Category: Spiritual, Inspirational

A Carefree Living

Father, there is a deep longing in my soul to worship you in the heavenly way. In my soul the penetrating desire to love and worship You increases. This morning I asked you to help me to worship you heaven style, my thought was to express my gratitude and love with all kind of emotions. But instead, You have introduced me into an atmosphere of tender care, it’s as if my prayer is answered with Your tender love for me. It’s a carefree feeling, although there are lots of inconvenient issues. There is a blessed assurance deep inside my soul that everything is in Divine order for me.

Is this worship heavenly style? It is not I who gives you, but you, infusing your life in my spirit! I am the container, a deep pot and you fill it with your essence! You created me twice, the first time you formed me from the dust and breathed the breath of life into my nose (Genesis 2: 7). In that state I was just a living person, very knowledgeable about the natural environment. I was very aware of my dusty habitat and enjoyed the land. But the law of gravity had a strong hold on me and my eyes were always fixed downward. And there is just room for myself, because I am just a living person.

Not so with Your second creation, dust was not the composing ingredient. In my first creation there was no blood. Blood, was the main factor through the Spirit of God to make the second creation. And Ephesians 2:10 says I am God’s masterpiece. He created me anew in Christ Jesus. God ‘s purpose in creating me the second time is different than the first. The first time He created me a living person, now He created me for a life of good deeds.

Those good deeds include a spiritual temple, according to 1 Peter 2:5, God created me as a living stone that He uses to build His residence and He also made me His holy priest. No wonder I feel so cared for by You!  Storms come and go and I am carefree, there is an abundance of well-being within me that prevents me from worrying.

Now I am so aware of how it is worshiped in heaven. “…Christ fills all things everywhere with Himself”  (Ephesians 1:23).  And in Him I’m full and complete. I am so cared for by You! This atmosphere of complete well-being is heavenly worship! Thank you for this revelation. Amen.

This is My Story! What is yours?

A Letter to my Friend in Asia

On November 1, 2017, a sudden thought pierced my soul.

Beloved friend.

If all of the sudden, I don’t hear from you and I have no way to find out what happened! Oh my mind, … my heart got frozen! Then I thought, if I disappear you have no way to know either. It saddened me because I imagined that you may be concerned also. Then the greatest and most powerful human emotion visited me, grief; which I also embraced it as a testament to all the things that bring true happiness, love, appreciation, and gratitude.

Friend, I like to be prepared ahead of time for every small and big thing. In case our relationship be suddenly asunder from your side or from mine, we must be prepared ahead of time. We have nobody to inquire about our whereabouts. We have to keep our minds focused on that our relationship was born in God’s heart. And it will continue till eternity.

I’m planning to live 50 more years. My beloved friend, I’m not in the death business, nevertheless, our life is like a vapor. If one day you don’t hear from me and you don’t see me on FB, then check my Instagram, if I’m not there either, then is because He (the Lord) entered me into His marital chamber. But from there we, He and I– (Oh my God! This thought warms my heart! Wow,) what a joy that will be!), will be loving you!

My lovely friend, human beings won’t understand this relationship, because it’s not human, so just let’s keep it between us five (wow… 5! =Grace) Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you and I.

I pray you see my point, if not my darling child, we have no other option, I suppose, unless you do. But as you quoted Acts 17:28, in your first text to me, I quote it back to you now.
“For in Him we live and move and have our being…”

Beautiful child of God, I really, really love you! God wanted it this way!

“Two people can resist an attack that would defeat one person alone. A rope made of three cords is  hard to break.” Ecclesiastes 4:12

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13.

This is my story! What is yours?

“I know that everything God does will endure forever;

nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it…”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3:14‬ ‭

When you desperately want something, you only care about a “YES”. Thirteen years ago, I prayed and fasted, pouring out my soul before God, begging for something that I thought I could not live without. My pierced soul and my lake of tears did not move the Lord to say “Yes.” Because of this, I wondered with pain in my soul for a long time. But today I want to shout to the top of the mountain that everything God does is perfect and that a “NO” of Him, is sweeter than honey. I am exuberantly delighted! Praise the Lord! He had a better plan for me!

This is My Story: What is yours?

Something must be cooking in the atmosphere! There is a feeling of numbness that lingers in the cleft of the soul. It is a feeling of indecision, a feeling of knowing nothing.

Tiny ripples of hope jump here and there dragging the longing for a friendship, but the idea of entertaining frightens the weak self of hers. She has no plan for the future, no desire of anything in this world. Everything is tasteless, nothing has flavor.

What is life in this planet? The soul has digs for knowledge that is unsearchable, out of her reach. An introspective look shows the true longing and hope of the soul is God! Money does not satisfy. Relationship comes and goes, even the most faithful human relationship is lost through death. There is nothing secure on earth. This world is flavorless and the tiny ripples of hope surge, just to fade into the depth of the unknown.

In 1 Corinthians 13:8-10, 12-13 the Apostle gives the answer to the search of the soul:

The missing link the soul is searching for, is love. God is love! This is why love never ends. Our great grief is that we only know in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will be set aside. And we will know fully, then hope won’t be needed anymore. One thing will remain forever and that is Love!

Your soul can call upon that Love right now. Say this prayer:

“Dear God, there is a void in my soul and nothing will fill it, but your love. I’m a sinner. I receive Jesus as my Savior. Forgive my sins and write my name in your book in heaven. Please, let me experience the joy of my salvation. Thank you. Amen.

“Love never ends… For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, but when what is perfect comes, the partial will be set aside… For now we see in a mirror indirectly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

1 Corinthians 13:8-10,12-13 NET

This is my story, what is yours?

peaceforce@msn.com

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The mention of His name is not just a title of a song. Whenever I mention,  even a pronoun of Him, not  just His name, I experience a sweet, warm feeling of His nearness in the atmosphere.  Just to be conscious of the Lord Jesus Christ, His loving kindness and His majesty change the  environment.

In His name we find comfort! This is my story:

 A few years ago we were invited to a very nice birthday celebration and not even  in my wildest dream, I could have imagined what was going to take place. The whole environment was beautiful and very friendly. In that safe family setting, no one expects to fall prey to a paranoid schizophrenic. Sadly, that was the case. We were taken by surprise, we didn’t see it coming until the assault was face to face with us. It was a very traumatic encounter, mainly for one of my daughters.

The other night before I went to bed, I walked down an alley of memories. A vivid memory of that painful scene came up to me. It felt like a stab in my heart and I plunged into a feeling of sadness and helplessness. I knew that going to bed with that hostile feeling was useless for a goodnight rest. But what to do when the blows of life hit us inadvertently leaving us emotionally paralyzed?  My success story over and over again, is just a little talk with the Lord Jesus Christ, He is my Strong Tower and I feel secure in Him. He is my Hidden Place and His name is my Guarantee for open heavens!

I asked the Lord to give me a Word for me to stand firm until that defeated feeling be overcome. John 14:27  shone in my mind!  “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not  let  your heart be troubled and  do not be afraid.”

 While I was repeating it over and over,  the soothing presence of the Lord was replacing the feeling of hopelessness with a feeling of  warrior feeling to defend the feeble. Then, in that peaceful atmosphere, my memory shifted.

Different Aim:

Now that the turmoil of that memory is gone, and in the comfort of my bed, I began to meditate on the persecuted church and on all those people fleeing the war. How they have suffered unspeakable abuse and they  have no voice. How wounded are their souls! Then I began to pray for their emotions, because time heals physical wounds, but wounded souls need to be restored by the grace of God.

The most cruel and unbearable pain I have suffered was the death of my son. Since then, I have set out in my heart not to waste any pain, but to learn something out of it  to bless others.

That night, I realized how easily we can fall into depression caused by small things. The helplessness caused by that memory served as a mean of enlightening  my mind to see the suffering that plagues so many in the world. Then I was grateful, to have relived it  because it turned into an awareness of something sublime, to be a voice for the voiceless. The Book of Wisdom, Proverbs 31:8-9 commands us to:

“Speak out on behalf of the voiceless, and for the rights of all who are vulnerable. speak out in order to judge with righteousness and to defend the needy and the poor.”

My experience brings to mind the Apostle Paul, he was having a hard situation and asked God to remove it. After the third time of his pleading with the Lord for being delivered from that situation, this is the answer from God:

“But  he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”   2 Corinthians 12:9.

This truth has been so real in my life, the grace of God is sufficient for any trial. When we think we cannot take one step forward, His grace sustains us. In our weakness we depend more and more on God, that way we see His power manifest in a greater dimension.

God governs the world and everything that happens has a purpose. Sometimes it may look meaningless to us, it could seem unfair, but when we trust the Lord and His wisdom, sooner than later we understand. With that comprehension comes a peace and gratitude that we can sincerely thank Him.

The Apostle Paul understood that whatever was being a torment for him at that present time, it was only a glorious chievement…

“for our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”  2 Corinthians 4:17-18

When we take an issue that torments us and compare to the issues others are going through, we pray in the authority of the name of Jesus for those people that we don’t even know. Our prayers do miracles that one day in heaven many will come and thank us. From the comfort of our homes, we can pray for others in different continents and God will send angels to help them. While we are concerned for others, God has angels working in our behalf. This is how we respond to the blows of life!

This is my story! what is yours?

“Love never gives up, never loses faith,

 is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” 

1 Corinthians 13:7

They were young and eager to start a family and a business. Everything seemed perfect for this couple. Forty years in the making produced beautiful adventures of hope and joy. Those who were struggling in their relationship were encouraged by them.

All his dreams were realized, a beautiful family and a flourish business. The respect and admiration that both of them felt for each other were undeniable.  But, one day the incomprehensible happened.  All that respect and love he felt for her, as if by magic, were  changed into hatred and disdain. The way that he poured out his scorn for her, deleted  any trace of  good memories  cultivated in 40 years.

The days after the divorce:

Driving alone was a martyrdom, she was so used to being with him. Now she felt that the eyes of all the drivers were on her. She wondered if they were thinking, “Why will she drive alone in that car?” It was very shameful for her.

A truck pulling a boat, a truck with a trailer, a couple in a car, etc. all those things  reminded her of him,  it was like a thorn stuck in her heart. Many painful years, no idea  what happened.

Love never ends:

The Holy Scriptures reveals that love never ends. Sadly, divorce has come to be the road more traveled by many. Nevertheless, she has  understood the great truth about love. It does not end, it moves to another person.

The love of God in the heart of an individual is like a glue to unite  hearts. Knowing and having a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is the key to overcoming all tragedies, no matter how cruel it may be.

After years of solitude with the Lord in His Word and completing  the grieving process, she is enjoying  a life that she never thought possible.  She is full of joy and love.  She has known and experienced the love she never dreamed of. Her experience with the Lord Jesus,  has  transformed her into a confident woman without  lack of anything, because she knows that He is all that she needs.

It’s amazing how things have turned around. Those things that were like a thorn stuck in her heart, now has no effect  whatsoever  in her. No matter how hard she tries to remember a good  memory, it does not emerge.  Her soul is so healed that sadness has no place in her. The love she had for him has been allocated in a different direction.   She is so full of joy with a fresh new love for life,  that she does not  even mind to have walked  that shameful road.  

No pain is lost, everything has a purpose in God.  No affliction is meaningless, it’s producing  something, is working  for you an eternal weight of glory.  2 Corinthians 4:16-18, affirms this great truth.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary trouble are achieving  for us an eternal glory that are  far out weights them all.  So we  fix our eyes not on what  is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

I affirm this is true! How do I know it? Because this is my story.

The importance of having a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is that, among other things, He assures us that we never walk alone.

Only the Lyrics are Messed up

–Anonymous

Life is full of charms, of beautiful surprises and scary ones also! But this combination of things forms in us character which makes us stronger enabling us to enjoy this beautiful melody. Life is so short.  It just happens as a blink of an eye, as a breath, a vapor passing by through, but there is also something eternal about life which is extremely worthwhile. In our lives we long for meaning and for belonging. There is an infinite silence that only turns audible when Jesus Christ becomes the Lord in our hearts. Then the arms of grace are extended towards us, embrace us and fill us with that sense of belonging. That gives us significance and security.  Armed with these marvelous tools, we  start our earthly journey with confidence.

My marriage life was the most beautiful melody, perfection all around us! The sweet lyrics of joy and enchantment used to attract others to admire our melody. We were blessed with the most gorgeous baby boy that grew up to be the most charming young man.

twenty-two  years later, we were assaulted with the cruelest, most inhuman surprise ever imaginable! Our charming son with a perfect health was poisoned. No, the melody was not messed up, the lyrics was destroyed beyond repair! I have no point of reference to express my pain, my disappointment, I lost it completely!

Seventeen years later, there was another assault as unimaginable as the first. My lovely husband of 41 years had a brain surgery and all of the sudden his character changed, and I became a stranger to him. Another agony, another stage of my life! What’s going on with the melody that started so beautiful?  I entered into a new world of the unknown. The only way I can compare this path is with a labyrinth where I have found different companies. I met head on with divorce! Never in my wildest dream I imagined hosting such detestable company. Eleven years has passed, and I am still going through the labyrinth. Several times I am so sure the completion of this journey is around the corner only to realize is just a mirage. But through it all, the melody goes on! It cannot be dissolved, because life is the melody of God in us. God gave the song in His Son!

How to Fix Messed up Lyrics?

Word is a synonym for lyrics. Words are powerful and I dare to believe words are the most powerful force in our universe. God Almighty created it all with words, He declared, and it was. The Sacred Scriptures in Genesis 1:3 states the first time a word was spoken:

“And God said, let there be light: and there was light.” All good and bad things are byproducts of words. This is the reason for the title for this publication. God spoke everything into creation, except man.

God is One in Three Persons and in Genesis 1:2, we see the first Person of God that is introduced was the Holy Spirit, moving upon the face of the waters. Verse 1 states that God created as an introduction, then proceeds with details of the creation. The Spirit is moving, but until the Word was spoken the chaos remained intact. We can see the awesome power of the Word. Words are not just abstract objects. They are like effective ammunitions that facilitate life or death. The tongue is the vehicle that it is used to articulate words, it is a very strong muscle in our bodies. The Sacred Scripture has much to say about it.

 

“…I came not to bring peace, but a sword…Your enemies will be right in your own household!” Matthew 10:34, 36 NLT

Wow! This is really shocking coming from the mouth of the Prince of peace! I heard someone saying that ignorance kills and I believe it. Isaiah 40:8, declares that the Word of our God stands forever and it has been proven. The Word of God is a treasure and is hidden safely so that only those who dig diligently find it.

The New Testament was written in the Greek language, which is totally different than ours. Example, Greek has six different words to express love and we just have one, so this explains some of our difficulties in understanding. I imagine the ancient Greek would have been appalled by our unrefined in using a single word both to love a person and to love a meal. So with this said, I propose to explain what’s going on in this passage.

The Lord is preparing His disciples, equipping them with His prophetic Word for them to be strong enough to withstand what was ahead of them. Genesis 12 tells the story of Abram’s call to leave all he knew to come to an unknown place. God was interested in preparing a place of salvation for humanity. The man had become depraved and was in complete enmity with God. Through the seed of Abraham, God will send his Son to give his life as a ransom for humanity that has been in Satan’s possession. And Galatians 4:4, tells us:
“But when the fullness of time came, God send forth His Son, born from a woman, born under the law,”

The Lord is training His disciples that will stay without His physical leadership, after He is taken back to heaven. He is given them all the details of things to come and they must be strong not to deny God. He places a strong emphasis on His teaching so that they keep it in their spirit. The disciples are as sheep among wolves and He wanted them to be secured and strong. Israel was desperate for a King to deliver them from Rome. They expected a King to come to fight for them. The Lord came to fight, He said it clear:

“I came not to bring peace, but a sword…”

He came to defeat the enemy, the real enemy, Satan.  Light and darkness entered mortal combat.

” In Him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. The light shines in darkness, but the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:4-5).

The Lord came to undo the works of the devil and that revolutionized the kingdom of darkness by urging strife within the same family. This is an eternal business affair. This is like when a parent is facing with the tragic situation of his child destroying his life with drugs. Would that father be okay with the drugs for tranquility’ sake. What about if you see your son or your father sexually abusing a child, wouldn’t that turn you against him? When the sin in us is confronted with the Light of Christ, is immediately revolted.

Thus the Lord is summarizing His teaching with this, “For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother,…” (Matthew 10:35).

Jesus is not commanding people to kill people, He is talking about sin.  Sin separates us from God and from other people. Sin sends people to hell which is eternal separation from God. Jesus loves us so much that He gave His life for us. He died our own death, so that we can live His life today.

NO! Jesus is not anti-family! Jesus is pro-family! He loves family! Through His blood He made us all family. Because of His death, we have been adopted by God.
“For you have not received the spirit of slavery again to fear. But you have received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, Abba, Father.” (Romans8:15).

Proverbs 8:31, says that wisdom who is Jesus , “…My delights were with the sons of men.”

The Lord finished His discourse, “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:39).

This is what the Lord taught us in Luke 10:27, “…You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself.”

No the Lord Jesus is NOT Anti-family!