There Is No Fear When We Walk With Jesus Daily

 Hello Dear Friends,

  How are you this week? I hope you are having a good week and your relationship with Jesus is growing strong. If sometimes it feels like you are taking one step forward and two steps back in your walk with Him, don’t worry. Jesus has an abundant amount of grace and patience for each of us as we grow in Him. Rest in His amazing love for you and He will show you more and more of His love in truly amazing ways, as you seek His will everyday in every situation.

  Fear is a very powerful thing that can paralyze even the most righteous person who is trying to follow God. Fear can strip a person of their ability to focus on God and where He is leading them daily. Anyone who allows fear to be more powerful in their lives than God, are unable to follow Him. In God’s love, there is no fear. When God’s children trust in His sovereignty over all things, they will have no reason to fear. No matter what comes their way, God’s children can turn to Him, give Him their worries, and wait for Him to give them the perfect solution to each situation. Children of God,  walk daily in the loving protection of your good Shepherd and Savior, where there is no fear.

  God’s children who desire to follow Him all have some form of fear. Every person is different and so their fears are different. The problem occurs when God’s children focus on their fear instead of God and His deep love for them; they will stumble and fall. When God’s children have fallen, they are unable to be used by God because they are not following Him and trusting Him daily. They are traveling down a path other than the one God has made for them. When God’s children are walking in their own strength instead of walking in God’s strength, love, and wisdom, fear will have the strength to over power them. Over time God’s children become overwhelmed by fear. Only when they are willing to give up their fears, and give them to Jesus, will they be able to walk in freedom from their fears.

  There is no fear when God’s children walk with Him daily. They know that they can put their faith and trust in His Sovereignty over all things. They can know that nothing is impossible for God, and His will be done in their lives. As God’s children understand this in their hearts, they will put their trust in Him in any situation. They will have no reason to fear because each day as fear arises, they give God their fear and they rest in His presence and love. Anytime a difficult situation comes, God’s children need to seek His will and guidance, then they wait trusting He will take care of the problem or situation. As they wait, they walk free from worry or trying to make things happen the way they think it should. God’s people are then able to be free from worry or fear, so they can step out and do God’s will when ever He calls on them. This is where true joy occurs, when God’s children are free to serve Him daily.

  In Psalm 34, David is rejoicing over the sovereign power of God in his times of fear and trouble. God delivered David and helped him in times of great turmoil, because David loved Him. David’s gratitude to God for helping him and protecting him in dangerous times was off the charts. He even says, “I will extol the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips.” Psalm 34:1 If God’s children will choose to walk with Him and trust in His sovereignty, as David did, their lives will be changed forever. They will walk with the confidence of who God is, each day, and fear will have no part in their lives.

  There are some things in my life that cause me fear. They make me want to take control of the situation I am in. I then try to keep things from going wrong, but I actually make things worse. Fear causes us to let go of Jesus’ hand and run our own path that leads to nowhere. I have learned that God knows everything and every situation in my life. He knows my future and every difficulty I will encounter, and He also has a perfect solution for each one of them. When I choose to take control when something happens that causes me to fear, I am not taking advantage of God’s sovereignty in my life, and so I stumble. But when I choose to turn to God for help when difficulty and fear arises, I know He is right there working out the solution on my behalf. I know that God knows my needs, my thoughts, and my fears. He wants me to turn to Him and give them ALL to Him whenever they come. I have done this many times in many different types of situations and I have always seen the hand of God work for my good in every situation. I will always praise my God for His goodness in my life.

    “I will extol the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; He saved Him out of all his troubles.” Psalm 34:1-6

  “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

  “For I am the Lord your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear; I will help you.’” Isaiah 41:13

  “But now, this is what the Lord says - He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, you’re God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; …’” Isaiah 43: 1-3a

  God’s children who choose to walk a different way than what Jesus is leading them to are not trusting in His sovereignty over their lives, and fear will be the overwhelming force in their lives. But if God’s people will humble themselves so they can follow God everyday, all day, they will always walk in God’s love. When God’s love is complete in some ones life, there is no fear.

  We will continue reading Psalm 31 -35 for one more week.

