MY TESTIMONY: 

HI I'm Laurie,  I renewed my faith with God this past April, 2024.  I had been looking for direction in my life.  I started on my path in June, 2023.  I stumbled around for a while trying to decide what my next step should be.  God heard my prayers and tried to guide me but I was not good at listening at that time. 

Eventually I decided to look up non-denominational churches on the internet.  God pointed me at The Way Church in Greendale Wisconsin, not far from where I lived.  Basically God told me that he had this arranged and to get off my duff and get moving.  

I renewed my faith the day I went to the new church for the first time.  This is what God had been pushing me to do.  I saw that then.

I continued going to church every Sunday and other events offered by or thru the church.  Saw several different revival services led by other ministers and evangelists.  Was baptized in water.  Was baptized by the Holy Spirit.  Tried reading the word, with limited success in the beginning.  

Then something happened.  Something turned on inside my soul and I found the connection that I had been searching for. It was an amazing revelation for me.  I moved forward in my journey with God by leaps and bounds.

I have received such love and joy from God in my efforts to grow in my faith.  I have never been this happy in my entire life.  I wake up each morning with a huge smile on my face and a, Thank you to God, falling from my lips as soon as I have opened my eyes.  Believe me this is not the way I use to wake up, most often still tired and not in a great mood.

Everything has changed.  My Pastors,  Josh and Emily have opened so many doors for me in their preaching and teaching.  I have so many good friends in Christ now (I use to be a loner).   My life improves every day as I grow closer to our Lord.  Hallelujah!  

If you are searching for answers to you life, look no further.  Turn to Jesus and start your  marvelous journey.  I pray this for all who are reading this post.  Amen. 

********

 

It's December 1st, 2024 on a Sunday afternoon.  Our Pastor preached this morning of Picking up the batton of Jesus.  Don't just hold the batton and do nothing with it.  Build your faith always and then listen to God, let him tell you what your responsibility in service to God is.  How does God see you serving him and using your batton? 

What can we do in our personal lives with Christ that will glorify his name?  Only God can tell you, you have to ask for His direction and then listen for his reply.

Today there was a good example of someone moving with their batton for Christ.  On Saturday people went out together to save souls.  One man is Hispanic and brought six Spanish speaking people to the Lord.  Two of those that were saved, a mother and daughter, joined us at The Way church this morning.  Hallelujah!  Rejoice! 

After church I was talking to my good friends Jose and Jennifer and our two new members.  They had to take two buses from the south side of Milwaukee, a very long commute to get to church.  Later Jennifer mentioned that they were going to take our new friends to Walmart, grocery shopping.  They have little money and no food in their house, but was still able to come all that way to church.  Divine intervention!

So two things are happening in this testimony.  The mother and daughter heard the call from God and answered by coming to church.  Secondly the Lord directed Jose and Jennifer to bless them with groceries and they obeyed.  The mighty works of God!!!  Hallelujah!!! Thank you Jesus!!!

Colossians 1:10 NRSV

so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God.  

Amen and Amen

*********

Scripture:   Davids prayer for divine help

Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in your integrity, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. 

Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and mind.

For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in faithfulness to you.

I do not sit with the worthless, nor do I consort with hypocrites;

I hate the company of evil doers, and will not sit with the wicked.

I wash my hands in innocence, and go around your altar, O Lord,

singing aloud a song of thanksgiving, and telling all your wondrous deeds.

O Lord, I love the house in which you dwell, and the place where your glory abides.

Do not sweep me away with sinners, nor my life with the bloodthirsty,

those in whose hands are evildoers, and whose right hand is full of bribes.

But as for me I walk in my integrity; redeem me, and be gracious to me.

My foot stands on level ground; in the great congregation I will bless the Lord.

Psalm 26:1-12

This scripture is a prayer from David.  Asking for divine help.  He is asking for vindication as he has had faith and trusted God always.  Asking God to test him to prove his worthiness.

Then David comes to his own defense.  States that he does not do any of the sinful things that he has  expounded upon.  

