Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. Mark 9:23-24

With God all things are possible; those were the encouraging words given to me as I concluded a conversation with someone who needed to hear the very words that she herself spoke. Some of our circumstances and situations will bring us to tears and cause us to cry out in desperation. “All things are possible" is not necessarily a truism according to the world's standard, but it is a truth given by the Lord Himself in this passage. This is a truth that we can take stock in and hold on to without doubt.

Jesus said all things are possible to him that believes. "If" we could just believe, with if being the operative word in that statement. This little word if, is a conjunction used to indicate the circumstances that would have to exist in order for an event to happen. I’ll let you marinate in that for a moment. This tells me that we must first believe and then God will show us that through Him not only is it possible, but that He can do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we ask or think. He is faithful to answer our pleas and perfect that which concerns us (Ps 138:8). Just think of the possibility of things for a moment... it is not a question as to whether or not Jesus can do it, but, do we actually have enough faith to believe that He's able to do what we've asked of Him.

This father must have had some belief, some faith, even if it was the size of a mustard seed in order to bring his son to Jesus that day and because he had probably exhausted all other possibilities. Nonetheless, he made his way to where Jesus was, hoping that his son could be delivered from this sickness. Imagine his excitement when Jesus told him, “if you can just believe, then it's possible.” He said "Lord, I believe; but help thou my unbelief." He acknowledges and asked Jesus to help whatever he lacked. Now, imagine his faith level going from 0 to 60 in a matter of seconds. The small measure of faith and hope he had, has now increased, strengthened, and definitely reinforced after Jesus charged the spirit to come out of his son and then raised him up!

I think about all the things that we bring before the Lord, all the things we are in need of; all the things that we have cried out to the Lord for on behalf of our families, our children, our friends, our churches, our leaders, our workplace, our coworkers, our finances, and even for ourselves. We cry out for help, we cry out for deliverance, we cry out for healing, we cry out for strongholds to be pulled down, and we will cry out for the concerns of our heart. All the things that make us weep and make us cry out loud, "Lord I believe, but help my unbelief." This is not to say that we don’t have the faith to believe however, sometimes it’s hard to see the calm when you are in the midst of the storm, the boat rocks, we get tossed and our faith gets shaken. So we cry out, Lord, help my faith, help me to believe, help me to stand on the requests that I have brought before you; help me to trust as I stand on your Word and your promises.

Today, I am excited about the possibility of things, not only for right now, but for those things to come; the things I know, I believe and expect to come to fulfillment and completion. I'm excited about what the Lord is doing according to what we have brought before him. He said to make your requests known; ask and it shall be given; seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened. If you can believe, then it shall be done. If we say that we are going to believe God, then let's believe God and not doubt. We must put our trust, our confidence and our faith in him; for without these, it is impossible to get the blessings!

With a quiet and still voice, I can hear the Lord saying, "I have heard your prayers and I have seen your tears, if you would only just believe that all things are possible through Me."

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Gal 6:9

This particular word, shifting, has been in my spirit for awhile; however, I shelved it because it just wasn’t time. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose... and God is always working for our good and in our favor… Amen? So now, is the appointed time. I wrote about the changing of seasons earlier this year which turned out (I’m seeing now) being the prelude for today’s love.

Naturally, I think of how excited I get because I realize that we will soon be transitioning or shifting into a new season, summer, which is my favorite time of the year. However, that excitement cannot be compared to what I’m experiencing in the spirit right now, especially, when I know that God is about to shift our seasons. According to the dictionary, to shift is to move or transfer from one place or position to another; to change in direction or position (now that alone will preach!). When I think about this shifting, I also get so excited, because I am anticipating what God is going to bring to fruition in our lives.

In this passage, Paul exhorts the Galatians by telling them, “let us not be weary in well doing.” I cannot tell you how many times I’ve been told that by way of a prophetic word. Honestly, I had to "get" it because I give my all when it comes to working for the Lord and it gets hard at times to deal with the many obstacles when you know what God has put in you for the ministry. I know that it sometimes seems as if it is too much to bear, oh but when I think of the purpose God has for my life, I come to myself and I get back on track. Encouragement is so important during our journey because if we are honest with one another, we do get discouraged, tired, exhausted, worn out, burned out, drained and disenchanted from the problems, the trials, the situations, and the circumstance of life. Our work in the church and our purpose for the ministry should not cause us to become weary or weak. We must remain prayerful and remember where our hope lies; it is not in man, it’s in God.

At some point, we have to come to terms with the fact that what we do is for God and for the ministry and not man. The scripture tells us in I Corinthians 15:58, “be you steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that your labor is not in vain.” Only what you do for God is going to last, so don’t get weary, keep it pushing, keep on going, hang on in there, and do not give up! Our timing is not God’s timing because the timing and the seasons are appointed by God and only He controls them and only He has the power to change them. So we have to wait until our change or our season comes.

I am compelling you today to continue on in this journey with much fervency, dedication, commitment, and obedience to God. Our season is about to shift. He is going to transfer us from one place and position us in another; thus shifting us into our new season of purpose. I wished I had coined the T.D. Jakes phrase myself but nonetheless it has the same effect when I say we better, “get ready, get ready, get ready!

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. Psalms 89:15-16

The scripture says, “blessed is (which denotes a present state) the people that know the joyful sound” or the sound of joy.