Blessings,

Patricia Terrell

The Transforming Power of Forgiveness

Hello Beloved of God,

  I hope everyone is doing well this week and your hearts are resting in Jesus’ great and tender love for each of you. I hope you have been blessed with people around you who are able to show the love of Jesus to you through their actions. This is a great blessing and a great help as we learn how much Jesus loves us. If there is no one like this in your life, maybe Jesus wants to show His love to you Himself when you grow closer to Him as you spend time with Him daily.   God’s children, who hold onto guilt and shame because they are unwilling to confess their sins, are limiting what He can do in their lives. No matter how big or  small their offenses are, it can all be forgiven, never to be remembered again by God. It is the work of the Holy Spirit that softens the heart of a person to cause them to seek forgiveness through Jesus’ work on the cross. After God’s child has repented the burden of guilt is lifted, never to return. As this process of repentance and forgiveness continues, healing of the heart and transformation of a life can occur. This work is all done through God’s endless gift of grace given to all people who love Him.

  The love of God extends to all people and all generations. In God through Jesus Christ is the only way to receive complete forgiveness for our sins. To God sin is sin, no matter how big or small. It doesn’t matter how horrible we think it is, God can forgive us and help us to forgive others. Each time we experience a desire to forgive or seek forgiveness, healing is allowed to happen in our hearts. The thing with healing is that there are more than one or two areas in our lives that we need to seek forgiveness for. There are many areas, and God knows each and every one of them. We don’t need to worry about getting all the work done; we just need to walk with Jesus daily. When we are ready He will bring up each area that needs His healing touch as we forgive and seek forgiveness.

  The problem occurs when we are unwilling to accept the work of the Holy Spirit to soften our hearts. Then, when God brings up an old hurt or shameful event from our past, we hinder His work of forgiveness and also our chance for healing and wholeness. God is so good, that when He works in our hearts through His Holy Spirit He doesn’t just heal our hearts, He also transforms us into the people He originally planned for us to become before sin affected our lives. We may still look the same on the outside because the transformation has occurred on the inside, in our hearts. For our hearts reflect who we are and how we live. As we live healed by God’s grace, we can then be used by God in many beautiful ways for His glory and Kingdom. The eternal glory we receive from a life lived wholly for God is beyond our ability to imagine.

  In Psalm 32, David rejoices because God is faithful to forgive all who turn from their sin and trust in Him daily. There are many stories in God’s Word that talk about how David messed up. He committed adultery with a woman and then had her husband killed to try to hide his guilt. He pridefully counted his army before a battle, even when God had commanded him not to. I am sure there were others also. The important thing that we can learn from David and all other godly people is that they all sinned against God. Then they walked in that sin until the Holy Spirit convicted them, and immediately they repented and turned back to God. When a person truly repents God is faithful to forgive their sin and remember it no more.

  When I think about the transforming power of God’s forgiveness I become overwhelmed with deep gratitude. To start with, Jesus saved me from eternity apart from Him. He did this through His Holy Spirit wooing me and loving me to Himself.  He forgave me instantly of my sins and He gave me a gift. He gave me His Holy Spirit to live in my heart to help me to be changed from the inside out so I could live for Him. As I repent, Jesus has been faithful to forgive me of each offense I do; so now I am able to forgive others who hurt me. The joy I experience in my life is nothing short of a miracle.

  “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I confess my transgression to the Lord – and You forgave the guilt of my sin.” Psalm 32:1-5

  “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you.” Ephesians 5:32

  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1John 1:9

  God’s heart rejoices each time His children receive His correction, repent, seek His forgiveness and turn to Him. They will receive healing and wholeness of heart as they walk in forgiveness towards others. God’s love will shower them with blessings and gifts that only He can give. Those who resist the work of the Holy Spirit to lead them to repent and also to forgive others are not trusting in God’s gift of grace. They are unable to be used by God if they remain this way. Let us seek God today and everyday with humble hearts so that we would be sensitive to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. May we  respond obediently to anything He brings to our attention, whether we need to forgive someone else or seek forgiveness from God. The transformation we experience will lead us to a life of peace and wholeness we have never known before, even if the world around us is not peaceful.

  We will continue reading Psalm 31-35 for one more week.

Blessings,

Patricia Terrell

"True and Complete Security is Found in Jesus"

Hello Dear Friends,

  How was your Christmas celebration? I hope you have many beautiful and glorious memories that you can hold onto in your heart. Did you get to do some of your favorite traditions, old or new?! I hope that these traditions brought peace and comfort to your heart whether you were surrounded by all your friends and family, or if someone or many people were missing from your special celebration yesterday. No matter your situation this year, know that Jesus is everything to all people. He is constant and His love for you will always be there to cover you and comfort you.

