Thursday, July 13, 2023

 My Soul Longeth After Thee


Psalms 42:1 -2 

As the deer longs for streams of water,
    so I long for you, O God.
I thirst for God, the living God.
    When can I go and stand before him?



It has been some time since the last blog. I have been busy and wanted to really settle myself and hear what God was saying to me before I just tried to write something.  Just as deer’s need water to survive, our lives depend on God.  Those that desperately seek Him will find Him.  They will find peace, joy, and rest.  Most of all they will find eternal life.  

Our souls long after God, to be in His presence. This psalm was attributed to the sons of Korah who were temple musicians and assistants.  It is said that the writer was exiled from Israel and could not worship in the temple.  During the feast, Israel was to remember all that God had done for them.  He had a thirst for God and His presence.  

Thankfully, now God dwells in us and with us.  We can enjoy the presence of God wherever we are.  We don’t just meet Him in church, we can call upon His Name at any time and His presence will be with us.  In our homes, on our jobs, and in the marketplace.  There is not a place that God cannot meet you if you call on Him.  

As the Psalmist says, our souls need to be thirsty for God.  What does thirsty mean?  It means the feeling a need to drink something; having or showing a strong desire for something.  We need to have a strong desire for God, to be in His presence, to gain His wisdom, to hear His voice, to get His direction, to walk in His will…..  You get it!  WE NEED GOD!!!

We need Him like we need air and water.  Without God, our existence is a shadow of what it could be if we are in constant contact with Him.  God loves us so much that He died for us.  Not only to secure eternal life but to walk through this life with us.  He died so that we could have an abundant life here.  I’m not talking about things, I’m talking about the abundance that comes from having access to THE Great I Am, Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.  The Almighty God!!

He has come to give us life.  We may have trials and tribulations but GOD is with us!! He can lead and guide us through, around, and in the midst of any storm.  He is our shield and buckler, our present help in the time of trouble.  He is everything that we need.  

See, our souls (mind, will, and emotions) must long for God.  Because without God, we will fail.  As the song says, we will be like a ship without a sail.  What happens if a ship has no sail?  Ships use sails to harness the power of the wind and move the vessel forward. The momentum of the wind moves the vessel forward. Without the sail to catch the wind, the vessel cannot move forward and get stuck.  You will just drift along and go nowhere.  

I don’t know about you but I don’t want to be going around in circles, going nowhere, without momentum, or being stuck.  I want God to be the wind in my sails, leading and guiding me in the right direction, at the right speed, in the right waters. 

So seek God, let your soul become thirsty for Him. Matt. 5:6 says “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”  When you hunger and thirst after the things of God and righteousness, He will fill you up. 

Be blessed.  


Saturday, April 1, 2023

Wait Patiently





Isaiah 40: 1-3

I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me,
And heard my cry.
2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps.
3 He has put a new song in my mouth—
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear,
And will trust in the Lord.


Have you ever had a problem that you wanted to be resolved quickly? Have you ever been in need of immediate assistance or relief? Has the weight of your trials been so great that you wanted God to remove them or save you from your troubles post haste?

Well I know exactly what you mean. There have been times when the trials seem so weighty and I just want them to go away. I was praying for direction, peace, and wisdom. God gave me direction but I wanted resolution and to be able to see an end to the situation. But God didn't make the situation change, He changed how I waited in the situation. God used the situation, trial, or circumstance to change me. He changed the way I look at the situation, the people in the situation, His ability to move in the situation, and His wisdom in not moving the trial.

David was waiting for the Lord.  How did he wait?  He waited patiently.  He received the benefits of waiting on the Lord.  What are the benefits?  God lifted him up and out of the despair; God set his feet on solid ground; God established his steps (made him steady); God put a new song in his heart.  There are benefits to waiting on the Lord. 

We run the risk of really messing things up when we do not wait.  The biblical meaning of waiting is to be aware through all of the senses of what is occurring around you and discerning the right time to do the next thing. (https://news.mhm.org/waiting-a-spiritual-discipline/)  Patiently means in a way that shows tolerance of delays, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious. (Oxford Dictionary).  To wait patiently would mean to discern what is occurring around you and discern the right time to do the next thing and to be tolerate of the delays, problems or suffering without being annoyed or anxious.  WOW!!  Is this the way that you wait?  I can't say that I always do. 