The sound that I heard this morning is hard to explain in words, it was as if it was announcing itself. That’s my best description. When I awoke, I was singing (not in an audible voice), “We praise you.” Those words were followed by “we thank you, we love you, we adore you!” When I began to think about the words that followed, it excited me and I felt as if something was about to happen. You know that feeling you get when you are in expectancy? As His people, we can be certain of that sound according to the Word. We can rejoice as we are reminded that we are yet a blessed people, not only because we know, but understand the significance of the sound of joy, as well as blessed to know that we are walking and living in God’s favor.

According to the dictionary, being joyful is an emotion of great happiness. In this verse, the usage of the word sound indicates a condition or having a particular quality when heard or leaving a particular impression. What a great impression of happiness the Lord left on my heart today. However, the sound that I speak of has nothing to do with being physically able to hear an audible sound, as it has to do with the feeling that the sound brings about. During this time, David is referring to the trumpets that sounded off for the feasts of celebration, which probably brought about the same jubilant feelings of which I speak, when they heard the sound, it brought great joy! If I could say it the way Cynde would, "something feels like it’s about to jump off, big time!” Then I just want to scream, very loudly! Something has sounded off in me with such fervency this morning, that it lets me know that we need to get ready. It's not anything you can see or hear, but you can feel it coming because we are in tune with God, and as the scripture states and “in the light of thy countenance.” Spending time in His Word and in His presence is where you’ll find this and when we experience this kind of joy, we exude radiance. Because of that, I get an overwhelming sense that causes me to be happy from the inside out.

Regardless of all else that is going on around us, in spite of how things look, God has been merciful and He has been faithful to His people. He still possesses all power and has illustrated this power on so many occasions. Not to mention God's covenant and His promises that were made to His seed, this certainly includes you and me and God is not slack concerning His promises. Sometimes we need to be reminded to hold fast to the promises of God and remember that He is in control of all things and we should continue to rejoice in Him (Phil 4:4). If we could just remember to continue to claim God’s promises even in our afflictions, we could experience the joy that He intends for us to have. This is what David is trying to convey in the passage, that God is faithful and merciful to us. He is our strength, our defense, and who can be compared to Him?

In lieu of all that is happening in our lives today, the trials, the hardships, the burdens, the brokenness, the sicknesses, and the afflictions, we can take comfort in knowing that God is for us. We can stand fast on His Word, His promises and be assured that we shall walk and live in His favor. Not focused on the world and all of its worries but putting all of our trust, our faith and our hope in Him. Yes, be prayerful, yes, be watchful, but do not worry for we are His righteousness and we shall be exalted, elevated, esteemed above all. We are His chosen people, a privileged people, and a blessed people! Listen and you will hear and know the sound of His joy!

Until the morning, be blessed!
Cynde

Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. Col 4:5-6

Being a connoisseur of good food, I love it when food has been prepared properly and seasoned to perfection! If you are a chef in your own kitchen, you know this to be true. Preparation is an absolutely essential technique, especially the seasoning. How you season is crucial to the process and seasoning with salt is just as important. If your food isn’t seasoned properly with salt, the flavors will be bland and unappealing. Learning how and when to season with salt is the key for the best flavor and the best results.

Paul talked to the Colossians in this passage and tells them to walk in wisdom, be prayerful and watch, while displaying holiness not only inside the home but outside the home as well. He lets them know that their lives in Christ should reflect that priority because a door may open with the opportunity to speak the word. So is it with us today and our witness to those who are not yet of the faith, or perhaps have gone astray. People are always watching us as the believer; they are watching our ways, our mannerisms, our attitude; they are watching our life and our lifestyle. Most times, people are only going to see you, your walk, and your words. They may never read a Bible or see the inside of the church; our words might be the only words they will hear that may impact them and perhaps save their life. You might be the light that leads them to the greatest love of all.

We must be wise in our witness (Prov 11:30). Just as I stated earlier in the natural, preparation is absolutely essential, so know the Word. It helps when we know and have an answer for reason as to why we live this life. And remember the seasoning is just as important, so that our words will have flavor, i.e., joy, happiness, peace, love, etc. And again, how we season is crucial to the process. We have to season with salt because we can’t draw others if it’s bland and unappealing. Our speech should reflect the beauty of holiness and the kindness and loveliness of God. We can turn others away not only with our words but also with our actions, leaving a bad taste in the mouths of those we are trying to draw and sometimes becoming a stumbling block for those who are trying to get to Jesus. Most importantly, is to perfect “how and when” to season with salt for the best result… this is where walking in wisdom comes in, as well as knowing and understanding the will of God (Eph 5:15-17).

Today, I’d like for us to meditate and think about how we display our walk in Christ. Observe our surroundings and see who is watching our life. Take notice of the lives we are impacting daily and remembering that if we are not seasoning properly with salt, some might lose their savor or never get the opportunity to enjoy and relish in Him or taste and see … (Ps 34:8).

Food for thought.

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God. II Chronicles 5:13-14

This morning, I have been basking in His presence; my mind has been going over the events of the past few days and I have chosen to stay in a place of worship today. Paul tells us in Philippians 4 about the peace of God that will keep our hearts and minds and then he goes on to say if there be any praise, think on these things. I'm so there!

These verses are the conclusion of the matter as Solomon has completed the temple and it was time to celebrate. He has brought in all of the things that his father David had dedicated, along with the silver, the gold, and the instruments among the treasures of the house of God. The Ark has been installed and all of Israel has assembled. The singers were in place, the musicians had gathered with cymbals, psalteries and harps, along with 120 priests sounding with trumpets. Can you visualize this? Can you imagine the sound check? With that ensemble, you know they were about to get their praise on! And so, they came together as one, making one sound, being on one accord and of the same mind as they praised and thanked God. When they lifted their voices and began singing along with the music, the glory of the Lord filled the house. It had filled the house until even the priests could not even minister. Now that’s having some church!