  There is only one source of security that all people can freely receive. That security is only found in Jesus, our God, and Creator. There is no other source of complete and eternal security. If God's people will give Him our each and every day, our hearts and emotions, decisions and finances, He will show us He is faithful. He will provide all the different forms of security we need. Those of us who don’t know how to give God our worries end up carrying a heavy load we were never meant to carry. Some of us don’t understand God’s grace. Some of us have grown hard in our hearts and refuse to give our full lives to Jesus, the One who truly loves us. Jesus came to earth for this very purpose: to save the lost, set the captives free and bind up our wounds. He can only do that when we completely trust Him for our daily security.

   God’s desire is that all people would come to know Him intimately. In our love for Jesus, we will come to realize in our hearts that true and lasting security is only found in God through Jesus Christ. No matter where else we look, there is no lasting security that will be found. When we turn everything over to Jesus, we will know eternal security now for everyday. God desires that everyone would give Him every part of their past, present and future for we know Jesus will take care of our lives. Submission to Jesus means giving Him everything; our every day, our heart, our emotions, our decisions, and finances. When we give Jesus everything, we can rest in Him and Him alone. Then Jesus will bless our lives according to His will and purposes.

   God's people who know Him, but are not experiencing daily His peace and security, are those who have not given Him everything.  They are still hanging onto somethings. They don't realize that they are carrying a load around everyday that they were never meant to carry. If they will humble ourselves and seek Jesus’ face, they will see that He is able to handle all of their worries, fears and every other part of their lives. Jesus longs to provide His perfect security to all who seek Him with all their hearts. In His perfect timing He will set us free from our oppression, strongholds, and bondages. When we allow this to happen, He is able to heal our hearts of wounds from our past. The person who walks in this kind of freedom is truly free to live for Jesus as they walk trusting in His love and security.

  There is hope and security in David’s thoughts toward God in Psalm 30. David has experienced many great trials and turmoil. In each instance, God has rescued and healed David. David has every reason to be completely secure because God has been faithful to provide everything he needs to walk free, to love and serve Him.

  Throughout my life with Jesus there have been many instances when He has proven His great love for me. Jesus has done this by causing bad or scary situations to become smooth, allowing me to come out of it safe and secure. I praise Jesus every time He rescues me. Jesus has proven to me that He desires the very best for me. When I remain walking with Him daily in obedience, I find that my life is greatly blessed by Him alone. If I make mistakes and sin against God, I am quick to repent and turn to Jesus to be forgiven. Then He restores my walk in His love and freedom. Jesus has given me security in Him by healing the past wounds and strongholds in my life so that they can no longer hold me down and disable me from walking with Jesus the way He desires me to.

  Dear children of God,  whoever desires to walk daily in His security must seek His face. Then as they follow Him, they will become free to give Him the worries and troubles in their life. When we are free from the burdens of our lives, we are free to listen to Jesus’ guidance, knowing He will never fail us. This kind of trust and security is only found in Jesus. God's children who are unwilling to trust Jesus to heal and free them from whatever binds them are not secure in Jesus. Their hearts are unable to receive His guidance and peace so they can rest in Him each day.

   Do you desire in your heart to walk in true peace and security in Jesus? I want to encourage you to turn over your whole life to Him, because He can and will take care of all your needs. Then walk in obedience and trust that He is holding you in the palm of His hand and He will never let you go.

  “The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. Unrolling it, He found the place where it is written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed’…” Luke 4:18

  “I will exalt you, O Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. O Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me… When I felt secure, I said, ‘I will never be shaken.’” You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.” Psalm 30:1-2, 6, & 11-12

  “…Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves between His shoulders.” Deuteronomy 33:12

  “Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is secure; he will have no fear… Psalm 112:6-8

  Whoever desires to walk daily in God’s security must daily seek His face. As they follow Him, they will become free to give Him the worries and troubles in their life. When God’s  people are free from the burdens of their lives they are free to listen to His guidance knowing that He will never fail them. This kind of trust and security is only found in Jesus. Those who are unwilling to trust Jesus to heal and free them from whatever binds them are not experiencing His security. They’re hearts are unable to receive His guidance and peace so they can rest in Him each day. Do you desire in your heart to walk in true peace and security in Jesus? I want to encourage you to turn over your whole life to Him because He can and will take care of all your needs. Then walk in obedience and trust that He is holding you in the "palm of His hand" and He will never let you go.

We will begin reading Psalm 31-35 for two weeks.

