He is Peace

“May God look you full in the face and make you prosper.”

Numbers 6:26 MSG

The word for “prosper” here in the original Hebrew is “shalom.” 

It has become one of my favorite words. 

At its core, “Shalom” means the type of wholeness that comes after being broken.

I think that the most difficult moment to look God full in the face is when you are broken. 

When you have failed or fallen or lay wounded at another’s hand.

That is exactly when you need Him the most.

That is when you need to see the face of God and how He sees you.

That is when you need to see His love, mercy and grace as He gazes at you.

You need to know that when He looks you full in the face, He is looking at someone He loves, believes in and will put back together through the power of His love.

May God look you full in the face and make you prosper.

Shalom

He is the peace you are looking for.

Wonder of Heaven

Have you accessed God’s power today?

Hebrews 12:28 reminds us that, “Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshipping him with holy fear and awe.” 

When we worship God and fill our hearts with gratitude, we open our hearts to be filled with the unshakable kingdom of God. 

A kingdom not of this world but one that heals it, changes it, transforms it. 

Worship fills us with the wonder of heaven and an awe for the one who left heaven to rescue a lost world. 

When we worship Jesus, He fills our hearts with His love and our lives with His power. 

My friend, may we be so full of heaven that it overflows into moments of awe in the mundane moments of our day and make them…heavenly.

Living Strong

“Thank you! Everything in me says ‘Thank you!’ …Thank you for your love, thank you for your faithfulness; Most holy is your name, most holy is your Word. The moment I called out, you stepped in; you made my life large with strength.” Psalm 138:1-3 MSG

‬‬The true secret of “living large” isn’t about outside income, it is about inside strength.

The strength that is accessed through worship- the ability to see and recognize what God has given you and what He is doing.

The strength that comes from the truth of God’s love for you impacting and changing your life.

The strength that comes from gratitude.

Gratitude opens your eyes to see possibilities instead of problems. 

Where worry constricts your heart, thanks-giving expands it.

The moment you cry out to God in weakness, He meets you with His strength.

Call out to Jesus right now and let Him fill you with thanksgiving, worship and divine strength to be who He has created you to be today. 

Access Wonder

Have you accessed God’s power today?

Hebrews 12:28 reminds us that, “Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshipping him with holy fear and awe.” 

When we are worshipping God and filling our hearts with gratitude, we are opening our hearts to be filled with the unshakable kingdom of God. 

A kingdom not of this world but one that heals it, changes it, transforms it. 

Worship fills us with the wonder of heaven and an awe for the one who left heaven to rescue a lost world. 

When we worship Jesus, He fills our hearts with His love and our lives with His power. 

My friend, may we be so full of heaven that it overflows into moments of awe in the mundane moments of our day and make them…heavenly.

Do More Than Just Endure Today

There are two things that will keep your thinking clear and your hearts filled with God’s divine love: giving God glory and giving God thanks.

“For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.”    

Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭21‬ NIV

You can know God and still get stuck in a mental habit of worry and fear.

Jesus died and rose again so that you can break the power of old mental habits and create new ones with His power.

When you make gratitude and worship your daily bread you are fortifying your spiritual life and strengthening your mental one.

It is the difference between enduring and embracing your life with Jesus in it.

God knows where you are and what your world looks like.

Replace your worry with worship and fear with gratitude.

Gratitude for what you have instead of dwelling on what you are afraid of losing.

What are you grateful for today?

How will you worship Jesus today?

Refuge and Fortress

“I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge

and my fortress, my God,

in whom I trust.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭91:1-2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus came so that you could live so close to the Father that the shadow of His love would cover you.

He went to the cross so that the presence of Almighty could be a refuge from the storm raging around you and a fortress of peace to run to when you are weary of fighting.

Jesus defeated death and cleared the way so you could be free to live fully in the power of God. He is the door into the refuge of God’s presence and the key to open it is trust.

Are you trusting Jesus today or are you trying to do it all yourself?

The Power of Worship

Have you accessed God’s power today?

Hebrews 12:28 reminds us that, “Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshipping him with holy fear and awe.” 

When we are worshipping God and filling our hearts with gratitude, we are opening our hearts to be filled with the unshakable kingdom of God.
 
A kingdom not of this world but one that heals it, changes it, transforms it.
 
Worship fills us with the wonder of heaven and an awe for the one who left heaven to rescue a lost world.
 
When we worship Jesus, He fills our hearts with His love and our lives with His power.
 
My friend, may we be so full of heaven that it overflows into moments of awe in the mundane moments of our day and make them…heavenly.
 
 

Wait For It.

Wednesday

But GOD’s not finished. He’s waiting around to be gracious to you. He’s gathering strength to show mercy to you. GOD takes the time to do everything right—everything. Those who wait around for him are the lucky ones.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭30:18‬ ‭MSG‬‬

You can’t see what God is doing “behind the scenes” in your life but I know He is working.

You don’t know how He is going to meet your needs, but I know that He will.

You don’t have to worry about the whys or hows. You can rest in the truth that He knows them.

God is not finished with your life. He has more for you.

Jesus took all that separates God from you so that you can receive all He has for you.

I am praying that today you will experience God’s matchless, unbroken companionship while you wait. While you wonder what is going to happen. While you worry about the unknown future.

I am praying that you will experience His victory, favor, love, peace, and joy, while you wait.

I believe that God is preparing things for you right now and that they will be right on time (maybe not your time but in His time).

While you wait, trust.

While you trust, worship.

While you worship, rest.

Have an amazing day enjoying what you have while you wait for what God is preparing for you. 

Headlong Into Worship

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“I’ve thrown myself headlong into your arms-I’m celebrating your rescue. I’m singing at the top of my lungs, I’m so full of answered prayers.”
Psalm 13:5,6 MSG

Instead of being caught up in worry today, throw yourself headlong into worshipping the Lord.

Shut off the TV.

Put on your favorite Worship Playlist or create one and lose yourself in it.

When you worry, you are focused on what if’s, what’s next and what is going to happen?

The shift from worry to worship is like being transported to another world. The tightness in your chest releases and opens up, faith floods in and overflows.

When you worship, you are focused on God’s faithfulness, goodness, and love.

The things you are worried about might not change but by changing your focus from worry to worship you will dramatically change how you experience them.

When David wrote this, he was in the middle of a battle. He had not seen the rescue or seen his prayers answered yet but he had decided he was tired of looking at the battle and looked up to God instead.

He decided to celebrate the coming rescue, fill his heart with the kind of overflowing gratitude that comes when you see the answer to your prayers. David just didn’t feel like waiting until he saw it- he wanted to celebrate the victory now.

You know what I love about God? He doesn’t mind when I decide to party prematurely. He doesn’t shake his finger at you and says, “You just need to wait until you see it with your eyes then you can celebrate”.

No, that is the world’s way. God’s way is to celebrate before the battle is won, say thank you before you get the gift and worship in the jail cell before you are released.

Because the battle has been won on the cross, the gifts are on their way and
the release has already been secured by Jesus himself.

It is time to break away from worry and break into worship, my friend.

To throw yourself headlong into the arms of Jesus and worship Him for all He has done, all He will do and most of all – for who He is. He is Lord, Savior, Redeemer and the Son of God.

What is your favorite worship song or album?

When was the last time you shut out the world, pumped up the volume and surrounded yourself in worship?

Make it happen right now.

I promise, you won’t regret it. 

 

I Want to Remind You

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I just want to remind you that you are loved.

You are loved today wherever you are: at home, in a hospital, doing online school, on a Zoom meeting, doing the dishes or distracting yourself on YouTube.

You are loved whether you are doing good or not so good. Whether you feel you have a handle on all the anxiety or you feel like the anxiety has a hold on you.

Jesus loved you at the worst you have ever been, He loves you where you are today and will love you where you are tomorrow.

This is the relentless love of God and I am praying that it will give you the courage to do whatever you must do today.

May the God of uncontainable love drench you in His presence.  May His awe-inspiring grace recharge your hope and fill your faith with the courage to trust Him. May you never forget that He has you in the palm of His hand.