thank Jesus for loving me and for not giving up on me.  

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, today I thank YOU for all that YOU have done for me and for which I can never repay YOU.  I thank YOU in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay thankfully Jesus Blessed today!

 

Wonderful Counsellor

 Dear Christ followers, we are so blessed to be able to celebrate the birth of our Saviour.

I am in awe of what Jesus has done for me in the last year and indeed, in my life.

The miracles of my life are far too numerous to mention in a single blog.  Suffice to say, I know my Redeemer lives and I cannot wait to meet HIM in person one day.

Today, I know one thing, I am so blessed to be able to be a Christ follower.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I thank YOU and I thank YOU and I thank YOU.  I praise YOUR Holy Name.  I pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay gratefully Jesus Blessed today!

The LORD with us!

The Old Testament predicts the coming of the Messiah many times.  More than five hundred times in fact.

This proves the fact that GOD is faithful to us.  GOD planned to give us a way to Heaven and that way is the Truth, the Life and the Way.  That way is Jesus Christ.  In the verse above, Isaiah foretold of the coming of Messiah and that was nearly eight hundred years before Jesus came.

In two days we are celebrating the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.  

As foretold, Jesus was born and lived HIS sinless life and then died for us on that Cross of Calvary.

Jesus conquered death and now sits at the right hand of our FATHER in Heaven.  HE stands in our place where we would be punished for our sins.  Once we have accepted Jesus as our Redeemer, we are justified through this marvellous grace given freely to us by our FATHER in Heaven.  We cannot earn this grace and we cannot work our way into Heaven. All we can do is stand in awe of our Saviour and celebrate HIS birth, life, death and resurrection in two days time.  

But we need to do this in the right way.  Christmas is not about gifts and money.  It is about the love of our FATHER for us.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, thank YOU for YOUR grace and favour.  I humbly accept the free gift of salvation.  Help me to celebrate the birth of Jesus in a way that brings all the glory to YOU.  I humbly pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay gratefully Jesus Blessed today!
 

Shout for joy to the LORD!

 Our FATHER in Heaven has given us everything we need to sing HIS praised.  HE is faithful to love us and to do this despite our shortcoming.  HE is true to us and HE never leaves us nor forsakes us.  GOD wants each and every one of us to come to faith in Jesus.

GOD wants none to perish and go to hell.  HE wants all to spend eternity with HIM.

We are HIS people, the sheep of HIS pasture.  Therefore we can enter HIS gates with thanksgiving and HIS courts with praise.

We need to praise our FATHER for HE is good and HIS love endures forever.  HE is faithful from generation to generation.

Today let us go down on bended knees and thank our FATHER for HIS goodness and HIS mercy as we move towards the celebration of the birth of our SAVIOUR, Jesus Christ in a few days.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, this year has been a year where YOU have been so faithful to me.  I humbly thank YOU for all that YOU have done for me this year.  I thank YOU that my faith in YOU is stronger than it has ever been.  I humbly thank YOU in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ and I shout for joy at the mention of YOUR NAME. Amen.

Stay faithfully Jesus Blessed today!

Seek the LORD!

 Dear Christ followers, as in the days of old, we are called upon to seek the LORD and to rejoice in our hearts.

We need to seek the LORD and HIS strength and seek HIS face evermore.

If we do not understand the nature and character of our FATHER in Heaven, it is extremely to seek HIM.

We need to get to know our FATHER and to form a living relationship with HIM. 

Today let us start in earnest to seek our FATHER in Heaven and get to know HIM better.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, thank YOU that I am able to seek YOUR face.  Thank YOU for being my FATHER.  I humbly thank YOU in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay faithfully Jesus Blessed today!

The LORD most high is awesome!

 As we approach Christmas day, we need to recognise that this time of celebration is far more about celebrating what GOD has done for you and for me.

Without Jesus Christ and the enormous sacrifice made by Jesus and GOD (who watched on as HIS beloved sinless SON was horribly tortured and murdered - innocent of all sin) we need to really shout with cries of joy that our FATHER loves us so much.

We are enormously privileged to be able to call GOD our FATHER.

We are so privileged to be co heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven with Jesus.

We are so privileged to live lives relatively free of persecution for our faith.