Blessings,

Patricia Terrell

Unwavering Confidence in God through Jesus Christ

Hello Dear Friends,

  How are you this week as you get ready for the Christmas season? I hope you are having many joyful moments with friends and family as you prepare. If you are without family during this wonderful time, I pray God will bring the right people into your life at just the right time to bring you joy and comfort. No matter what your situation, I hope you are clinging to Jesus and His great love for you; this is where pure joy is found.

  There is no one in heaven or on earth more deserving of our unwavering confidence than God through Jesus Christ. If God’s people will daily draw near to Him, He will be faithful to open our hearts to know Him more and more. We then will come to understand the magnitude of love that God has for us through reading His Word, journaling, and depending on Him daily. God’s people will receive confidence in His ability to comfort them, counsel them, heal them, protect them, lead them, and love them unconditionally. God’s people are able to do powerful things for God’s glory when they put their trust and confidence in Him every day of their lives. There are many of God’s people who don’t draw near to Him daily, so they are unable to receive the wisdom only God can give. They are still holding their confidence in other things besides Him. They are unable to honor God with their lives this way.

  God’s faithfulness extends through all eternity. When God's people faithfully seek Him daily, He will reveal Himself to us, and open our hearts to receive His wisdom and His love. When we as God's children put our hope and confidence in God, we can know that everything we need we can receive from Him. God freely gives His love, His protection, His peace, His wisdom and counsel even in the little things. The glory of God is shown through those who put their full confidence in God. We can trust God to give all that we need to accomplish all that He asks of us. There is nothing God won’t do for those who love Him.

  God’s children who know Him, but don’t place their confidence in Him, have hearts that are closed to receiving the abundance God desires to give them. They are not living daily to honor God; they are still living for themselves. God will do whatever it takes to reach their hearts and turn them completely to Him, to honor Him daily. This is God’s will and desire for all of His people.

  God’s servant David learned from an early age to depend on Him with complete confidence. His life reflects the life of a normal person who believed in God’s Word. David put his complete hope and trust in what God declared over his life. David went into many battles where the stakes were stacked against him and his army. But David had the confidence to know that with the Lord leading the battle, and if he obeyed His direction, David would win the battle. There is a great peace in our hearts when we realize that God can be trusted with everything.

    My unwavering confidence in Jesus Christ comes from my relationship with Him. This relationship has been developing for over nine years now. I know now, that even though I didn’t know Him personally like I do now, Jesus has always been with me, watching over me, protecting me, and directing the path that my life would go. As I have come to know Him even more, I know that there is no one else who is capable of loving my heart and soul the way He does. This love He has shown to me has helped me to let go of my striving slowly but surely, so I can let Him care for me each day. This process of surrender and submission to His authority and will is only possible because I trust Him completely with my whole life. I may not like some things He causes me to go through, but I know He lets me go through difficulties to help me grow. I love everything about Jesus, and I would do anything He asked of me. I know He has moved mountains for me already or I probably wouldn’t be here writing these letters to you wonderful people. I praise Him every day for His will over my life.

  “I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” Psalm 27:13

  “Praise be to the Lord, for He has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song. The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever.” Psalm 28:6-9

  “…the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.” Proverbs 3:26

  There is no one on earth who is more dependable, and no one in the heavens more unchanging than God. Everyone who truly knows God through Jesus Christ is able to put their unwavering confidence in Him. This is because they know He truly loves them and wants the very best for them. Some of God’s children don't live daily to honor Him. They still live for themselves.  They don’t have the confidence that God is in control of their lives, so they miss out on many wonderful blessings. They are not honoring God with their lives, because they are not seeking Him for direction and guidance to do His will. Let's live this week entirely for our wonderful God. Put aside our doubts and self will and just live wholeheartedly for Him alone.

  We will continue to read Psalm 26-30 for one more week.

Blessings,

 Patricia Terrell

The Lord Loves and Cares for Each of His Children

Hello Dear Friends,

  How are you doing this week? Do you sense the presence of the Lord with you each day? Or, has it been awhile since you have felt His love and presence? I hope you are daily experiencing His grace and peace in your life. If there has been dryness in your walk with Jesus, just remember there is always hope. His love is waiting for you to come and desire Him more than anything else.

  There is great peace in Jesus, the One who created the heavens and the earth and everything in them, when His children choose to walk with Him daily. Every step we take, every thought we think, and every word we speak should be done with God’s grace and love. Then we will walk in peace and rest in Him. But when we don’t look to Him, He is unable to guide us or teach us what He desires. Our lives will be filled with anxiety and confusion. Those of us who choose our own way are not choosing God’s protection, His peace, and His abundant grace and love.