Look at what God can do in the midst of perfect praise and perfect worship … the musicians were on one accord; the singers were on one accord and they united as one voice and the house was filled with the glory of God. Yes, this was Old Testament times but believe me when I tell you that God is still in the "glory filling the house" business. When God is well pleased with our praise and worship, when we are all on one accord, of one mind and one purpose and He has accepted our offering, He will come in among us and we will experience His perfect glory, His magnificence and the splendor that is God. Whether it is an individual or a corporate praise and worship, if God is pleased, He will inhabit or dwell among us as we offer Him our praise.

Having had the opportunity to come in contact with this glory personally, I can tell you it is a place that is so sweet, and so satisfying. There is no doubt that we still need to encounter His glory. Once the Lord comes in and saturates you with His glory, you'll want to stay right there and never leave. For those that who have been in that place, you know exactly what I'm speaking of. I know that reality dictates that we have jobs, businesses, etc., but it is possible as I stated earlier to fill your day with thinking on the things of God and keeping your mind stayed on Him. It surely makes the difference in how your day transpires.

Lord, in the midst of our perfect and sincere praise, fill us because we need your glory!

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O ye servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord's name is to be praised. Psalm 113:1-3

Today, there is such a praise bubbling down on the inside of me. I’m feeling abit like Jeremiah wrote, “His word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones.” This praise, is for all that the Lord is… not because of anything that He has done for me but because of who He is. I praise Him today because I know who He is as He relates to me. Hear me today when I say it’s a personal thing. We have to take the time to find out “who” He is, so we are able to walk effectively through this journey. Honestly, you will understand it better when you get to know Him and develop a relationship with Him. You'll want to praise and bless the name of the Lord at all times (Psalm 34:1).

I praise His name because He is Omnipotent, because He’s got unlimited power; He is Omnipresent cause He’s everywhere, all at the same time; He is Omniscient because He’s all knowing, He is the only wise God; He is El Shaddai, the God who supplies all our needs; He is Jehovah Jireh, our provider; He is Jehovah Ropheka, because He’s our healer; He is Jehovah Rohi, the shepherd that watches over us; He is Jehovah Shalom, the Lord of our peace. He is the Most High God; He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the ending; He is Jehovah Elohim, our redeemer, the eternal and everlasting Father.

I could go on about who the Lord is but simply put, He just is!

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. Zech 8:12

“Like the dew in the morning, gently rest upon my heart.” This song came to mind this morning and I just started singing it. Singing or just reading the words brings about such a peace. If you grew up in the country or have ever had the opportunity to visit the country for any amount of time, you would certainly know about the morning dew. I loved spending time with my Grandmother in Kentucky during the summer. I experienced so much that was unfamiliar to the city. Some mornings, before the hot humid weather set in, my Grandmother and I would go on the porch and enjoy tea as we sat together in her favorite swing. The activity that goes on in the morning is absolutely amazing to watch; from the birds, humming and otherwise, to the bees and all the other little creatures. From the porch, you could see droplets of water that had formed on everything, these droplets reminded me of diamonds as they sparkled from the sunlight that slowly arose on the blades of grass, the roses, the leaves, and even glistened with beauty on the artistically and meticulously spun spider web. I was always in awe and complete wonderment as I think back on how God made provisions for every living thing, including us.

Zechariah’s name is interpreted “Yahweh (God) has remembered” and he gives the people several messages from God throughout this book. Here, he is reminding the people about God’s promises of mercy and His faithfulness in keeping His word to them. This is a wonderful message, as he tells them that God wants to restore and reassure, as well as console them, His remnant, even though times were hard and trying. While reading, you sense somehow that you are hearing today’s news. God’s message was simple; their future blessings were contingent upon their present obedience. Nothing has changed about that statement, even as a believer today. His faithfulness, His mercy and His love for them (and us) is imaginable to the human psyche. God wanted them to complete the work on the temple and as they built the temple, they were building their future. By obeying, he tells them that the seed or what you sow in Him will be prosperous and He in turn would pour out His blessings on them, their future, their fields, their vineyards, they would receive it in abundance, an increase and possess all these things! What an encouragement to the people of God.

What an encouragement for us as well because it applies to our lives as believers today. When we sow our lives in Him, be obedient to His Word, we will be prosperous, successful, and rich beyond measure (this is not to be taken in the monetary sense, even though He is able to make that happen as well); we will flourish and thrive through Him, through His Word; in our purpose and in our ministry. In turn, He will pour out His blessings on us, our children, our families, our future, our fields, our vineyards, and we will receive it in abundance and to top it off, He said we would possess all these things! The Word says, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us (Eph 3:16-20, be sure and read those). I'm thankful that His promises of mercy and His faithfulness has been extended to me (II Cor 1:20).

Sit back and imagine a peaceful country morning, where the birds are chirping and the flowers are awakening, the bees are buzzing and the sun has not risen to its fullest potential just yet, you can see the blanket of dew that has fallen from heaven and covered everything. Now, imagine you were lying in the grass and it has fallen on you as well. Please know that just as the morning dew falls from heaven, so has God remembered us as He softly covers everything and has made every provision, concerning us.

Be encouraged today.

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. Is 43:7

I remember writing not too long ago about being inquisitive at age 7 and asking God why He had made us and why were we here. Had I known the scriptures during that age, I could have read this particular verse, along with countless others that tell of His wondrous works, not only in the heavens and the earth but of His most precious creation, His people who He has called by His name.