In the last, his final plea for help.  Do not sweep him away with sinners, nor his life with bloodthirsty evildoers. 

In the end he is asking for redemption and graciousness and he is now standing on sound ground.

This prayer runs the gamit from begging, to defending oneself, to pleas, to redemption.  Haven't we all been here in our life with God.  Not sure how to deal and go thru the gamit of emotions until we finally see that God is always there for us.  His will is to keep his sheep with him, to love us and keep us strong.  To not let us lose our way.  He can't force because he gave free will from the beginning, he will ever hear our pleas and our confessions and he will be pleased with us.

So when a problem jumps up in front of you, don't turn away from God because you think there is no hope.  Always turn to God share you thoughts, your fears, your sorrows with him.  Let him show you the way thru the morass and be a stronger faithful servant of God for it.  Hallelujah and Amen!

11/29/24

********

This morning God spoke to me and said:

"What are you waiting for my daughter?  You hear who I am, you feel who I am.  Step forth boldly in faith."

That is maybe a little ambiguous, wouldn't you say?  I pray for guidance and next steps and this is what He gives me.  I love God, I study the word, I watch inspirational speakers in person and online, I have church every Wednesday and Sunday, I pray in Holy Fire, I work every day at being a kind, loving Christian.  I post testimony and words given and inspired by God on Facebook.  God directed me to start this blog and here I am.  So what am I not doing, that I need to be doing?

If you are living with God in your life, there are plenty of people that could have received that same message from God, and it would mean something different to each of us.  Since none of us is perfect, there is always room for growth.  Have you thought about how you might react to a call from God to step forth boldly in faith?

I've been pondering on this since He spoke those words to me earlier today.  

Several things come to the foreground for me:

1) Give offerings to Evangelist for their ministries in sharing the message of God.  I do some, but need to do better.

2) Work on my personal excellence with God, but also in my natural life.  How can we be a good example of a Christian if we aren't living an excellent life?  My dear friend Rev Darla was talking about this during Sunday school and it's stuck with me hard.  Some days I good and some days I could do better. But I'm a work in progress.

3) Get out there and talk to people that haven't received Jesus in their life yet!

 All three need more work from me.  I've gone out with a soul winning team a couple times, but I need to step up my game.  So I am taking this steps, and plan to join the soul Winning group going out this Thursday.  Hallelujah!  Praise the Lord!

Now some people may think that's not for me, and I would be one of them.  But whether this becomes a weekly part of your Christian life, everyone needs how to talk to another about Jesus and bring them into his fold.  

When you received the Lord into your life, didn't you have someone supporting you in this endeavor?  Didn't it make it easier to take that first step?  As a good Christian, we should be looking for these opportunities always to reach out to someone that is struggling without Jesus in their life.  I challenge all Christians to offer a helping hand to someone in need of Jesus in their life.

If you haven't received Jesus in your life, would it be easier if someone was helping you take that step?  Would it be less scary, easier reach out.?  I want to be a person that would reach out a helping hand to anyone in need.  Knowing God and receiving Him into your life is the very essence of important.  There is no greater need in anyone's life above knowing Jesus as their Lord and Savior. 

I pray that my words today, reach someone's heart and helps them reach out for whatever help they need.  Thank you Jesus!  I praise You!  I love You!  Always and Amen.

Spend some time pondering how best to step forth boldly for God.  Ask Him what the path you can do to improve your life in and with him.   Ask Him how to get right with him and get on the path that God has already created for you. Thank you.

12)3/2024

********

Acts 11:23

"When he came and saw the Grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion."

Remain faithful, be devoted, love, let the need show.

I'm going to look at love from a little different angle today.  You see the pictures of my pets above, Raven my cat and Grace my dog.  I love them both equally, yet differently because of who they are.  They show there love and devotion to me differently because of who they are. 

