Filling Up

I've been reading through the book of Proverbs. It amazes me how simple some of these verses are. The simplicity leaps off the pages and turns my thinking to wonder how humanity has gotten so far away from laws and commandments that our Creator put in place to keep us safe and make us good citizens on this earth, and one day in eternity with Him.

When did things go awry? I guess we have to go back to the Garden of Eden and examine the hearts of the first created humans. Eve thought God was keeping something from her-something good. The serpent whispered silky lies in her ear, seducing her to believe lies that would wound all of humanity.

It still happens to us today. God's Word tells us we are made in His image (Genesis 1:27), yet many of us tear ourselves apart and speak terrible things about one another. God's Word tells us that if we are in Him, we have the fruit of the Spirit which is, "love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control." (Galatians 5:22-23) Yet how many of us truly have all of these. These fruit are there, ripe for the picking if we would just reach out and accept the gifts Jesus died to give us. "Abundant life," John 10:10 says. That is what Christ came to give us. Yet, like Eve, we scorn it and toss it back as a worthless trinket.

The daily practice of Bible reading opens the mind and the heart to grow more like Jesus. That is truly our calling. I encourage you to begin reading daily, prayerfully for Jesus to fill you with the Spirit allowing the truth of God's Word to penetrate your heart and make a lasting change from the inside out. Claim the fruit of the Spirit, walking daily in it and see the difference living in His will can make. Why not start right now!

May the joy of Jesus fill your heart and soul to overflowing. With blessings,
Natalie

In His Hands

                                   


Hannah is quite a lady. Last week, I spent quite a bit of time reading and researching her biography in 1 Samuel chapter 1. She was barren, unable to have children. Her husband took a second wife who was able to bear him children. Because of this, she was a constant source of aggravation to Hannah. Year after year, Elkanah (their husband), Hannah, Peninnah, and their children would take the journey to make their yearly sacrifice at Shiloh.

During this time, Peninnah would pick at Hannah, making her miserable. After eating, Hannah went to the temple and poured her heart out before the Lord. She was desperate. She had come to the end of herself and could no longer take it. She prayed from misery and heartache so deep down that her mouth was moving, yet no words would come forth. When Eli the priest saw her, he rebuked her for being drunk. Hannah explained the ache within her being. This hurt ran down inside the core of her heart. He responded telling her to go in peace and asked the Lord's blessing to be upon her.

This is where God calls us to be (Psalm 57:2). This is where Jesus called his disciples to be (Matthew 16:24). We are called to be clay in the Potter's hands (Jeremiah 18:6). Hannah lived in a time when having children was looked upon as a blessing from God and a barren womb a curse. Yet, they failed to see God's timing. We see in verse 5 that the Lord closed her womb. Then inversely we see in verse 19 that she conceives. God's timing is perfect; it was in Hannah's and it is in yours.

What is He calling you to today? Is there something you know God is asking of you? Is Jesus asking you to follow Him? Is the Holy Spirit nudging your soul? Allow Hannah to be a messenger of hope to you today, take a lesson from her life and cry out to Him from the depths of your heart and listen for His answer. Remember, His timing is perfect and there is nothing He cannot do.

Comfort of the Psalms

Do you ever get heavy hearted? For me, reading the Psalms help me see God differently when I feel burdened and heavy laden. This week I thought I would share some that have touched my heart in a special way now and times in the past.

Jesus is our Refuge, Redeemer, Saviour, and Friend. Allow Him to speak to you as you read through the Words from Psalms. May you be blessed and changed from the inside out.

Psalm 71:1 In You, O Lord, I put my trust.
                   Let me never be put to shame.

Psalm 71:19-21 Also Your righteousness, O God, is very high,
                          You who have done great things;
                          O God, who is like You? 
                          You, who have shown me great and severe troubles,
                          Shall revive me again,
                          And bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
                          You shall increase my greatness,
                          And comfort me on every side.

Psalm 91:1-2 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
                      Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
                      I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress;
                      My God, in Him I will trust."

Psalm 116:1-2 I love the Lord, because He has heard
                        My voice and my supplications.
                        Because He has inclined His ear to me,
                        Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.

Dear friend, I pray in Jesus' name that these Scripture passages will comfort you and encourage you to grab your Bible and seek out His Word to you and your life. Remember, God loves you, Jesus dies for you, and the Holy Spirit dwells in all Christians. I urge you, give your life to Him-fully and completely. Whatever He is calling you to, say yes. It will change your life. Put you all in the palm of His hands and have faith.

In Him,
Natalie

Never Separated

                                                   

What is going on in your life right now? Thinking about the people around me, there are many different circumstances people find themselves in each and every day. Some people are where they are by choice, some have no choice. I have friends who are going through mountaintop experiences: enjoying the presence of newborn babies in their families, waiting to have books published, finishing up college, preparing to graduate their children from high school, and such. I also have friends who are going through valley times: parents in long-term care facilities, illness of all sorts, times of struggle with family members, and the list goes on. Take a moment to think about your life. Where are you?

In whichever list you find yourself (and you may be going through times that place you in both), you can rest in the assurance that you have a Comforter and Redeemer in Jesus Christ. Paul was no stranger to tough times. In his life he was persecuted, beaten, shipwrecked, and imprisoned. But he continued to trust his Saviour. In Romans 8:38-39 he shares a promise we can cling to:

"For I am persuaded that neither death nor life,

nor angels nor principalities nor powers,

nor things present nor things to come, 

nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing,

shall be able to separate us from the love of God

which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." NKJV

Did you see it? NOTHING can separate us from the love of God! I think of illness that robs a person of their faculties - that does not separate them from the love of God. What about  the loss of a job? No, that can't separate them from the love of God. Do you see? God's love is more powerful than anything. He is "the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last" (Revelation 22:13 NKJV).

Looking at where we are may give us perspective to see that God can work wherever He has us.

"To everything there is a season,

A time for every purpose under heaven:"

Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV

Remember, there is a time and season for everything. This season you are experiencing will not last forever. If you are experiencing a moutaintop time, don't lose heart. When the valley comes along, take time to look around. In the valley is where we grow, if we will take the time to focus on Jesus and not on the circumstances we find ourselves in. If you find yourself in the valley, keep you eyes on Jesus and be comforted in the knowledge that everything has a season, and seasons do not last forever.

Dear friends, keep your eyes on the Lord. Pray and draw near to Him.

Blessings, Natalie

FREEDOM

"And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." John 16:23-24 NKJV

Jesus' resurrection paved the way for us to be in relationship with the Father. We are no longer separated by the chasm of sin. Jesus paid the price: it was not free for Him. However, He made a way and it is free for us. He stepped in and filled the gap created by disobedience. What joy we can have, what fullness of life we can live!

Is your life full of joy? If not, why? We have the promise of His joy to fill us. Have you asked for it? As sons and daughters of the King of kings, we are heirs to all of His promises. In the above Scripture passage, we have a promise to receive what we ask for. The only condition is that we ask for God's will in our lives. He wants all that is best for us. Not just the good stuff, but the great stuff!! Isn't that exciting?

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord,

thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and

I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me,

when you search for Me with all your heart."

Jeremiah 29:11-13 NKJV

He knows what He has in store for each of His children. We only need to say "YES". Saying yes can be hard to do, but when you know the One who is leading, it is much easier to follow. If you aren't ready to say yes, take some time and read, study your Bible, and pray. Get to know the Lord on a personal level. Spend time talking to Him like you do your best friend. Be honest and take time to listen. He may speak through the Word of the Bible. He may speak through Christian friends. He may speak in very unexpected ways, but I desire for you to know that He does speak. Listen carefully my dear friends, Jesus is "standing at the door and knocking. If you hear His voice and open the door, He will come in and be with you." (Revelation 3:20 paraphrased)

Dear friend, Jesus awaits. Call on Him today.

Spring Forth

Easter is coming. This is a time of preparation and reflection. Our beloved Savior, Jesus Christ, gave His all for each of us: that is why we celebrate. It has nothing to do with Easter bunnies or egg hunts. What does it mean to you?

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again

to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ

from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and

that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation

ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:3-5 NKJV)

What great hope we have, thanks be to Jesus and the work done on the cross those many years ago. This world is filled with things. There are homes, cars, tvs, cell phones, computers, e-readers, video games, movies, purses, shoes, golf clubs, food, and I could list every moment for every day for the next year and not even scratch the surface of what is available. The only problem is that no matter what phone, computer, purse, or car you get, there will be a new and better one available tomorrrow. The insatiable lust of the flesh tells us it will never be enough, big enough or good enough. We want more, More, MORE.

The promise that comes with this Scripture fills my soul and grants me peace to be content with the wonderful "things" I am blessed with (for the most part). Our true treasures are not on this earth, nor are they seen, but they are stored in heaven with the Author and Finisher of our faith, Jesus Christ. Our inheritance is incorruptible and undefiled and will not fade away... Praise You Jesus!

This life is not all we have. This is a training ground for better things coming. This is a time to prepare ourselves to meet our Savior "face-to-face". My question is this: Are you ready? Is your heart focused on things of this world, or on the Savior of this world? Are you ready to meet Him and answer His questions? Have you given Him all of yourself, your possessions, your everything?

If you take time to read the Scriptures this Easter season, I urge you to read the accounts in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, from the Last supper through the Resurrection. Read it prayerfully, asking God to reveal the truth to your heart, softening it so you may hear His voice, then for the courage to obey Him. It can be scary because none of us know what He will call us to. However, we have the promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). What more do we need?

Praying you will find hope and rest in Jesus Christ beginning today.

Natalie