We are the people that He created; a people that He made, formed, and shaped in His own image; a people that He holds dear to His heart; a people that He called according to His purpose; a people that will bless and give reverence to His name. A people that would give Him praise and would worship Him because of who He is; a people that would show forth and demonstrate His Glory, His Majesty, and His Splendor by the life we lead, being an example of our Creator in ever aspect of our lives.

Every one that is called by His name; everyone who bears His name and are witnesses that He is God should represent Him in how we serve; what we do, how we speak, and how we conduct our lives. The glory of God should reflect through us continually, everyday, all day … not when it’s convenient, not only on Sunday and not only when it is in the presence of others. If we would give thought to our lives, ask ourselves honestly, does my life give reverence or is it made up of profane babbling and self-righteous labor and motivation that equates to nothing? Let every man examine himself and remember that the God, who created and formed us, knows all and sees all. Let's remember that He has fashioned us for His purpose and created us for His glory!

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is sound, your entire body will be full of light. Matt 6:22 (Amplified)

My Pastor preached a great message this past Sunday. While listening to the message, I heard several key phrases. This particular phrase however, spoke to my spirit, so I jotted it down. He spoke and I paraphrase, about wanting to be a photographer in his youth; having a camera and taking pictures. He said in order to get a great shot, sometimes you’ll need to adjust the camera’s lens because your image is out of focus; not only will you have to zoom in but you’ll need to adjust the lens in order to get a clear and crisp photo. The closer you get, the more you’ll see and observe the quality of that image; the more vivid and rich the color will become. You’ll have the opportunity to see it in its fullness and see distinctly in detail, its characteristics; every line, every crevice, as well as the contour and the uniqueness of its beauty.

It was a wonderful illustration as to how much clarity we’d have if we were to use our lens (our eyes) to focus and zoom in on God. The same as it is with the camera, the closer we get, the clearer He becomes to us and the more we’ll see the fullness of His glory. We’ll be able to see His brilliance and then we’ll see how vivid, rich and colorful His image really is. We’ll have the opportunity to see distinctly and in detail, His characteristics; His qualities, His person, His distinguishing and unique beauty.

Our passage today is Jesus is speaking on the importance of the eye and how it can help or hinder us depending on the state of the eye. He tells us that our eyes are our organ of vision; with it, we see the good and the bad. Our eyes, if they are sound, healthy and whole are free to see with more precision, more transparency (discernment), and with more understanding. If we are seeing things through unsound eyes, the reality is that we are more apt to see only the negative, and all the evil that this world holds. We could easily be led astray or become discouraged if our priorities are not focused. However, if our eyes are fixed and focused only on Jesus, we can be full of His light, displaying holiness and happiness despite what we see and definitely able to stand through any adversity (Psalm 46:10).

Of course, during this journey we will from time to time get out of focus, let's face it, we're human. We all will need adjustment at some point or another, an eye exam if you will; because when your eyes are healthy, you are able to see things clearly but when they are cloudy or out of focus, we have to adjust; naturally, glasses are used to correct our vision; spiritually, it's the word that corrects our vision and gets us back to healthy sight. We need healthy sight and vision in order to focus in on God and in order to fulfill His purpose for our life. We need it to be able to see His beauty, His magnificence, and His glory. The scripture also says “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.”

There is so much to see and experience in God and I want to be able to see all that He has planned for me to behold, all the wondrous things, all the beautiful things, every color and every detail; I want to feel, understand and experience the light of His presence. I don’t want to lose sight or walk around without direction, or purpose or uncertainty, and definitely not without His knowledge to guide me in His way. I want to keep my eyes on things above, the treasures of God that are stored up just for me.

So go ahead, get your zoom on and get focused, begin to see everything in its fullness and true colorful detail with a sound eye. Trust me, you will not be disappointed with what you will see!

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

May the LORD bless thee today, and keep thee today: May the LORD make his face shine upon thee today, and be gracious unto thee today: May the LORD lift up his countenance upon thee today, and give thee peace today! Numbers 6:24-26

Sometimes we need a right now word from the Lord and today it’s “today!”

I am asking the Lord to bless you; watch and guard over you; keep you today, no matter what you may be going through or in spite of how things look. Keeping in your remembrance that God is in control of all things; He always has your best interest at heart. So trust Him today with yours.

I asked the Lord make His face shine upon you, enlighten you in His way, and as you go throughout this day; to be gracious, kind, and merciful to you in all you do today, as well as meeting your needs and wants for this day, regardless of whether it concerns your home, your family, your job, your finances, or whatever your requests are for today. I also asked that He would give you favor, His unmerited favor, for with it we can see the impossible happen in our lives and in the lives of others. May the Lord lift up His countenance of approval upon you, in everything you touch or speak in His name today. And most importantly, that your day be filled with His peace, the peace that passes all understanding.

Today,Lord.

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Rev 3:8-9

As children, we all remember the coined phrase “open sesame” by Ali Baba when he told the doors to the robbers cave to open in Arabian nights. Even as amazed as we were that Ali Baba had power to command a door to open, his puny powers cannot be compared to the omnipotence of God.

While reading, I remembered how I love this verse of scripture; it is one of comfort and assuredness. God tells the church, just as he told the church in Ephesus, I know your works, I know you have little strength because of all your labor and what you have had to suffer among those who claim to be who they are not, however, because you have continued to keep my word and did not deny my name, I have set before you an open door; a door that no man is able to shut. And then He tells them, “I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.” He will make even your enemies your footstool. They will rise up and call you blessed, they will tell others of the love you have for the Lord. I love it! God will soften the hearts of some of our biggest adversaries that will cause them to come under subjection and the obedience of the Word of God. Talk about conversion!