We indeed, have a lot to cry to the LORD with joy about this Christmas.  Let us do so with vigour.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, thank YOU that YOU love us so much.  Thank YOU that YOU sent Jesus to die for our sins.  Thank YOU that Jesus rose from the dead, conquering the grave for us to spend eternity with YOU.  We humbly thank YOU in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay amazingly Jesus Blessed today!

The Lord is my strength and my shield!

 Dear Christ followers, Psalms is such a wonderful book of the Bible to turn to when we are seeking to know the character of our FATHER in Heaven.  Here the Psalmist talks about how his heart trusted in the LORD.  

Are we fully appreciative of the fact that we can trust our FATHER with everything.  GOD never fails us, nor leaves us, nor forsakes us.  GOD is with us in every part of our lives.

We need to remember this in our everyday circumstances.

That is why the Psalmist writes that is helped because his heart trusted in GOD.  

When we trust GOD fully, we are happy in our hearts and that knowledge gives us the assurance of the trustworthiness and faithfulness of our FATHER in Heaven.

Jesus said it to HIS disciples.  "I will never leave you, nor forsake you".  And this is true of our FATHER in Heaven in everything we do.  GOD never leaves us nor forsakes us.  HE is always available.  All we have to do is to call on HIM and believe in Jesus.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER show me how to trust YOU in everything I do.  I humbly pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay faithfully Jesus Blessed today!

Our hope is in YOU!

 Dear Christ followers, as we approach the celebration of the birth of our LORD and SAVIOUR, Jesus Christ, I too pray that our GOD of hope will fill you all with HIS joy and HIS peace.

We live in the hope that our SAVIOUR will return soon in the clouds to fetch us home to be with HIM in Heaven.

Our hope is in Jesus and it is to HIM that we need to look this Christmas.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I thank YOU that my hope is in YOU.  I thank YOU for YOUR grace and favour in giving us a SAVIOUR who has saved us from our sins and made us justified before YOU.  I humbly thank YOU in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay hopefully Jesus Blessed today!

Love one another!

 Dear Christ followers, in order to be a true follower of Christ, we need to be more like Jesus each and every day.

We need to love everyone the way Jesus loved us.  Jesus did not distinguish between who sinned more or who sinned less when HE died on the cross for us.

Jesus died for each and every one of us.

That is why Jesus told HIS disciples that we are to be examples to the world in the way that we do not differentiate between any people. 

This means that all people who accept Jesus are children of GOD.  Therefore, we need to set the example and love everyone that Jesus loves.

This is difficult to do, but as we come to know the character of Jesus and understand HIS ways, we will be able to become far more amenable to loving people the way that Jesus loves us all.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I humbly pray that YOU show me how to love as YOU love.  I humbly pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay lovingly Jesus Blessed today!

Part of GOD's chosen people

 Dear Christ followers, when we accept Jesus, we are then a part of GOD's chosen people.  We become holy and dearly loved.  As such we are called on to become more and more like Jesus in every aspect of our lives.

We are required to be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle and patient.

The area that I often battle with is patience.  I can become very impatient quite quickly. 

In the areas where we fall short of the perfect holiness of Jesus Christ, we need to pray to our FATHER in Heaven.

Firstly, let us pray for the wisdom to see others in their true sufferings.  This helps us to be more compassionate.  Let us ask our FATHER to make us more kind.  Humility is also a great asset.  We should always think less of ourselves and more of others.  

And lastly let us ask our FATHER to make us more patient towards each other in every way.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I am so blessed to believe in Jesus Christ as my true Saviour.  I thank YOU for YOUR grace and mercy in sending Jesus to save me.  FATHER give me the wisdom to become more and more like Jesus.  Especially FATHER give me the wisdom to be patient with others in every circumstance.  I humbly pray this in the Holy name of Jesus Christ.  My Redeemer.  Amen.

Stay faithfully Jesus Blessed today!

Believe in also in ME!

 Jesus has not left us nor forsaken us.  As Christ followers we are never alone in this world.

This is our greatest comfort in times of trials and tribulations.  We are not alone.  All we have to do is to accept Jesus as our LORD and SAVIOUR.  

Jesus went on to tell HIS disciples that when HE left the earth for Heaven, the Comforter - the Holy Spirit- would be coming to earth to be with us on earth.

