Restoration

Nothing is Beyond Restoration for Him...

God deals with sin. But through His Covenant of Grace, we find mercy, healing, transformation, sanctification and restoration. He is mighty to overcome the darkness...and He is faithful to more than compensate us for the lost time with beautiful, astounding, miraculous blessings.

There is hope beyond our comprehension when we fix our eyes on Him...

Ezekiel 36:26
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you..."

Jeremiah 32:40
"I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them..."

Jeremiah 31:25
"I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint."

2 Corinthians 5:17
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"

John 4:14
"...but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

Jeremiah 17:7-8
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD and whose trust is the LORD. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.…"

Psalm 23:1-3
"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul..."

Prayer For Our Nation

Heavenly Father and Lord of hosts,

I pray for leadership in this nation (and the world) which mimics that of King David, the Godly king-servant and forefather of The Messiah...

Leaders who possess the very qualities that would make them also "after God's own heart."

Leaders who are courageous because they claim their birthright in Jesus; who are fearless and secure in their true identity, and are Holy Spirit led.

Leaders who fight battles in The Name of The Lord - with The Sword of The Spirit - and proudly put on the armor of God.

Leaders who are faithful and wise and seek truth in the full counsel of God; who are imitators of Christ, clothed in strength, dignity, mercy, humility and grace.

Leaders who are passionate about our Living God; who seek Him and place Him above all people, powers, politics, greed and worldly desires.

Leaders who bow down to The One True King, defend His Name, and give Him all the glory!

Leaders who are not merely focused on a presidency or a nation, but rather on the Kingdom of God!

Lord, we need You.

Please come soon.

In Jesus Christ's Holy and Righteous Name,

Our Savior and The King of kings,

Amen.

Doubt of The Future

by Katie Armstrong:

“The LORD your God who goes before you will Himself fight on your behalf, just as He did for you in Egypt before your eyes…”
— Deuteronomy 1:30 (NASB)


Why is our relationship with God so important? Why is taking the time to pray, to present our requests to Him, and get to know Him, so important?
Because, “The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.”
— Psalm 37:23 (ESV)

When we know our Creator, and not just know of Him, we get to know how He thinks and how He sees. We understand Him, and how He understands us, and we bury His promises within our hearts that keep our feet fastened to the road that He’s laid out before us.

“At that time I [Moses] commanded Joshua: “You have seen with your own eyes all that the LORD your God has done to these two kings [to keep safe His people]. The LORD will do the same to all the kingdoms over there where you are going. Do not be afraid of them; the LORD your God himself will fight for you.”
— Deuteronomy 3:21-22 (NIV)

We, are Joshua.

Whether you are a seasoned Christian who has directly experienced the hand of God with your own eyes, or are a new Christian who doesn’t yet understand how the King of Kings is working in your life, we both can look back and reflect on where we have been, and where we are going…

Just as Moses reminded Joshua, I am reminding you: look back and remember all the valleys of lows; see where you have come and know that God is faithful.

We have a good, good God — a God that desires all of our soul, our heart, our mind, and our strength; not for Himself, alone, but for our benefit; so that His goodness can be poured out, and over us, in the form of His unconditional love, comfort, provision, and protection.

Whether you fully understand this or not, make the choice to believe now, and you will understand later: we are not to fear what is to come; God Himself will fight for us, just as He always has done.

“Each one of you will put to flight a thousand of the enemy, for the LORD your God fights for you, just as he has promised.”
— Joshua 23:10 (NIV)

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
— Romans 8:28 (NIV)

Consider The Ravens

by Katie Armstrong:

“But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.”
— Luke 12:31 (NIV)

In Luke 12, Jesus reminds us that worrying about our life can do nothing for us: “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?”

With so many distractions, and a brain that loves to run with the wind, this is a constant reminder that I need as I can easily get caught up in what I can do, and be taken from what God can do — a recipe for wipeout if not caught, and released.

Jesus says, “Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!”

So whatever it is that consumes your mind and drains your peace, whether it be rent at the end of the month, your child’s expenses, loans or overdue bills that you have, or something unexpected that you don’t know how you’ll provide for, surrender it to God today.

“And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows you need them.”
— Luke 12:29-30 (NIV)

Choose Life

The family is of monumental importance to God and extremely influential in shaping the hearts and minds of children.

When a home has genuine Godly characteristics, and the foundation is built on Jesus Christ, the byproduct is going to be love, grace, identity, security, and significance. However, when a family is built on anything other, it’s going to be unstable and unsafe and will produce shame, fear, guilt, neglect, and abuse: unmet needs that cripple children emotionally, into adulthood. 

What is poured into the soil of our hearts, then, determines the health of our roots; or, our beliefs; which affects how we view ourselves and the world around us.

The nourishment we receive is going to have a huge impact on our tree of life. If we are nourished in God’s light, we will receive the breath of life and believe that we are precious, valued children of the living God; but, if all we receive is darkness, we are going to believe what darkness breaths: lies about ourselves and others.

Despite your background or the family heritage you received, you can be the one who applies faith in the Cross of Jesus Christ, and bring healing to the hurts that have plagued your family. Choose life!

Lead Me To The Rock

If you are overwhelmed today, if your circumstances are more than you can bear, be encouraged to cry out to Jesus -- to the Rock that is higher than you, and higher than all your problems.

He will deliver you. He will bring you to a place of strength and victory.

Father, many today are facing problems and situations that are beyond their understanding, beyond their capacity. I pray your Spirit will lead them this Day to Your Son, that they might find in Christ their strength, their deliverance, their health, and their peace.

In Jesus' Name, Amen

Trusting God With Our Future

There is a fascination in this culture with wanting to know the future. The truth is people don’t understand the reality and the pain of knowing the future. Jeremiah knew this pain well. God gave Him the ability to see into the future - the devastation, captivity, and disaster God’s people would face as a consequence for their idolatry and disobedience. He was grieved to the core for his countrymen and the nation of Israel. So much so that he is known as the ‘weeping prophet.” 

We should be grateful that we don’t know what is coming around the bend in our life. There are enough trials, tribulations, hardships, losses, betrayals, and bitter blows that will have us grieving and weeping too. Comfort yourself knowing that our God is already living in the future, sees all and already turning things around for your good because He loves you.

His grace will be sufficient each day to help you thrive and live out the fullness of the abundant life Jesus came to give God’s children and when we are ready to go Home, He will be there guaranteeing our safe arrival in heaven and into His everlasting arms of love.