Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8

I thought about how often we hear and use the phrase "whatever." A response that indicates that we might not agree with what you have just said, however, we're not going to argue about it either. It brings a smile to my face as I think of the numerous times I've said that word; it will not hold the same meaning for me from this day forward. You have to love how the Lord can take a simple word or familiar phrase and give it a different twist!

Reading this verse of scripture and this particular chapter has always given me a certain peace and comfort. This was Paul’s intent as he wrote to the Philippians about the secrets to having the peace of God. He said whatever things are true, right, noble, good, and decent; just, honest, and righteous, pure, clean, lovely, pleasing, and delightful, think on these things. And whatever things are of a good report, if there is any goodness in these things; if there is anything worth giving God praise for, we are not only to think, but meditate, think calmly and seriously on these things. He reminds them to remember those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me… then he said to do these things! In thinking on these, you will have the peace for your soul that only God can provide.

I encourage us today to think on “the whatever things” in the midst of tumultuous and unstable times; those we now face and for those to come. God will give those of a pure heart and of a righteous mind, the peace needed in order to sustain us, but we must keep our minds on Him and the things of God. We can look beyond what we see happening around us and be clear in our thinking as to what we have learned, heard and received. Then we are able to think on the good reports that we ourselves have experienced. When we think on these things, we will uplift our spirits and we are able to speak peace and give hope to those around us in need. Make no mistake; people are looking for hope, for peace, and for a light in this troubled world.

Our thoughts determine our attitude, determine our character and determine how we respond when faced with adverse situations. What we think is usually a refection of what we know to be truth. What we know will manifest itself in what we say and eventually show in who we are and what we stand for. Our actions and the right kind of thinking (God thinking), during this time, are critical. Critical in the sense that we can be of help to those who are seeking peace, seeking joy, seeking answers and it is our responsibility to tell them, as well as show them how to obtain this peace; how He has kept us and kept our hearts and mind. Believe it or not, others are watching to see how we react when we say that we believe God.

The Word is the perfect example of truths, but we are to be the example for emulating and practicing those truths in order to help to encourage ourselves and others. We are afforded the opportunity to make known of His goodness. We are urged to remember to think on these things; meditate on them and in turn, the peace of God will be with us. I don’t know about you, but I am in need always of the peace of God that continuously keeps my heart and mind… so trust me when I tell you that I’ll be thinking on “the whatever things” today!

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and his ears are open unto their prayers: I Peter 3:12

It doesn’t matter whether we are young or if we are old in this walk of faith, the cares and the burdens of life will sometimes cause strain, whether it is physical, mental or emotional. Strain can cause stress, tension, anxiety, pressure, or worry if not handled properly. It can stem from various avenues such as your job, or the lack thereof, finances, children, family, or even death, just to name a few. We will all experience it and none of us are exempt from it. Let’s face a fact: no matter the strength of our relationship or fellowship with Christ, at some point in our lives we have or will have the opportunity to encounter one or more; however, it is our reaction and how we handle it that concerns God. Our situation could be horrendous, seemingly unbearable; making one feel powerless or helpless to do anything, yet we must still direct our prayer towards heaven because this is where our hope lies. As our faith and maturity level increases, you’ll find that prayer is always the key and should be our first choice.

As we continue to walk with Christ, we will automatically and without thought, know that it is imperative to pray, not regularly but consistently and continually in every situation. The scripture tells us, “to pray without ceasing.” If we have a constant and faithful prayer life, we know that God will provide us with the strength we need to endure until the end of the trial or trials we face because all things are for our good and our growth. This is why it is crucial that we teach our children the importance of prayer, so that they will know early how to take everything to God in prayer.

Peter reminds us that the eyes of the Lord watch over us and His ears are open to hear the prayers of them that love Him and seek to follow His ways and do good. It is so wonderful to know that we have a protector and a guardian who is always concerned about us, watching and listening for our voice. We can’t let ourselves become bitter or angry; we can’t murmur and complain when we are faced with the circumstances of life. Life happens and I know (because I can only speak for me) that it gets rough sometimes but I must stay the course, stay focused and definitely stay prayerful because I know who watches over me. It is so necessary for life and we must continually give ourselves over to the Lord and take everything to Him and even when you think there’s nothing else you can do, remember you’ve got prayer!

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Deut 28:8 (Ref: 1-14)

I have always petitioned the Lord to bless me in order that I might be a blessing to someone else and He has never failed me. He has blessed me in so many areas of my life to bless others and not just in the monetary sense. However, my sights have always been set higher and it has been my endeavor to be a blessing to fifth power (okay so that may sound a bit comic bookish, but you get my point) and bless others on a larger scale, both spiritually and financially. Can I tell you that I have a “get ready” down in my spirit!

The chapter begins with Moses speaking of the blessings promised for obedience, which is the first rule of command from God. Of course, like in all things, we must first be aligned with God’s word in order to receive the blessings, not only those which we seek, but those which are promised. We must be positioned and ready to receive, as well as being able to handle, what we receive. You have to be ready for this… are you ready for this?

Moses said if we diligently hear, seek and do all that God commands, then He will set us on high and our blessings shall come and overtake us, we’d be blessed in the city, blessed in the field and even our children will be blessed. We’ll be blessed when we come in and blessed when we go out. Our enemies that rise up against us will wish they had not and the Lord will let us see them get what they deserve for coming against his people. Then as if it couldn’t get any better, Moses said He shall command, order, instruct, demand, decree, declare, and direct the blessings upon us and that the blessings have to obey and fill our storehouses (we have to pause and praise right there!).

He also said “In all”, not some, that we set our hands on will be blessed; in all that we set our hands to do will be blessed. He will bless us in the land, establish us as His people; we will be plenteous or abundant in goods, yes, the tangible that we can touch. He will open up to us His good treasure or better yet, we have unlimited access to all His many benefits. He said He would rain on us in His season and bless the work of our hands. We would be the lender and not the borrower. That sounds like increase in every aspect of our lives to me! If we would diligently hear, seek and do all that God commands, He will make us the head and not the tail; we will be above only and not beneath... and these are just some of the promised blessings.

What a way to begin the week, knowing that we are blessed of God and knowing that He has blessed us to be a blessing!

