Category Archives: God Speaks

Forgiveness??? But…Really, Lord?

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It’s Impossible!!

The hardest thing…

The last thing on my mind…

To forgive those who don’t deserve it???

It’s the opposite of how I feel…

The pain they caused is just too real…

I can’t even say the word “Forgiveness…”

It flies in the face of all my pride…

It moves away the mad inside…

It’s always anger’s own worst enemy…

I really want to hold a grudge…

Lord, are You saying “Set it free?”

“Yes,  Forgiveness!”

Why should I love the unlovable???

Why should I try to reach the unreachable???

It’s impossible…

Forgiveness???

Why should I try to do the impossible???

Forgiveness???

It’s too hard!

“No, listen, my child…

It’ll clear the bitterness away…

It can even set a prisoner free…

There is no end to what its power can do…

So let it go and be amazed…

By what you see through eyes of grace…

The prisoner that it really frees is you!!”

Forgiveness!

Forgiveness!

Forgiveness!

Forgiveness!

Okay, Lord…

Show me how to love the unlovable..

Show me how to reach the unreachable…

Help me now to do the impossible…

Forgiveness!

I want to finally set it free…

So show me how to see what Your mercy sees…

Help me now to give what You gave to me!!

Forgiveness!

Forgiveness!

Forgiveness!

Forgiveness!

You can do it, too!  Do the impossible!  Free yourself by forgiving others!

Some Days, Life Is A Walk In The Park!

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Like Today!!

Lunch with my husband and two other couples…

A walk in the park…

Along the Peace River…

Cool, crisp, sun-shiny day…

It doesnt get better than this!!

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“When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said,

‘I am the light of the world.

Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness,

but will have the light of life.’”

John 8:12  NIV

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“Teach me thy way, O Lord;

I will walk in thy truth…”

Psalm 86:11  KJV

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“…Walk as children of light.”

Ephesians 5:8  ESV

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“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

2 Corinthians 5:7  ESV

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“Your word is a lamp to my feet

and a light to my path.”

Psalm 119:105  ESV

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“Whoever says he abides in Him

ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.”

1 John 2:6  ESV

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“He has told you, O man, what is good;

and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice,

and to love kindness,

and to walk humbly with your God?”

Micah 6:8  ESV

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“If we live by the Spirit,

let us also walk by the Spirit.”

Galatians 5:25  ESV

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“…who walk not according to the flesh

but according to the Spirit.”

Romans 8:4  ESV

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“Trust in the LORD with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge Him,

and He will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 3:5-6  NIV

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“Let your eyes look straight ahead,

fix your gaze directly before you.”

Proverbs 4:25  NIV

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“Calling to those who pass by,

who are going straight on their way.”

Proverbs 9:15

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“…a man of understanding keeps a straight course.”

Proverbs 15:21  NIV

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“For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came

and testified to your truth,

as indeed you are walking in the truth.

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

3 John 1:3-4  ESV

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“Now I, Nebuchadnezzar,

praise and extol and honor the King of heaven,

for all His works are right

and His ways are just;

and those who walk in pride He is able to humble.”

Daniel 4:37  ESV

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“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord,

urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling

to which you have been called,

with all humility and gentleness, with patience,

bearing with one another in love.”

Ephesians 4:1-2  ESV

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“And, as shoes for your feet,

having put on the readiness given

by the gospel of peace.”

Ephesians 6:15  ESV

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“Observe the commands of the LORD your God,

walking in His ways and revering Him.”

Deuteronomy 8:6  NIV

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“Yes, LORD, walking in the way of Your laws,

we wait for You;

Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.”

Isaiah 26:8  NIV

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“When Abram was ninety-nine years old,

the LORD appeared to him and said,

‘I am God Almighty;

walk before Me faithfully and be blameless.'”

Genesis 17:1  NIV 

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“…Then Peter got down out of the boat,

walked on the water

and came toward Jesus.”

Matthew 14:29  NIV

Yes, walk straight into His arms…Amen!

Holy Spirit, You Can Steal My Show!

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I love this song!

It’s about our God, His Son Jesus, and His Holy Spirit…

Taking over our lives…

And being allowed to take over our “show!”

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God,

they are the sons of God.”

Romans 8:14  KJV

What we really need is You, Lord!

You’ve got something to say…

Go on and take it away!

I’m hyped that You showed up tonight!

I’m anticipating…

And craving something more than smoke and lights…

I’ll step out the way…

I’ll give You center stage…

The spotlight’s on You, Lord!