The belief in Jesus goes much further.  Jesus lives in our hearts.  GOD lives in our hearts and the Holy Spirit lives in us and convicts us.

Whenever we have doubts that Jesus is with us, all we have to do is to ask GOD to fill us anew with HIS Holy Spirit.  We are pretty leaky vessels, so a daily request to our FATHER in Heaven should always be in our prayers.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, today I humbly ask that YOU fill me anew with YOUR Holy Spirit.  I humbly pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay faithfully Jesus Blessed today!

Let us rejoice!

 GOD has made everything.  And GOD has made it well.  The heavens declare the glory of the LORD.  GOD knows the name of each and every star and calls them all out by name.

And the reason we are on earth, for those of us who may still be wondering, is to give glory to the LORD.

One day every knee will bow to Jesus and everyone will call HIM LORD.

So why should we not start now?  Today, let us worship, honour and praise our Mighty FATHER in Heaven for HIS grace and favour.  Let us give all the glory to GOD today.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, today I bow down and worship YOU.  FATHER show me how to bring honour and praise to YOU today in all that I think, say and do.  I humbly ask this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay amazingly Jesus blessed today!

An inheritance that will never spoil

 Dearest Christ followers, once we have become children of GOD, we have an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade and that inheritance is kept in heaven for us by Jesus.

That is why as children of GOD, we need not fear death on earth.  Death on earth means a life spent with our FATHER in Heaven.

Our FATHER in Heaven loves us, and HE has to be praised and worshiped for what HE has so graciously given us.  We cannot earn our inheritance.  We cannot work to receive it.  All we have to do is to believe in Jesus Christ as our Redeemer.  We need to repent of our sins and we are thereafter justified through the blood of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Let us bow down today and worship our FATHER and give HIM praise and honour and glory because of HIS great mercy towards us.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, today I have such an attitude of gratitude for YOUR great mercy bestowed on such a sinner as me.  I thank YOU in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay gratefully Jesus Blessed today!

Be strong and of good courage!

 When we walk with the LORD we have nothing to fear.  But when we do not walk according to the Will of our FATHER, we have everything to fear.

Let us "right size" our FATHER in Heaven.

Our FATHER created the entire universe and everything in it.  

I do not know if you had the same as me as a little girl.  We always said "my dad is bigger than your dad" whenever we felt threatened.  But as children of GOD, this is a thousand percent true.  Our FATHER is bigger than anything we can imagine. 

Our FATHER can send in one angel who can defeat 185 000 people in one night.

And that is only one angel.  Can you imaging if our FATHER sent a legion of angels?

Today, if we are in obedience to GOD, let us bow down and worship our FATHER who goes before us.  We do not have anything to fear when our FATHER is with us.

And we know that Jesus told us that HE will never leave us nor forsake us.  How very blessed we are indeed to be children of GOD.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, today I humbly thank YOU that I have nothing to fear because no matter what situation I am in, YOU are with me.  I humbly thank YOU in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  My Redeemer and my LORD and my Saviour.  Amen.

Stay courageously Jesus Blessed today!

Wait on the LORD!

 When we wait on the LORD, we know that the LORD will be with us as we wait.  When we rush ahead and try to do things in our way in our time, then things are usually a mess and we feel tired and weary and unable to cope.

So today, dearest Christ followers, let us resolve to pray to our FATHER in Heaven to show us when we should do things and how we should do things.  And then, let us wait on the LORD.

Isaiah writes above, that in this manner, we will renew our strength and not grow weary.  We will walk and not be faint.  

GOD always keeps HIS promises.  Let us put our trust in HIM for every aspect of our lives.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I thank YOU that I am able to give all my plans to YOU and please help me to wait on YOU and not to rush ahead.  I pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay patiently Jesus Blessed today!

I wait for the LORD!

 Our hope is in Jesus.  That is what it means to have faith.  We hope for that which is yet to come.

The writer of Hebrews 11:1. -  "Faith is the things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."HE has gone to Heaven to prepare a place for all believers.  

Not only that, but in Heaven we will no longer be subject to death or illness or grief.

In Heaven we shall be with our FATHER, we shall be with Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

And Heaven is eternity.