Raven crawls all over me,  loves to cuddle (she has the best purr) loves kisses and sleeps with me at night.  She doesn't let me ignore her, she gets right in my face.  Her love and devotion to me are so great that she must be continually near me, touching.  Right now as I am writing this she is laying on the back of my chair touching my head. ☺️

My sweet Grace loves me and is devoted to me.  She also weighs 70 lbs, so she can't show her love in the same way as my cat. 😂 She is needy, she has to have multiple kisses on her head at any time she requires them and she must be allowed to kiss me back.  She depends on me for everything, food, water, treats, time outside, etc.  She loves to go for rides with me. Otherwise she is content to lay in her bed resting and watching me.

So you see they are both loving and loved.  They are both devoted to me as I am to them. But you see the differences?  It is the same with God's love and devotion for us, as ours is to Him.  Individuals look at the world differently, their feeling are individual also.  God works with us according to our wants and needs, directing us along our path, with love and devotion. Just as we serve Him with all the love and devotion we have.

2Corinthians 11:3

"But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by its cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ."

Not everyone shows love or devotion in the same way, but as long as both are present God is joyful and present in our life. 

What happens when you abuse an animal? They are fearful and cower away.  You can see the pain in their eyes.  They can't love and be devoted to their abuser. 

Again the correlation is the same.  If we abuse or deny our relationship with God, what does God do with his pain?  He backs away and leaves us to our own devices in this very troubled world.  As soon as we sincerely ask he will return, because he still loves us that much.  

How do you show your love to God?  That is a good question to ponder.  It's also a good question to talk with God about.  Make sure that you are loving and serving Him as you are needed.

Me personally, I started out following Grace's example, loving but laid back.  When the Holy Spirit filled me my world exploded into the kind of relationship that Raven and I share.  I want to be in constant contact with Jesus.  I want to talk and listen to God always. I feel euphoric with the Holy Spirit inside me.  God loves me and is devoted to me just the same as I am with Him.

Your relationship with God depends on your firm foundation.  Always work on strengthening it.  If you haven't formed that foundation yet, go to church, talk with your Pastor for guidance, and talk to God. 

If you don't have a church, find on today.  Look for a church that teaches the full gospel and has a welcoming and loving community of faithful Christians.  

The point is to always press in to God, never away!  It's the only way to grow with him.

Dear Lord thank for your guiding hand in writing this addition to the blog.  All honor and glory to you.  Amen

*******

Testimony 12/5/2024:  Yesterday was a marvelous day for me with Jesus.

In the morning I received a call from a friend who needed to talk, and I was happy to be there for her.  We talked for a long time, she really needed to get alot out.  Speaking it out loud helps to start moving past the thing that just keeps whirling in your mind.  Later we started talking about God, it just thrilled me to hear how she has grown in her faith in the last year, how she has found her strength and is better at dealing with sad and messy feelings and coming out on top with Jesus by her side.  She gave me the best words of encouragement by saying she has been touched by posts I have posted on Facebook and they have helped her.  What joy for me as the posts I wrote on Facebook were totally directed by God.  Thank you!!! Hallelujah!!!

I received another call from a person that I have been talking to in prison.  He was a friend of a friend, that is no longer in prison.  My first prison friend gave him my number, he called and we have been talking for 2-3 weeks now.  Whenever he calls we talk about God.  He is so hungry for more in his life, I can feel it from him and hear it in his voice.  He calls regularly and we talk about Jesus always.  It must be what he needs to hear.  I know that the Lord directed this person to me, to help and care for his soul.

Then in the afternoon myself and two others from our church made our weekly visit to a nursing home to visit a lovely lady there.  She has a strong faith, and a sound mind, but an infirm body.  We have healing time, with music, sharing and prayer.  The Lord is always with us, His presence is so strong in that room.  This day we got to witness double miracles.  The women who had a hand and arm she could barely move and without considerable pain was able to lift her hand and then spread her arm quite wide.  That is the power of belief and faith in our Lord Jesus.  While this was happening one of my friends, that was there, was having ear issues.  While we were praying for healing she put her hand on her right ear.  Later on the way home, she heard a pop in her ear. Her ear issues were no more.  Miracles big of small are a wondrous thing!  Hallelujah!!!

