It's A Trap Part II

Hello Friends!

To continue in the same vein as my last blog... remember in Acts 16:16 where this young girl possessed with a spirit of divination brought her owners LOTS OF MONEY. The girl prophesied that Paul and others were "really" men of God, who came to show them the way to salvation. Paul didn't bother the girl or the men at first, but then CAST THE DEVIL OUT OF THE GIRL. The girl was probably relieved but her owners were irrate cause their moneymaking scheme had been cast out... a DEMON of all things... they were more concerned with making money than realizing that a demon controlled this girl. Beloved, nothing has changed. The love of money IS still the root of all evil. Having money is fine, but allowing the lust for it to control your godliness and plain ol' good sense is a trap.

Think about it. When you see advertisements for virtually ANYTHING on TV they make every effort to appeal to your senses... lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life.... fast cars, naked women, perfectly shaped bodies, etc. It is a masterplan of the enemy to steal, kill and destroy.

Beloved brothers and sisters, beware the traps of the enemy!

It's A Trap!

Good morning, Friends!

My hiatus may be over so here I am. I took leave not because my thoughts were empty but a much needed time to refresh myself. I will make every effort to resume blogging at least once a month if not more, but all that said, let's get to the heart of today's thought.

This is NOT a typical devotional. So, for those of you who only talk about relationship with Jesus and really get enough church on Sunday, STOP here an go back to your "business as usual demeanor". Change is good, but only the change that leads us to a closer walk with God is best. However those of you who can stand to hear some truth about holiness... proceed.

There is a generation of pleasure seekers that have allowed science fiction & such to become their god. The videos, games and other entertainment have so entangled their minds that they can no longer discern reality. That is the extreme case. If the enemy can warp and tap their minds opening themselves up to his control, they cease to be clear in their minds.

They love to win. They love pleasure. They love control. Not just love it they are obsessed with it in every area of life.

These games, videos and such are tools that the thief uses to progressively seduce them. Leading them further and further into his abyss.

Any way that he can decieve them,he will.

I think of all the parents who are hopelessly trying to find solutions to their children's problems.

Sedating and drugging the devil isn't a solution. The person remains trapped.

The people of God - the church- MUST rise up and take control via strength in the Word, passionate prayer, fastings and personal sanctification that penetrates their appetites, thoughts, intents and desires.

Holiness cannot be legislated. Just like sin should not be legislated.

These are just portions of Scripture that come to mind:
1. Be not entangled with the bondage of sin.
2. Come out from among them (the world & it's system) and be ye holy.
3. Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid!

It doesn't matter if the majority of the church world agrees with sin as the Bible defines it... we, believers must stand with God's Word. Right hasn't changed. God's requirements for successful living hasn't changed.

How does seduction take place? One is very gradually led away from holiness into worldliness. AGAIN, seduction happens when one is very, very gradually led AWAY from holiness INTO worldliness. When we find more pleasure in our activities and events than in the presence of OUR LORD, we need to consider what is happening. EVERY believer should be holy and when believers are convinced that holiness is JUST the exterior rather than an internal change, we are decieved. Holiness is the lifestyle of the believer. A life that demonstrates that there is only ONE God and He requires separation FROM the world and DEDICATION unto Him. If we love Him, we will keep HIS commandments... Whenever others depart from God's word, HIS children will STILL keep HIS commandments.

Worldliness, whatever form, becomes appealing to our senses-lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and the pride of life.

People are in bondage to the enemy and don't realize it. They just know (& sometimes others see & know) that they are different and that they've changed. The enemy invades thair personality and they think it is maturity and progess in their personal ives (but every gift from God is first peaceable and easy to be entreated). It is clear that the enemy has done this when it what they find pleasure in disagrees with the Word of God.

Fractured people!!! TV and other sources of entertainment (lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life) have focused on the supernatural opening doors into things that the world knows NOTHING about... it is devilish and sensual. The participants, if you will, feel powerful. Isn't that what the devil when he was kicked out of heaven? Isn't that what convinced Eve (via that old serpent) to break God's law? Wanting to be LIKE God? Powerful LIKE Him?

People need hope. They need answers and the word of that old song still ring true... Jesus is the answer for the world today. Above Him there's no other. Jesus is the way.