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment. That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. Phil 1:1-11

Paul, even though he had been given the commission and the authority to speak wherever he was and whenever needed by God, is found sending a note of thanks and appreciation to the church in Philippi for their support. In this chapter, he shows his love, his concern and his affection for the Philippians. Although he does give them some instruction, it has the feel of sweet expressions of joy, heartfelt sentiment and loving encouragement. We’ve all heard and know that it is not always what you say; it’s how you say it. This is the wisdom that Paul displays; it affects and determines how our words are received by others.

We know the churches during Paul’s ministry were not perfect and certainly that still applies to our churches today. Yes, the Philippians needed to be corrected, rebuked, and reprimanded because some were hindering the work of the ministry and causing the church to be at odds; however, Paul does this uniquely and effectively with love and with wisdom in this book. In that wisdom, he overlooked all the pettiness in the church and focused in on his approach and his appeal in order to reach and tug at the strings of their hearts. Paul’s prayer was that the church would let their love be productive and in abundance, and with that, they would increase in knowledge and accomplish what only love can accomplish. Love will make you do the right thing and say the right words in every situation (well it should). He asked that they would support those things that were excellent and be sincere in their doings without resentment or wrongdoing; to be confident of the good work that had already begun in them and to continue and be filled with the fruits of all things righteous; that which give glory and praise to God.

Are the people of the church today perfect? No, just like the Philippians, we certainly have our share of problems. We need to follow not only Paul’s example, but be an example of who Christ was and who He desires us to be ... pure and without fault, living a blameless life so that we can be perfect in all our understanding; centering our thoughts and actions on the more excellent things. Supporting, loving one another without hurting one another with our words and actions until He comes back (2 Thess 3:12-13). He wants us to go in love and with a sincere heart so that He alone gets the glory. He wants us to focus “above” the insignificant and unimportant things and center our attention on the matters of God. We have to learn how to sense (be in tune with the Spirit of God) what is of real importance as it relates to our walk in Christ (now that alone is another topic); just as Paul did, especially within the confines of the church.

It is imperative that we line up our lives with the Word of God; that we are obedient, respectful and loving in our fellowship with Him and with one another. What would Christ do; how He would handle the situation; what would He want from me in certain circumstances? I do know that He would want us to do it prayerfully and not only with sensitivity, but with some Jesus insight, discernment and definitely being led of the Spirit of God because everything is NOT expedient. This is where the wisdom comes in and if we go in that vein, we won’t go in self, because precious souls (souls that belong to God, not us) are at stake. Paul shows us this in the book of Philippians. We must strive continually not only to be like Christ but to have His attributes and show that our lives bear the fruits of righteousness. Question for today: What kind of fruit do you bear?

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

We walk by faith and not by sight. II Corinthians 5:7

I started to hear these words in my head and then started singing them out loud (I hadn't heard this song in years); so I looked up the lyrics and found the song that my Mom listened to in the 60s and it's entitled, "25 miles." Now I couldn't remember any other words except “I’ve got to keep on walkin'—I’ve got to walk on." I thought about how those very words ring true in our walk with God today. We have to keep on walking, no matter what it looks like; regardless of what we see and definitely when we don't see, because that’s faith right? We've got to walk on by faith, we have to believe while we are yet walking; believing that God will lead us in the way that we should go. We trust Him every step of the way because He said He would never forsake us.

I was so intrigued, that I began to search the word walk, for any revelation regarding the word and its spiritual impact. There are many accounts in the Bible that refer to our walk, us walking, how to walk, not to walk, where to walk and that alone told me that the word holds significant meaning to God in relation to us. In the Hebrew language, walk means "halakhah" which translates simply into "walk in this way." I could stop right there and say, "enough said!" It literally makes this scripture jump off the page for me. I've got more thoughts than my fingers could not possible type at this moment. However, walking by faith and not by sight is without a doubt what God wants and instructs us to do. So, we need to walk in this way, which equates to living, acting, and conducting ourselves in the way that Christ has set before us, however, I do understand that it is sometimes easier said than done.

Yes, it will be a hard task at times because the flesh does not want to give in, let go, or give up, but faith is a definite requirement for this journey. The Word says, “the just shall live by faith”, that's scripture, not Cynde. In order for God to bless our growth, it is absolutely essential that we trust Him by walking in faith. Certainly, we are a, "I need to see it before I believe it" society. There are many catch phrases and I'm sure you've heard them all before, but this is an action item for us as believers, because the depth and the strength of our faith are determined by our trust in Him in all areas, and in all aspects of our life.

How can we know that we are walking and living by faith? Choosing between believing God, who we cannot see or believing the circumstances and situations we can see? By choosing to believe God, we choose faith. In Hebrews, it tells us "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen... sounds like walk by faith and not by sight to me! This establishes an assurance, a guarantee, a confidence that we still have hope that we can believe in although we don't see it tangibly. That's sounds deep, but this is the simplistic and basic concept of faith.

Clearly, we need to walk in this way by faith, and get this phrase embedded in our spirit, no matter what it looks like, regardless of what I see and regardless of what I don't see, I walk by faith and not by sight… I’ve got to keep on walkin', I’ve got to walk on!

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:1-3

For a couple of years, I traveled to Texas to attend a conference that was all about transformation, renewing and restoring. The first year I attended, I thought I would sky rocket through the ceiling with the rich and empowering Word that went forth not only that week, but the first day! Clearly, there is not only a need for the people of God to be transformed but there is such an urgency for total transformation; the renewing of the mind, body, soul, and in every aspect of our lives that does not align itself with the will of God.

The word transform means to change the nature, function, or condition of; or to convert; which is to change (something) from one use, function, or purpose to another; adapt to a new or different purpose. Now, that really does say it all about transformation, doesn't it? God wants us to have a total conversion, complete change and transformation; it is absolutely essential in order to walk in this new way and adapt to His purpose. We can't call ourselves children or saints of the Most High God and still live in the old man ways. We can't have our own personal agendas or motivations; our own plans and schedules and do it in the name of the Lord. If we are adapting to this new purpose, God's purpose, then all the old ways must die. There are scriptures that confirm this, one in particular always comes to mind: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Cor 5:17)

Old lifestyles, old attitudes, old habits, old behaviors, and certainly our old ways must become a part of our past. If we have become new, then the old cannot exist with the new. However, the enemy is good at deception because that's his job. He would have us to believe that we are right where we need to be, doing what we need to do and yes, we are still in the will of God. Most times, it's clear and evident through the Spirit of God that we are being deceived by the enemy into thinking that we are fine. How do I know? As stated previously, the Spirit of God will let us know, whether or not we heed to His leading; secondly, because it will show up in our actions and reactions; it affects our attitudes and our responses; it also shows up in our lack of wisdom and responsibility, as it relates to being a new creature in Christ.

