“Enter His gates with thanksgiving…” Psalm 100:4

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving…” Psalm 100:4

Preparing our table for communion includes preparing our hearts.

During this past Thanksgiving I became so busy with getting things together for a family Thanksgiving I did not take the time to prepare my heart. In so doing I noticed an emptiness after the crowd left. 

Not understanding what had happened I sought the Lord. In His mercy He reminded me that I had missed the whole idea of Thanksgiving, not only to be thankful, but to give thanks to God for all the many blessings He gives me each and every day.  I have since repented of this, and I pray I never forget to give thanks to God and others each day. It opens up the gates of heaven.

James 1:17 (VOICE) “Every good gift bestowed, every perfect gift received comes to us from above, courtesy of the Father of lights. He is consistent. He won’t change His mind or play tricks in the shadows.”

As I meditate on the fact that every good thing in my life is a gift from my heavenly Father, I begin to count my blessings, as the old hymn says, name them one by one - the love of my family, home, provisions, sunshine, grass, trees, birds, fresh air, etc. Then, I remember the love that never ends and is freely given to this one, who felt like a failure, love that has healed a wounded soul, love that offers me eternal life. And it is all because Jesus went to the cross for you and me. He paid for my sins and yours. We just have to ask Him into our lives and ask Him to forgive us.

It only takes a moment to prepare my heart with thanksgiving for the presence of a Holy God.

Today I celebrate this holy time of communion with my beloved knowing that by accepting His love and sacrifice on the cross, He is mine and I am His. Amen!

Blessings on your day!

Karen

Little Talks with Jesus: “According to your faith be it done unto you” (Mat...

Little Talks with Jesus: “According to your faith be it done unto you” (Mat...: Heaven’s economy works by two things, faith in the word and obedience which is acting on the word. “Then He (Jesus) touched their e...

“According to your faith be it done unto you” (Matthew 9:29)

Heaven’s economy works by two things, faith in the word and obedience which is acting on the word.

“Then He (Jesus) touched their eyes, saying, 'According to your faith and trust and reliance [on the power invested in Me] be it done to you; '"(Matthew 9:29 (AMP)

Faith is a religious term which means to believe God when He says something. This is far deeper than believing in God’s word.  Faith is; trusting in who Jesus is, His authority, His love and desire to give you His best. Obedience is acting on that word.

For the two blind men to be healed, in Matthew 9:29, they had to #1. Come to Jesus. When we come to Jesus admitting we need His help, this is humbling ourselves before God.

#2. Then, they believed Jesus could and would heal them.

These blind men had heard of Jesus so they sought Him for their healing. Notice, they sought Him. We must find Jesus before He can do anything for us.

Seeking Jesus as our Savior and healer, believing He is the only One who can heal us or take care of our situation is putting actions to our faith. There is no plan B.

(Mark 9:23 AMP) “Jesus said to him, “[You say to Me,] ‘If You can?’ All things are possible for the one who believes and trusts [in Me]!”

Look at I John 5:14-15 (AMP). “This is the [remarkable degree of] confidence which we [as believers are entitled to] have before Him: that if we ask anything according to His will, (His word) He hears us. And if we know [for a fact, as indeed we do] that He hears and listens to us in whatever we ask, we [also] know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted to us] the requests which we have asked from Him.”

Whatever you are facing today come to Jesus in faith, believing He will do what He says He will do. Then ask Him for what you need, believing He hears your prayers and will answer them. Allow Him to do it His way and in His time. Trust Him as He works all things out for your good and His glory. (Romans 8:28) Amen!

Blessings on your day!

Karen

Little Talks with Jesus: “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoic...

Little Talks with Jesus: “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoic...: We are given the choice each day to be sad or glad. We choose whether we live or die. This choice is not based upon the circumstances, th...

“This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)

We are given the choice each day to be sad or glad. We choose whether we live or die. This choice is not based upon the circumstances, the weather, or even how we feel. It is made before we get out of bed. It is made with our mouth.

In Deuteronomy 30:19 God makes it clear that it is our choice. “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;” Then in Proverbs 18:21 we are told that, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

What’s on your menu today? Will you declare, “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord?” (Proverbs 118:7) Will you choose life?

Blessings on your day!

Karen

Little Talks with Jesus: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the...

Little Talks with Jesus: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the...: Not too long ago we were in a spiritual battle for a house for our son. It seemed that at every turn there was a road block. The Lord...

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race” (2 Timothy 4:7)

Not too long ago we were in a spiritual battle for a house for our son. It seemed that at every turn there was a road block.

The Lord had brought us to this house and I knew it was the one we needed. I had prayed for this house for several years.

Through frustrations and road blocks we continued the battle. I spent as much time in prayer as working with the realtor and the bank. God walked us through each phase with victory at each step. It was a long hard battle for almost 6 months.

Then one morning I awoke to this verse “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race.” (2 Timothy 4:7) I knew the battle was over. Hallelujah!

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. All that awaits me now is the crown of righteousness which the Lord, “the Righteous Judge,” will award to me on that Day — and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for him to appear. (2 Timothy 4:7-8 CJB)

Spiritual warfare is war. It can not be won in the natural. (2 Corinthians 10:4) “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;”

You may ask, “Is vying for a house spiritual warfare?”

Yes. Any trials you face as a child of God is because the thief is trying to steal, kill, or destroy things in your life. (John 10:10)

So, how do we fight this battle? (Matthew 18:18 AMP) “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whatever you bind [forbid, declare to be improper and unlawful] on earth shall have [already] been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose [permit, declare lawful] on earth shall have [already] been loosed in heaven.”

We do it by decreeing and declaring the word of God into our situation, just as Jesus did with the devil on the back side of the dessert. His word is powerful and sharper than a two-edged sword.

Stay focused on God’s word, His promises. Keep a watch over your mouth because life and death is in the power of your tongue. Praise Him in all things and worship God through it all.

In your time with the Lord today focus and meditate on His promises. Build up your faith in His Word. Commit whatever you are facing to God and ask Him to walk with you through it. He says He will and He can not lie.

Then praise and thank Him for His marvelous gifts, His promises which He gives without repentance. He never takes back His gifts. Amen!

Blessings on your day!

Karen

Little Talks with Jesus: The Lord is my shepherd (Psalm 23)

Little Talks with Jesus: The Lord is my shepherd (Psalm 23): This morning the Lord woke me to this Psalm encouraging me to read it in other translations. This one is from the Contemporary English Ve...

The Lord is my shepherd (Psalm 23)

This morning the Lord woke me to this Psalm encouraging me to read it in other translations. This one is from the Contemporary English Version. I encourage you to read it out loud.

“You, LORD (JESUS), are my shepherd. I will never be in need. You let me rest in fields of green grass. You lead me to streams of peaceful water, and you refresh my life.

You are true to Your name, and You lead me along the right paths. I may walk through valleys as dark as death, but I won’t be afraid. You are with me, and Your shepherd’s rod makes me feel safe.

You treat me to a feast, while my enemies watch. You honor me as your guest, and you fill my cup until it overflows. Your kindness and love will always be with me each day of my life, and I will live forever in Your house, Lord.”

It is all about learning to put our total trust is Jesus knowing His ability and will is to take care of us.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (CEV) instructs us, “With all your heart you must trust the Lord and not (trust) your own judgment. Always allow Him to lead you and He will clear the road for you to follow.”

We have been taught, “If you want something done right, do it yourself.” When we do this we are trying to make ourselves our god.

To learn to trust God in every area of our life takes renewing our minds to God’s ways of doing things. We do this by following Matthew 6:33, more than anything else seek God and His presence first. Listen for His instruction. This is His righteousness. Then the other things will come to us when we do what He says no matter how strange it may sound.

Recently I was seeking Him on a matter I thought needed an immediate answer. He replied with, “Wait upon the Lord.” I had peace in Christ and I let it go. When and if I need to respond on this matter, I am trusting He will let me know and then I will act on it.

As you join in communion with Christ today, rejoice in His love and care. No matter what happens or how hopeless things may seem, allow Jesus to walk with you through your darkness or shadow that looks like death. It is only a shadow when Christ is with you. Amen!

Blessings on your day!

Karen

Little Talks with Jesus: They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the...

Little Talks with Jesus: They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the...: We have been studying about how life and death is in the power of our tongue from Deuteronomy 30:19-20 and Proverbs 18:21. As I was m...

They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony (Rev. 12:11)

We have been studying about how life and death is in the power of our tongue from Deuteronomy 30:19-20 and Proverbs 18:21.

As I was meditating on our study I kept hearing Revelation 12:11 (AMP). “And they overcame and conquered him (the enemy) because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, for they did not love their life and renounce their faith even when faced with death.”

We overcome and conquer the enemy by speaking the Word, the logos, the written word of God. As we decree and declare the word of God over us, our family and our situation, we are testifying, proclaiming and prophesying the Word of God over us. This is a prayer of faith. (Job 22:28)

(Deuteronomy 30: 19-20 AMP) “I (God) call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse; therefore, you shall choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding closely to Him; for He is your life [your good life, your abundant life, your fulfillment] and the length of your days, that you may live …”

Jesus is the Word of God. He is life. Therefore; to choose life, we choose to speak His words just as Jesus spoke only what He heard the Father say.

Proverbs 18:21, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”

In other words, you get what you say, even if it takes a while to come about. Listen to yourself! It may surprise you to hear what you are really saying.

Then we seal it by faith with the blood of Jesus. If this sounds strange to you, just say something like, "I seal this word with the blood of Jesus." 

You may ask, why would you do this? We learned from the first Passover in Exodus that when the believers put the blood of the lamb over the doorpost and lentils of their houses God rebuked the devour-er. 

Our bodies are His temple. Jesus gave us that same authority to speak into being when He gave us His name. 

(John 14:14) “If you ask (call forth of) Me anything in My name, I will do it.”

Finally, we take a stand on the word. We refuse to renounce our faith or speak against the word (death or curse words) even when faced with death or hardship, or when things do not look like we’ve conquered the situation, the sickness or disease. 

Let it soak in. This is powerful! This is the Word of God! 

James 3:4-6 NIV) shows us how to steer our life. "Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts…sets the whole course of one’s life ...”

Thank Jesus today in your time of communion for being the powerful word of God. Declare that you will only speak life, His life words from this day forward.

Blessings on your day!

Karen

Little Talks with Jesus: Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10)

Little Talks with Jesus: Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10): Have you ever had one of those days where you just seem “out of sink?” Nothing is wrong, but there seems to be something lacking. Tod...

Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10)

Have you ever had one of those days where you just seem “out of sink?” Nothing is wrong, but there seems to be something lacking.

Today was one of those days for me.

As I sought the Lord, I heard, “Be still.”

Even though I had spent time with the Lord this morning, I sensed the Lord encouraging me to come and be with Him, so I turned on some quiet worship music and sat with the Lord.

It was a comforting, peaceful time. I did not hear a word or scripture from Him. So I praised Him in my spirit.

The rest of the scripture says, “I will be exalted among the heathens (unbelievers), I will be exalted in the earth.”

Isn’t it amazing that by our being still before the Lord allows Him to be exalted among unbelievers and through out the earth?

In the natural this makes no since. However; God’s ways are not man’s ways. They are higher. Only God knows how being still before Him exalts Him. It is our job to follow His leading.

I encourage you to take some time to sit still in the presence of the Lord. Sometimes He will have a word for you and sometimes like today you find peace in His presence. God likes to spend time with His children. He likes to spend time with you. Amen!

Blessings on your day!

Karen

Little Talks with Jesus: Bless the Lord, O my soul. (Psalm 103:1)

Little Talks with Jesus: Bless the Lord, O my soul. (Psalm 103:1): Have you ever wondered how to bless the Lord?  I believe I have found an answer. Sunday I taught the lesson from Acts 12. The sto...

Bless the Lord, O my soul. (Psalm 103:1)

Have you ever wondered how to bless the Lord? 

I believe I have found an answer.

Sunday I taught the lesson from Acts 12. The story takes place following Passover, during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

After showing the class Matzo (unleavened bread), I quoted the prayer Jesus said over the Last Supper when He took the bread and blessed it.

According to Jewish tradition He would have prayed “Praised (or blessed) are You, Lord our God, Sovereign (or Creator) of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth." 

This was a prophetic prayer referring to how God would raise the Messiah from the dead.

This morning the Lord pointed out to me that Jesus did not bless the bread. He blessed the giver of the bread. This had never occurred to me.

I believe that to bless the Lord means to give Him praise and thanksgiving for the things He has done. In doing so, we are acknowledging God for who He is and giving Him honor, praise and thanksgiving for all He has done for us.

Psalm 92:1 begins with, “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and sing praises unto Your name, O most High.”

Many of the Psalms begin by exalting the name of God and extolling what He has done.

Let us bless the Lord today for raising Jesus the Christ from the dead. He lives! Amen!

Blessings on your day!

Karen