The Holy Spirit living in me earnestly yearns for all of the above.  Not that I do not want to serve the LORD by living out my life here on earth and doing the things that GOD has planned for my life, but I know that I am ready to go to Heaven and be with my LORD and SAVIOUR when I die.

Thus, as the Psalmist says above " I wait for the LORD, my soul waits and in HIS Word I hope."

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER I wait for YOU and my soul waits and in YOUR WORD I hope.  I humbly pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay hopefully Jesus Blessed today!

Saved by Grace through faith!

 When Jesus died on that Cross for you and me, it was done out the Grace of GOD.  We are saved through grace alone by faith alone.

We cannot work our way to salvation.  It is an impossible task.  We are sinful and we fall way short of the Holiness of GOD.  

That is why we need a Saviour.  Our Saviour is Jesus Christ alone.  There is no one else who can get us into Heaven.

As Paul puts it so well here.  Grace is a free gift from GOD to anyone who believes in Jesus Christ as the Messiah.  "Lest anyone should boast".

Today, if you have not done so, believe in Jesus Christ.  Repent and be saved.

Tomorrow may be too late!

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I thank YOU for YOUR Grace and favour.  I thank YOU that I believe that Jesus Christ is YOUR Son who died on that Cross to save me from my sins.  FATHER forgive me today for my sins as I forgive all those who sin against me.  I humbly pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay graciously Jesus Blessed today!

Seek first the Kingdom of Heaven!

 Seek first the Kingdom of GOD and HIS righteousnss. 

This is a commandment from Jesus to his disciples and those to whom He was teaching.

When we follow this, our lives, although not trial free, become much more orderly.  We nee to put GOD first in everything we think, we say and we do.  Or our lives become chaotic and disorderly.

We serve a GOD of order.  In order to verify this, all we have to do is to look around us.  Nothing is random or chaotic, not in the universe, nor on earth.

Today, let us get our priorities straight and first seek the Kingdom of GOD and all other things will fall into place.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I thank YOU that I am able to freely seek YOUR Kingdom first.  FATHER guide me to do this in all aspects of my life.  I humbly pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay amazingly Jesus Blessed today!

I have hidden YOUR word in my heart!

 Dear fellow Christ followers, the word of GOD is very important to us as it keeps us on the straight and narrow.  

We need to read it and feed on it and meditate on it day and night.  When we walk close to GOD and know HIS word the Holy Spirit will convict us when we stray away from the way GOD wants us to live our lives.

Daily, we need to "fill" up on the word.  Daily we need to pray about everything and constantly ask our FATHER to overwhelm us with HIS Holy Spirit which will remind us to walk in the ways of Jesus.

So let us not skip the daily reading of the Word or the fervent prayers about everything in our lives.

Let us become habitual Christ followers and doers of the Word and not just hearers of the Word. 

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I humbly pray that YOU fill me anew with YOUR Holy Spirit and overwhelm me with the Holy Spirit so that I may keep YOUR commandments and not sin against YOU.  I humbly pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay faithfully Jesus Blessed today!

Facing trials

 Dear Christ followers this has been a year of trials.  And I am pretty sure very few of you feels otherwise about it.

But we should always turn to the Scriptures and pray to Jesus when life gives us trials.

James writes about the trials here in the passage above.  He told his readers that we should consider it pure joy when we have to face trials.  This is extremely difficult.  But one thing I do know is that during trials, we can surely grow in our faith during hard times.

I speak from experience.  When times are tough, my faith grows and grows.  I know that my Redeemer is with me and if I lean into HIM enough, I find HIM more.

I do believe James is right.  Trials test our faith, and this produces perseverance, because we are not running a race on earth, we are running the race reaching up towards Heaven.

This does produce a maturity that comes from knowing that Jesus is with us every step of the way.  HE will never leave us nor forsake us.  This I do know.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I thank YOU that during trials, I lean into YOU and I know that YOU never leave me.  I humbly thank YOU in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay faithfully Jesus Blessed today!

The grace of GOD!

 Dear Christ followers, we are able to receive grace from GOD in abundance when we need it for good works.

Our FATHER knows our needs and when we are working according to HIS will HE will provide for us and supply our needs in abundance.