Finally, I am not intentionally trying to offend or alarm anyone, but unless we are shaken from our stupor of worldliness, the world will never be healed.

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

We have so many promises that requires something from us in order for God to move on our behalf and we take advantage of most of them... peace, joy, money, houses, favor, etc., but the Scripture above is a promise, too. Let's take advantage of it.

In Him,
Edna

Who Is Your Source?

Good morning, Sisters (& Brothers)!

What a profound question...who is your source? where do you get your strength? your joy? your peace? resilience? willingness to move forward? or stand still? If we have expectations from others, we might be disappointed. As much as others will try (or not) to BE what we (think) we need, they can and often will fail or come short. Intentional or not... humans are frail and finite. Even if "our" humans aren't aware of their frailities, they still are. They may have certain areas that are their strengths but we all have some areas where we are weak (which is why we need Him to be the Strength of our lives.) We can have unrealistic expectations of others and they CANNOT BE what we want them to be. So, we cover them in prayer and rest in the promises that the Lord is for us and is helping our infirmities (& our humans. smile)

(okay, yes, I just watched Avatar...so it shows up in my writing. Pray for me. LOL!)

If we look to the hills from which cometh our help, we are assured that our help comes from the Lord. There are many, many scriptures reassuring the believer that God is for us. We can get so caught up in the cares of this life, the deceitfulness of sin and the desires to have things that we cease to stay focused on Who our Source really is. When we begin to expect our spouses, friends, or others to fulfill us, we begin the slow migration from the presence of the real Source. When we allow our minds and thoughts to wander into what is NOT lovely, pure or of a good report, we descend slowly into the war of our souls. The Scriptures says that He will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on ME. I recently read Brother Lawrence's Practice the Presence of God. If we could just remember during the day and during our activities that God is right there with us and there is nothing greater than pleasing Him. If we please Him, others will be pleased. We treat others with the same love (by this shall all men know that we are His disciples...love) that the Lord Jesus has shown us. We love them with the same mercy, compassion and quick forgiveness. When we harbor ill thoughts about someone or something, we taint ourselves and open an opportunity for the little fox to destroy the vine that the Lord is growing through us.

If we really trust Him as our Source today, let's remind ourselves and others...that we live a life that demonstrates who we are really trusting. Speaking to ourselves... building up ourselves and acknowledging Him in all our ways and He WILL direct our steps.

It may take some getting used to... keeping Him first in our thoughts, but if you practice something long enough it becomes a natural or second nature... even if it is a bad habit.

With all of the economic uncertainties in our world, He is the only REAL Help... as He always has been. So, keep your eyes forward. Heart fixed. Mind made up.

If you work a secular job, there are many things during the day that vie for your attention and distract you from remembering that He is your Source. But my Sisters and Brothers, when you realize that you are no longer focused on Him, just jump right back into it. Pleasing Him should be our highest priority. This is not a license to allow others to kick you around, but it is an opportunity to fellowship with our Lord all the day long. The Lord will not let you get taken advantage of, as such. He always has a plan for your success. But remember God doesn't measure success in money but in how much pleasure he receives from our lives.

Give Him glory today! He is our Source!

In Him and for His glory,
Edna

Born Again?

Good morning, Sisters (& Brothers)! This is today's word from studylight. I was blessed and I hope you will be, too.

"according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" 1 Peter 1:3

Born again - The literal word is "again generated" - anagennesas. This is the technical term for "born again". It is a Greek word that Peter made up. It is not the term that Jesus used in John 3. Jesus told Nicodemus "unless a man is generated from above" not "born again". But it is clear from the reply of Nicodemus that he meant "born a second time". Here, Peter uses a special word to indicate this concept.

We have been seduced by the mystery religions of the Greek culture when it comes to the idea of re-generation. In the Greek mystery religions, regeneration was associated with the idea that the divine spark in mankind was re-circulated from one life to the next. Divinity, dispersed across the animated souls of men, was collected at death and returned in the birth of another. You could think of it as a celestial zero-sum game. Many of the current ideas of past lives and reincarnation are really very old forms of Greek and Oriental mystery cults.