  As we grow in faith in Jesus and learn about who He is, we will understand how much we can trust in His love. If we, as God’s children, will daily seek after Him for all our needs with a soft heart, willing to learn and be reshaped into the person He desires us to be, then there is nothing He can’t do in our lives. We will experience a peace in knowing that someone greater and wiser than us loves us, desires to care for us, and wants the very best for us.

  It saddens God’s heart to see His children struggle in one way or another because we are unwilling to seek Him. There are so many things He would like to do in each of our lives that would bring glory to His Name and shine His light in this dark world. The problem is many of us are unwilling to seek God’s love and abundant care for our lives. So, God graciously continues to stand near by us and patiently waits for the day we will realize He is the only One who truly loves us and desires to care for us.

  God’s servant David was wise in that he knew God and trusted in His strength, His righteousness, and His perfect will. David knew that God was right there with him all the time. David put his whole life into God’s hands knowing He would take care of all of his needs, protect, and care for him. Because of this trust in the God of Israel, David faced off against a giant more than twice his size, unarmed. God made a way for David to have victory because faith brought honor to God’s Name.

  The gracious love and care of Jesus in my life goes back to a year and a half before I was saved. As Jesus brought other Christians into my life, who gave me materials like books, sermon CD’s, and their friendship, I was able to be lead in the right direction. Throughout the years there have been countless ways that Jesus has provided wonderful friends and daily devotionals that speak to me right where I am. He also helps me by causing me to stumble across music and movies that help me see what He is trying to teach me. Jesus has inspired me to buy books that have taught me what He desired me to learn about. His calming voice has also been a comfort and guide. I am eternally grateful for all the ways Jesus has cared for me, and loved me.

  “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His Names sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me, Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23

  “After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church – for we are members of His Body.” Ephesians 5:29-30

  “May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

  As we go about our days, I would like to encourage you to keep your eyes and ears open to all the big or little ways Jesus may be working in your life. Seek after Him for all you need and wait for Him to provide and take care of your needs in His timing. When we seek after God, our relationship with Him will grow. If we don’t seek after God daily, we may not notice any of the many ways He is speaking to us. Everything He desires to teach us is to help us be all that He created us to be.

We will begin reading Psalm 26-30 for two weeks.

Blessings,

Patricia Terrell

Our Strength in Jesus

  Hello Dear Ones,

  How are you doing this week? Is this week going well for you, or are you struggling in some way? I hope that things are going well and you are being blessed by God in many ways. If things are not going so well, I hope that you are staying close to Jesus through it, you will have peace even in the worst of storms.

  If we as God’s children grow in His strength and wisdom, we will learn the truth about the ways He has gifted us to serve in His strength. As we embrace our gifts and strengths we learn to serve God daily as He leads us, for His glory. When we daily seek God for His will, our gifts will be put to use to advance the kingdom of God. Unfortunately, many of us who are God’s children don’t know about our God given strengths and gifts, because we don’t seek after Him. We do what we think is best to do in service to God, and sadly our lives are not a blessing to God or to others. If we did, God would teach us the strengths and wisdom He has given us. God desires all of us to know and understand all the ways He has gifted us. God desires us to know the strength we have in Him because we are His children.

  God’s will is that all His children seek after Him. When we do this, we will come to know who God created us to be. There are many ways that God’s children are able to serve, but unless it is a job that we have been gifted to do by God, and in His will, we  are missing the most important part. If God and His strength are not in what we do, there is no blessing, it is just duty. The child of God who seeks after Him with all their heart and desires His Will, will flourish and be a blessing in all that they do. This is because God’s strength and will are going before them, before us, leading the way.

  In Psalm 21, The Lord’s servant David wrote a song of praise to God for the victories he had in battle. David knew it was God’s strength that caused the victory. David was faithful to seek God’s will and then God granted him the desires of his heart, because it was God’s desire. David went into battle trusting God, and he returned victorious and was given honor. The greatest blessing was given to God as David praised Him for His strength that brought victory.

  My ability to serve God and others is given to me by God. There is nothing that I do on my own that is worthy of blessing. As I daily follow Jesus through the Holy Spirit, I find that I am given all that I need to accomplish His will. My focus must be on Jesus and seeking after His will for my life. Then as I go about doing what He desires, everyone involved receives blessings and they praise God for all He has done.