What we need to do is to die to self and start to live for our FATHER.  We need to pray about everything and in every situation.

We need to ask GOD for wisdom and for good works to do.

We need to learn more and more about GOD each day.  We can do this by studying our Bibles, praying and fellowshiping with other Christ followers.

But the one thing is certain, our FATHER is faithful while we do HIS goodwill. 

So today, let us resolve to ask our FATHER earnestly to show us HIS will and then to go and do our best to fit into that and to whatever it is that HE requires of us.

Prayer: ABBA FATHER, today I humbly pray that YOU show me YOUR will and give me the wisdom to know what YOU want me to do.  I humbly pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay amazingly Jesus Blessed today!

Special gifts

Peter was writing to the disciples and those spreading the Gospel in the early church. Each one of us have also been given special gifts.

To know the gifts of the Spirit, we need to read our Bibles. They are listed in many Bible verses starting in the Old Testament, (Isaiah 11:1-3) but I have used the one below:

(1 Corinthians 12:7-11) 

“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” 

As we go about our lives and get to know the nature and character of our LORD and SAVIOUR more, we should think about these gifts and ask our FATHER in Heaven to direct us towards using our gifts to the benefit of others, and in the spreading of the Gospel on earth.

What we should not do is not use the gifts that GOD has given us.  This is disobedient to the Will of GOD.  We need to think on the lazy servant who buried his talent and returned one back to the master when he returned.  (Matthew 25: 14-30).

Today let us pray to our FATHER to give us the opportunity to use our talents.  And if we believe we do not have any talents, we can pray, especially for wisdom and it will be given to us liberally.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I thank YOU that I have been given spiritual gifts.  FATHER give me opportunities to use them to YOUR glory.  I humbly pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay amazingly Jesus Blessed today!

Test the Spirits!

 Dear Christ followers as we are living in such times of turmoil and strife, we need to be awake, aware and watchful. The evil spirits that roam this earth will often present as "good".  In fact they are a trap to lure Christ followers to the devil.

The best way to test the spirits is to know the word of GOD.  The Bible is the very best reference of the Bible.

When in doubt, turn immediately to your Bible and see what GOD or Jesus says.

We simply cannot afford to be complacent in these darkening times.  This is our salvation we are putting in jeopardy.

Be aware that prophesy still exists today and people may hear the word of GOD and be offering it, but if it deviates in any way from what the Bible has prophesied, it is false.  

Teachers may tell you their "interpretations" of the Scriptures, test them against what the Bible says.  

The devil roams the earth seeking souls to accompany him to his everlasting place in hell.  We cannot go with him.  We must remain faithful to our LORD and our SAVIOUR, Jesus Christ.

Prayer: ABBA FATHER, I humbly pray that YOU grant me a spirit of discernment to know whether the spirit is good or evil.  I humbly pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay Jesus Blessed today!

The LORD bless you and keep you.

This is truly one of my favourite blessings in the Bible.  It says so much about the nature and character of our FATHER in Heaven.

And for a prayer like this to be said for anyone with the love of our FATHER and in th love of Jesus Christ is surely to send a blessing that shows the goodness, the strength, the love, the Holiness, the Graciousness, the LIGHT of our FATHER in Heaven.  

This blessing encompasses the love that our FATHER has for us.  It radiates the peace HE is able to give us.  It bestows the full mercy and grace of our FATHER and Jesus and the Holy Spirit upon the recipient. 

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, Bless us all.  Keep us all.  Make YOUR face shine on us all.  Be gracious to us all.  Keep YOUR face toward us all.  Give us all YOUR peace.

We thank YOU that YOU love us so.  Thank YOU in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay amazingly Jesus Blessed today!

Delivered from darkness!

 Dear Christ followers, we have been delivered from darkness by the shedding of the blood of our SAVIOUR, Jesus Christ.  

Now it is up to us, each and every one, to walk in the light.  We are not to be conformed to things of this world.  We are to be "set apart".  No longer can we be the people that we were before.

Now that we belong to Jesus, we are responsible to be the light in this ever darkening world.

We also need to know the nature and character of our SAVIOUR.  So that we can testify to HIS goodness, HIS mercies and HIS love.