The idea of a new birth was not new in Jesus' time. Even in Judaism, converts were considered re-born. But here the meaning is legal rather than mystical. When a convert comes into the faith, his moral status before God is renewed. He becomes a new man in God's eyes because he is now part of the true religion. Nicodemus was certainly aware of this meaning since he was an official in the Jewish clergy. If Jesus had used the term "regenerated", Nicodemus would probably not have had any further question. He would have assumed that Jesus was talking about conversion to the Jewish faith. When Jesus deliberately said, "born from above", Nicodemus was caught off guard.

Peter also avoids the mystical meaning of this term. But he does so by pointing to the resurrection as the means of regeneration. Being "born again" is God's act, not ours. It does not occur because we follow some initiation rite or make vows or work ourselves into a mental or spiritual condition. God empowers regeneration because He is merciful and for no other reason.

What an incredible statement! My new birth does not depend on my efforts. I don't have to follow a set of rules, hoping that somehow I will be changed. God draws me to Himself and changes who I am in the process. It is regeneration by adoption into His family, not adoption on the basis of my will to conform.

"Born again" the watchword of evangelical faith is God's handiwork. And thank God it is. We have graciously survived centuries of religious requirements that were never part of the plan. It was God first, last and in-between. What a relief!

Copyright 2003 © Skip Moen and AtGodsTable.com. http://www.studylight.org/

In Him,
Edna

Lust

Good morning, Sisters (& Brothers)!

I am developing this message, but felt impressed to share it with you this morning.

Lust appeals to 3 specific areas of our lives: our appetites, our eyes and our pride
Eve was tempted to & yielded to the temptation to disobey God in order to have the "supposed" benefit of possessing the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil (wisdom to be like God). They were already ABOVE every creature include satan, they just didn't believe God as much as they lusted after sin. How often do we want something that we already have but just don't know because the thing is portrayed as BETTER than what we already have. LUST! We are being decieved. God will NEVER withhold anything good from us. He loves us. Settle that in your mind. Resist the devil. Resist evil thoughts. Resist doubt and unbelief. don't let the enemy whisper JUNK in your ears. Resist him and God will give you more grace.

Don't be ignorant of satan's devices. Be honest when you need to tell yourself, "Stop listening to that voice in your head." If you have to scream, "WRONG VOICES, WRONG THOUGHTS, STINKING THINKING!" Do it! If you keep thinking and meditating on a lie long enough, you will begin to believe it.

Resist the enemy and he will run from you! God is love & love overcomes! Be confident in His love for you. The thief cometh for 3 purposes, to steal, kill & destroy. Don't give him permission to do any of this to you or yours.

Goodness & Mercy Is Following Me! Psalm 23
Edna

Good morning, Sisters (& Brothers)!
I know it's been a minute since I have blogged, but life is happening. smile.

I read the statement in blue below and was blessed by it. It is from an article I found at http://bible.org/article/myth-happily-ever-after.

It is true no matter your marital state or the events going on in your life right now....God only gives grace for reality, nor for illusion or temporary enchantment.

We need HIS grace for our lives, our times and our world. So much to think about but what things are we believing God for that are just an illusion or something that we believe that isn't real? Rather, we are the only ones in the relationship that believes that this is how it really is? Also, we can have unrealistic expectations when dealing with others. They are not us... and we are not them... we are all humans, with our very own set of values, culture and issues. Love covers a multitude of sin (faults, etc).

Read the article, if you get a chance and be blessed. Married or not, apply it to your life. God gives abundant grace for real!

In Him,
Edna

Do You Really Believe?

Good morning, Sisters (& Brothers)!

I am often amazed at how many Believers, read the Bible, get happy at the preached Word and confess it over themselves, their families & others, but really don't believe the Word of God. For example, we believe that a person should be forgiven. But when we are the person that should forgive, we put limitations on how many times the transgressor can say, "I'm sorry." Is that the behavior of a Believer? No matter how many times a person says they are sorry or please forgive me or I didn't intend to hurt you, should we forgive them? Don't be mistaken that I am saying that if a person says I'm sorry because they have repeatedly abused me, physically and otherwise that I just go home with them again because they use the magical phrase. Absolutely not!
But we should be quick to forgive just like God is quick to forgive us. We don't have to work for it, earn it or do penance to recieve kindness or love from Him. He just loves us. We make the mistake in believing that if we let a person "off the hook" easily then they haven't learned the lesson. We are not the POLICE for others, including our spouses or friends. We are responsible for DOING the word of God... not administering the law. That's God's business. When our obedience is fulfilled, God will handle the disobedient person.

Anyway, I know that I can go on and on, but it really concerns me that we serve a loving, forgiving God and His children don't always act like Him. We should strive to be like Him in love... by this shall all men know that we are HIS disciples... by our love. Love covers a multitude of faults.

My prayer is that there will always be someone to cover me when I am wrong, as we all sometimes are. With the measure we mete, it will be measured to us again.

Love ya back,
Edna

Outloook Determines Outcome

Good morning, Sisters (& Brothers)! (This is from Girlfriends in God (Crosswalk) Be blessed!)

Proverbs 4:25 explains, "We need to keep our eyes focused on what is right and look straight ahead to what is good."

A study was done of concentration camp survivors to determine the common characteristics of those who did not die from disease or starvation. Victor Frankl was a living answer to that question. Before the Nazis threw him into a concentration camp, he was a successful psychiatrist. After his rescue, Victor Frankl traveled the world, sharing his story: "There is only one reason why I am here today. You kept me alive. Others gave up hope. I dreamed that someday I would be here telling you how I, Victor Frankl, had survived the Nazi concentration camps. I've never been here before, I've never seen any of you before, and I've never given this speech before. But in my dreams, I have stood before you and said these words a thousand times."
Outlook determines outcome. Victor Frankl survived because he chose a right focus, keeping his eyes fixed on what was ahead. Proverbs 4:25 explains, "We need to keep our eyes focused on what is right and look straight ahead to what is good." The picture painted here is one of an "upright" life, a life of "moral purity." We serve a holy God who is very serious about sin - serious enough to send His son, Jesus Christ, as payment for that sin. We claim the miracle of blood-bought forgiveness while flirting with sin. We give lip-service to God's sacrifice while allowing impurity to negate its power in our lives. We point others to the cross when we are the ones in desperate need of its deliverance.
When it comes to having a right focus, not only do we turn away from what is worthless but we turn to what is worthy. In yesterday's devotion, we discovered that Satan knows if he can control the mind, then he has won the battle. Who wins that battle is up to us and hinges on the choices that we make. The battle of the mind is won by controlling and filtering what we set before our eyes. In Psalm 101:3, we find an important key to guarding our mind, "I will set before my eyes no vile thing" (NIV). "Vile" means "evil one or troublemaker." Anything that is not feeding and nourishing the soul is depleting the soul, originates with Satan himself and will bring nothing but trouble. If it is not of God, it will numb you to what is of God. Be very careful what you place before your eyes - books, movies, television, magazines. We foolishly believe the lie that we "can handle it." If we could handle our sin, there would have been no reason for Jesus Christ to give up His life in order to pay for that sin. We are lost without Him!

In Him,
Edna

Did You Hear That?! I Heard It!

It was the accuser of the brothers (& sisters)! trying to irritate a situation, thing or relationship. You heard that accusatory tone that was spoken by someone to you. You heard yourself respond in the same accusatory tone to the person that asked a question. When two people are trying to communicate and everything comes across as accusatory (from the speaker to the hearer and from the hearer to the speaker), that is not communicationg that is confusion. And you know who is the author of confusion! We should pause and take a moment to be honest with ourselves.

There are manythings that can frustrate us and we respond from that frustation. Some things maybe valid (at least to us) & others may not. As we continue to grow in the grace & knowledge of Jesus Christ, we should become less frustrated at situation. We should become perfect (mature) at maintaining the peace of God in our lives and then it will spread to those around us.
Often, we hear things through our ears that are laced with our own fears and perceptions rather than the tone or inflection that the speaker intended. Then there are times that we respond from our lips with a tone or words that are filled with accusation out of habit, fear or a number of other reasons. I think that sometime we respond with an accusatory tone because of fear. Fear of failure, fear that someone will get the upper hand on us, embarrasment, jealousy, envy, strife, intimidation, insecurity or whatever form fear manifests itself in.

It's not always that accusatory tone that we hear or speak sometimes it can be a tone or language that says that I am better than you or I know more than you (pride or arrogance). What we should do as Brothers and Sisters is ask our Father to put filters on our ears so that we hear beyond what is spoken and how it is spoken. We should also ask that our lips will have a strainer on it so that we won't yield to speaking quickly words that are accusatory or harsh to anyone. A soft answer turns away wrath. This suggests to me that in order for the scripture to say that a soft ANSWER turns away wrath then something must have previously been stated in order for there to be an ANSWER. Question then ANSWER. STATEMENT then RESPONSE. And apparently the STATEMENT or QUESTION could have been responded to differently but the Scripture encourages us to use a SOFT answer.

Perfect love casts out fear. He that feareth has not been made perfect (mature) in love. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but He has given us a spirit of love, power and a sound mind.

Today, Beloved Child of God, submit yourself to God, first (& always) and then (& always) resist your adversary & he will flee from you as in terror.

In Him,
Edna

Today, I will...

Good morning, Sisters (& Brothers)!

Today, please take a moment and fill in the blank:

Today, I willl __________________

...walk steadfastly with the Lord, knowing that all his promises to me will come to pass.


In Him,

Edna

Forgiveness

Good morning, Sisters (& Brothers)!

I tell you, her sins— and they are many— have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love. ~Jesus, Luke 7:47

We should live in a mind set that we should forgive others in the same manner that Christ forgives us. If we hold on to the "thing" that someone has said or done to us, then we haven't really forgiven them and we are commanded to forgive. Sometimes we wait for the "feeling" of forgiveness to come, but I declare unto you that faith without corresponding actions is dead. We get to choose how we feel in a sense. We can bring those negative, deadly thoughts into captivity and release the trespasser, if you will and granting ourselves blessings for following the Word of God. Forgiveness doesn't mean that I will permit you to continue to mistreat me. Forgiveness means that I release you from the penalty of the thing done or said. "I" won't hold you guilty anymore. Yes, you should still love because the Word tells us to love our enemies and do good to those who hate or misuse us or say any manner of evil against us. I think that as Believers we often have difficulty doing good to those who say bad things against us or misuse us or even hate us. But the Word is really clear. We should let it go... for our benefit and because we love the Lord. Unforgiveness creates physical, emotional and mental issues. We should guard our hearts for out of it are the boundaries of life.
I am sure that there is so much to add to this subject... so feel free to add some more insights.

In Him,
Edna

Today's devotional will speak for itself.

Good morning, Sisters (& Brothers)! This devotional is from studylight.org. It is so powerful and thoughtprovoking. It will speak for itself.

"For the day of the Lord draws near on all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you." Obad. 1:15

Done - Obadiah is a tiny book in the Old Testament. Only 21 verses long, it is the description of a vision given to the prophet Obadiah. In this verse, the same Hebrew word is used twice. The word asah means "to do" or "to make". It has both a general sense and a special ethical sense. In the general sense, it can be used in any context where a creative action takes place (to make, fashion, accomplish or do). But when it is used to describe God's acts in history, it emphasizes God's complete control of the temporal span. God is both the creator of all life and the immanent controller of all living. Everything works toward His purposes. His will is going to be done, no matter what.

This word is used extensively in the Genesis account of creation. However, it is never used to describe a creative act that brings something entirely new into existence (for example, the creation of the heavens and earth or of light). It is only used to describe the creation of objects and beings that are formed from something else (for example, it is used to describe the formation of Eve from Adam). This difference is critical. It clearly shows that God's creative acts fall into two categories. God's creations are not simply extensions of something that already existed. When God started creating, nothing else existed at all.

Obadiah reminds us of something else that belongs to the realm of God's actions in our history the exercise of judgment. Notice that this verse is the reverse of the Golden Rule: What you have done to others will be done to you. There is a flipside to salvation. Judgment is coming, says God. It is inevitable, inescapable and eternal. Your life and mine will come under the microscope of God's holiness. What we have done to others will become our own fate.