That evening we had our online Bible study with our Pastor, Joshua Waldoch.  He is passionate and strong in his beliefs, as well as being an excellent preacher and teacher.  I am always touched by what he says and find even more desire to improve my relationship with Jesus every day and in every way.  Praise the Lord!!!

Lastly I saw yesterday that people are checking out the blog.  Hurray! 70 visitor to this site, with 31 going into this site. All within less than a weeks time.  I told you that God led me to create the blog, and all Honor and Glory belongs to him.

So I told you I had a marvelous week. Jammed packed with the goodness of God!  🙌🙌🙌🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️❤️

*******

The pharisses thought to trip Jesus up and show him to be a liar so they asked Him this question:

Matthew 22:36 

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandments in the law?"

Matthew 22:37-40

Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind'.  This is the greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself'.  All the Laws and the Prophets hang on these two commandents."

So we are commanded to love the Lord with all that we are.  Only when we love the Lord as commanded will we be able to accomplish the next part, to love our neighbors as ourselves.

We should all understand how and why we should love God, but  what does it mean to love our neighbors as yourelves?  My definition of loving a neighbor: anyone that needs help with something, anyone in need of guidance, anyone that needs prayer, anyone that needs love and acceptance, anyone in need of a friend or friendly conversation, someone that needs God in their life, someone that needs to renew their faith in God.  I could go on, but I think maybe you get my point.  I believe that everyone, everywhere is our neighbor.  Doing anything for or with them is being a loving neighbor and I would hope to have a neighbor that would love me this way, if the circumstances were reversed.  What do you believe it means to love a neighbor as yourself?

The Bible has plenty of things to say about about neighbors and what you should and should not do.

Exodus 12:4 says you should share with your neighbor

Exodus 20:16 don't lie about your neighbor

Exodus 20:17 don't covet anything your neighbor has

Exodus 21:35 share the loss that your neighbor feels

Luke 1:58 share in your neighbor's joy

Romans 13:10 loving your neighbor will never harm

These are just a few, but I think this is enough for understanding.  We should always treat our neighbor with respect and kindness just as you would want to be.  

Isn't this what Jesus spent so much time teaching his disciples and the people that flocked to him?  Isn't it what is said through out the new testament?  Jesus loved us as he wished each and everyone of us to love each other (our neighbors).

Loving your neighbors as yourself came in a very close second to loving God with your entire being.  So how can we do less then Jesus was willing to do or give for his neighbors, all of us?  Jesus died and rose again for his neighbors.  Each of us has to determine what we would do or give, to love our neighbors in the same manner as Jesus.

Thank you Lord for giving me the words for today's thought.  All praise and honor be yours.  May I practice so well what you taught regarding loving our neighbor.  Lord I pray that these words may touch someone's heart and move them to love their neighbor.  Praise the Lord!  Amen!

********

 

I was doing a daily devotional, by Sarah Young, this morning that had the Holy Spirit setting little charges off within me with every word I read.  I said, "Ok I'm hearing you Lord and I am reading and learning."

As I continued reading the Lord said very clearly to me that I should be sharing this as well.  So here I am, sharing today's devotional and what I learned from it.❤️🙏👐

Take Time to be Holy

Holy doesn't make you better than anyone else, it sets us apart for God's sacred use.  Think about this, truly and fully, we are on this earth for God's sacred use. I am already so blessed to be aware of this fact.

Ways to reach Holiness is thru: 

** Spending quiet moments in His presence, which helps connect us with the Holy Spirit within us.

** Focusing our hearts and minds on Jesus, opening ourselves up and being transformed by Him.

** By setting aside blocks of time for communion with Jesus.

Benefits of this practice are:

emotional and physical healing

experiencing a nearness to Him that strengthens your faith

Being filled with peace

Opening ourselves to receive the blessings He has prepared to each of us

Becoming a cleansed temple of His Holy Spirit

These are just some benefits of "being still" in God's presence.  Think about your own life and the benefits you have seen and felt.