Today, let us resolve to move away from this world and to look towards Heaven, from whence cometh our hope and our salvation.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, today I thank YOU in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ, that YOU have brought me out of the darkness and into the LIGHT of Jesus Christ.  I thank YOU ABBA FATHER.  Amen.

Stay graciously Jesus Blessed today!

Psalm 23

 Dear Christ followers, whenever I find that I have been under pressure with all the things of this world, this Psalm pops up.

And I know it is often quoted after someone dies, but it really a good Psalm for the living as well.

It gives me strength and it comforts me enormously. Read it carefully and then see the peace of the LORD come over you as your read the love of our FATHER for us. 

I can imagine Jesus walking with me and talking with me when I read this Psalm.  It calms my heart, my soul and it gives me a peace that transcends all understanding.

With Jesus in our lives we need fear no evil. Jesus will comfort us. HE prepares a table for us in the presence of our enemies.  Jesus annoints our heads with oil.  Our cups runneth over. 

How very blessed we are to know this magnificent all encompassing love of our SAVIOUR.  How very blessed are we that if we love the LORD truly, goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives and we shall dwell in the House of the LORD forever.

What a truly magnificent GOD we serve. Surely we can never love the way our FATHER loves each one of us!

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I humbly and gratefully thank YOU today that I may dwell in YOUR HOUSE forever.  I humbly thank YOU in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay amazingly Jesus Blessed today!

Fruit of the Spirit!

 How beautifully Paul writes about the fruits of the Spirit.

The question is, how many of these can we, Christ followers, actually lay claim to having?

Personally I fail dismally on a lot of these.  However, as our faith grows, the Holy Spirit will convict us each and every time we do not display one of these characteristics.

We need to really work on receiving more of Jesus and the Holy Spirit and getting rid of more our ourselves.  The dying to self must become a growth part of our characteristics.

The way we will grow our faith is by learning to know the character of GOD more and more each day.

So let us press on and pray, not daily, but hourly.  Let us pray about every aspect of our lives.  Let us pray about every plan of our lives.  Let us pray to GOD to thank HIM for everything ever day.  Let us pray much more.  Let us read our Bibles a lot more, not just once a day but let us go the Scriptures to see what the Word of GOD says about every decision.  

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, today I pray that YOU help me to grow in my faith.  Overwhelm me with YOUR Holy Spirit I pray.  Pour it out on me and fill me up with YOUR Holy Spirit.  This I humbly pray in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay fruitfully Jesus Blessed today!

Do not be discouraged!

 Sometimes the Old Testament is very encouraging to us.  It still applies today.  Jesus did not come to abolish the Law.  Jesus came to fulfil the law.

In Jesus the commandments of GOD are made perfect.

Joshua was told by the LORD to be strong and courageous.  Not to be afraid.  In our world today it is so often easy to be scared and weak.

But then if we remember that what Joshua was facing was far worse than anything we are facing.  Joshua had been to spy out the promised land.  It was filled with giant people and was completely unknown to him.

And yet Joshua was commanded by the LORD to go in and to conquer the people and not to be scared but to be strong and courageous because the LORD would be with him.

Jesus has promised us that HE will never leave us nor forsake us.  All we have to do is to have faith in Jesus and HIS promises.

We are not alone in our troubles.  Jesus is always with us.  When we feel weak and afraid, all we need to do is to call out to Jesus and Jesus is with us.  How blessed we truly are!

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I thank YOU that YOU never leave me nor forsake me.  I humbly thank YOU in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  My LORD, my SAVIOUR, my REDEEMER.  Amen.

Stay amazingly Jesus Blessed today!

I look to the LORD!

 In this ever darkening world, we need to walk in the LIGHT of our LORD.  We need to look to our FATHER in Heaven, because our redemption draws near.

As we watch events unfold in the Middle East and the atrocities that occured on th 7th October and the resultant false narrative, we need to know that people are dark and deluded.  They simply do not believe the facts and they distort the facts to suit what they wish to believe.

This is a definitive sign that the devil is roaming around and looking for souls. 

What we need to do is to look upwards and to pray to GOD to send HIS Son quickly to fetch HIS bride. 

Maranatha!

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER I look to YOU today and I pray in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ that you will guide us to walk in YOUR LIGHT and to keep our faith in these times.  I pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay truly Jesus Blessed today!

GOD has prepared a place for us in Heaven!

 Paul writes to the Church in Corinth that no eye has seen, no ear has heard and no human mind has conceived the things that GOD has prepared for those who love HIM.

I know one thing, I was lost, but now am found.  I thought I knew GOD, but I was deceived.

When you truly find GOD, everything in your life changes.  Especially your own view of your own sinful life.

All of a sudden your life is held up as mirror for you to examine.  And each examination makes me fall down and beg for mercy.  

However, we have a Saviour who came to this earth and washed us clean.  Now we can stand before our FATHER, justified, but only through Jesus and the cleansing blood that HE shed for us on that Cross.

And now I know that I do not just love our FATHER in Heaven.  I adore HIM.  HE is my all in all.  Without HIS divine plan, we would never see the things GOD has prepared for us.  I am super excited to see it for myself one day when I go to be with HIM forever.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I worship and adore YOU.  YOU are my all in all. I humbly thank YOU in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  My LORD and my Saviour.  Amen.

Stay amazingly Jesus Blessed today!

Let the peace of GOD rule in our hearts

 Dear Christ followers, when we die to self and are born again in Christ, we are a new creation.  We have to follow through with our new creation, though and not go back to our old ways.

This means putting on the full armour of GOD, because we will surely be under attack for our new found faith.

We are going to be tried and tested.  

In the light of this, when we are attacked by the evil one, we need to pray fervently to GOD and to ask GOD to give us HIS peace to rule in our hearts.  But we need to do this with grateful hearts and thanksgiving to our FATHER for all that HE has done for us.

So today, let us ask GOD for HIS peace with grateful thanks!

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, today I thank YOU that I have peace in my heart.  I thank YOU that YOU saved me from my sinful past.  I thank YOU that in my faith in YOU, ABBA FATHER, I have life eternal with YOU.  I humbly and gratefully thank YOU in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay amazingly Jesus Blessed today!

GREAT is our GOD!

 Dear Christ followers, sometimes when we pray earnestly about things, the LORD works in ways that we cannot even imagine. 

Our FATHER is good and kind and gracious.  Slow to anger and quick to forgive us of our sins.

What we need to do in response is to be more like Jesus.  Jesus was gracious enough to die on a Cross for us.  Jesus was gracious enough to add humanity to HIS deity and come to earth to live as a man.  To be entirely sinless. And then to die for all of our sins so that we can have eternity with our FATHER in Heaven.

I thank Jesus for all that HE has done for me. Without Jesus, my LORD and SAVIOUR there is no way that I could enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  There is no way that I could have the peace that I receive when I ask for it.

It is only through Jesus that I am able to look forward to eternity in Heaven with my FATHER.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I thank YOU for saving me in far more ways than I could have or would have imagined.  YOU are so HOLY, so GOOD and so KIND.  I am so grateful to YOU, ABBA FATHER.  I thank YOU in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay amazingly Jesus Blessed today!

One day in the house of the LORD!

 Dear Christ followers, with all that is going on in the world, today I can relate to the writer of this Psalm.

Certainly one day in the court of our Heavenly FATHER is better than a thousand elsewhere.

I too, would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my FATHER than to dwell in the tents of the wicked.

Our FATHER is Good, Gracious, Holy, Righteous, Merciful and truly Loving.  

Whilst the events that are unfolding around the world are, to say the least, extremely perplexing.

Evil people are being allowed to walk the streets and yell obscenities and call for the murder of others, whilst Christians praying silently are being arrested for their silent prayers.

As long as your "brand of protest" looks vicious and screams obscenities louder, you are all right, but if you are a docile Christ follower, beware!

Jesus did warn of us this and told us to "not let our hearts be troubled" for these things must take place.

So today, let us turn to the Scriptures and find comfort and strength in the words of our FATHER, our SAVIOUR and the Holy Spirit.  Let us read the Scriptures, calm our hearts and wait on the LORD.  For the day is coming when HE will come to fetch us home, to be where HE is. 

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I thank YOU that today YOU gave me Psalm 84 to read and to savour.  I thank YOU so much for YOUR love and for Jesus Christ and for the Holy Spirit.  I thank YOU in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay amazingly Jesus Blessed today!