Little Talks with Jesus: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart…" (Deu...

Little Talks with Jesus: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart…" (Deu...: If we can keep the first two commandments, Jesus says we keep all the commandments. The first thing we need to understand is that the wor...

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart…" (Deuteronomy 6:5; Luke 10:27)

If we can keep the first two commandments, Jesus says we keep all the commandments. The first thing we need to understand is that the word Love used here is not the understanding we westerners mean when we say love.

This is Agape, or the God kind of love. This love is described in both 1 Corinthians 13, and Galatians 5:22-23.

Look at Galatians 5:22-23 (NET) "The fruit of the Spirit is love; joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

This is how God treats us and it is how we are to treat others as we are filled and led by His Holy Spirit.

Let’s put it in the vernacular: Give each other some slack! This includes God and ourselves.

I find the hardest person to give some slack to is myself. I also realized I have a hard time giving God the same.

The word says that, “they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31 NKJV)

This is the by-product of being patient with God. I can tell when I am not “loving God“ this way. I get tired, weary and want to give up.

I am so thankful that He never gives up on me.

Thank You Jesus for Your everlasting love and that nothing can ever separate us from Your love. Amen!

Blessings on your day! 

Karen

Little Talks with Jesus: Jesus calmed the storm (Matthew 8:23-27)

Little Talks with Jesus: Jesus calmed the storm (Matthew 8:23-27): Have you ever noticed storms never bothered Jesus? (Matthew 8:23-26 AMP) “When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. And ...

Jesus calmed the storm (Matthew 8:23-27)

Have you ever noticed storms never bothered Jesus?

(Matthew 8:23-26 AMP) “When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a violent storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was being covered by the waves; but Jesus was sleeping. And the disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Lord, save us, we are going to die!” He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?”

Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was [at once] a great and wonderful calm [a perfect peacefulness]. The men wondered in amazement, saying, “What kind of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”

Then another time (Matthew 14: 22-27 AMP):“Immediately He (Jesus) directed the disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side [of the Sea of Galilee], while He sent the crowds away.  After He had dismissed the crowds, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When it was evening, He was there alone.  But the boat [by this time] was already a long distance from land, tossed and battered by the waves; for the wind was against them.  And in the fourth watch of the night (3:00-6:00 a.m.) Jesus came to them, walking on the sea.”

Jesus is never surprised or intimidated about our storms. He just spoke to storms and walked on them.

However; we do seem to allow them to bother us. Let’s continue with Matthew 14: 27-33. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately He spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I! Do not be afraid!”

Peter replied to Him, “Lord, if it is [really] You, command me to come to You on the water.” 

He said, “Come!” So Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  But when he saw [the effects of] the wind, he was frightened, and he began to sink, and he cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus extended His hand and caught him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 

And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.  Then those in the boat worshiped Him [with awe-inspired reverence], saying, “Truly, You are the Son of God!”

We all go through storms. The question is; when the storms come, where is our focus? As long as Peter kept his focus on Jesus he remained safe. The moment Peter looked at the storm he began to sink.

I found a key change over the Christmas holidays for Proverbs 3:5-6 (AMP) which says, “Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].”

Learning to trust Jesus in our storms can be difficult because we continually focus on the storm, the verdict, the diagnosis, another person causing the problem, etc. I want to encourage you to keep your focus on Jesus, not your situation. Call out to Him as Peter did. Hear Him say, "Come!" Then trust Him to take your hand and walk with you through the storm.

He loves you and He is trustworthy.

It is a good idea to seek Him before you run into storms. Then your relationship of trust will have begun growing and you will know where to turn.  Otherwise it’s like trying to catch the boat in the middle of the storm not knowing where to look.

Blessings on your day!

Karen

Little Talks with Jesus: Little Talks with Jesus: A merry heart does good l...

Little Talks with Jesus: Little Talks with Jesus: A merry heart does good l...: Little Talks with Jesus: A merry heart does good like a medicine (Proverbs ... : “A happy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes he...

Little Talks with Jesus: A merry heart does good like a medicine (Proverbs ...

Little Talks with Jesus: A merry heart does good like a medicine (Proverbs ...: “A happy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17: 22 AMP) Duri...

A merry heart does good like a medicine (Proverbs 17:22).

“A happy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17: 22 AMP)

During this Christmas season many people suffer from depression because of illnesses, the death of a loved one and many other reasons.

As I was meditating on this hoping to give a promising word from God, He reminded me of an article I read several years ago. I do not remember the name or the author of the article, but it was the story of a man who had cancer and was given four weeks to live. His doctors told him to go home and prepare to die.