This is chilling and frightening. How many acts of deception, hostility, revenge, unfaithfulness, insensitivity, anger, jealousy, envy, greed or harm have I perpetrated on others, willfully or not. How will I survive a judgment day when all of my own self-centeredness is distilled into a poison vile and offered for me to drink? Thank God, literally, Jesus Christ has settled that judgment for me. God forgive me, I desperately need it.

In Him,
Edna

Being In Love

Good morning, Sisters (& Brothers)! One of my Devotional DIVAs sent this to me and I found it very encouraging. It is worth the read.

Think back to when you met that man/woman that you just knew would be the one.
Remember when you realized/admitted to yourself that you loved him/her. Now remember how much you wanted to act like you were in a movie and yell to everyone in the football stadium 'I love you!' You told family and friends how perfect he/she was; he/she was just what you were looking for.

Well, I told THE LORD that I love Him today. And He said to me, How much do you love me?
You haven't told anyone how good I've been to you. You haven't shared how perfect my love is.
You haven't spread the good news that I am always there to listen to your problems. You haven't told your family how I helped you pay your bills when you didn't have a high paying job, or how I got you a better one. You haven't shared with anyone how I took away that addiction
that would have cost you not only your job, but also that man/woman that was just what you were looking for. So how much do you really love me?'

So I said I would share with my friends and family (for starters) just how wonderful, perfect,
understanding, patient, loving, unselfish, considerate and forgiving GOD really is.

He has blessed me with a family that loves me and friends that I can confide in. But even more than that, He has saved me from destruction I couldn't even see coming.

He gave to me the peace of knowing Him and He has never broken a promise.
Truly, He is the best thing that has ever happened to me. And I stand in my stadium today
to tell all of you,

'I DO LOVE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WITH ALL OF MY HEART!'

SPREAD THE WORD...IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME KIND OF LOVE!!

Have a great day & fall in love... again!
Edna

Let me apologize

Good morning, Sisters!
I have been a little slow in posting, but I have a great excuse (as we all often do). I have been a little under the weather, but am slowly climbing back on top. Brain functions decreased temporarily, but I feel the engine increasing steam.

With that said, give me a bit and we will continue building each other up.

In Him,

Edna

Let's Talk About Fear

Good morning, Sisters!



For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7


What are you afraid of? what has the enemy been using to bring you into prison rather to keep you in prison? Fear of lack? so you hoard? don't spend money for necessities? Fear of failure? so you don't take the leap of faith? in life, love, ministry, rebuilding broken relationships, etc. Fear of letting go of unproductive relationships, things or habits? Jesus came to set us free and give us abundant life. The thief comes to steal, kill & to destory. Let's not get it twisted. Remember that your Father is working things out for your good, but you are to be a proactive participant with Him. God worked with the apostles confirming His word, but they weren't afraid to keep in step with faith.

We cannot cover every aspect of fear in everyone's life at the same time or during this post, but God knows you and as you let His word dwell in you RICHLY, He will help you and show you where you are.

Be strong in Him, my Sisters!


In Him,

Edna

Trials, Tests & Tribulations

Good morning, DIVAs!

Be encouraged for your REDEEMER lives! No matter the trial, test & tribulation. Rest assured that we all have them and God desires that we all go through successfully. If we don't succeed the first time, don't become discouraged. Keep pressing toward the mark because there is a prize!


In Him,

Devotional DIVA

Contentment

Good morning, Sisters!

How often have we said, "If I had ____ then I would be happy"? If this person would just behave like this, not say that, be more submissive, be more outgoing, love me like I NEED, say the right thing, then we believe this would bring contentment and satisfaction in to our lives. The children of Israel wanted a king.. like everyone else. We want a spouse...like everyone else. (and often want a spouse just like someone else's spouse). We want a car...like everyone else. (sometimes, we want a car just like someone else's car). We want children...like everyone else. (cause without children we aren't complete). We want money...a house...more clothes...THAT jobs...notoriety...esteem...praise... like everyone else...and the list could go on and on with what bring us happiness.

I am not talking about being just plain ol' comfortable, but I mean desiring something that is not a necessity. We need to provide for ourselves, our children and our families, but we can't live a life trying to be like everyone else.