God is saying today that because you have continued to labor and keep my Word and have not denied my name, I have positioned and strategically placed before you an open door with an all access pass and no man is going to be able to block your way or close you out, in order for you to go forth and do that which you have been purposed to do. I don't what doors God has commanded to open on your behalf but know when God opens a door for you, when he makes a way for you, your ministry, your work for the Kingdom, no man can stop that. The gifts and the talents that He has equipped you with to do an effective work, He is going to make ways and give favor where favor is needed. Make men call to bless you and your endeavors; some you’ll know, most you won’t because it will be laid upon their hearts to do so. I could scream right here because this is what I love and know about God personally; when He says He’s going to do a thing, it’s a done deal. God is not a man that He should lie and if He says it’s open, it’s forever open until or unless He tells it or allows it to shut.

Being the wild child of imagination since my youth (or perhaps I should say a girl of vision), I can tell you that I see God commanding as only He could, saying, “Open Says Me”; and things begin to move in the atmosphere, things begin to shake and shift; all He has to do is speak a Word and things begin to position or reposition themselves on our behalf!

I am so excited about the possibility of things, excited to see how God is moving not only in my life but in the life of others. Share and let me know how God is opening doors for you!

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Rev 2:1-4

What comes to mind when you think of your first love? Can you remember how your heart skipped a beat when they called or when you saw them; how you thought about that person every moment of the day or how you couldn’t imagine being away from them for any period of time? When this topic dropped in my spirit, I had to smile because immediately it took me back on the path to my first love, Bubby, and the anticipation of our first meeting the next morning, after talking to him for awhile from a second story window in the darkness of a Midwestern night. This eventually led to wonderful, memorable moments in time. Even though our lives and location changed, everything that we had experienced together; our walks, our outings, our talks, our dreams, and our hearts desires; the memories of love still remain. You may leave them but you never forget your first love.

This chapter begins with John addressing a letter to the church in Ephesus regarding this very subject because they had fallen apart despite the efforts to hang on to the truth by some of the congregation. He tells them even though the Lord knows who they are and He knows their works, He was not pleased with them because they had left that which they first loved, that pure, unadulterated, and untainted love for Him. He lets them know that God knows their hearts, their attitudes, their thoughts, their desires, their rising and their downsitting; He knows them even better than they know themselves. He knows how much they have suffered persecution and what they have had to endure for His name sake; He knew they had not fainted or become weary as they labored and He had not forgotten them (Heb 6:10). He knew of the opposition they faced and came up against them constantly, not only individually, but as a church. Because of this, some had allowed themselves to become loveless and I’m sure just going through the motion; which is a very bad place to be, physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. All of this had caused them to lose their fervor, become neglectful in their passion, desire, and their devotion to what they had been taught and their commitment to excellence in order to please the Lord and He was bringing this to their attention. He also warns them and then advised they repent and come back.

Well, this writing is speaking to us as well. He knows us too, all to well; what we do on an individual basis, as well as collectively as the church, and as members of this one body. He recognizes and understands the doctrines of the modern day church, which by comparison is no different from the early church: the laws and the by laws; the problems, the events, the turmoil, the scandals, the strife, the anger, the mistrust, the bad attitudes, honestly I could go on, however, all of these things cause dissension and slowly eat away at the fabric of the church and eventually our love (Matt 24:12). We get so caught up in the busyness of the church work and the labor of non-love, that we sometimes, if not most of the times, forget the purpose of why we fell in love with the Lord; this is the reason for our passion and enthusiasm. Love will make you desire to be more devoted, more dedicated and committed to ministry and the purpose of God.

If we stop and think for a moment, we can still remember the initial love we felt when we fell in love with the Lord. Well, I still I remember when I fell in love with Jesus down to the very day and hour. After that, I felt as if nothing could separate me from His love or my journey in Him because it was and is my fervent desire to know and love Him and be obedient to His Word. If you love someone, you will go gung-ho for them. However, I do know and understand all to well the words in which John writes to the church. If I didn’t love the Lord today, the church, the people and its influences would have run me away and my love for the church would have waxed cold and you would not be reading this from me, most assuredly.

So many that I’ve known over the years, lost their fervor, their passion and their desire for the church and their love have gone astray because they became weary and worn and couldn’t hold on. We have to be careful how we entreat one another, how we love one another in Jesus' name. The Word says, With lovingkindness have I drawn thee. It’s the love that draws. When you begin to tell others about your love and you tell them of how beautiful and wonderful that love is to you, they will ask, and they will want to know how to get this love and keep this love.

Love of the Lord is the most genuine, authentic, real kind of love we can show, naturally and especially spiritually because this shows that we can give our heart totally, completely and unconditionally without question to God and consequently unto others. We don’t ever want to become so busy, where it becomes drudgery to walk on this journey, or lose sight or lose focus on what’s important while we work. Our relationship with the Lord, as in any natural relationship takes work, some nurturing, some cultivating, and some loving. He is telling us today, that we may have left Him or gone astray for a bit, but you never forget your first love. Let's remember why we fell in love with Him, and get back to our first love.

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain. II Samuel 23:4

Awakened by the sunlight, I heard these words sweetly this morning. They reminded me of how I so love the morning after the storm, the sun shines brighter, the air fresher and so clear, you can literally see the grooves of the mountains afar; it’s the magnificence of a new day that’s so refreshing. The birds seem to chirp and play louder; everything about the morning is crisp and clean. The storm seemingly washes away everything, the dirt, the grime, and the filth; the grass is greener and colors are more vibrant and you can see the brilliance of a new day. It seems as though all things are back to a renewed state.