I need You to steal my show…

I can’t wait to watch You go…

So take it away…

When You arrive…

We come to life…

Our hearts collide…

They’re beating in the same time…

You’re coming through…

All eyes on You…

No matter who we are…

No matter what we do…

Every day we can choose!!!

To say…

When You wanna steal my show…

I’ll sit back and watch You go…

My life!

My pride!

My heart!

It’s all Yours now…

Take it away…

My fame!

My feet!

My family, my career

Take it away…

It’s all Yours now…

So take it away…

It’s You I wanna live for!!

My sentiments, exactly!!

Bloom Where You’re Planted!

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We’re all different, but we’re all beautiful!

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“The desert and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom;
it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
…they will see the glory of the Lord,
the splendor of our God.”

Isaiah 35:1-2  NIV

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“…Who knows but that you were brought to the kingdom for a time like this?”

Esther 4:14  ISV

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“But in fact God has placed the parts in the body,

every one of them, just as He wanted them to be.”

1 Corinthians 12:18  NIV

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“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in Him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”

Jeremiah 17:7-8  NIV

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“That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.”

Psalm 1:3  NIV

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“I know that the Lord is great,
that our Lord is greater than all gods.
The Lord does whatever pleases Him,
in the heavens and on the earth,
in the seas and all their depths.”

Psalm 135:5-6  NIV

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“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,

they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;

planted in the house of the Lord,

they will flourish in the courts of our God.

They will still bear fruit in old age,

they will stay fresh and green,

proclaiming, ‘The Lord is upright;

He is my Rock…'”

Psalm 92:12-15  NIV

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“Nevertheless,

each person should live as a believer

in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them,

just as God has called them…”

1 Corinthians 7:17 NIV

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“There are different kinds of gifts,

but the same Spirit distributes them.

There are different kinds of service,

but the same Lord.

There are different kinds of working,

but in all of them and in everyone

it is the same God at work.”

1 Corinthians 12:4  NIV

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“All these are the work of one and the same Spirit,

and He distributes them to each one,

just as He determines.”

1 Corinthians 12:11  NIV

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“Just as a body, though one,

has many parts,

but all its many parts form one body,

so it is with Christ.

For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body

—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—

and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.  

Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.”

1 Corinthians 12: 12-14  NIV

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“Now you are the body of Christ,

and each one of you is a part of it.”

1 Corinthians 12: 27  NIV

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“And over all these virtues put on love,

which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,

since as members of one body you were called to peace.

And be thankful.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach

and admonish one another with all wisdom,

and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs

with gratitude in your hearts to God.”

Colossians 3:14-16  NIV

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We’re all needed in the Kingdom!

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So…Bloom!

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Present yourself to the King!

“See how the lilies of the field grow.

They do not labor or spin.”

Matthew 6:28  NIV

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Take a stand!

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Be confident!

“Yet I tell you that not even Solomon

in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.”

Matthew 6:29  NIV

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Don’t remain silent!

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It’s your time!

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Live loud for Christ!

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Persevere!

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Obedience always brings blessing!

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God is working through His people!

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He will accomplish His purpose!

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Let Him use you!

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Stay faithful!

And…Bloom!!

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“Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime;

it is the LORD who makes the storm clouds.

He gives showers of rain to men,

and plants of the field to everyone.”

Zechariah 10:1  NIV

No Charge For Love!

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I just received this e-mail from a friend…

I’ve seen it before…

I don’t know who wrote it…

But it’s worth re-reading!

Let it sink in…

“There’s No Charge For Love!”

Jesus already paid the price…

And Jesus Understands!

Point everyone to Him!

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A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell.

He painted a sign advertising the 4 pups

and set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard.

As he was driving the last nail into the post,

he felt a tug on his overalls.

He looked down into the eyes of a little boy.

“Mister,” he said,

“I want to buy one of your puppies.”

“Well,” said the farmer,

as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck,

“These puppies come from fine parents

and cost a good deal of money.”

The boy dropped his head for moment.

Then reaching deep into his pocket,

he pulled out a handful of change

and held it up to the farmer.

“I’ve got thirty-nine cents.

Is that enough to take a look?”

“Sure,” said the farmer.

And with that he let out a whistle.

“Here, Dolly!” he called.

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Out from the doghouse

and down the ramp ran Dolly

followed by four little balls of fur.

The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence.

His eyes danced with delight.

As the dogs made their way to the fence,

the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse.

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Slowly another little ball appeared,

this one noticeably smaller.

Down the ramp it slid.

Then in a somewhat awkward manner,

the little pup began hobbling toward the others,

doing its best to catch up…

I want that one,”

the little boy said,

pointing to the runt.

The farmer knelt down at the boy’s side and said,

Son, you don’t want that puppy.

He will never be able to run and play with you

like these other dogs would.”

With that, the little boy stepped back from the fence,

reached down,

and began rolling up one leg of his trousers.

In doing so, he revealed a steel brace

running down both sides of his leg

attaching itself to a specially made shoe.

Looking back up at the farmer, he said,

“You see sir,

I don’t run too well myself,

and he will need someone who understands.”

With tears in his eyes, the farmer reached down

and picked up the little pup.

Holding it carefully,

he handed it to the little boy.

How much?” asked the little boy…

“No charge,” answered the farmer,

There’s no charge for love.”

“But God shows his love for us

in that while we were still sinners,

Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8  ESV

“For we do not have a high priest

who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,

but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are,

yet without sin.

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace,

that we may receive mercy

and find grace

to help in time of need.” 

Hebrews 4:15-16  ESV

Our salvation cost Christ a great deal…

But when Jesus saw us,

His eyes danced with delight!

Others may have said, “You don’t want that one!”

But, as Jesus looked at the runts we all are…

With complete love,

He said,

“Yes, I want that one!

I understand and sympathize with their weaknesses…

I know they can never afford to repay,

But, there’s never, ever…

A Charge for My Love!”

Oh, Go Ahead…Let Go!

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And Let God!

Keep letting go of things…your plans…your way…

and as they fall away, you’ll look more like Jesus every day!

He’s trimming, pruning, chiseling, and fine tuning…

Let Go and Let Him!

Yeah, go ahead, give in!

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

and He will make straight your paths” 

Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV

“For I know the plans I have for you,

declares the Lord,

plans for welfare and not for evil,

to give you a future and a hope”

Jeremiah 29:11  ESV

“Remember not the former things,

nor consider the things of old.

Behold, I am doing a new thing;

now it springs forth,

do you not perceive it?

I will make a way in the wilderness

and rivers in the desert.”

Isaiah 43:18-19 ESV

“Casting all your anxieties on him,

because He cares for you.”

I Peter 5:7  ESV

Happy Presidents’ Day!!

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I’m off on Monday!

Yippee!!

A day off…

That’s the way I like to celebrate!

Happy Presidents’ Day!

According to History.com, Presidents’ Day is an American holiday celebrated on the third Monday in February.

Originally established in 1885 in recognition of President George Washington, it is still officially called “Washington’s Birthday” by the federal government.

Traditionally celebrated on February 22—Washington’s actual day of birth—the holiday became popularly known as Presidents’ Day after it was moved as part of 1971’s Uniform Monday Holiday Act, an attempt to create more three-day weekends for the nation’s workers.

While several states still have individual holidays honoring the birthdays of Washington, Abraham Lincoln and other figures, Presidents’ Day is now popularly viewed as a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents past and present.

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America,

Let’s Bless God…

And He will Bless us!!

Amen!

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“…if my people, who are called by my name,

will 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.”

2 Chronicles 7:14  NIV

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“Do not pray for easy lives. 

Pray to be stronger men.”

John F. Kennedy

(www.brainyquote.com)

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“Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant

and the rule of law under God is acknowledged.”

Ronald Reagan

(www.brainyquote.com)

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“Whatever America hopes to bring to pass in the world

must first come to pass in the heart of America.”

Dwight D. Eisenhower

(www.brainyquote.com)

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According to Wikipedia, the national flag of the United States of America

consists of 13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white,

with a blue rectangle bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars

arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of 6 stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of 5 stars.

The 50 stars on the flag represent the 50 states of the United States of America

and the 13 stripes represent the 13 British colonies that declared independence

from the Kingdom of Great Britain

and became the first states in the Union.

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According to Flag Code and Regulation,

“No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America.”  (Section 8)

“The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing.”  (Section 8j)

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“The school is the last expenditure upon which America should be willing to economize.”

Franklin D. Roosevelt

(www.brainyquote.com)

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Nicknames for the American flag include the

“Stars and Stripes”

Old Glory”

and “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

(History.com)

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“My family, frankly, they weren’t folks who went to church every week.

My mother was one of the most spiritual people I knew

but she didn’t raise me in church,

so I came to my Christian faith later in life

and it was because the precepts of Jesus Christ

spoke to me in terms of the kind of life that I would want to lead.”

Barack Obama

(www.brainyquote.com)

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God Bless our President

And give him Your wisdom to lead our country!

Believe In The God Of The Burning Bush!

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Exodus 3:2-6  NIV

“There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush.

Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up.

 So Moses thought, ‘I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.’

When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look,

God called to him from within the bush,

‘Moses! Moses!’

And Moses said, ‘Here I am.’

‘Do not come any closer,’ God said.

‘Take off your sandals,

for the place where you are standing is holy ground.’

Then He said, ‘I am the God of your father,

the God of Abraham,

the God of Isaac

and the God of Jacob.’

At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.'”

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Holy!

Purifying Fire!

Majestic!

Awesome in Glory!

Divine Deity!

Righteous!

Almighty!

Consuming Fire!

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“To the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain.”

Exodus 24:17  NIV

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“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken,

let us be thankful,

and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,

for our God is a consuming fire.”

Hebrews 12:28-29  NIV

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“…God, the blessed and only Ruler,

the King of kings and Lord of lords,

who alone is immortal

and who lives in unapproachable light,

whom no one has seen or can see.

To Him be honor and might forever.  Amen”

I Timothy 6:16  NIV

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“God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am.’

This is what you are to say to the Israelites:

‘I AM has sent me to you.’

God also said to Moses,

Say to the Israelites,

‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham,

the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—

has sent me to you.’

This is my name forever,

the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.”

Exodus 3:14-15  NIV

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When Isaiah looked into the throne room of heaven, he saw angels praising God.

Isaiah 6:3-5  NIV

“And one cried to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;

The whole earth is full of His glory!’

And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out,

and the house was filled with smoke.

So I said: ‘Woe is me, for I am undone!

Because I am a man of unclean lips,

And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;

For my eyes have seen the King,

The Lord of hosts.’”

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“There is no one holy like the Lord;

there is no one besides you;

there is no Rock like our God.”

I Samuel 2:2  NIV

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“The Lord has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.”

Psalm 103:19  NIV

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“Thus says the Lord,

‘Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool…'”

Isaiah 66:1  NIV

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“Immediately I was in the Spirit;

and behold, a throne was standing in heaven,

and One sitting on the throne.”

Revelation 4:12  NIV

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“In a loud voice they were saying:

‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength

and honor and glory and praise!’

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth

and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb

be praise and honor and glory and power,

for ever and ever!’”

Revelation 5:12-13  NIV

Hiding From God???

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You Can’t!

So Don’t Try!!

You can run, but you can’t hide!

He’s everywhere!

That’s bad for you if you’re trying to hide from Him,

But good, because you can be assured that He’s always there!

He’s already found you…

Now stop, turn around, look up, and there He is!

He loves you!

It’s like “Lost and Found” to Him!

His love embraces you…

Wraps around your hurts, your pain,  your despair,  your scars, your mistakes…

It wraps around everything!

“…because love covers over a multitude of sins.”  I Peter 4:8 NLT

Come out of hiding…

If He loves even me…

He can love even you, too!

What are you hiding behind???

Your job?  Your family?  Your health?  Your money?

Your wants and desires?  Your reputation?

I assure you, He knows who you are and where you are!

Look up!

Or, if you knew Him in the past…

Look inside!

To that place in your heart that can only be filled with God’s Holy Spirit…

Where it can be refilled…

And ready to overflow again with His Joy…

Even in life’s difficult situations with your job, family etc.!

Adam and Eve tried to hide, too!

“Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God…

As He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day…

And they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

But the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’

He answered,

‘I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked;

So I hid.’”

Genesis 8-10  NIV

In Bible study, while watching the DVD series called Frequency by Robert Morris…

Pastor Morris talked about God feeling sad when Adam said…

“I heard your voice and I was afraid.”

God created Adam and Eve to have a relationship with Him in Paradise…

He did things with them…

He walked with them in the garden…

He was always anxious to spend the day with them…

But, one morning, He finds them hiding…

They’re afraid of Him…

How it saddened God…

To lose that close intimate relationship…

Their sin had separated them from their God!

Jesus can restore the relationship…

Between you and God!

Don’t hide from God…

Even when going through a difficulty…

Come back…

Ask for forgiveness…

Do what it takes to be in a right place to hear His voice…

Don’t fear God’s voice…

Draw near to God!

You’re perfect together!

Psalm 139:1-18 NIV

“You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts,God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.”

Don’t hide from Him

You’re Beautiful!

You’re Loved!!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

If This Is All There Is, It’s Not Enough!!

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What’s Our Purpose???

What’s Our Destination???

Who’s Going To Say, “Well Done!!” At The End???