The latter part of the scripture today says that when our minds have been renewed, we can demonstrate and confirm what is that good, and acceptable, pleasing, and perfect, faultless and complete, will of God. Which makes it’s necessary for a self evaluation daily to see if we are where we need to be in our walk. Transformation and renewal are a must because the Lord wants transformed lives, lives that are renewed; lives that reflect and mirror His, at home, at work or wherever we may be and not just on Sunday or in the presence of the church. It's time to take a hard look to see where we are falling short of the glory of God and make the necessary change. Trust me, God is not fooled, for He knows all and He sees all, and yet, He is still merciful and gracious to meet us right where we are.

It’s always my endeavor to be the example that Christ would have me to be ... only when we are transformed and renewed can we accomplish this!

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

The work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places. Isaiah 32:15-18

According to Aristotle, there is a relationship between cause and effect; meaning the action or the event of one is the consequence or the result of the other. Aristotle believed even though it typically relates to events, that it could also include a series of natural occurrences, things that are able to change suddenly and unpredictably, or the law of circumstances. He said one is as the beginning of change; the other is as its goal. He also indicated that the same thing can be the cause of contrary or opposite effects - as its presence and absence may result in different outcomes.

The scripture for today, clearly speaks to this very subject: the work and the effect of righteousness; righteousness works and then produces peace, which results in a state of calmness, a quietness of mind, an assurance of hope; confidence and trust; free from anxiety and free from worry. However, none of this is possible without first understanding what’s needed in order to achieve this.

Isaiah prophesies to the people of the coming King who will reign in righteousness. He had told them repeatedly about the condemnation that would come upon them because of their moral and spiritual disease and because of their selfishness and neglect of God. Even in all of this, God with all of His grace invites them to repent and return to Him; if they refuse, then judgment was inevitable.

Isaiah tells them in verse 15, "Until the Spirit be poured upon us from on high”, the cause or the event; it is followed by the effects of the Spirit: the restoration of both the people and the land would take place, and the transformation of both occurs. Remember what Aristotle stated above, “the cause of contrary or opposite effects; its presence and absence may result in different outcomes. Isaiah is saying that things are in a state of destruction and will remain that way until God sends forth His Spirit. When He pours out His Spirit, everything must and will change. If the people of God decide not to return to Him and He does not pour out His Spirit, the course of things will have a different outcome. The same cause and effect applies to us today. With the outpouring of the Spirit of God, our virtue, our morality and integrity; our uprightness and our work of righteousness will equate to peace, restoration and transformation. Who wouldn’t want to have those effects and quietly be able to dwell in them; both internally and externally? However, if God decided not to pour out His Spirit, it would definitely have an adverse effect.

The Spirit of God is the cause, the event, and the source of all our blessings; but of course, my eyes just keep focusing on the effects: that I shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, which means surroundings; in sure dwellings and experience His peace in a quiet resting place. The Word tells us, "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Sometimes I close my eyes and bask in the peace of God. It is a place where I truly long to be at all times, until my change comes.

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
Acts 16:25-26

I’ve heard over the years that midnight is the darkest hour. I don’t know if that’s true but I do however, associate it with a time to get before God with prayer and praise until something happens.

Paul and Silas find themselves imprisoned for preaching the word of God; thrown into a dungeon and feet bound by what was called a stock, which involves a leather band and some wood, meaning you are bound, don’t even think of trying to get free device. I’m sure before being thrown in, there was some rough necking in the process, but even this didn’t douse their spirit because they were not bound emotionally or spiritually. They had been imprisoned for doing the work of the ministry, so surely, if God had allowed this to happen, there was a purpose and Paul understood this quite well. It doesn’t mention them being fearful, or scared; the scripture says that the first action taken was prayer and secondly, they began to sing praises to God. Then, it said, “suddenly and immediately”, which are two action words that I like to hear, God moved in their situation without hesitation and without delay; not only were the stock or the shackles loosed from Paul and Silas, but everyone was loosed and experienced the move of God. That song we sing, “He’s an on time God, Oh yes He is”, is ringing in my heart right this minute!

When we go to God in prayer and sing those songs of praise in the midnight hour, especially when we find ourselves in bondage, whether it is physically, emotionally, financially, or whatever the stronghold; be it a circumstance that keeps us weighed down (Heb 12:1) or stagnates us; when situations paralyze us and we are unable to move; when we can’t fix it, can’t handle it and certainly when we can’t understand it, but God! He will shake the very foundations of the earth on our behalf and loose us from a thing, suddenly and immediately! So go ahead and praise your way out… sing your song at midnight and watch God move.

Today, I want to share something I read awhile back … in my heart, I believe this will be a blessing to you as well.

Behold, I am near at hand to bless you, and I will surely give to you out of the abundance of heaven. For My heart is open to your cry; yes, I am alert to your call and when you search after Me, the darkness will not hide My face.

It will be as the stars which shine more brightly in the deep of night. Even so it shall be. In the night of spiritual battle, there I shall give you fresh revelations of Myself, and you shall see Me more clearly than you could in the sunlight of ease and pleasure.

Man by nature chooses the day and shuns the night, but I say to you, I shall make your midnight a time of great rejoicing, and I will fill the dark hour with songs of praise. Yes, with David, you shall rise at midnight to sing.

It has been written, "Joy comes in the morning," but I will make your song break out in the night. For he who lifts the shout of faith and praise in the night, to him there shall be joy in the morning. F.J. Roberts

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul. Ps 66:16

Sometimes I feel like the town crier, the one who has to run and scream out loud the magnificent and marvelous things the Lord, our God has done. The worshipper, who needs to enlighten all that will hear and embrace what I have to say; shouting to the world about the One who loves me.