When I read this verse, it gave me that same feeling, that same sense of newness thinking of it as it relates to God. David’s words, his language, and the imagery he gives to illustrate simply wows me and it is hard to express how much I love reading his life, his works, his passion and his pursuit for God. He inspires, excites and encourages me to want to do and be more than I am right now. To be able to explain this wonderful and attainable God that is so inviting that others will run with vigor to get to know Him. David makes me feel as if I am missing a very simple truth to knowing the heart of God and that I must continue my search to find it; or as if I’m not getting enough of Him. Perhaps, this is what having a hunger and thirst for righteousness feels like (Matt 5:6).

The chapter begins by telling us about the man who was raised up on high, the anointed; the sweet psalmist. He tells us the Spirit of the Lord spoke to him and said that He (God) shall be as the light or the illumination of the morning, when the sun riseth, and even the mornings without clouds or haze and as a tender grass springing up that can be seen shining clearly after the rain. Doesn’t that sound refreshing? While reading I envisioned the day after the rains and in my garden I began to see new life and new buds of green coming forth out of the earth, rising for His glory, stretching to show His splendor as if to say, I'm here because God’s here. It gives me such peace and a calming in my spirit that it encourages me and to know that if God has made provisions for this green bud, how much more is He here for me, the very one that He says He loves.

I can tell you after the storm is over, God’s presence will shine in your circumstance or in your situation. Most times, during the trials of life, we are unable to see what God is doing in our lives because the muck and the mire is just too thick. However, His light will give you clarity and you will begin to see clearly. After the washing away from the rain, everything will seem more brilliant, bright, crisp, and clean. God promises us joy in the morning and we experience His glory, as well as His goodness. We can be comforted in knowing that it is His pleasure and His desire to give to us. Whatever the storm is in your life today, remember after the storm, comes the freshness of a new day with the morning light that is shining brightly just for you!

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.
Deut 33:27-29

I love this passage of scripture; if you were to read the entire chapter, you’d see that it speaks about the heart of God; His favor, His mercy, and His blessings, but most importantly, His love for the children of Israel. It also speaks to us as well and that alone is enough to be happy about.

Israel was excellent because of the excellency of God and Moses writes of the love of God that works on their behalf. God who promised to uphold, support and comfort Israel; promised that all would be sanctified; and all would be given strength as long as their days on the earth. God promised them continuous support through everything. He made a promise that He intended to keep, no matter what. None of their burdens would be too hard to bear because they were a people saved by God. He’d uphold them and comfort them; He would be their help in times of trouble and in times of need. He’d defend and protect them; provide shelter and feed them, both naturally and spiritually; preserve them from the enemy and cause them to have complete victory over them; and then God would tread on their higher places, bringing everything down that exalted itself against them. In spite of their imperfections; Israel had a reason to be beyond happy, a reason to have indescribable happiness. Moses tells them there is nobody like them, God’s people. Who wouldn't want to serve God knowing this? The scripture says, “Happy is the people, whose God is the Lord.”

If you, being the people of Lord, knew that He would be an ever present help in a time of need, despite our faults, our flaws, and our shortcomings, not be in pursuit of this happyness? The blessings in this chapter hold true for us and His promises are to us as well. He promised to do the same for us as long as we serve Him with our whole heart (mind, body and soul). He is our God and He is concerned about our wellbeing, every aspect of our lives. He is concerned about whatever we are concerned about. We are able to take all of our worries, our fears, and our matters to Him (Psalm 138:8).

We can rest in that assurance, we can trust in Him, we can believe that He will comfort us in our times of need, He will keep us in His everlasting arms, provide a place of safety; and hide us under the shadow of His wings. I think Psalms 91 says it best, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”

With all of this to keep in my heart; to know that God is concerned about me, I want to stay excellent in His eyes. Continuing in my pursuit of happyness… that eternal happyness that only serving God can bring!

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God? It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.
Psalm 18:31-36

This scripture is absolutely perfect today because of the discussion I had with my daughter yesterday regarding this subject and the subjects that surround this subject. Letting go of things and believing that whatever God has planned for our life is not only perfect, but ordained. We take hold of many things because of what others say about what they think we should be doing. Many would have you to believe that this is the normal way of life or better yet, we have been conditioned to think this is the way. Man’s ways are not God’s ways, however, we succumb to them because we have been taught that this is the way it should be or the way that we should live our lives. Having the opportunity to hear a clear and concise word that speaks to how you are feeling is so freeing! Not that I need validation, but it confirmed in my spirit that which I already knew. That deserves a “bless God!” Truly, my daughter's wisdom ministered to me and there is nothing like putting things in the right perspective.

At what point in life, did we miss what God was saying to us. I remember being seven and in my room looking out the window and asking God, "why did you make me and why are we here?" Apparently, I didn't wait to hear His answer or I wasn't listening because I would have made some different life choices. Nonetheless, His mercy and His grace waited for me to hear, even though I was so far past seven years old when I finally heard. Most people go thorough life never knowing God’s purpose for their lives. Consequently, we live beneath our privileges when we don't take advantage of who God has destined us to be and to do; we limit our own potential. Who is man to tell us how we should be living? Our daily lives and our daily makeup after becoming an adult is dictated by society to go to work, stay all day, go home, fix dinner, get the kids ready for school, try to spend quality time with our loved ones, go to bed and start all over again the next day with the same routine. We repeat this process because we’ve been programmed to have a certain mindset or mentality from birth to retirement to death; provided you make it to retirement and is this where our trust and our hope lies? Don't misunderstand me, there is nothing wrong with that path or that plan if that works for you, but make sure that you are not so busy on that path that you miss life and God speaking to your purpose for life. The Lord reminds me that His way is always perfect, His Word has been proven and He is my refuge, my shelter and my preserver. He provides strength, protection, and firm footing that will take me to the high places that He’s prepared for me. For who is God except God?