There were four scriptures that went with this daily devotional, all struck a cord within me, I pray they do for you as we

2Thessalonians 1:10 - when He comes to be glorified by his saints and to be marveled at on that day among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.

When Jesus returns, on that final day, he will be taking home all that believed and worked every day to strengthen their faith and worked to honor and serve Him.  Hallelujah!!! I want to be in that number and will endeavor to grow in my faith every day.

Psalm 27:4 - One thing I asked of the Lord, that I will seek after; to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.

Hallelujah!  Amen!  What joy there will be on that day!

1Corintians 6:19 - Oh do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not on your own?  

Praise the Lord!  Thank you Jesus!

Ephesians 3:20 - Now to Him who by the power at work inside us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine.

When I read this passage it made me stop and think about what, thru Jesus, I have been blessed to help and be involved in.  Then I try to imagine how much more there is that I can do and my mind just boggles!  I love the Lord with everything I am.  I laugh and cry with the joy I feel while serving him and growing my faith.  I will answer her call to service always.

I pray that anyone reading these words today will come to understand the importance of what daily communion and quiet time with God truly is, and will begin practicing this.  I pray that hearts will be filled, as mine was.  I pray that determination to honor and serve the Lord in all things will grow within you, as it has in me.  Jesus is waiting for us to give him all glory.  I pray that everyone has a blessed and loving day in the Lord.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

********

A wise attitude toward life:

Ecclestiastes 3:1-8

1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven .

2 a time to be born, a time to die;  a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance;

5 a time to throw away stones, a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and and a time to refrain from embracing;

6 a time to seek, a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away;

7 a time to tear and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace.

What a full scripture to meditate on.  A season for every thing, and a time for every matter under Heaven.

Under Heaven, means that God is control of everything, every possibility in our lives. God created the heavens and his helpers, the angels.  Then he created earth and the first human, all in due season or God's timing.  If you try to do things in your own time or in your way, what are the chances of that working for you?  With God in control all things are possible.

Most people on there own, only have a limited supply of patience, unlike God.  I mean think about this,  for thousands of years since He created the earth and then created man, God has had done things in the time they were called for, waiting with abundant patience.  Can you ever imagine ever having that much patience?  Not me, I know I can be quite impatient.  God needs to remind me every so often about patience.  (Corinthians 13:4, talks about love is patient).  Patience and Love are together, so if you Love God, patience should follow.  Being human beings, some lessons may need to be repeated many times. 😁

On the other hand when things come in due season, there is a limit to that season.  The season, the timing is something that everyone needs to feel and know thru God.  By listening with your heart and your soul you will hear the next steps God has for you.  In due season.

Love and praise the Lord.  Live in due season with God.  Study the Word, live by the word, build your faith daily by the word, by prayer, and by sewing the love God has given you to share.  That is how you live with patience and joy in the Lord.  In due season.  ❤️❤️❤️

*********

 

I was reading 1John this morning in my Bible.  My bible has each chapter separated by sections.  The section that God is leading me to talk about today is:

The Source of Love

1John 4:7-16 (NRSV)

** Beloved let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.  God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him.  In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Beloved, since God loved us so much, we ought also to love one another.  No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.

By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us his spirit.  And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world.  God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in him.  So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. **

This whole passage, as you can see, revolves around "Love".  Stop and think where do emotions come from?  Love of course comes from God.  Love is the greatest of all emotions, and if you live your life with love, then you are abiding with God.  Thankfulness, joy, peace, and contentment all follow after love.  We can't have any of these feelings if we don't first accept the love that God offers us.  That is what he wants all his people to do, abide with him in love.  He sacrificed his most beloved son that we would have the opportunity to be forgiven our sins and abide with God.

Other emotions such as anger, jealousy, pride and other destructive feelings do not come from God.  They come from darkness that resides in all people since the original sin (Adam and Eve going against God and eating forbidden fruit).  

We all have a choice, living with the darkness that abides within us, or turning to God, in faith and thanksgiving, and receiving the love he has for us. Choosing God's love removes the darkness.  As for me I choose God's love above all else.  I thank God every day for loving me.  I thank Jesus, the Son of God, every day for willingly sacrificing himself that we might all have redemption from our sins.  

We were and are created as God's children.  What greater love could there possibly be then God's love for all his children.  

Stop and think about that.  Are your actions conceived in love?  If yes, then wonderful, you are living according to God's plan for you.  If not, then it's time for you to stop and think about the pain you cause God.  It's time to confess your sins to God, and ask for forgiveness.  His love is so great, that no one that repents, and truly wants to live with God in peace, love and obedience to his word, shall have everlasting life in Him.

Just remember, that abiding with God is as good as you are willing to make it.  You can live with God, or you can live in the world and darkness, you can't do both.  To allow darkness in takes you away from God's abiding love. 

I pray that anyone reading these words today, will look at how they are living their lives and want more.  God has all waiting for you.  Come join the children of God and live with love.  Amen 

********

It's almost Christmas day, the time we celebrate the birth of Jesus.  The King of Kings!  The Lord of Lords!  The Wonderful Counselor!  The Prince of Peace!

Joseph and Mary couldn't find anywhere to stay as Mary's time grew closer.  They found space in a manger, where people kept their animals indoors on cold nights, and for safety.  When baby Jesus was born he was placed in a box, that was used to feed the animals, filled with hay to make a soft bed for our new born King.  

They came to this point because God sent his Angel to Mary to impart what God needed her to do.  Without hesitation Mary agreed, because her faith was strong. Then the angel came to Joseph in a dream, and explained how Mary came to be pregnant.  Joseph listened and believed, because his faith was strong.  Mary and Joseph with their strong faith, listened to God's instructions thru the Angels and kept the baby Jesus safe, while King Herod searched for baby Jesus to destroy him.

See Matthew 1:18-25  The birth of Jesus

The birth of Jesus is so very important to celebrate and believe thru our faith!  Hallelujah!!!

Today though I am thinking about the how Mary and Joseph listened to the words of God without any hesitation.  They believed, because their faith was so strong.  They followed God's instructions to the letter and raised Jesus in to a wonderful man. 

Do you listen to God?  I try and most of the time I'm successful.  However we are human and live in a world where sin is an everyday occurrence.  Darkness, where sin is found, can seep in insidiously.  Most Christians don't go looking for sin, but the darkness will slither in thru and little bolt hole you don't have buttoned up thru your faith.  

If God wants to speak with us, we must have strong faith and work diligently to keep those bolt holes closed, so we can hear him.  How do we do this?  By prayer, studying God's word, meditating on God's words, praying in the Holy Spirit and most especially going to Church.  

You need to find a church that will nurture your soul and build your faith stronger every time you walk into this church.  A church that preaches and lives by the full gospel in all respects.  In this church surrounded by good loving Christians with like minds, we will have the love and support we need to move forward in our faith and growth with God.

What are sins that are in darkness?  Well the big ones of course are, not putting God first, murder, adultery, lieing, stealing, coveting what others have.  Some other sins would be jealously, anger, unforgivenes, self pride, and list goes on.  All of these sins come from darkness, as long we practice any of these we will not hear God and will not be admitted to heaven.  The only other place we could end up would be everlasting hell. 

Believe me, I refuse to end up there, and work everyday to build my knowledge, my strength, my faith and my love for others, so I will be assured of my place in heaven.  Faith and going to heaven is available for all of us.

Some might be thinking, I've done to much bad, God would never forgive me.  It doesn't matter your background, whatever bad things you might have done in your past.  This is the exact reason that Jesus was born.  He came to earth, lived as a human and died a horrible death, taking on the sins of the world, so all humans might have their chance at salvation and everlasting life.

All we have to do is believe, confess our sins, and pray the prayer of redemption.  We will be born again, made new and all our past sins are washed away. 

We do have responsibilities from this point.  Growth with God, as I mentioned previously, studying and learning God's word, praying, being thankful and praising God, going to church.  Every day we should be pressing forward in our growth with God.

I pray that anyone that has doubts about whether they will make it to heaven will reach out today.  Go to the page in this blog called "Finding Salvation". You will find a prayer of confession and a prayer for redemption. Hallelujah!  Amen!

When you do this send me an email at realizingjesustoday@gmail.com.  I would love to hear from you and want to add you, and you new life, to my prayer list.  In Jesus name!  Amen 

********

Today I've been reading in John, Chapter 15.  I was first guided to John 15:5 in my daily devotional.  

John 15:5 (NRSV) I am the vine, you are the branches.  Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.

This verse spoke to me.  If you don't have Jesus in you life as your Lord and Savior, what is happening in your life?

You work, make money for a good lifestyle, raise your family, have friends, take vacations, etc...  Where do any of these things get you?  Yes you have fun and enjoy you time on this earth, hopefully.  That's not always the case.  But what then?  You get old, maybe end up in a nursing home and die.  

But guess what there are two possibilities after death; heaven or hell.

If you did all those good things in your life with Jesus and the salvation he offers to us all, well Hallelujah!  You chose correctly.  If you have used what you have and what you have learned to help others, that was exactly what Jesus wanted you to do.  If you stand on a firm foundation with Christ,  you will be rewarded for you loyalty and service in heaven.  You will have eternal life.

On the other hand, if you accomplished all those things for self motivated reasons, with God no where in your life.  What have you accomplished?  You will have money, but will you have a happy family?  Will you have close friends?  Will you go on vacation or just travel for business to make more money?

Without God in your life, directing the path you should be leading, there is only one option for you.  Hell is eternal fire and suffering.  You can't take all that money with you, so what was all that hard work for, just eternal suffering?

Jesus is our vine, we grow from him.  If we have strong faith, a strong foundation in him there are no limits to the fruit we can bear.  We can live a wonderful, love filled life on earth.  We can have everything we ever hoped for or needed, with Jesus by our side.  The Father's and the Son's words decree this.  Abide in Jesus and he will abide in us and all things become possible.

Belief, Faith, Love and Service are what Jesus asks for and expects from each of us.  He suffered torture at the hands of man, before being crucified.  Doesn't this showing us that He believes in mankind, that He has faith we will make the right decision, that He loves us unconditionally, and that He served us in an extraordinary way?  

John 5:9  (NRSV) As my Father has love for me, so have I loved you; abide in my love.

John 5:12 ( NRSV) This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you.

John 5:1-17 (this section in my Bible is titled "Christ the True Vine) immerse yourself more in these words from Jesus.  Listen to the Word, even though it is many thousands of years in the making, it is still very relevant.  Reading and studying God's word is how you grow your faith.  Be strong, walk in the light with Jesus, Build that firm foundation and live a truth filled life.  Amen!

********

Romans 12:2

Do not be confirmed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God--what is good and acceptable and perfect.

This scripture embodies where and how we should be living in our relationship with God.  If we keep our mind in the world, what are we missing?  We miss having our lives transformed into good and acceptable with Jesus Christ as the cornerstone of our life.

Without Jesus in our lives we are unable to have a fulfilling life.  Only Jesus could give us true life, eternal life.  He did this by sacrificing himself, to torture and death, for the sins of man.  We have the right to eternal life today because of His sacrifice, all we have to do is ask and open ourselves to God!

You may be saying, "I believe in God, I have faith," and that is a very good starting point.  But it takes more than that to find eternal life.  God expects us to ask Jesus for forgiveness, to confess our sins to Him, to pledge our lives to Jesus and only then will we be acceptable to God.  We are to study the living word.  To share ourselves and our blessings wherever we go.  To share the beauty of the life Jesus paid for.  To be still and listen to God speaking to us.  To serve God, doing everything that Jesus asks of us.

Daily growth in the Lord is a requirement of receiving eternal life.  What better time, then the start of a new year, to examine our own relationship with God?

I know, personally, I have been lacking lately.  I am renewing my faith with God today, this first day of the new year.  I want to walk a strong and straight path with God.  This is a goal each and everyone of us should strive for.  