  “Oh Lord, the king rejoices in your strength. How great is his joy in the victories You give! You have granted the desire of his heart and have not withheld the request of his lips… Through the victories You gave, his glory is great; You have bestowed on him splendor and majesty. Surely You have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence. For the king trusts in the Lord; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken… Be exalted, O Lord, in Your strength; we will sing and praise your might.” Psalm 21:1-2 & 5-7 & 13

  “Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:15-20

  “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

  Our spiritual gifts and strengths are given by God to His children for the purpose of advancing the kingdom of God. This is accomplished by serving those in the church and outside the church. These gifts need to be developed and strengthened by seeking after God's help in each direction as we grow in our gifts. If we have our own ideas about how we will serve God, then we are not seeking after God and we can not expect Him to bless what we do. We are just striving, and not getting anywhere. God knows the plans that He has for you. Put your trust in His perfect will for your abilities to serve Him, and He will help you be a blessing to Him and many others.

We will continue reading Psalm 21-25 for one more week.

Blessings,

Patricia Terrell

The Joys of Knowing God

Hello Dear Ones,

  How are you doing this week? I hope you have joy in your heart about many things, especially when you think about how much Jesus loves and adores you. How was your thanksgiving? Did you spend it with your family, and friends? Did you have to work over the holiday, or maybe you were alone? Just remember that even if you feel alone, you are never alone, Jesus is always with you to comfort you.

  The Lord’s deepest desire is for everyone to know Him. Not just know of Him from His Word, but to truly know Him. There are many things Jesus would like to do in each person’s life who has trusted Him for salvation; but until that person takes the time each day to be with Him, they will not know what that is. Seek His face and call His Name with a heart of humble surrender. Jesus will answer you, and you will know His will for your life. You will walk with Him daily as your guide, your shield, and your salvation.

  Many put their hope and faith in Jesus for salvation; but there is so much more that He wants to do in our lives than to have us just wait for heaven. Jesus wants to personally teach us and train us to serve His purpose while we are still here on earth.

  Jesus desires for His children to seek His face. He loves all forms of worship, like reading His Word, prayer, playing an instrument, singing songs of worship, telling Him throughout the day “I love You”, and talking to Him. When we do these things out of love for Jesus, He will meet us there as we worship Him with a pure and humble heart.

  As we learn to hear His voice and seek His will in all things, we will then be able to accomplish great things for His kingdom. In any relationship, when two people get to know each other they come to love each other. When we learn how much Jesus loves us, our love for Him will certainly grow and He will become first in our lives and in our thoughts. So, take the time with Jesus each day. Better yet spend time with Him all day, and He will meet you there. He will teach you His will and that will becomes the desire of your heart. He knows your heart better than you do and what His perfect will for you is. Come and walk with Jesus, your God and Creator, today and everyday.

  All of David’s life he knew God in an intimate way. The Lord’s servant David called upon God to help him make right decisions and to live a life that honored Him. In doing this David became a respected leader and eventually the second king of Israel. Because of his faithfulness, he was able to know God’s will for his life; and David praised God and worshipped Him for all the ways He blessed him.

  It has almost been a year since I have been seeking the face of God on a regular basis. It started by journaling my thoughts to God. Then I would hear His thoughts toward me and I would write them down. It is a wonderful thing to know the One who created you and the purposes He has created you for. As my confidence and trust in our relationship has grown, I am able to seek His will throughout the day. The important thing I am still learning to practice, is to remember to seek Him all day about everything, not just for big important decisions. Jesus loves it when I let Him be involved in even the smallest details of my live. In this way, He becomes my Guide, my Shield of protection, as well as my Salvation.

  “May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you… May He give you the desires of your heart and make all your plans succeed… Now I know the Lord saves His anointed; He answers him from His holy heaven with the saving power of His right hand.” Psalm 20:1, 4 & 6

  “So, as the Holy Spirit says: Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts… Hebrews 3:7

  “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe.” Ephesians 1:17-19

  “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”Ephesians 3:17-19

  The fullness of our faith is truly known when we walk daily with Jesus through the Holy Spirit. The mundane will become the glorious life Jesus had planned for us from the beginning. Will you decide to walk with Jesus everyday? I do. I can’t imagine my life without Him. I know there are days it is hard to sense His presence and comfort, but I don’t give up hope in those moments. I turn to His Word and know that He is speaking directly to my heart. The Psalms have served me well in encouraging me when I needed to know how much I am loved and cared for by Jesus. No matter what we are going through, Jesus is always there to love and comfort our hearts back to joy in Him.

We will now begin reading Psalm 21 – 25 for two weeks.

Blessings,

Patricia Terrell