God stands true to His promises. We say all the time, without even thinking and most times without truly believing in our hearts, “let go and let God.” Don’t we? However, that is sometimes easier said than done, in most cases and I think because it sounds good and it somehow makes us feel better. But trust me, it is not about a feeling! It’s about what you know to be true; what you know to be real, or having had experienced it for yourself. It is a testament as to what you know the Lord can do and then standing on that, no matter what you have been faced with, i.e., loss, layoffs, etc., look at the blessing and potential in it and not be overwhelmed by it. We draw strength from His Word and that takes us from faith to faith. We realize that, it is God and God alone, as soon as we let go of the other stuff we’ve learned, a deprogramming if you will, the Lord can take us to higher places in Him.

How many times have we tried to figure out "the how, the why me, the what am I going to do, the when Lord?" Not saying that we don’t trust God or have faith but what if we started saying, "thank you Lord, because I don’t know why or how, or what, or when, but I do know that you said in your Word, “that ALL things work for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose." Maybe He is getting us ready for something bigger, our ministries, and or perhaps our own businesses, blessing us to be a blessing as intended; the possibilities are endless because God is infinite, and shouldn’t we be looking for that as well? Honestly, I had to say, Lord, please help me; help me not to get in Your way, help me to hear your voice, your leading so that I can make wise choices; help me to let go and let you work in me and through me. Help me to have the faith to believe that you’ve already worked it out for my good. Help me to stand in the midst of it all and believe that it is God that makes my way perfect if I trust Him. God can work in our lives in leaps and bounds if we would let Him. He that girds or surrounds us, He that makes our ways perfect, He that makes ways out of no ways, He that keeps us from falling, He that sets us in high places and establishes us. If we could change our mode of thinking today, start praying and meditating about what God wants and has for our lives; if we could just trust God and let go and let God be God in us and through us!

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it. Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlors thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat, And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things:
I Chronicles 28:9-12

In the Old Testament, the God inspired pattern or the designs for the temple had been given to David. How it was to be built, down to every minute detail. God was very exact and specific in His instructions. In this particular passage, David, as instructed by God, is giving the pattern to his son Solomon, so that he could build and complete the temple for God’s glory. David tells him in verse 9: “Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind.” He goes on to tell him to take heed or take this seriously now my son, for the Lord has chosen you to build His temple; so be strong and do the work. What an honor to be given the task of building the temple for God.

David gave Solomon the designs for the temple, along with the specifications for the surroundings, the inner rooms, the outer rooms, the sanctuary, the courtyards; all of it. Included in the specifics were the material of which the temple was to be built, complete with the details of the fine linen, the furniture; even the type of treasuries, the valuables if you will that had been stored and preserved just for this purpose; the costly utensils, as well as where these sacred items were to be placed and of course the mercy seat, God’s throne, the place where the Ark would dwell. Talk about interior decorating ... God is the ultimate interior designer.

If God in all of His infinite wisdom and Divineness knows how to pattern and pen what He wants for the natural building of the temple, how much more is He concerned with us and the building of our temple? The scripture tells us that we are the temple of God (I Cor 3:16). We have been purposed to build this temple for His glory ... a holy place where the spirit of God can dwell. If I can say the same as David, "take heed or take this seriously now for the Lord has chosen you to build His temple; so be strong and do the work." We should honored that He chose us as a temple for God.

The Word of God provides us with the plan and instructs us on the specifics to construct this temple. This temple has to be built on a solid foundation, built with care, using only the finest materials, such as righteousness, love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance because the quality of the building is imperative and necessary, so that it’s able to stand effectively. Of course we have a responsibility of maintaining this temple because it must be kept daily with prayer and supplication, along with fastings for the cleansing and the maintenance of the temple. We can't get too busy and neglect the temple because it allows unwanted and undesirable filth to settle, which could lead to destruction. If the temple is going to be for God’s glory, then we must be accountable for its upkeep; strengthen and reinforce it by reading and applying the Word.

When I read this passage, I envisioned all of the beauty and the magnificence that the natural temple would hold upon its completion. I definitely want God to see the same beauty and magnificence in my temple, while I’m building and seeing His design come to fruition; built so I can be used to house God’s glory, place where He can dwell, and be an effective temple for the ministry.

I’m reminded of a song, “I’m working on a building!” Let’s do some temple building today!!

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
II Corinthians 4:5-7

“It’s not about us, it’s about Jesus” are words that we hear regularly and words that we should definitely take to heart. With this mindset, we can accomplish great works for Christ’s sake because we live in a day and time when people are looking for hope, looking for peace and any small thread of light. Most often, we will be the only light they’ll see.

Paul talked to the Corinthians at the beginning of the chapter about the ministry and the mercy that we have been given and how we have given up our old ways, our hidden habits, the practices of sin, dishonesty, and even the things we hide through shame for the benefit of the gospel. He tells us how we should not handle the Word deceitfully but showing that we possess the qualities of God in the sight of man. He also said if we hide this knowledge and not preach this gospel to the people who are dying spiritually, then they will be lost to the truth. What good is it if we are allowing others to who we think we are, and what we think we are about and not be who God has commanded us to be. We are not here to preach about ourselves because really, who are we without Christ? We have nothing to offer and nothing of our own to give. He says further to “give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in Jesus Christ.” Give it and give it freely, share it because God asked us to do so.

Yesterday, it was mentioned that knowledge is power and that power is the treasure that we have in this earthen vessels. That light, that Word in us, is precious cargo and we need to remember that it was entrusted to our care. The enemy would love for us to stay dull and not shine; he would love for men not to see our light or hear this great gospel because they won't be able to see the God in you; he is banking on that. We are here to be ministers and servants of the gospel, sharing this knowledge and sharing this good news.

With that being said, there are countless others who still need to come into the knowledge and the power of God. Our life should reflect the light we say we have; the scripture says in Matthew 5:16: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” It’s just that simple and that light should shine ever so brightly in the darkest of places. Naturally, we tend to gravitate towards the light when confronted with darkness; so we should be shining so someone who is lost can find their way. Shining, not only in our churches but in our homes, on our job, in line at the supermarket; wherever you are, be a light. God gets the glory when we let His light shine through us, because it will draw others to Him.

Let's remember that we are not here to preach ourselves because it’s not about us, it’s about Jesus, the One who came down from glory, died and rose just for me!

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death. Phil 3:10

As we neared the day of recognizing the resurrection of Christ, this topic was laid on my heart and initially, it was for Good Friday’s Morning Love. As the day progressed, I realized that I would not be able to write that morning. During the weekend, I still had a strong urge to write about the resurrection power; it would not leave my spirit. I realized that today, the topic is apropos and more befitting because the power that we attain, came after that glorious resurrection (Acts 1:8).

Paul, having been converted by that power, let it be known to the Philippians that he put no confidence in his flesh; he didn’t go around doing things in his own power or in self, because he had already done those things before knowing the power of God and before knowing who God was personally, and definitely before having a relationship with him. He said what he had done for his own gain, did not benefit Christ in any way. He counted everything else he knew and learned to be as nothing in order to strive for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ. He told them he wanted to know the resurrected Christ and experience the power that came with the resurrection; also the knowledge, the strength, and the authority that raised him from the dead. He said that he wanted to suffer or endure with him, sharing in that fellowship, sharing in the experience of that suffering by being made conformable to Christ's death. Meaning, that when we die to sin and we die to the world, we are essentially doing the same as Christ, as He died for our sins by the cross. Paul said that he was willing to do or to suffer any thing for Christ’s sake. He exhorts them to do the same and know this Christ for themselves; get to know this power and live your lives, as He had.

I saw verse 10 explained this way: [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] (Amplified). I love how this reads!

They tell me that “Knowledge is power”, so, it would stand to reason that if I seek to obtain the knowledge of Christ, then it would change the way I view His power and how that power applies to my life. I would have to be conformable (to be similar in form and shape) and be in agreement with the cause of the cross in order to attain this great power and by becoming what Christ would have me to be (II Cor 5:17). However, more importantly, my goal is to learn how to live in that power, and use that power for God’s glory; because it’s not about me, but the Christ that lives in me.

We sing and talk about how He got up with all power in His hands, well that is the same power He has given to us; power to live right, power to walk right, power to talk right and power to serve right. Peter says, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue (II Peter 1:3). Remember what I said earlier about knowledge being power? Our knowledge of Christ and His righteousness empowers us with what’s needed for life and to live godly in this present world. Knowledge and power which is found in the word, will change the way you think, live, breathe, move, act, and react... know it and know some resurrection power!

Until the morning, be blessed!
Cynde

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Cor 3:18

My daughter never ceases to amaze me with her insightful quotes. They resonate in my spirit until the opportunity arises when they are not only apropos to my life but to my daily inspirations. The quote, as always, comes with a depth of truism that simply and profoundly states, "it is easier to look out the window than it is to look in the mirror." Meditate on that for just a moment. More often than not, many think that looking the other way or not looking at all is easier to deal with than to face the reality of not only who we are but what we have allowed ourselves to become. It’s really not easier because the reality is that our reflection will still be in tact when we do decide to have a looksie. I often wonder if we take the time to look in the mirror, let alone stop long enough to observe what we really see in the mirror. Of course, I'm not speaking in the physical sense or with the natural eye, but with our spiritual eyes. It gives us the true and precise image of ourselves.

Perhaps, it seems more comfortable to just glance often and not actually get a good look at the person in the mirror or perhaps, never intending to look at all for fear of what we might see staring back at us. What could possibly keep us from looking; "It could possibly interfere with my agenda; or it might not agree with my title or position that I'm currently holding or trying to get; I can't let them see in fact who I am behind this veil, because then they will know." These are just a few thoughts, however, the question is, do we want to see the true reflection of what the mirror beholds regarding ourselves? Or do we want our eyes to become purposely veiled to who we say we are as opposed to the image we actually see? Guess what? Somebody already sees and somebody already knows the real you; no matter how you try to hide or cover it up. We can’t fool God and the Spirit of the Lord will reveal.

This scripture is referring to our reflection; whose reflection are we seeing or striving to see in the mirror? It's time to remove everything that keeps us from seeing the image that God intended for us to see. It's time to diligently seek to line up with the word of God. As the people of God, we should have an unveiled (uncovered, nothing hid, exposed) face, beholding (seeing and observing) as in a mirror the glory (majesty) of the Lord, and realize that He is trying to transform us into that image, which is the image of God, which will take us from glory to glory, by way of His Spirit. We should be reflecting the glory of God always; in our person, in our walk, in our talk, in our service to the Lord everyday, all day.

Let's strive from this point to take a hard look in the mirror and observe what we see; let's see if we are seeing the image of God looking back at us.

Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde