In *This* There Is Safety and Peace

"Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]." ~James 5:16 AMP

Communal safety that allows each member the freedom to learn from their mistakes, rather than be shunned for them. Honesty that allows the human mind to understand and gain experience. Righteous prayer, offered for one another, that calls down tremendous power from Heaven to work miracles. 

Oh, how we ALL need these things. As long as we fear, we are bound and gagged, damned by our utter lack of faith. As long as we condemn each other, we damn ourselves. 

Sin should not shock us. It should rouse our compassion, our heartbreak. But it should not frighten us away. Our God is mighty to save, and when we walk with Him, we walk in the assurance He is with us and can (and will!) fill us with His love so hurts can be healed, sins remitted, lives changed, souls saved.

Father, teach me to be ever more aware of Your presence, and always inviting Your input. Teach me more and more to pray, and increase my knowledge and my faith so I might be an instrument to bless, an agent to heal, and a voice to praise You always. :-) In Your name, Amen!

Keep me humble, Lord.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." ~Psalms 139:23-24 KJV

When I first posted this passage a couple days ago, I was coming from a place of wanting, more than anything, to know my own weaknesses. I no longer want to live in that comfortable place of thinking everyone's Sunday Best is their everyday life, and that I'm doing just fine. I no longer want to be blind to my own shortcomings . . . I want to see as I am seen, to know more than the life I live inside my own head, but to understand the experiences of others, too. 

God heard. And answered. I wish I could explain it, because it's beautiful. All I can do is urge you to do the same: to plead with our Lord to teach and guide you to what you need to know so you can serve Him better. :-)

Lord, I love you so much!!! Thank You for the amazing things You keep doing in my life, and I thank You for the miracle worker and rich blesser You are. I will praise and bless Your holy name forever. Amen!!!

Perfect Love

"Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love." ~1 John 4:18 NLT

When we truly do receive the outpouring of the Love of Jesus Christ, fear loses its grip, its power over us. Because we know. We know who He is, and we KNOW we can trust Him. Totally. 

If you still operate in fear . . . if fear holds sway in your decisions, relationships, or anywhere else in your life, seek this Jesus. Seek Him and He will be found. Of this I testify. 

He will be found. 

And you will know. 

And you will learn, all at once and then incrementally*, how to walk in faith. 

(*That sounds like a contradiction, but it's not. You'll see. ;-) ) 

Love Heals

"But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you." ~Luke 6:27

Yes, Lord! This is my prayer: that You will fill my heart with love for all of Your children, regardless of who they are or what they have done . . . to me or anyone else. Show me what You would have me do, what You would have me say, so Your love can be felt. For You are Jehovah Rapha . . . the God Our Healer. And I rejoice in Your Name! :-)

Yahweh: My God

"O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.

Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy.

Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely."

 ~Psalms 63:1, 3-5, 7, 8 NLT

I love King David's praises. He sings to Yahweh as one who is familiar with Him, as well as one who worships and serves Him. 

The love of God for us is such a full, rich, many-faceted thing. It is splendid, glorious, fiery, comforting, cleansing, world-changing and beautiful beyond description. 

When you have known the overwhelming love of God, the Psalms make perfect sense, and your soul sings. 

Lord of Lords, King of Kings, You are MY King, and I not only will proclaim Your name, but gladly and joyfully claim it as well. I love You, because You first loved me . . . You taught me what love actually is, and showed me the power of what it does. Pour Your love out upon Your people, wherever they are. Pour Your love out upon their friends, family and associates. Make waves of Your love to wash into and over us all, that we can once again know You, and chose to seek the Lamb before You come again in judgement as the Lion. Thank You, Lord. Thank You.