He was bedridden and depressed. One day he decided that if he were going to die he wanted to go out laughing.

He made a decision. He loved watching Laurel and Hardy movies and the Three Stooggies.  So, he bought all of these he could find. Anytime he was not sleeping, he was watching these programs and laughing out loud.. He filled his mind with laughter. At the end of four weeks the man walked out of his house healed.

The article did not say whether the man was a believer or not. However; I have learned that God’s word is true and it works for believers and non-believer, just like the law of gravity.

This man made a vital choice. It is based on Philippians 4:8 (AMP), “Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].”

As you spend time with the Lord today I would like to encourage you to sit in His presence. Ask Him to wrap His loving arms around you. Then meditate on His goodness, His blessings and the very fact that He loves you more than you can even imagine. You are accepted in Christ. Lay in His arms as a lover lies in the arms of his beloved. Continually tell yourself that God really loves you, just as you are. You are accepted not because of what you can or have done, but because God has chosen to love you. Take some time today to rejoice, laugh and enjoy this day that the Lord has made. It is His gift to you. Amen!

Blessings on your day!

Karen

Satan, the father of lies (John 8:44)

“Why do you misunderstand what I say? It is because you are unable to hear what I am saying. ... there is no truth in him (the devil). When he speaks a falsehood, he speaks what is natural to him, for he is a liar [himself] and the father of lies and of all that is false.” (John 8:43-44 AMP)

Sometimes it is hard for us to learn to believe and receive from God because of Satan’s lies.

This morning the Lord told me that we have been taught to be beggars in His Kingdom instead of His son’s and daughter’s.

The Word tells us that His son’s are never forsaken nor will their children have to beg for bread.  (Psalm 37:25) Yet, we pray as beggars; “Please God, please God won’t You please do something? Please heal so and so.” We cry, plead and beg and become greatly disappointed when He does not do what we ask.

When our children come to us asking for something they ask believing that if we have it, we will give it to them. “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:13)

The Word tells us that we are the children of the Living God, joint heirs with Jesus Christ. We are princes and princeses of the King of kings and have been given authority, dominion, and power through His Spirit, to “…come boldly to the throne of grace (not crawling on hands and knees), that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16 NKJV)

When we pray we are to ask, believing that we have received and we will have what we ask. (Mark 11:24) Do not waver or be double-minded (James 1:8) in asking. If you come this way you will not receive anything. If God said it, it is His will and His promise.  “For however many promises God has made, they all find their “Yes” in connection with Him; that is why it is through Him that we say the “Amen” (So be it) when we give glory to God." (2 Corinthians 1:20 CJB)

Satan’s lies: Satan has tired to convince us that we have to beg and plead and hope God will intervene on our behalf. Pray but don’t expect anything. Give but don’t expect anything. Sow into the Kingdom, but do not expect God to bless us. It is our humble duty to give, stay poor and humble. We are just sorry old worms deserving nothing. If we repent enough, pray enough, give enough maybe some how God will show us mercy.

There is no grace in this type of thinking. With this Christianity becomes like all other religions-work for your salvation. This is false humility and comes from pride.

However; the Word of God tells us that He is a loving God: He is merciful; and He rewards  those who diligently seek Him; God loves a cheerful giver; He blesses the works of our hands; His love endures forever; Jesus came that we should have life abundantly (John 10:10); He hopes above all things that we prosper, be in health and our soul to prosper (3 John 2); God is a good God; He is our provider, our healer and never leaves us. He is all we will ever need!

The Bible teaches us how awesome He is, but we think it is more holy to keep telling Him how wretched we are even though He tells us He made us in His image and likeness. He also tells us that everything He created was very good. So when we are constantly telling Him how awful we are we have called Him a liar. Repent of this and receive the new birth and become the new creation in Christ that Jesus gave His life for us to become.

We can so easily be forgiven. Once we recognize and confess our sin, forgive and receive forgiveness we are clean before our Lord because we have come to Him through Jesus Christ who paid the complete price for our sins. We have asked in faith/confidence trusting that God is Who He says He is and will do what He says He will do when we receive Him as our Lord and Savior. (1 John 1:9)

Adam chose to believe the serpent and lost his place of authority and dominion on earth. Jesus came to restore us to our rightful place as children of the Living God, representing God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit on planet earth. However; it is not automatic. Just as with Adam, the choice is always ours. The question is, “Who will you believe? Who will you choose?”

Meditate on this. Seek Jesus. If you have asked Him to be your Savior, I encourage you to make Him Lord, the supreme authority in your life. He loves you and always desires the very best for you. Amen!

Blessings on your day!

Karen

Little Talks with Jesus: The Perfect Christmas (Luke 2: 6-14)

Little Talks with Jesus: The Perfect Christmas (Luke 2: 6-14): As Christmas fast approaches and the hustle and bustle of shopping, baking, planning and all the things needing to be taking care of ca...

The Perfect Christmas (Luke 2: 6-14)

As Christmas fast approaches and the hustle and bustle of shopping, baking, planning and all the things needing to be taking care of can become overwhelming as we try to prepare for the perfect Christmas. 

Now imagine yourself delivering your first child in a smelly, dirty barn with no doctors or nurses, no bed, no sanitation facilities, not even running water. Your husband is there ready to help in the delivery.

“Does he have a clue what to do?” you ask yourself. “For that matter, do I?

You finally deliver your baby and thank God it was an easy delivery with no complications. Exhausted, you drift off to sleep when you are awakened by some smelly shepherds wanted to see your baby. You wonder how they even knew there was a new born baby.

Then the shepherds tell you a wonderful story of an angel telling them about your baby. They called Him the Savior, the Christ, the Lord.

Then the whole heaven filled with heavenly host praising God and saying “Glory to God in the Highest and on earth, peace, and good will to all men.” (Luke 2: 8-11)

What began with fear, changed to wonder, and suddenly peace filled the whole barn.

Having a baby in a barn doesn’t sound much like the perfect Christmas, but it was God’s perfect plan.

As you go through this Christmas season and fear, frustration, anxiety and exhaustion threaten to take over, I would like to encourage you to remember why we celebrate Christmas. Take a deep breath and ask for the peace of God to fill you anew. It did not begin with pretty ribbons and bows, lighted trees and fancy gifts. It was this humble beginning that changed life forever for believers.

To quote an old phrase, “Jesus is the reason for the season.”

Rejoice! We have been given the best gift we could ever give or receive, the Son of God, Emmanuel; God with us. Amen!

Blessings on your day!

Karen

Little Talks with Jesus: “If My people, who are called by My name…” (2 Chro...

Little Talks with Jesus: “If My people, who are called by My name…” (2 Chro...: Our country is in a crisis! Do you consider yourself a Christian, a Jew, or a believer in Messiah, then Jehovah God is talking t...

“If My people, who are called by My name…” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Our country is in a crisis!

Do you consider yourself a Christian, a Jew, or a believer in Messiah, then Jehovah God is talking to you and me.

“If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14 AMP)

Notice this scripture does not say if the heathen, unsaved, the wicked, unbelievers will turn to God, He will heal our land. He is talking to us. We have not walked in love and forgiveness. We have sat in judgment, held onto our self righteousness and thought much better of our selves than we ought. We allow unclean TV, media and music with wicked lyrics to blast over our airwaves.

The state of our country is a spiritual matter and only if we humble ourselves before God, will He heal our land. This is not something we can do ourselves.

I admit to having had trouble praying for our leaders. Most of the time I wanted to pray, “Lord, get them out of office! They are ruining our country.”

I speak for myself and many I know who have grown complacent in voting for someone who believes in the great God Jehovah and willing to stand up for the values that separate us from most other countries. 

We need to pray for leaders who are courageous enough to say, “No!" when something is wrong! And who are willing to walk the talk. The moral and religious values of our leaders matter greatly. One leads by conviction. We can lift our leaders before the throne of God and ask for their salvation, courage to stand firm on the word, and are willing live a life of integrity.  

Finally, we have to be willing to turn from our own wicked ways. Seek God with all of our heart because our very lives and nation depend on it.

This is not the most encouraging post, but if we will yield ourselves to God, the outcome can surpass all of our expectations, and light will overtake the darkness. For God is able to do far more than we can ask or even think. (Ephesians 3:20) Amen!

Blessings on your day!

Karen

“Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son…” (Luke 1:31 KJV)

Sunday our pastor spoke on Luke 1:28-38, beginning with the angel instructing Mary to “Fear Not.” 

The angel proceeded to tell her in verse 31, “behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.”

Mary’s final words to the angel were, “be it unto me according to thy word.”

We’ve heard this story many times during Christmas. So as the pastor taught on this passage I was reminded of a word the Lord gave me several years ago.

He told me that we are called to become pregnant with His word. As we grow in the knowledge of Christ it is as if the Word is growing within our inner being, our womb. We conceive the presence of God within us.

Once the Word has come to fruition within us we are to birth or bring forth this Word into the world. This is the great commission found in Matthew 28:19-20.

Will you say with me, “Be it unto me as You have said?”

As we approach this Christmas season, I want to encourage you to meditate on the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus still desires to dwell among us. As His followers, we are the carriers of His Word. 

Remember; Fear Not, He is with each of us.

Will you join me in birthing the Word, Jesus our Lord and Savior into the world taking Jesus each place we go, not only during this Christmas season, but through out our lives? Amen!

Blessings on your day!

Karen

Little Talks with Jesus: Jesus, the light of the world! (John 8:12)

Little Talks with Jesus: Jesus, the light of the world! (John 8:12): In John 8:12 ( ESV ) Jesus tells us, “ I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the ligh...

Jesus, the light of the world! (John 8:12)

In John 8:12 (ESV) Jesus tells us, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Recently I read where scientists believe all life begins with light.

It is amazing. The Bible told us this long ago.

John 1:4 makes this clear. “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”

Notice Habakkuk 3:4, “His splendor was like the sunrise; rays flashed from His hand, where His power was hidden.”

“Rays flashed from His hand, where His power was hidden.” indicates an open hand of power, direction, dominion, and fellowship.

God’s illuminating brilliance produces happiness and joy that beams from His open hands and side with power, direction, dominion, and fellowship, and He offers this to all who would believe in Him.

When Jesus’ hands, feet and side were pierced, He split the darkness with His brilliance, illuminating His light.

(James 1:17) “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

When we belong to Jesus we are commanded to “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

 “And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehends it not.” (John 1:5 KJV)

It doesn’t take much to see the great darkness covering the earth. 

We are to be the light that shines in this darkness with hope, joy and offering salvation to all who would receive Jesus. Don’t be upset when the world does not understand you when you walk in the characteristic of Christ. It is because the world is filled with darkness, so we are given the mandate to allow Christ to shine through us.

  

This goodness can be something as simple as being honest when the cashier accidentally puts something in your bags you did not purchase. When you take it back they will not understand why you would do such a thing. Walking in integrity, honesty, showing the characteristics of Christ sheds light in places you may never realize.

Ask Jesus to shine through you as you go into the world. Amen!

Blessings on your day!

Karen

Little Talks with Jesus: Forgiveness, a key to having a right relationship ...

Little Talks with Jesus: Forgiveness, a key to having a right relationship ...: “Whenever you stand up to pray, you must forgive what others have done to you. Then your Father in heaven will forgive your sins.” (Mark ...

Little Talks with Jesus: Forgiveness, a key to having a right relationship ...

Little Talks with Jesus: Forgiveness, a key to having a right relationship ...: “Whenever you stand up to pray, you must forgive what others have done to you. Then your Father in heaven will forgive your sins.” (Mark ...

Forgiveness, a key to having a right relationship with God (Mark 11:25)

“Whenever you stand up to pray, you must forgive what others have done to you. Then your Father in heaven will forgive your sins.” (Mark 11:25 CEV)

Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to forgive. In this we have to look to Jesus for help. According to Mark 11:26, it is a vital element of our receiving forgiveness from Father.

Whether the forgiveness is for something small or great it blocks our communication with God.

“You must forgive what others have done to you. Then your Father in heaven will forgive your sins.”

Our Heavenly Father wants to forgive us, but He will not go against His word. John 15:7 tells us that “If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

In order to be Kingdom minded we live by the Kings commands, His way of doing things. God will never go against His word, but He will move heaven and earth to make it happen when we come to Him on His terms. 

Matthew 5:23-24  tells us that even our offerings are not accepted until we forgive.

In Matthew 18:21-35 Jesus is teaching a parable on the Kingdom of Heaven. He tells of a man who owed a great debt and pleaded with the king for mercy. The king grants him mercy. However; this man goes out and refuses to show mercy to one who owes him little. When the king hears of this he brings the man back and hands him over to the tormentors until he pays all that is due. The only thing due is his forgiveness of the man who owes him little.

Not only does unforgiveness hinder our prayers and relationship with our heavenly Father, it also acquires torment.

Forgiveness is not ignoring or trying to forget what happened to you, it is a sin. According to 1 John 1:9 the way we get rid of sin and its torment is to confess it before God. Then we are able to forgive others and be cleansed from all unrighteousness. Our relationship with our heavenly Father is restored.

Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. (Romans 13:8 NIV)

You are not in this alone. Ask Jesus to forgive them through you. “I (you) can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (you).” (Philippians 4:13 NKJV)

Jesus demonstrated this on the cross when, “Jesus prayed, ‘Father, forgive them; they don’t know what they’re doing.” (Luke 23:34 MSG)

Spend time with the Lord today seeking people and situations in your life that needs forgiveness and receive Father’s forgiveness today. Amen!

Blessings on your day!

Karen