I pray that my words reach someone today, so they may find their strength thru Jesus our Lord and Savior.  Amen.

Happy New Year to all!  Make this the best blessed year of your life!  🙏🙏❤️❤️🙌🙌🔥🔥

********

Lord, Let Your Glory Rest Here🙌🙏

Jesus, I don’t want You to just pass by- I want You to stop, dwell, and let Your glory rest in every part of my life. Let Your power flow into every broken place, bringing healing, restoration, and hope.

In Your presence, there is fullness of joy, peace that surpasses understanding, and the strength to face each day. I don’t want to miss a single moment with You. Teach me to remain still and aware, to soak in Your love, and to trust in Your perfect plan for my life.

Lord, You are my refuge and my strength, my ever-present help in time of need. Come and rest here, not just today, but always. Transform me with Your presence, so that my life reflects Your glory and draws others to You.

Let this be the cry of our hearts: “Lord, don’t just pass—stop and stay!”

“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love, He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” – Zephaniah 3:17

 Amen!

This was posted on my Facebook news feed, by my good friend Brother Alfred.  He is with the Caring Love Foundation, Uganda (UCLF).  The work they do there is so very important.  They take in orphans and children in need, they help the weak, the infirm and the elderly in their community also.  Visit their website. They are a worthy cause to give to.  Go to GoFundMe.com. If you moved to help them.

Brother Alfred is a good and honorable man of God, hear his words and take them into your heart. ❤️

*******

I am talking to you today about the Power of Prayer!

Jesus, the Son of God prayed faithfully. 

This excerpt is from the book, A Complete Guide to Biblical Fasting, by Ted Shuttlesworth Jr.

'(Mark 1:35) He prayed before sunrise. 

(Matthew 26:39-45) For hours at a time

(Luke 6:12) Sometimes through the entire night 

This kind of dedicated prayer yielded the power He needed to accomplish the works of his father.'

Think about this, really, really think about this!  Even Jesus had to pray to his Father to retain his strength of purpose.  To keep His relationship with his Father strong.  Most especially to retain the power that was needed to accomplish the work that God put him on earth to do.  

Do any of us have that type of discipline in our lives? Even the Apostles didn't understand that depth of prayer while Jesus was teaching them. 

In Matthew 9:14-29, the disciples tried to cast out an unclean spirit from a boy but failed.  Jesus came saw and heard the situation and removed the unclean spirit from the boy.  Afterward the disciples questioned Jesus: 

Matthew 9:28-29. When he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" He said to them, "This kind can come out only through prayer".  

The Power of Prayer, when used in true faith and dedication to God can do miracles, great and small.  True Faith and the Power of Prayer are the keys!  

Do you have true faith?  Have you prayed and asked God for something and received no response?  That should be your first clue that you are not living a life of faith with God. 

When you confess your sins and ask Jesus for forgiveness, salvation is yours and you are now part of God's family of devoted followers. 

However that's not the end of your responsibility to God.  You are in the family, but God expects you to be a productive part of the family.  To praise and worship him and to do his works on the path that he has set forth for you.  

So how are you suppose to figure out what God wants you to do?  Well you aren't suppose to do it on your own. 

You need to start to learning about this family you are now part of.  This is accomplished by studying God's word (the Bible), going to church, communing with fellow Christians and most especially Praying. 

Any answers you are seeking come from God.  Praying is the way to open your heart, mind and soul.  Through prayer you can speak with God, ask for what you need, pray for others who need assistance as well. 

Then comes a vital part of prayer -- Listening.  If you don't stop and listen how can you hear what God is trying to tell you?  

You don't need to know all of immediately.  It's called, Learning and Growing.  You are starting at the beginning.  Rejoice and Praise the Lord!  Then open yourself to all the possibilities that God has for you.  You are on your way to a wonderful relationship with God.  Hallelujah!!!

If you have not given your life to Jesus yet and are struggling, looking for answers, go to the page in this blog titled "Finding Salvation".

Give yourself to God and start on this wonderful journey that lady's a lifetime!  Hallelujah!! Amen!!

********