David pens a beautiful psalm to remind the people of God, which reverence Him, of His wondrous works. He blesses and honors the Lord because of who He is and what He has done. He invites them to come and see the great and mighty works that He is doing among His children. He encourages remembrance of how God turned the sea into dry land; how He suffered the feet of His own not to be moved; how He allowed the passing through of the fire and the water and brought them to a safe and wealthy place. David said, “When I was in trouble, He heard my cries and delivered me." David is remembering God’s love, His goodness and His mercy; His sovereignty, His authority and His power in all the earth; His favor toward His people and certainly for hearing and attending to his voice of prayer.

David’s words are for our encouragement as well and I identify with all that He has said on a personal level. I can remember and write of all the accounts in which the Lord has done for me. When faced with adversity, trials and tribulation, I am reminded that He has been there for me and has brought my feet into a safe place and kept me from harms way. I can tell God just how awesome He is and praise Him for how He works and has worked in my life. He has dried up some seas for me and allowed me to cross over; He has watched over me and kept my enemies from destroying me and has protected me from danger numerous times. He has been with me through the fire and I have walked out unburned; He has tried me and purified my soul.

I will continue to be the town crier, especially to those who truly love and reverence Him and can relate that He is the One who must be honored and given due praise for the mercy and grace that He alone gives. He is the One who redeemed and restored our soul; delivered us from bondage; made us to be someone acceptable in this present world. He does so much for us on a constant and continual basis for things we see, don’t see or even realize; and if that wasn’t enough, He gives us peace and joy, followed by hope eternal ... for that alone we should give him continuous praise with all that is within us! I am comforted in knowing that I am God’s own and I experience the adoration and devotion that He has just for me. It allows me to voice my expressions of gratitude and praise Him for who He is and what He has done for my soul, because it's personal.

So yes, I say today, come and hear, all that reverence the Lord and declare what He has done … for truly He is the lover of our soul!

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23

I love the word “fresh”, it sounds crisp and clean; it’s like smelling newly washed and refreshing clothing that have been rinsed with Downey. There’s nothing like that it! So is it with the Lord’s mercies, we get to start everyday anew, clean and fresh.

Jeremiah is known for being the heartbroken or the weeping prophet because of his compassion for the people of God; despite the fact that they have despised, abused and persecuted him because of the message he delivered for over forty years. Seriously, you would think that they would have gotten the message from the man who had only come to warn them, but being a stiff-necked people who refused to heed unfortunately, would cause themselves great suffering.

Here Jeremiah confesses his faith after he has cried the cry of despair and dejection over the plight of Israel. His concern and emotions for them has caused him to go into a form of depression, to use a modern terminology. He lacks hope at this point because he has taken it personally to heart. But Jeremiah abruptly came to himself and begins to remember and reflect the God he knows to be faithful and loyal; and the God that has never failed him. With the love he has for the Lord, he is reminded that in Him is hope, as well as comfort; and that it is because of the Lord that we are not consumed or not destroyed. He expresses his sorrow and asks God to have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies.

This shows the very human side of Jeremiah, like him we often fall into the same state of mind. Yes, we are human and we lose hope or lose heart because we are despised, abused and persecuted (2 Tim 3:12) by the circumstances or situations of life; and we will feel despair at times however, in spite of our infirmities, our frailties, our weaknesses, our imperfections, our shortcomings, our faults, our inadequacies, or our limitations, we must to come to ourselves at some point and not only remind ourselves but reflect on God’s faithfulness and His loyalty to us; His kindness, forgiveness, understanding, and His concern for us. His compassions don’t fail us and His mercies keep us from being overtaken, therefore we should remember that we have our hope in Him.

The scripture today should speak to our heart as if we ourselves are writing the very words. Confessing our faith and letting the Lord know that my soul still remembers and it humbles me when I recall what you’ve done in my past, how you’ve kept me, how you’ve delivered me, how you’ve stayed the hand of the enemy, even when things look bleak or discouraging, you were there. I remember your loyalty and your faithfulness to me, so therefore I have hope and I will wait quietly for you because I know know that you will never forsake. You are my refuge, my shield, my salvation, but remembering most importantly, that every morning, your mercies are always fresh and new just for me!

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

The Lord said to Joshua, This day I will begin to magnify you in the sight of all Israel, so they may know that as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.
Joshua 3:7

We find Joshua preparing God’s people for the miraculous crossing of the Jordan river over into Canaan, the land of promise, the land of milk and honey. He tells them to sanctify themselves, get yourselves right and ready, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders, something marvelous and extraordinary among you. Can you imagine hearing that from the Lord? That alone would bring about an excitement; made me have a TD Jakes moment… “get ready, get ready, get ready!” This was truly an “expect the unexpected” time for them.

What I love about Joshua is that he was a humble servant, born a slave in Egypt and came to be Moses’ personal assistant and successor. He not only had outstanding qualifications, but met the requirements for the position: obedience, faith, courage, and dedication to God and His Word.

Joshua did all that God asked of him and with His direction, the children of Israel saw and experienced this miracle crossing on dry land (think Red Sea crossing with Moses); once every person had passed over, the waters returned back to normal. That day, as God had promised Joshua, He increased in stature in the sight of Israel. The children of Israel knew that God was with Joshua, just as He had been with Moses. There is no doubt that you will know when God is elevating and increasing you in stature and in the sight of man. Others will be able to see, but you will know that the Lord is with you and that He and He alone is the only one that could have done the miraculous in every occurrence pertaining to your life and the lives of others.

God will elevate us in order that our gifts and talents will make ways for us and His purpose. We don’t have to push, force, promote, or exploit ourselves to get ahead in the ministry. We are designed to increase, to prosper, and to have abundance. There are numerous encouraging scriptures, as well as the precious promises in the Word that support that thought; “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” or "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." However, there are some prerequisites for tapping into it; just like Joshua, we must be humble and obedient; having faith, and dedication to the Lord and His Word. Trust me; watch, as He will open doors on our behalf.

Just as the Lord encourages Joshua, He also encourages us. We can expect God’s divine favor; He can make us become greater in capacity than we could ever imagine; He can put us “on blast” as the young people would say. The possibilities and the opportunities are endless, if we allow the Lord to lead and guide us for His purpose. We will begin to see Him magnify and increase our lives as we use it for His glory!

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD? Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy. 1 Chronicles 29:5b, 9-14

Willingly, unfortunately, is a word that sometimes needs prompting or coaxing; for we are not always willing, even when our heart says cooperate, our actions will speak otherwise. Willingly equates to being ready to do something voluntarily and with enthusiasm, freely, eagerly, gladly, happily, or cheerfully; need I go on. This makes the difference and willingly is not then labeled “grudgingly.”

In this chapter, David first tells the congregation of the provisions and preparations that were made for the building of the temple. He tells them of the personal property that he has set aside just for this purpose. He also lets them know that I have also placed my affection to the house of God over and above all that which I have prepared. He then asked the people if they were willing to dedicate themselves to be of service and do the work. The people respond overwhelmingly and with a perfect heart – meaning their heart was in sync with their spirit, they offered with their whole heart with no doubts, no murmuring, no complaining, and with the right purpose in mind. They were glad to give and gave out of the abundance of their hearts in a tangible manner and then they rejoiced; they rejoiced because they offered of themselves willingly. David was so excited that he rejoiced with them and offers the Lord a prayer of thanksgiving before the congregation.

Undoubtedly, this is how the Lord would have us to respond, willingly;to do what’s needed today and when asked of the Lord if we are willing to dedicate ourselves to be of service and do the work of the Kingdom. We should respond overwhelmingly and with a perfect heart as the children of Israel. Our hearts in perfect harmony with our spirit and making offerings with our whole heart. Of course, there should be no doubts, no murmuring, no complaining; we should all be of one mind and with one purpose in mind; to give of our time, our gifting, and our talents to the building of the Kingdom; a willingness, to go and to do and to be above and beyond all that the Lord has asked. The Lord rejoices when we give eagerly, freely, happily, and cheerfully out of the abundance of our hearts, both tangibly and intangibly.

David says in verse 14, “but who am I and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. He is basically stating, “who are we not to offer willingly because God is the giver of all things, everything comes from Him and everything we should willingly give back to Him, because He gave it to us. Honestly, when we think about it, why would we not be enthused and ready to do all that God asked of us, willingly?

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:19-20 NIV

Some mornings I literally wake up singing, some of the melodies are familiar; some are directly from the Lord. The melodies that come from my heart are so beautiful; they bless me especially, because I know that I am singing them for His glory. Music from the heart is wonderful and uplifting; these songs of praise are like love songs to the Lord. It gives me such joy and reminds me of God’s love for me, how mindful He is of me and out of all the billions of people on the earth; He came this morning and spoke directly to my heart.

Paul tells the Ephesians first to be imitators of God; this affects how you live, how you walk and how you will handle life; the trials, the tribulations, the problems, every circumstance. Things may not be going as you would like, or have hoped, but in all things, always give thanks, comfort and console one another; exhort and encourage, and keep each other lifted. This is the way to establish bonds; this is the unity that only the Spirit of God can bring.

As people of God, filled with His Spirit, we have every reason to give thanks, to have joy and sing praises. Regardless of what is going on around us, we know where our help comes from. We should have no problem in uplifting one another, encouraging one another with psalms; speaking a word that gives someone hope. There is, or should be, a melody in your heart that others can hear by observing you; they will ask about your joy and you are more than happy to share with them. One of my favorite psalms is Psalm 16:11, it says, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore”; in particular, this phrase, “in thy presence is fullness of joy.” There in that place is where we not only find joy, but a peace that changes how we view everything according to life and our own lives. Our attitude and our countenance will change; we begin to radiate and give off a glow that will certainly draw others, giving us the opportunity to tell them of His goodness. Automatically, your heart will begin to make melodies that you didn’t even know it knew.

When you understand what God has done for you on a personal level, it’s easy to willingly submit to the ways of God because we want to please Him and because we understand through His Word and through the Spirit of God, what His will is for our life; praising Him then becomes a natural part of who we are and therefore, easier to encourage and uplift your brothers and sisters so that they might know and experience His joy. I definitely want to make the most of my life in Him and I want to make the most out of every opportunity to tell others about the music from my heart; I have found it to be the purest form of worship unto God!

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Phil 1-2, 5

A Beautiful Mind, depicted a man who was deemed brilliant by the world’s standards. This man, Nash, was so exceptionally intelligent that it began to affect his mind and he became delusional, which started him on a path of false belief and ultimately he developed paranoia, which is an extreme and unreasonable suspicion of others and their motives. Having studied psychology, the human psyche is complex and difficult to understand, if there is no equal balance, like Nash, it can begin to affect our perception, and consequently, our entire belief system.

Here is this chapter, Paul encourages the Philippians, not only to have the spirit of unity and mutual concern for one another, but embrace the attitude of humility among them as Christ had shown them by example. He advised them to be of like minds because this was the only way to accomplish being on one accord. He also wanted them to have that one love, the thread that binds them together; to be of the same mindset, which was the mind of Christ.

Paul urged them to center their actions and their thoughts in pursuing the person and the power of Christ, which was important in their service, as well as staying focused, obedient and humble to what they had been taught; this would allow them less chance of straying, bickering, complaining, or murmuring. He wanted them to remember who Christ was and the humbled lifestyle He led and also who they were in Christ. One thing is clear; the Lord was and still remains mindful of us. As believers, we have to remain conscious to that fact, as well as being mindful of each other; it is important that we continuously seek to keep the mind of Christ. It is imperative to our well being; we must be determined to stay balanced and upright as God intended.

There are many distractions in the world today, distractions that the enemy has set up in order to affect our perception and our belief system. It is so important for us to have the mind, the knowledge, and the peace of Christ because without these, comes the discord of unity, love and fellowship. It’s hard to be respectful of one another and be on one accord and of one mind without them. We have to keep the same attitude and purpose of Christ in mind; it keeps us humble and keeps us balanced so that there is less chance of it affecting our perception during this journey. We stand the risk of losing sight and becoming distracted; swaying towards other doctrines and other teachings that appease us; soothe and self-medicate us, without keeping the mind of Christ. However, we can be sure to stay the course for this great gospel without wandering, if we do. When we understand that, we stand less chance of becoming delusional about His purpose and our purpose in Him.

Today, we want to stand on verse 5, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” A beautiful mind hardly seems fitting enough to describe the mind of Christ because there are many adjectives we could use… magnificent, glorious, brilliant, and even pleasing… all in all, the fact of the matter is simply, strive to have this mind!

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

And David spake unto the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul: And he said, The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; he God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence. I will call on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. 2 Sam 22:1-4

Years ago a popular new advertisement arose here in Los Angeles. It was all over the television and billboards: A young accident victim simply said, “Larry Parker got me 2.1 million … and before the commercial ends, Larry comes on and says, “I’m Larry H. Parker and I'll fight for you!” Over 20 years and Larry is still fighting. We can say the same about our God, from the Old Testament days and even until today, right now, this very minute; He still fights for His people.

There are many stories of how God fought for His people throughout history. David is one that could and does testify of this repeatedly. He writes this psalm of thanksgiving, speaking words of praise unto the Lord because He delivered him from his enemies. He knew God to be "his" very present help in the time of trouble and because he trusted that God would fight for him whenever he faced danger and in every situation that David incurred.

I love how David praised God after He had delivered him … he mentions particulars such as: "you are my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, my shield, my high tower, my refuge, my saviour, you saved me." Then he said, "because you are worthy of my praise Lord!" Nothing sounds better to God’s ear than when we praise Him for Who He is and what He’s done. We invoke God's attention and His power with our praise... He moves on our behalf because praise, moves God. Whatever situation or circumstance you are going through right now, I dare you to praise Him and watch Him move. I remember hearing the older saints and mothers saying, "it's in the praise"! "The more you praise Him, the more He comes in!" You can stand on that word because even the scripture lets us know that God inhabits or He dwells in our praise...waiting for us to let Him move on our behalf.

We can know Him as David; as our rock, and our fortress, our deliverer; and in Him will we put our trust: he will shield us from all harm and danger, He will be our hiding place, our place of comfort, our strength; He will save us from the violence of our enemies. We can call on the Lord, and He will come to our rescue. These are the times when we should praise Him! With our faith and our trust, knowing our God will defend us. He is a better lawyer than Larry H. Parker will ever be, he can only claim to have won 91% of his cases... our God is at a steady 100% at all times!

Let's give Him praise continually to the one who deserves to be praised and moves on our behalf, especially when we are in our times of trouble and facing our greatest challenges ... because He'll fight for you!

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. 2 Cor 1:20

A promise is a promise; most of us have heard this saying repeatedly while growing up. A promise is a guarantee that you are going to do what you said you would do. It’s an agreement that says, “I give you my word.” Simple enough one would think, but unfortunately, there is another phrase that sometimes follows if that word is not kept, “but you promised.” As disheartening as that is, it happens. I'm so glad that God is a keeper of His promises.

First, it’s important to understand the circumstances that caused Paul to write this second letter to the Corinthians. In summation, the churches had been persuaded by false teachers and encouraged to go against Paul and what he had taught them. These false teachers defamed his reputation and insulted his character by saying he was proud, dishonest and not qualified as an apostle of Jesus Christ (perhaps Paul's Damascus experience was not known to them, however, that was a qualifier in my book). Since that time, these difficulties had been dealt with and the majority of the people had a change of heart. Paul received the good report and was grateful. He sends this letter expressing his thankfulness; he defends his character, as well as appeal to those that are still rebelling against him and his authority in Christ, he also defends his ministry and assures them of his calling as an apostle.

Paul reminds them of the true gospel that they had been taught; telling them that we came to you in holiness and in all sincerity, in all honesty; not in our own wisdom but in the wisdom of God and our words were not inconsistent with our actions. We were faithful and only preached Jesus and the promises of God, which are in Him; and that those promises are yes to you that are in Him. He tells them that he came to confirm the promises that you might glorify God for His mercy, His peace, His joy and for the hope that was made possible through Christ; that you would not only believe the promises but that Jesus is the assurance of God’s promises; established in Him and sealed by Him; none of those promises shall fail because all the promises are “yes” in Christ. Unlike man, who makes promises and then chooses not keep them; God is not a man that He should lie. He won’t change his mind because He gave His Word and His Word, keeps His Word. He is faithful to all His promises and He is faithful to us. Paul's words also apply to us as well and serve as a reminder.

The verse simply says, for no matter how many promises God has made, they are “yes” in Christ and so through him the “amen” is spoken by us for the glory of God. Here’s a little nugget: Jesus is the Amen, because He is the faithful and true witness (Rev 3:14) of God and when we say amen we declare that we agree, we support and we confirm that it is so! I like the way the sounds.

Take some time to search the Word for His promises, it will strengthen your faith and encourage your heart; it will confirm God's love. Peter tells us in 2 Peter 1:4 that He has given us His very great and precious promises.

There is no doubt that we can count on the promises of God. God says, “I promise” ... Jesus confirms and says, it’s a guaranteed yes! Amen.

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. Romans 4:20-21

I love reading about the faith of Abraham! He had some "right now" faith and it was counted unto him as righteousness. The relationship, the fellowship, the one-on-one that he had with God was such that, Abraham knew God with certainty and without doubt, that he could trust God. He believed and took Him at His word; he understood who God was and although he didn’t understand "why" most times (and isn't that our issue?), he yet had strong faith. He knew God had his best interest at heart, as well as purpose for his life. Read the story of Abraham and you'll say, “why wouldn't he trust and have faith in the One who had been faithful to him?” Abraham realized that he could trust God to do just what He said; so he walked in obedience and with assurance. This is why Paul could write to the Romans in this passage and tell them that Abraham was fully persuaded without swaying and believed God at His word. Abraham received the promise through the righteousness of faith, although, this promise was made long before the law. God already had it in His heart for men to be entitled to the promise by faith and Abraham set the perfect example.

The same applies to us today; we must be fully persuaded; we must be strong in faith, always giving God the glory, no matter what our situations look like. We must stand firmly and be assured that God knows what He is doing; we can’t debate or argue with Him because we don’t see what He is trying to accomplish in or through us. Faith over fear is the key because we normally fear the unknown; what we can’t see and definitely what we can't control. If we say we believe God – then let’s believe God. We cannot waver in our faith; it's not an easy task sometimes, but it is a learned process; ask Abraham. When the Lord asks us to make sacrifices that we don't understand, we still need to hold fast to our profession of faith that He knows best. The scripture tells us in Hebrews 10:23, “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for He is faithful that promised.”

If we could pattern ourselves after Abraham; trusting and believing God at His word, having his faith when life's events get us down, or the problems and the pressures of life weigh heavily and they seem as if they’re too hard to bear. It is in our best interest to seek out an intimate relationship that He desires with us, learn of His Word, learn of His nature, learn of His character, and passionately pursue His purpose for our lives; this will strengthen our faith. When we take the time to get to know Him, the more we will begin to understand that we too, are able to stand with Abraham faith and say, “I am going to stand by faith, be empowered by this faith; be fully satisfied and fully persuaded that what God promised, He is able also to perform!

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. Romans 5:17-18

Today is Friday, yet it’s like any other day that we should be thankful for, right? However, there is something about Fridays that we love; it’s like a pass to Disneyland, where the fun begins!

In the corporate world, there are so many “sayings.” There is one for Mondays, one for Wednesdays, and then there’s Friday. After a while, you find yourself getting into the habit of saying “thank God it’s Friday!” Well, as of today, TGIF will have a new meaning for me and I’ll begin a new habit of saying, “thank God it’s free!”; it will certainly spark new conversations not only at the water cooler, but wherever you are and thus, an opportunity to witness.

Paul tells the Romans that Adam brought about death because of his sin and disobedience, but Christ came and brought about life and reconciled us back to God. Two acts with opposite results. Paul was very straightforward in speaking to the Romans; he got right to the point of the matter (the Romans and their lifestyle is something to read about). Today, the passage deals with the righteousness of God, and Paul specifically tells them in these verses that by the righteousness of one, a free gift had come to justify or give reason for new life.

If our focus is on what excepting the gift would mean; new life, a loving and wonderful relationship with the Lord, then perhaps we would make it our purpose to be more appreciative of the gift that was freely given and sharing it with others. Because of the gift, we not only have life, but life more abundantly. We have peace and joy that exists through fellowship with Christ, the gift giver. You can feel whole and complete; mind, body and soul, and apart from Him, it’s really not possible. If we get to know Him and understand the depth of whom He is and who we are because of Him, then we begin to experience this new life in ways unimaginable. I can tell you that getting to know the heart of God and His purpose for our lives empowers us to be more like Him ... and it all starts with accepting the free gift.

I truly believe that the presentation of this gift is vital, in our verbal expression, as well as our outward expression of Christ to others. Perhaps our approach needs some readjustment, perhaps we need to be more creative in how we approach; even though the message is the same, people are different and personalities are diverse; proceed accordingly, Jesus did. Certainly, we have to live the life we talk about; be an example, a practice what you preach paradigm, if you will. There is already so much negativity surrounding the church today that we need to be beacons of hope, vessels of change, and givers of expectation. We need to be able to give an answer for the hope that’s in us and tell the world effectively that Christ is the answer. That knowing Him makes all the difference in how we navigate our daily lives, even in the decisions and the choices we make.

Even with all that's said, I don’t know of anyone that doesn’t like free giveaways, do you? Give someone the opportunity to hear about your hope today, tell them the gift is free (another TGIF); a gift they can have right now, without delay, no waiting in long lines, no paperwork to fill out just a few simple words to say (Rom 10:9-10) and it’s theirs for the keeping!

Happy TGIF!!

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

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:
Psalms 23:1-3

The mind is a beautiful thing; it allows us to visualize and actually get a sense of being in the place that we are thinking about. For example, when reading these verses of scripture, my mind automatically takes me away and I envision myself lying in a field of green grass, growing up in West Virginia and spending summers in the Bluegrass state of Kentucky makes this easier; the sights, the sounds and the smells of a warm summer day, with the wind gently blowing; looking up at the clear blue skies and without a care in the world. All I feel at that moment is free and content; having that youthful feeling when life was simple and carefree, full of enjoyment and I didn’t want for anything. There is such a peace that comes over me and my soul is refreshed.

David, growing up as a shepherd boy, had plenty of time while he watched over the sheep to think. He could certainly use what he knew and observed, to be creative in his writing. Here he speaks naturally from the vantage point of being a sheep. He said and I paraphrase, “The Lord is my keeper, my guide, and my provider. He watches over me and tends to my needs; both naturally and spiritually. He takes care of me so that I lack nothing and He makes provisions for me continuously, also seeing that I am fed until I am satisfied and until I am full. He makes sure that in my lying down, I can rest easy from the fears and worries that surround me and from those that seek to destroy me; I can sleep peacefully knowing that He is watching over me and protects me from the dangers seen and unseen that lurk in the wilderness; He assures me that I am here and all is well. The sounds from laying by the waters soothe me, it is a calm within its self, it allows me to be in a place of peacefulness that only still waters can bring, a place of no anxieties; a place where you can get lost in its serenity; a place of tranquility and quietness in order to restore me for another day’s journey.

It would behoove us to get to that place regularly, where we can find rest for our soul; so that regardless of what’s going on around us along this journey; whether we are tired, exhausted, wearied, troubled, anxious, or worn from the cares of the world, we will remember that God is our shepherd. He watches over us continually and cares about the well being of His flock. He wants to restore us to a place of rest and tranquility; where our hearts and our minds are at peace in Him. With this peace, we can hear clearly from God and move accordingly. It is hard to hear which direction we should go from the Shepherd when our mind is clogged from the anxieties and the worries that each day and life brings. We can be confident as He assures us with His guidance and directives for our lives, that He will lead us on the right path and we need not worry. We can take comfort in knowing, God is concerned with everything that we are concerned about (Ps 138:8).

Find yourself lying in a green pasture today, imagine yourself there, feeling peaceful, feeling free, feeling refreshed and feeling restored!

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. Psalms 34:8

My childhood memories are not fond when it comes to my first encounter with brussels sprouts. I immediately got this face; you know the face we get when we have not tasted the food, but it doesn’t look as if we’ll like it or that it won’t be good. After dinner, I had to sit for what seemed like hours in the kitchen, being forced to eat them. My mother said, “You’re not moving until you eat them” and I said, "But, I don't like that!" Her response of course, "Have you even tasted them?” followed by “How do you know if you like them or not, if you haven't even tasted them?" Valid point and duly noted Mother, however, to this day, I still get that face just thinking about brussels sprouts.

Oftentimes, it is by sight that we base our decisions, before we've tasted and made the discovery of the "oh my goodness" enjoyment or the "ooh no" of displeasure. Naturally, this holds true for food or drinks; spiritually, the same holds true when we are talking about God, you also have to taste and see how good He is before coming to a conclusion. You often see the face of those who have not yet tried Him and it looks as if they think they won't like it... until they have tasted for themselves.

David not only encourages but urges us to seek the Lord, seek a relationship with Him. It is then and only then that you will know for sure; because knowing of Him, reading about Him, hearing others talk about Him, is not the same as experiencing Him. You have to try and experience Him to get the fullness and the essence of who God is and all of His glory. David is serious about his relationship with God, as we read in the previous verses, he tells us that he will bless the Lord at all times, His praise, meaning I’m going to tell of His goodness continually and repeatedly; my soul will boast in Him all the day long; come on and magnify Him with me. Like David, if we have that relationship, then we have tasted and seen God's goodness in every aspect of our life; we begin to take notice of everything that He has made; everything that He has done and take comfort in knowing that He is always the same… and we want to tell others of His goodness.

We love telling each other about this great spot we found to eat and we tell it with so much excitement. We praise the restaurant and explain how good the food was, the extensive menu, the flavor, the seasoning, the ambiance, and of course, the price. Do I need to break that down spiritually … not too mention, we can add that it’s free! Free!? I know you feel me on that alone? What if we took the time to tell others about Jesus and just how good He is and in that "same manner?"

We should enjoy telling others about how good God is as well as being committed to telling them, "you must try Him for yourself; you have to experience and taste this love!" I guarantee that we will persuade others to taste and see that the Lord is good and then they too will say, I've tried Him and He is uhm ... uhm good!

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. The God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
I Peter 5:6-7, 10

Waiting is perhaps the hardest task we face as people and even as believers. We are a right now generation; impatient, eager, anxious, and impulsive, just to name a few. Being humble and patient is not a given, but learned attributes, through trials, circumstances, uncontrollable conditions, and especially life experiences. According to our scripture today, there is a blessing in the wait!

Peter writes to the early church that they must be humble. He wants them to overcome the attitudes of bitterness and anxiety and to replace it with confidence and trust in God. The very act of having a humble spirit means to be modest; unassuming in our attitude and behavior before God. Not having the proper response, changes the wait time and works against what God is trying to do in us. Being humble is to submit and the act of submission or surrendering brings about obedience to His will; when we comply, we are exalted and the Lord begins the process of promoting, positioning, and increasing us.

He also lets them know that we can cast or give the Lord all of our cares and concerns; our worries and uncertainties; our fears, our doubts, and put all of our trust in Him. The Lord is looking for a people that would yield his or her will to His will. He genuinely and sincerely cares about us; He is the God of mercy, compassion and grace, the one who imparts favor, the one who imparts the blessings, the one who has called us into His eternal glory by sending His Son (John 17).

The righteous will suffer, Peter tells us, but our suffering is not a punishment, but to bring about perfection in Christ; so think it not strange when the fiery trials come up against us to try our faith (I Peter 4:12-13); because it is for our making. However, after awhile, He will make us complete in Him, establish and prove us, make us stronger and increase us and cause us to have peace. Verse 10 gives such encouragement and hope that it should inspire us to continue on knowing that God is concerned about the whole man and that He is preparing us for purpose.

With this expectation, we should wait in humbleness on the Lord to establish us according to His Word, knowing that He has a great work for us to do and in the midst of our fiery trials, in the midst of our purifying, know that in due time, it works out for our good!

Our soul will look back and wonder...

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. Jeremiah 10:23

As an Old Testament lover, I love reading about God and His love for His people. The book of Jeremiah being one of my favorites tells us here how he warns Israel about following other ways, taking on customs that were fruitless and not of the Lord, as well as being lead by useless doctrines. He reminds them that men are vain; brutish in their knowledge and you are not like them because you are the portion of the inherited. It would be in their best interest to continue on in the direction of God and not cause Him to be angry by giving glory to another. Best if they would remember His power and His wisdom rules in all the earth; He utters His voice and there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; He makes lightning with rain, and brings forth the wind out of his treasures. This is the God you serve and their gods have made nothing and will most definitely, without fail, perish. Your trust should be only in the God of your salvation – in His leadings and in His directions. God Himself said that He is a jealous God (Exodus 20:4-5), which simply means that He is passionate about protecting what is precious to Him. I think we all can relate, especially when it comes to our children.

In this verse, after Jeremiah has warned them, told them “who” God is and “what” He has established; he then goes to the Lord and pleads with Him on behalf of the people, putting himself in their place. He said, Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself and it is not in him to make the best decision to direct his own steps; it is not in his power to know the way that he should go in order to divert what he cannot see coming or what destruction may lie ahead in his path.

But you, O God do know; for you are a guide unto our feet and a light unto our path; it is virtually impossible for us to foresee what lies ahead, and believe me, I can speak on that today. We don’t know what our future holds or what tomorrow may bring, so we must rely on and put our trust in the Lord. We try to work things out for ourselves and we do ourselves a disservice and consequently, we either change the course from God’s original purpose; make it painful than it ought to be or we find ourselves going around in circles only to come to ourselves and realize we should have trusted and let Him lead us initially (been there, done that repeatedly). I can guarantee you that He won’t lead you astray or lead you on a road to destruction, everything the Lord does, is for our good.

So, we want to be lead of the Lord; His leading and his divine direction is always right regardless of whether or not we understand it because His thoughts and ways are not ours. He sees the overall picture of our lives; and His plan and His purpose for the development of them. If we follow His path and allow Him to direct us (Pro 3:5-6), will always be that of the right way and our walk will always be prosperous.javascript:void(0)

We all need divine direction; we can’t live or walk effectively without it!

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde