11For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12Then shall you call upon me, and you shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13And you shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart. 14And I will be found of you, says the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place from which I caused you to be carried away captive. Jeremiah 29: 11-14
Today, has been an especially special day for me and I have to give God the Glory for it.A couple of years ago God kept giving me a scripture and it was Jeremiah 29:11. I use to think that it only applied to my own salvation but lately God has been showing me that it's not just for that part of my life.
My brother and I have always been really close. Throughout our child-hood he was always protective of me. We always came to each other when we needed someone to talk to and I was always there to have his back if he needed me to. I loved him regardless of his faults.
When I was on drugs He had been on them for some time. He is the person that introduced me to the drug Meth. I never had any clue that He was on anything like that. I knew about marijuana and I knew about drinking but, I never knew about Meth until I tried it for the very first time.
When God delivered me from Meth I learned to "HATE" the drug because it destroys everything in it's path. It takes away your joy, your desire to live, and it ultimately destroys everything in your life.
When I stopped using, the relationship with my brother changed. We weren't as close. It didn't mean that I didn't pray for him because, I prayed for him daily and still do. I had trouble with looking back and I didn't understand why he would have offered his baby sister a drug that would have killed me if I had went further into it.
Something I had to realize is the person you "were" before the drug is not the person that you "become" while on the drug. He would have never given that to me if he had been sober. Like I said, it takes away your love for anything because it ultimately consumes you.
So, I have been clean now for two years and I went to visit a church and share my testimony. I had one week to prepare and pray. I always ask the Holy Spirit to help me. To quicken me. To strengthen me for whatever is to come. I stayed in the word a lot that week.
My husband, myself, and my kids arrive at the church on Sunday and the meeting goes better then any of us could have expected! My husband is filled with the Holy Spirit and The Lord allowed me to lay hands on several people.
This was the first time that the Lord had ever beckoned me to do this but, right before I stepped out into the isle to obey the Lord He gave me a picture of my brother. Not a picture of him in his current state but a picture of him as a Godly man and He was laying hands on people.
Immediately, this humbles me! I want you to know that my brother was the furthest thing from my mind that night. My mind was on God but God knew my heart and I believe with that image He promised me that He would deliver my brother.
I want to tell you that GOD remembers His promises! My brother was arrested not long after that. I was almost discouraged by this. I kept praying Lord have mercy! Lord, I know that the way he is living is so sinful but, Father please have mercy on him.
While he was in jail the Lord gave me a message for him. I had it mailed to him and my husband and I prayed over the letter and sent it.
Before he could get the message he bailed out of jail and he happened to call me! He said "Hey sis, What are you doing?" The next words that came out of my mouth I absolutely had no control over. The power of the Lord fell on me right there and I responded "Praying for you and I have a message for you."
God had told me to tell him that He was calling him out. God told me to tell him that He had never left him. That my brother had left Him when he chose to believe the lies of others and walk in sin.He was still there waiting on my brother to come back and pick Him up. God told me that He loved him. That He didn't see my brother the way he was now. He seen him for what he could be in Christ.
God told me that He could restore my brother's household. That when my brother had took his life into his own hand and had left God out that He had lost everything. God didn't do that to my brother. My brother did that to himself by submitting to satan and the flesh. He told me to tell him that He loves him and He was pretty much letting my brother know that it was time to quit being the cursed fig tree!
The Lord allowed me to minister to him and I know God works in mysterious ways! I was also able to give my brother a prayer cloth that I had gotten from my church. I want to tell you GOD remembers His promises!
My brother went out to eat with my husband and I today. You couldn't get him to do that a couple of months ago. He has been clean from Meth for a few months and He has the first job he has had in 4 years. His first response when I asked him to go to church a couple weeks ago was "No". Then, it changed to "One step at a time sis." Today, it was "I think we may come next Sunday." I just want to Praise MY God for that. I don't care if it is only for an instant. If this is the only time that I see my brother like this! GOD GETS THE GLORY for this moment in time.
The devil may eventually try to trip him up but, GREATER is He that is in ME then he that is in this world. IF that time ever comes I am going to declare the devil a liar because MY GOD made me a promise and He keeps His promises!
If anyone out there is discouraged and you don't think God remembers what He promised you. I'm here to tell you
BE OF GOOD CHEER THY FAITHFUL SERVANT! YOUR GOD IS ON THE WAY!The last Sunday I was at church we had a joint service with another church. We arrived a little late but, you could feel the anointing when we got there. I went to the alter to pray to the Lord. I felt so broken and humble and I just wanted to cry out to my Father. A couple of girls came and prayed with me and when I got up. One of the girls told me that she wasn't going to come that night but, she knew why she had now. She looked at me and told me that God had promised me something. She said
I don't know what the promise was but, I do know that He promised you something and He is telling you that He is going to fulfill that promise!