It is imperative that we discern God's timing for the things that are occurring around us. We could move too quickly and miss the timing of God.  God knows what He is doing and He is in control of all things.  The situation or trial couldn't even get to you unless God allowed it to come.  It is also to our benefit to wait patiently - being tolerant of the delays, problems, or suffering without being annoyed or anxious.  But even if you are annoyed and anxious, you can talked to God about it. 

Romans 3: 5-7 states"3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."  This is working to produce something great in us.  We are gaining experience and from that we have hope.  Hope doesn't make us ashamed, we learn how much God truly loves us. 

The scripture says that tribulation works patience.  Yes, when you ask for patience, you are asking for tribulation.  We are to glory in tribulation.  This verb form of the word means to take great pride or pleasure in. We are to "count it all joy" (James 2:2-4) "2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."

James tells us to count it all joy when have trials because it is testing our faith.  The testing of our faith produces patience.  It causes us to be complete, lacking nothing.  We shouldn't try to get out of the trial because it is perfecting us - getting things out of us and making us who God called us to be.  We can ask God for wisdom to walk through trials and believe that He will help us.  We don't want to be double-minded.  A double-minded person is indecisive and can't unstable.  

Waiting patiently requires God's assistance.  I pray God will assist us all as we wait patiently on the Lord.  He will incline His ear (He hears us as we pray according to His will) and He will answer us.  Be encouraged, God will rescue you and give you a new song in your heart!!  Those that persecuted you will see you rejoicing.  They will come to trust in the Lord because of the way that you wait.  

Be blessed. 


Sunday, February 19, 2023

Put On the WHOLE Armor of God!!



11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

In the last post, we talked about how we are in a fight.  The enemy is not our brothers or sisters but the devil, principalities, power, rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places.  The enemy may be using those around us (and even us if we allow him to), but ultimately, it is the enemy.  We cannot win this war in our own strength.  

As Paul says, we need the WHOLE armor of God.  We can't go into battle half-dressed or not equipped. We need all parts of the armor.  The whole body needs to be armed and protected. We need the Holy Spirit to defeat Satan.  We fight in God's strength and from a place of victory, "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

We need to have the helmet of salvation - to guard our thoughts.  Our minds need to be transformed and renewed. We need to keep our mind on God to be in perfect peace. 

We need to be armed with the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.  We need to have the Word of God in our hearts and mind to be able to withstand the attacks of the enemy. This is our weapon, God's Word.  

We need the belt of truth - girded with the truth of God.  The Word says in John 8:32, "32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."  We are made free through the truth of God and His Word.  John 14:6 "Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."  

We need the breastplate of righteousness - guarding your heart and keeping it pure.  David says, "10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."  We need to have a pure heart.  Jesus said in Matt. 5:8, "8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."  

We need our feet shod with preparation of the gospel of peace - walking for God and with peace.  The shield of faith is needed to endure the fiery darts (attacks) of the enemy.  In order for us to endure the warfare, we must have on each piece of the armor and they must be in full operation. We need God's strength and power to win.  We win through Christ Jesus!!

The enemy is out to defeat you, but God is greater than any enemy that you face. 1 John 4:4 says, "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." (NKJV)  You must surrender your life to God and He will fight for you.  He is for you because you belong to Him.  He takes care of His own.  He has overcome the world and all our foes. 

Maybe you are saying that you haven't accepted Jesus as your Lord and protection.  You can accept His love and salvation any day, any time.  Here is a simple prayer:

A Simple Prayer

Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness.

I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin.

You said in the bible that if we confess the Lord our God and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we shall be saved.

Right now I confess Jesus as my Lord. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Amen. (paulbarksdale.com)

Accept Jesus today and put on the WHOLE armor of God.  Pray for the Holy Spirit to endow you with power and you will have on your armor.  Only with the armor of God can we withstand the enemies attacks.  

Be blessed!

Sunday, February 5, 2023

 We Wrestle Not Against Flesh and Blood


10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day,

There is so much going on in the world today. Every day there are stories of violence, hatred, harm being done to innocent people, relationship issues, wars, and cyber-attacks. Times are changing and acts of crime are being committed against all races, ages, and creeds of people. Sometimes a calm discussion can turn into something else quickly.

We often ask ourselves, why? Well, the enemy of our souls is always fighting against us and the devil does not care who he uses to do it. It can be our family members (i.e. spouse, children, etc.), friends, co-workers, acquaintances, and even people we don't even know. He does not have a respect of persons. He is just warring against us. At times, he will even use our thoughts, actions, or deeds against us.

We get so angry with the person or individuals and want to retailiate or handle them. We have to remember that it is not the individual (even though they are being used) but ultimately it is the enemy - the devil. It is the principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, spiritual wickedness in high place. When the waged fight is spiritual, we have to use spiritual tactics to fight.

Paul admonishes us to put on the WHOLE armor of GOD!! We cannot fight this battle in our own strength. We need the armor to quench all the fiery darts of the enemy. We need to be covered. We are facing armies that have come out to defeat the children of God. They are demonic forces waging war against our souls.

We need the Holy Spirit to defeat the enemy. We need to have the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith to quench the fiery darts of the enemy, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. We need it all to be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. We have to pray with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.

These are evil days and we need the armor of God to be able to stand. We need to depend on God's strength and be equipped to use every piece of the armor. All of us need to be armed, every day. We must fight in the strength of the Holy Spirit, not our own strength. Our strength will not win this warfare.

As we lean and depend on the Holy Spirit for strength and guidance, He will give us strategies to pray to defeat the enemy. Ask God to give you how to pray against whatever you or your family are facing. The Holy Spirit knows how and what to pray. God will give you insight into how to pray and defeat the enemy. Is. 54:17 tells us that "No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the LORD."  

God is able to deliver us from the attacks of the enemy.  We may have to go through but He will give us strategies and strength to endure like "a good solider".  Don't get caught up in who is fighting you, seek God and ask Him how you come against those spiritual battles.  But you must be suited up and ready to fight in prayer.  Prayer is where battles are fought and victories won!!

Be blessed. 

Sunday, January 29, 2023

 Eye Hath Not Seen, Nor Ear Heard


1 Corinthians was is written by the Apostle Paul to the Corinthian church to identify the problems in the church, to offer solutions, and to teach believers how to live for Christ in a corrupt society. It was written about A.D. 55 near the end of Paul's three year ministry in Ephesus, during his third missionary journey.  Corinth was a major cosmopolitan city, a seaport and major trade center, the most important city in Achaia.  It was filled with idolatry, immorality, and largely made up of Gentiles. (Life Application Bible Vital Statistics)

Paul was straightforward with the church in Corinth.  They had fallen into disorder and divisiveness in his absence.  They were rallying around certain leaders which led to intellectual pride and division in the church.  They had uncorrected sexual sin and had become indifferent to immorality.  People were taking the Lord's Supper without confessing their sins.  Paul had to address the state of the church, answer questions, and solve problems with a Christian approach.  

Paul shared a simple message with the people in 1 Cor. 2, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and guide him in what to say.  He did not use big words or "excellence of speech" but he was "determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified".  His confidence was not in his own speech, but in the "demonstration of the Spirit and of power", not man's wisdom. 

Paul had spiritual wisdom, the wisdom of God, the hidden wisdom of God.  God revealed Himself to mankind through Jesus Christ, His life, death, burial, and resurrection.  Had the rulers of that time known, they would not have crucified the very Lord from Glory.  Jesus was rejected, which was foretold in Isaiah 53 and Zechariah 12:10-11.  

The scripture says that it was written in Isaiah 64:4 (New Living Translation), "For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye hath seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for Him!"  We haven't heard or seen what God has prepared for us, those that love Him.  We can't even imaging all that He has in store for us.  He has so much in store for us here on earth and throughout eternity.  

We have a blessed hope that "If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31. God has an amazing future planned for us Jer. 29:11-13. It does not mean that it will be without trials and tribulations, because it will. James tells us to think it not strange, when trial come... But we haven't seen or heard what God has in store for us. We have to keep moving forward, endure hardship, and don't give up!!

There's a breakthrough just around the bend. This is not all there is to our hope. God will reveal things to you through His Spirit. If you have received the Spirit of God, then you can be guided by the Spirit of God and know God's perspective on a matter. We cannot understand spiritual truths without the Spirit of God. We need the Holy Spirit's guidance and wisdom.

It is time that we seek the Kingdom of God and all of His righteousness. We must hunger and thirst after righteousness. As we diligently seek God, He will reveal more of Himself to us. Our eyes will see things and our ears hear things from God as we draw closer to Him. He will reveal Himself to and work for those that wait for Him.

I know man has a great imagination but it pales in comparison to what God has in store for those that love Him. Amen!

Be blessed.

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

New Mercies Every Morning




Lamentations 3: 22-24

22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning;  Great is Your faithfulness.
24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!”

Every morning that I wake up, it is a new day. It is a day that I was not promised but the mercy of God allowed me to wake up and get up out of my bed.  The problems or the issues from the previous day may remain but I was not consumed in them or by them.  God had mercy on me and gave me the miracle of a new day. 

Jeremiah saw a ray of hope regardless of all the sin that surrounded him.  He knew that God's compassion did not fail.  It is said that "compassion is love in action" (Life Application Bible, NKJV) God's love for us looks beyond our sins, failures, and inabilities.  He loves us more than we could ever imagine.  He will help us and have compassion on us.  He promises to forgive us of our sins as we repent and ask for forgiveness. 

God is so faithful to respond and forgive.  He is true to His Word.  Each day is full of "millions of miracle".  Waking up, miracle.  Being able to get out of bed and care for myself, miracle.  Breathing, miracle... You get it, our every day is filled with so many miracles.  God is so loving and faithful.  Even in the trouble, trials, cloudy days, God is still with us and faithful.  

Webster says that faithful means remaining loyal and steadfast; true to facts or the original. "The original Hebrew word (hesed) translated as "steadfast love," is a very important Old Testament term that speaks of the faithful, loyal, constant goodness and love that God shows to his people. This is the Lord's covenantal love, describing God’s act of loving his people. The Lord has an inexhaustible supply of love for his children." (Learn Religions - https://www.learnreligions.com)

Jeremiah could hope in God because he knew that His love and faithfulness was sure.  We too can trust that God's Word is true and He will be with us.  He will help us because He loves us and shows us new mercies daily.  He is with us and for us.  We can rest assure that He knows where we are and what we are going through.  He is working it all for our good.  It may not feel good, but it is working for our good. 

Be encouraged, God is not unaware of your situation or circumstances.  Take it to Him in prayer and trust that He is faithful and compassionate.  Thank Him for all the millions of miracles and mercies that you can think of daily.  He is a Wonderful God and an Awesome Father.  

Be blessed. 

Saturday, January 14, 2023

Old Things Have Passed Away;
Behold All Things Have Become New




This month we are focusing on a new beginning. This scripture falls in line with the new, in that old things are passed away and all things are new. But what exactly was the Apostle Paul writing about in this chapter when he wrote these verses? Would we cross into a new year and everything reset and we start over?

Paul writes to the church in Corinth in 2 Cor. 5. He starts out assuring them of the heavenly body that we have if our earthly house (our body) is destroyed. He tells them that while here in this body we are absent from the Lord but we will have heavenly bodies for our eternal life.

Paul and his companions did all things to honor God. They did it not only because they had the "fear of the Lord" but because His great love for them caused them to want to please Him. Jesus had given His life for them and all mankind. Such love caused them to want to preach and live a life that was pleasing to Him. They had received His best, the Comforter, the Holy Spirit.

It is still true today. Jesus died and promised to endow us with power, the Holy Spirit. When we receive Him, we are given the Holy Spirit which brings new life. We are not the same anymore.

We have put on a new man/woman. We are re-created (a new creation) in Christ Jesus. We are now under the leading of the Holy Spirit. It is not like "turning over a new leaf" or New Year’s resolutions, it is a transformation.

That does not mean that you wake up and every old habit, problem, or desire immediately has fallen off of you or changed. God is able to do it, and does for some. But others have to surrender those things to the Lord and allow the Holy Spirit to change those desires, thoughts, habits, etc. We have to surrender them daily.

We are under a new order with Christ and a new covenant. This is not superficial but supernatural, a new way of looking at all things under Christ's authority. We have been forgiven and set free. We have to be renewed in our minds and changed from the inside out. We are no longer enemies of God but His beloved children. We have been made right with God.

God did it through sacrificing His Son, Jesus. Jesus shed His blood as an atonement for our sins. When we accept Him as our Lord and Savior, we are reconciled to God and under His authority. We are free, our sins are forgiven and we are walking in the newness of life. We have been made new and have a new beginning.

Thank God for all that He has done for us. We can let go of all those things that we did to please ourselves and live to please God. We can let go of those things that held us back or weigh us down, and walk in the newness of this life that Jesus died to give us.  

In John 10:10, Jesus says "10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."  We don't have to allow the enemy to steal, kill, and destroy us. We can look to and depend of our Helper (the Holy Spirit) to teach us how to pray, wield the sword of the Spirit (the Word of God), and fight the good fight of faith.

So let's walk in the new and abundant life that Jesus died to give us.  Be blessed.