It's like... we believe the lie that the enemy has told us that we are missing something... that God (or some of His kids-LOL) is keeping something back from us because we aren't good enough, we haven't prayed enough, we aren't in the correct social group or religious organization or whatever the lie is that has been painted for you. It's the same lie that the enemy told Eve in the garden that God is keeping something from you. He doesn't really want you to be happy or to be like Him, so He commanded you not to eat ___________. Never mind that Adam & Eve had free reign and control of everything... E'RY THANG (in a ghetto fabulous voice) in the Garden of Eden.

Sometimes we forget or de-value what we already have trying to attain the misconception that we are missing something. It's the same way with giving and paying our tithes. We forget that we keep 90 and all God asks for is 10. The enemy portrays that there is no way we can live without eating God's part too. Isn't that a lie?

Paul said that I have learned to be content in whatsoever state I am in. If we trust God, we can be content with what is provided knowing that a brighter day is ahead. The children of Israel grew weary of eating manna in the wilderness, but could have been in the Promised Land YEARS before. Their lack of faith kept them out. They even considered returning to Egypt for leeks and onions. Can you imagine becoming so depressed that you would go back into slavery just to eat something besides what the Lord provided for your nourishment? Neither their clothes or shoes wore out during the wilderness years. God was truly Jehovah Jireh for them, but that generationd missed it trying to be like others.

Faith... keeps walking. "But godliness with contentment is great gain." I Timothy 6:6 KJV


Let's not miss our Promised Land by being discontent with where we are or what we have. If you know that your steps are being ordered then be certain that He will bring you safely into YOUR Promised Land.


In Him,

Devotional DIVA

Never, ever quit at becoming whom God has called you to be

There are times that no matter how much effort we put in trying to succeed that we feel like a failure because of the temporarycircumstances. II Corinthians 4:17, 18, "For our light affliction,which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." As you read the following list of names, remember God sees the end and it is good. Jeremiah 29:11. Never, ever quit at becoming whom God has called you to be. The next time you feel like GOD can't use you, just remember...

Noah was a drunk

Abraham was too old

Isaac was a daydreamer

Jacob was a liar

Leah was ugly

Joseph was abused

Moses had a stuttering problem

Gideon was afraid

Samson had long hair and was a womanizer

Rahab was a prostitute

Jeremiah and Timothy were too young

David had an affair and was a murderer

Elijah was suicidal

Isaiah preached naked

Jonah ran from God

Naomi was a widow

Job went bankrupt

Peter denied Christ

The Disciples fell asleep while praying

Martha worried about everything

The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once

Zaccheus was too small

Paul was too religious

Timothy had an ulcer..AND

Lazarus was dead!

Now! No more excuses! God can use you to your full potential. Besides you aren't the message, you are just the messenger. A single grain of corn will produce several ears; these ears will produce several ears more; and the increase, in time, will fill the field, the province and the entire country. Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in > the whole world for a witness to all the nations.

Rejoice & become who God has called you to be... inspite of the circumstances or delays. (This is not my original work... someone sent it to me awhile back.)

Don't Faint

Good morning, DIVAs! Proverbs 24:10 states "If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small" ...no matter how strong you think you are. Many people claim great strength, but our strength is really determined when it is put to the test in adversity. Iron man competitions prove who is the strongest. It doesn't matter who has boasted the most, gotten the most air time or made claims about their strength. What really matters is when they are tested, do they win? My sisters, remember to strengthen yourself, spiritually, emotionally, physically and financially. Be strong IN the LORD and in the power of HIS might. He desires you to be strong in Him. Then you can proclaim that I can do all things through Christ (why?) Who strengthens me. So, if you are fainting because of your trials, troubles and tests, take courage. You now know you need to be about strengthening yourself so that when situations arise and it seems that the sun doesn't shine, you will continue to let the joy of the Lord be your strength.

In Him,
Devotional DIVAs

Choose to Rejoice!

Rejoice in the Lord and again, I say, REJOICE! No matter the obstacles, you possess the ability to CHOOSE to REJOICE! Stand firm on your decision. As believers we can stand firmly on the Word of God. We have many passages encouraging us to be filled with joy, such as, the joy of the Lord is your STRENGTH. We have joy not because of the external but the internal... you know WHO IS on the inside! Praise the Lord... I encourage you to CHOOSE to REJOICE!

