Hungry? Thirsty? Get More of Jesus!

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV

I wonder if you are like me and have read this particular verse a number of time but didn't really see the promise contained in it. Take a few minutes and read it over and over, then really meditate on it. Drink in the truth of the Scripture. God has given us His Word to feed hungry souls, to quench the thirst of our parched cravings. He has given us the answer - Himself!

Lots of times we pray for stuff: healing for our family and friends, money to take care of our needs, answers to our prayers of all shapes and sizes and such things. Have we ever slowed down long enough to think about how many times we've prayed for more of Jesus? This is truly what we need. Please don't get me wrong, Jesus told us to bring our needs to Him and we should, but in the midst of that, we need to be praying for Jesus to come and fill us will His Spirit and invade our lives powerfully. We need His empowerment to go out into this corrupt and broken world to be effective for Him. There is so much hurt and pain, yet the Lord is sufficient for all the needs out there. If we would look beyond the physical needs and pray to be used by God in His plan for our world then we would see amazing things happen for Him. He sees beyond what we see. He knows far more than we could ever begin to imagine. He sees the heart and penetrates the darkness in ways unknown to humanity. What an exciting experience to be part of!! Will you join with me in praying for more of Jesus? Will you partner with Him to do those things He calls you to do? Will you trust Him to keep His promise to do "exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think?"

I'm praying for you. In Jesus' joy,
Natalie

Verdict: NOT GUILTY

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so He condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit." Romans 8:1-4 NIV

How much would a prisoner living on death row desire for the warden to come and declare him not guilty? This is how we all live apart from Jesus Christ. We are separated from God bound to live a life without hope for eternity. There is a heaven and a hell and anyone who does not choose Jesus to lead their life and dwell within them is as condemned as a prisoner on death row. For those who think they have time to wait...you may want to think again. NO choice is a choice. You either choose Jesus or not. Choosing Jesus means that God grants you pardon from your life of sin and brings you into the life that Jesus died to give you. Like verse 1 in the Scripture above says, "There is NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (emphasis mine). Jesus died to break the power of sin and death over His people and has accomplished it. He has done it.

The only thing left to do is to accept it. Are you willing to accept the grace and forgiveness that God has provided through the work Jesus did on the cross as He died, in the grave as He broke the bonds of death and arose, and in the resurrection as He ascended to be seated at the right hand of the Father to intercede on our behalf? Are you willing to cry out to Jesus so He may claim you as His own and declare you NOT GUILTY before God the Father? He will be coming back one day for His children. Is your name in the Book of Life (Revelation 3:5)? Does He know that you belong to Him? Be assured and comforted that if anyone calls on the name of the Lord, he (or she) will be saved (Acts 4:12). There is hope because we have a Savior who has paid the price for our redemption (John 19:30). Won't you call out to Him today?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Today begins a brand-new year. A time to look back and see from where you've come and a time to look ahead and see where you want to be. This is the perfect time of year to determine how you want to live your life. Have you been satisfied with your life: joyful, content, peaceful, patient, filled with kindness for others and that type of thing? Or are you lacking joy, contentment, peacefulness, and filled with resentment and anger toward others?

 

 

I encourage you to take time today and reflect on these things. This assessment begs the question: what are you going to do about it if you are sliding toward the negative side of things? Taking time on a daily basis to study God's Word is the prescription I would recommend for whatever is ailing you. Take time to sit down for 15 minutes a day and read from His Word. Pray and allow the Words to soak in and change you. Ask for His Holy Spirit to assist you in this endeavour. Do not try to do this alone. He is right there with you. Allow Him to be your sufficiency and to cover you with His grace and mercy.

 

 

Dear Heavenly Father,

I pray for each precious one who reads this post and takes it to task. Lord, strengthen them as they take on the challenge of reading and soaking in Your Word each and every day. Father, give them the discipline needed to get the job done. I pray Your Spirit would fill them - each one - and reveal the truths of the Scriptures You have chosen for them to read each day. May You work in their lives daily to shape them into the likeness of Jesus Christ Your One and Only Son. In His precious and Holy name I pray, Amen

Christmas Traditions

Christmas time! Can you believe it is here already? Each year it seems to creep up more quickly than the last, yet the number of days on the calendar are the same. Everyone is rushing around trying to prepare food, gifts, concerts, and the other things that we traditionally do during the Christmas season. What are the things most important to you at Christmas? Have you ever really thought about it? Truly, I would love to hear what they are. How about listing your top 5?

One of our favorite things to do is to prepare for our church Christmas concert. We all sing and enjoy taking time to do this as a family. We also love to cook and prepare goodies for family and friends then do them up in nice packages and deliver them. We have an advent calendar that goes up every December to count the days down to Christmas. We clean the house and scurry around trying to get things in order so we can relax for a few days over Christmas. Then on Christmas day, we love to read the Christmas story (from Luke 2) together discussing what it might have been like on that very first Christmas day.

In the busyness this season brings, have you yet taken time to "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10)? You can do this as a family or alone. I encourage you to take some time, settle in a quiet place with your Bible and your Lord and pray that He would reveal more of Himself to you. If you don't yet have a relationship with Jesus, you can accept His gift this day and become one of His children. If you are unsure how, just click on  http://www.promisesforall.blogspot.ca/2010/09/greatest-promise.html

Christmas is a wonderful time to begin spending time with Jesus, but don't stop there. Take time each day to spend in His presence, reading His Word, praying and seeking His will for your life and you will find He is right there with you. What a wonderful tradition to begin that will carry you through the days ahead.

Merry Christmas and a Blessed and Wonderful New Year - May the peace and joy of the birth of Jesus be with you and yours this holiday season and each coming day!

Natalie

RENEW our Pilgrimage

Each day we get out of bed and begin our day. How did you do it this morning? Did you roll out looking for your first cup of tea or coffee? Did you jump out energized and ready to get going? Did you open your eyes and praise the Lord for giving you another day, committing it to Him and praying for His direction and guidance?

We all live each day making choice after choice. Living a Christian life is more than going to church on Sunday, giving your tithe, and doing a few mission minded things throughout the year. Living a Christian life is turning it all over to the One who gave everything up for you; committing your life to the One who loves you so much that He would suffer and die for you. It is the realization that He wants all of you and nothing but the best for you.

Each day we can renew our pilgrimage by praying and seeking God's best for us. Learning to put our own agendas aside and asking the Lord to reveal His plans and people He wants us to connect with. This does not mean that we quit our jobs and forsake the things we have committed to (unless He directs us to), yet in the midst of life, He sometimes has divine appointments for us. There may be someone in your office or place of work who spends their free time alone who would really appreciate it if someone took the time to reach out and say "Hi, how are you?" caring enough to really listen. There may be a single mom in a grocery store with screaming babies who would like someone to simply smile and say a positive, encouraging word to her. There are opportunities all around us, right where we are to show the love of Christ. Are we taking the opportunity to pray and seek Jesus' guidance, are we open to the prompting of the Holy Spirit?

Second Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (NKJV) When we give our lives to Christ and commit ourselves to Him, we are no longer the same as we once were, nor are we alone. The Holy Spirit dwells within us and we are free to obey God. Taking the time daily to renew our pilgrimage and seek guidance from Him to see what is on His agenda will help us to live abundant lives (John 10:10). Are you willing to renew your pilgrimage and commit your works to the Lord? Dwell in His ways and seek His call, obey His voice and you will have abundant living.




Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the gift of salvation offered by Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help me each day to seek Your will and Your ways. Help me Lord by the power of the Holy Spirit to see the needs You want me to fill and fill me with the boldness of the Spirit and strength I need to be obedient. I pray for Your blessing as I step out in faith to follow you. In Jesus mighty and Holy name I pray, Amen.

REVIVE our Souls

Do you know how much you are loved? Do you realize that you are precious in God's sight? Do you realize Jesus died for you-to forgive you and cleanse you of your sins?

Step back for a moment and take a look at your life. Are there any storms present, brewing, or subsiding? If so, rest assured you are not alone. Jesus is right there to hold you up, to carry you, and to be "your sufficiency". He is able and can calm the storm.

Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him.  And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep.  Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” (NKJV accessed via biblegateway.com)

These disciples were physically with Jesus, in the middle of a storm, fearful for their lives. Yet, they woke Him, trusted in Him and He brought them through it all. We can learn much from this passage. Today, I want you to focus on giving it to Jesus, whatever your it is. The fear you have, the health issues, family difficulties, financial woes, spiritual lacking, or a range of other possibilities. Give them to Jesus and allow Him to take control. Pray, listen to His instruction, obey His voice, and raise your thanks to Him through praise, whatever your circumstance. Our God is able. Jesus is mighty to save and He's just waiting for you to seek Him.

Rest in Him

I had the privilege to share at Camp Peniel (in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia) this past weekend. They host a Ladies' Spa Retreat each fall in September and they invited me to be their speaker this year. It is always an amazing time for ladies to come together, get rested, be pampered, have fun, laugh, cry, and get filled up spiritually. There were many prayers prayed as this weekend came and the presence of the Lord filled the place.

I have always been amazed each time I go there, how the Lord makes Himself so real and my heart can be stilled in the beauty of such a wonderful God-given place. His handprints are all over it. This year the theme was nautical and my topics reflected that in "Faith in the Waves". On Friday I spoke about Resting in Him, Saturday was a time to Revive our Souls, then Sunday the Lord gave us strength to Renew our Pilgrimage with Him.

Do you take time to simply REST in Jesus? Is your life just too busy? If so, today is the perfect day to go to Him and pray for rest.

Matthew 11:28-30 says, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me,

for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (NKJV)

 

 

Have you ever seen a yoke of oxen? How many are yoked together? Of course, two. This is how Jesus wants us to be with Him. Yoked to Him, trusting Him to direct our paths and leading us in His ways and His timing. This is where we find rest. Trusting Jesus to go ahead of us. I pray for all you dear ones that you will call on the name of Jesus, yoke to Him, and trade in your heavy burden for His light one. May you begin today resting in Him.

 

May Jesus be your joy and your strength,

Natalie