I want to tell you that God is telling you that today. There is someone out there that God has made a promise to you and I want you to know God remembers all of His promises. It might not come to pass when we want them to or when we think they should. I want you to know that God's plan is perfect and when He answers that promise! OH HOW wonderful it will feel and HOW grateful we will be! God knows all and He knows when that perfect time is.
Just HOLD ON! God is fixing to show up and deliver that promise in a mighty way!
I love you guys so much! I want you to know that you are special to God and He has a special place for you in His Kingdom! Thank you so much for your time today! You have truly blessed me by taking the time to read this. If you have any prayer request or if this has helped you in some way please get in touch with me.
If you don't want to leave a comment you will find my email below. Go with God!
Sincerely,
Sarah
Scripture references from bible.cc
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DO you feel like your not ready to spread the GOOD news of Christ? This is why you are. The video explains everything that you need to know! You will be able to find your daily power message on the homepage also! I hope this helps you! Please leave any feed back, praise reports, prayer request in the comment box below! I love you guys! Today, I was faced with a one syllable question that stopped me completely in my tracks; because of the situation it was asked in and because of the reality of it. Why? I was suppose to deliver some flowers to a friend today. However, she couldn't make it. So I drove to the doors of Wal-Mart to allow my husband to go inside and change our 8 month old daughter. While I am sitting there waiting I am asking God to help me decide what to do with the flowers I had brought. I knew if they sat in the heat of the car that it could cause them to wither up and die. So, I'm praying and listening.. and I just felt my spirit tell me to "Give them away". So, I see this elderly man walking in to the store and I'm saying; "Lord, if he is the one allow him to forget something and head back to his car." The man does exactly that as soon as I pray it! I get the man's attention and show him the flowers and ask him if he knew anyone that needs healing or just someone that would enjoy them and be blessed? He says; "That he has a young boy that is sick but, he didn't think that he was old enough to appreciate flowers". and he politely rejects them and walks away. So, I'm dumb-founded! I am praying again and this elderly couple I see walking out of the store kind of felt like a good way to go. So, I'm getting out of the car and I walk up to the man's wife and ask her if she knows anyone that might need healing...and BEFORE I can get the next words out, the lady's husband scoffs and stalks off as if he is angry about the question being asked! By this time I am really starting to get discouraged. I keep thinking, "God, why are so many people rejecting a gift...and it's a FREE gift!" So, now I take it a new direction. I get back in my car. I'm waiting and praying and I ask God; "Let the person I am suppose to give these to walk right up beside my car and I will get out and give the flowers to whoever it is." Some how my spirit lets me know that I am looking for a woman. Five minutes or so goes by and I see this lady coming in my side mirror. She looks a little dis-hearted and she is on the phone and I hear her say "So, they are fighting again." I know that is my que because, I know the power in healing is not just for the physical. It is for emotional healing, spiritual healing, and so many other type of healings! I stop the lady "I'm feeling rude at this point because she is on the phone" I say, "I want to give you these flowers and they are free. If you or someone you know would enjoy them I want you to have them." She looks at me kind of puzzled and says; "Why?" I am awe-struck by this question. I have been rejected not once, but twice, and now the lady I am trying to give this "free" gift to is asking me "WHY?" So, I look at her and say the only things that come to mind. "Well, I believe everyone needs a gift of happiness and joy brought to their life every now and then." It's a very simple response but, it's the one I gave. She looks at me and I'm a little embarrassed because I'm hoping I said the things that God would want me to say and right about the time it starts getting really uncomfortable to me, she said,"That's unusual!" and she reaches out and embraces me! I get back into the car and I am completely humbled by this experience. This world is so surrounded in corruption, evil, and "nothing is free mentality." That a small gift of free flowers is hard for someone to understand and so they reject it. As I am writing this I am thinking of Christ! He offers that free gift to us. I can just imagine how dumb-founded He feels when so many reject a free gift of salvation that He TOTALLY and COMPLETELY paid the price for. I had began this message thinking I was going to write about Hagar from the bible but, now I know God wanted me to tell you the story that is happening now! When Christ tries to give us this gift we are SO much like those people that I tried to give the flowers to today. The first excuse made is "I don't think I am good enough for it" The other gets angry and offended by the offer and because we are afraid to step out; "We follow the example of the one that scoffs at the free gift." Sometimes, the free gift is accepted. If you will notice it done so with great caution. Asking questions the whole way, "Why?" The other statement that struck me today was her response to my answer. "That's unusual." I was thinking "You're right God is Unusual! He is Extraordinary! He sent His only Son to be that free gift of salvation! Even though He knew that there would be few that answered the call. Those few were so precious that the gift to those few was PRICELESS!" I want you to remember that God loves you! He knows your not perfect. He knows that you question Him and He also knows that sometimes there is doubt! While He knows this He STILL loves you! So please accept His free gift to you! It's a gift of Healing, Restoration, Salvation, Love, and SO much more! I love you guys! I hope this message meant as much to you as it did me! Remember to leave your prayer request and feed back below! I would love to hear from you! Before you leave I would also like to tell you that I received a symbol of a "heart" and a "circle" today and I did some research and looked up the meaning of those symbols in a biblical sense and I want you to Check This Out! This was absolutely amazing! In both Hebrew and Greek culture, the heart was thought of more as a symbol of ultimate purpose and motivation. Emotional concepts, like affection, were associated more with gastrointestinal organs. Hebrew symbolism used the body as an analogy of the whole person. The strength of a person was their outward behavior - what they do WITH their body. The conscious mind, in that culture did not as easily separate thought, emotion and volition like we do. They recognized the conscious mind was engaged in thoughts, feelings and intentions but they tended to see these as different facets of the conscious mind. The heart is the organ more at the core of the body. That culture used the heart as a symbol of the inner man, the deepest thoughts, the deepest feelings, the deepest intentions. So deep at times they were incomprehensible, and in some ways, unknowable and difficult to observe - known only by God.So the heart is, in that language, a word that represents the core or ultimate intention, ultimate value, ultimate motivation. These were also analogous to concentric circles. The inner man is center-most. This is the heart. Surrounding the heart is a larger circle called the mind. The mind included all conscience thoughts, decisions and feelings. The outermost circle was the body where all the behavior took place. Spirituality starts at the center and works it way out, hence the admonishment to love God with all your heart (the very core of your being), all your mind (the most accessible part of your conscious life) and all your strength (the behavior that flows from the heart and mind).Early Greek was not too different, especially the dialect of Koine Greek spoken in Israel and in which much of the New Testament was written. So in the bible, the word heart included all the facets of conscious process of intent, thought and feeling but at a level so deep it is ultimate and less accessible. It does not mean "emotions" the way we use the word today http://wiki.answers.com God bless you and Thank you so much for blessing me with your time!
Sincerely, Sarah And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed and the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned. Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept* of men: Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us? Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of that framed it, He had no understanding? Isaiah 29:11-16 Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 29:9-16 The security of sinners in sinful ways, is cause for lamentation and wonder. The learned men, through prejudice, said that the Divine prophecies were obscure; and the poor urged their want of learning. The Bible is a sealed book to every man, learned or unlearned, till he begins to study it with a simple heart and a teachable spirit, that he may thence learn the truth and the will of God. To worship God, is to approach him. And if the heart be full of his love and fear, out of the abundance of it the mouth will speak; but there are many whose religion is lip-labour only. When they pretend to be speaking to God, they worship the God of Israel according to their own devices. Numbers are only formal in worship. And their religion is only to comply with custom, and to serve their own interest. But the wanderings of mind, and defects in devotion, which are the believer's burden, are very different from the withdrawing of the heart from God, so severely blamed. And as those that quarrel with God, so those that think to conceal themselves from him, in effect charge him with folly. But all their perverse conduct shall be entirely done away.
Reading these scripture, the King Nebuchadnezzar comes to mind. God had shown himself to Nebuchadnezzar in various situations. When Nebuchadnezzar had the dream of his mind being made like that of an animal and he called for interpretation of the dream from his wise men and magicians, none could interpret his dream. The things that are of God cannot be interpreted by anything of this world. Nebuchadnezzar was forced to call upon one of God's people, Daniel, to interpret the dream. When Nebuchadnezzar threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the fire for not worshiping the golden statue, God saved them. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are a perfect example of someone that is not moved by man's precept of what God wants. The only way we will know what God wants is to read His word and be a person after God's own heart. Therefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, Take provisions with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and day unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make you a covenant with us. This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is moldy: And these skins of wine, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they are torn: and these our garments, and our shoes have become old by reason of the very long journey. And the men took of their provisions, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD. Joshua 9: 11-12 Matthew Henry Concise Commentary But when they had once said, We are come from a far country, they were led to say it, made of skins, and their clothes: one lie brings on another, and that a third, and so on. The way of that sin is especially down-hill. The "Elders" led them to tell lies. My heart is grieved because so many people fail to pick up the Word of God and confirm what someone say to them with it. God said that there would be many wolves in sheep's clothing. So many are not teaching the FULL Word of God. When you pick up the bible and you say, "I believe this but I don't believe that." You are denying Christ and if this is happening with a leader of the church, this is very dangerous because, he is not only hindering and hurting himself. He is hindering and hurting his flock. There are so many "MAN" made rules. Just like in Jesus time He said that He had not come to take away from the Law but to fulfill it. The people in His time were adding man-made rules to what God had meant for instruction. I believe this caused confusion and it caused division and it caused MANY to be lead to hell. The Word of God was meant to be a simple interpretation. God is not the author of confusion. His Yoke is easy and His burden is light. So many try to make the burden more heavy and the yoke hard. God's Word is simple and it shouldn't be taken away from and it shouldn't be added to with man-made rules For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. To whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also: for if I forgave anything, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia. Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. 2 Corinthians 2: 9-17 I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother. I don't know if any of you have ever experience this but, whenever I am sharing the Word of God with someone on a personal level. "Witnessing" to them about Jesus. My Spirit can always tell when they reject it. I feel grieved for them because I don't understand WHY they reject Christ? WHY is it so hard to love Jesus when He loves us so much! I know a lot of people probably think I am dramatic or take things to a higher level but; IT IS DRAMATIC! Christ paid the price for us but, so many reject Him! We make other things of less importance like; money, fame, clothes, jewelry, and various other things more important than God! by doing so we make these things a God in our life! Do you realize that? When Nebuchadnezzar decided that he was greater than God and did not need God: he said these words;"Is this not the great Babylon that I have built for a royal residence by my own mighty strength and for my majestic honor?" The thing I want you to consider is God gave Nebuchadnezzar a warning through his dream. He also gave him a year to turn from his wickedness. Nebuchadnezzar did not heed that warning and so he was brought to his knees with a mind of a wild animal! I do feel like this is a year of preparation for us. This country has gone so far from God's word! You see it in all the news channels, in the way the people of this country act! The people of this country are fulfilling scripture; for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? There are people starving for God's Word but there are hardly any working to give it to them and when they do give it to them it's the watered down version The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few Why not speak as Jesus spoke?! He didn't sugar coat anything and we shouldn't either The scripture said; To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. If we don't tell people the truth of God's Word then the salt loses it savour! QUIT watering down the truth! DON'T take from the Word of God by not believing ALL of the bible. I'm here to tell you that if you don't believe every word on those pages! YOU ARE NOT a believer of Christ! You are believing MAN'S precepts and standards and the ways of MAN shall perish! The WORD of GOD will stand forever! Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 2:12-17 A believer's triumphs are all in Christ. To him be the praise and glory of all, while the success of the gospel is a good reason for a Christian's joy and rejoicing. In ancient triumphs, abundance of perfumes and sweet odours were used; so the name and salvation of Jesus, as ointment poured out, was a sweet savour diffused in every place. Unto some, the gospel is a savour of death unto death. They reject it to their ruin. Unto others, the gospel is a savour of life unto life: as it quickened them at first when they were dead in trespasses and sins, so it makes them more lively, and will end in eternal life. Observe the awful impression this matter made upon the apostle, and should also make upon us. The work is great, and of ourselves we have no strength at all; all our sufficiency is of God. But what we do in religion, unless it is done in sincerity, as in the sight of God, is not of God, does not come from him, and will not reach to him. May we carefully watch ourselves in this matter; and seek the testimony of our consciences, under the teaching of the Holy Spirit, that as of sincerity, so speak we in Christ and of Christ. If your are wondering what happened to Nebuchadnezzar once he repented..... The text says immediately the king lifted his eyes to heaven and his sanity was restored. bible-truth.org So, I am asking you today are living by man's precepts or by God's precepts? Are you denying self or denying Christ? Is the things, the objects, the images, in your life GOD to you or is Our Heavenly Father GOD to you? The wonderful thing about Christ is that He not only brings conviction He also brings forgiveness when we ask for it! Let God restore what is His. If you have read this message you feel that the Holy Spirit is bringing conviction I want you to say this prayer with me. Heavenly Father, Go with God my brothers and sisters in Christ,
Sincerely, Sarah P.S. If you have left me a comment and I have not responded I will be doing that later on. I have been terribly sick with some sort of virus going around. I love you so much! Matthew Henry Concise Commentary in Blue. Scripture reference from bible.cc Definitions in Green and referenced from bibletools.com | 
AuthorI am a 26 old from Alabama. I am married to a wonderful man and have two beautiful daughters that are wonderful miracles in my life. Everything you read here is inspired by God. I'm here to fulfill my purpose in God. He is the way, the truth, and the Life! CategoriesAll ArchivesCategoriesAll  |
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