Devotional DIVA

Four Powerful Words

I BELIEVE IN YOU.
I want to encourage my Sister to know that the Lord Jesus really does believe in you. He created you and therefore has great expectations of you. He knows what's in you even when others can't or won't see the good. He knows. Jeremiah 29:11 (paraphrased) I know the thoughts that I have toward you, says the Lord. Thoughts of good and not evil. Thoughts to prosper you. Your success is My desire. I believe in you!

Have a great day!

Live Out Your Love

There is an old song from 1John 4:7-8 that says, "Beloved, let us love one another. for love is of God and everyone that loveth is born of God and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God for God is love. Oh, Beloved let us love one another. 1 John 4: 7 and 8".

Sisters, we have been called to love. The scriptures say that love covers a multitude of faults. We want our faults covered but rarely do we want to cover the faults of others. Especially when what they have said or done "offends" or trespasses us. Our love should be greater than that. We should grow in grace and knowledge and in the LOVE of Jesus Christ. We should want to love others JUST LIKE JESUS LOVES US. He is kind, compassionate, forgiving and longsuffering. He loves you when you are obedient and believe it or not, when you are disobedient. Our disobedience hinders our path to the blessings He has for us, but He loves us in good or bad. We should all strive to nurture the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. We should want our fruit to mature.
As children of God, we should be dying to ourselves daily, taking up our cross and following the Lord Jesus. We are too alive to ourselves and not dead enough to our desires. We should love others so much that we don't mind not being right all the time. We shouldn't mind being crushed sometimes for that is when the fragrance of God is manifested in us. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples ...(how you may ask) by the love we have one to another.
My prayer today is that we would all desire as 1Corinthians 13 says the best gift... charity.

Agape to you today, my Sister DIVAs.

...At His Right Hand Are Pleasures Forevermore

Continuing from Psalm 16:11, we are reminded that at the Lord's right hand we find pleasures forevermore. The right hand has always signified strength or might. There is a passage of scripture that says that His right arm has gotten Him this victory. My sisters, be encouraged for the Lord is always working things out for our good. Romans 8:28. Be confident in Whose you are today. His right hand is filled with good stuff for you.

In His Presence

Sisters, sometimes we are lacking joy because we don't stay in HIS presence...pursue His presence. Davis said one thing have I desired of the Lord and that will I seek after...to inquire in His temple. Joy comes from being with the Lover of our souls, the Strength of our lives and many other phrases to describe our wonderful Lord. Many look for joy in the presence of a man, a woman, a leader-social or spiritual, wealth, high society, or possessions. But joy is internal because of our relationship with Him... not external. He BRINGS joy. He GIVES joy. In His presence we cast our cares, leae our burdens and see beyond the external into the eternal. The equation is simple... Need joy? Get in His presence. Psalm 16:11

What Are YOU Speaking?

I was reminded of a passage from Job 22:28 that says that if I decree a thing it shall be established UNTO ME. What are we speaking? We establish in our lives the things that we confess intentionally or not... our confessions rule us. We should be careful to watch what we say, because we can unintentionally make a negative confession over our lives and in our circumstances. So, what your speaking, DIVAs?

How Important Is Your Daily Devotion?

Devotional DIVAs... Devotional Divinely Inspired Virtuous Anointed Sisters.... thanks for stopping by... please read on, Sister (or Brother-smile)...

Please let me welcome you to the Devotional DIVAs. My desire is that the women, who love Jesus would use this blog to share their daily devotions as words of encouragement to their Sisters who may be going through some valley experience. Be encouraged and encourage someone else. Often, our way out of the valley is through focusing on others and thereby the path is made clear to the mountains.

Devotion is what we give to the Lord, but it helps us to commune with Him. We are made better persons by being in His presence. In His presence is fullness of joy AND at His right hand are pleasures for evermore. In our fast paced world... remember to make time for Jesus.

I invite you to join me daily sharing what the Lord has spoken to you today. Maybe your words of encouragement will be a blessing to someone else. Feel free to express yourself.

In Him,

Devotional DIVA