The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace

And having shod your feet in preparation [to  face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.  We put on the shoes of peace, in our next step of preparing for spiritual war.  We have put on the belt of truth, and the breastplate of righteousness, and now, we put on the shoes of the Gospel of peace.  Jesus is the Prince of Peace.  He is the one who said, "My peace I give to you, not as the world gives, but as I give.  Peace that passes all understanding."
     The worlds peace says, "Come together.  Let's live in harmony.  Let's not fight.  Let's all just chill together."  I see a bumper sticker around our town.  It says, "Co-exist" and then it has all the symbols of different religions on the sticker.  The problem with that, is that our relationship with Jesus is not a religion.  It is a life changing realization that we need Him desperately in our lives, and we cannot exist without Him.  It is the deepest relationship of our lives, and it is not a religion.  It is knowing Him intimately, and being known by Him intimately.  That means, we can't co-exist with any religion, because we aren't in a religion, we are in a relationship, and that can't be changed, no matter how the world tries to change it.
     Yes, we go to church, but that is so we can have fellowship together with other believers, who also have that same intimate relationship with Jesus.  We are to live in the world, but to be seperate from it.  Our separateness is not of getting away from the world, but in our relationship with Jesus, we no longer think as the world does.
     Jesus told His disciples, that when they came into a home, they were to speak His Peace upon that home, and if a man of peace lived there, His Peace would stay upon that home.  If a man of peace did not live there, he was to take the Peace of Jesus away with him, when that disciple left that home.  That is how we are to be wherever we go.  We bring the Peace of Christ with us into every situation we go into.  If we are not living the Peace of Christ ourselves, we are bringing chaos and division, because we are being double minded, and it says in God's Word, that "a double minded man is unstable in all his ways."  We cannot have the Prince of Peace living in us, and walk in strife and division, without causing others harm.  We have to walk in Christ's Peace.
     Christ's Peace is not easy to walk in.  It means turning the other cheek when you have been wronged, and forgiving those who wronged you.  There is a passage of Scripture that says, "If you come to the altar, and you know someone has something against you, leave your gift at the altar, and go make it right with that person."  You see, God's peace has a cost to it.  It is not a touchy feely peace.  It is a peace that asks hard things of you.  Forgiveness, making things right, going the extra mile, praying for your enemies, blessing them, allowing God to be in control, and not you.
     The world's peace depends on "feelings".  You hear all the time, "Well, I don't feel I can forgive them, so I won't until I feel it in my heart."  Jesus says, "Forgive those who hurt you and despisefully use you."  It doesn't say anything at all about "feelings".  I remember a time I was having trouble forgiving, and Jesus told me, "Let Me do the work, you just choose to forgive, and I will take care of the rest."  In other words, it was my choice to forgive, that brought Christ's Peace into that situation.  It had nothing to do with my feelings, because my feelings were to continue waiting for a time I felt forgiveness in my heart.  Jesus asks us to "Choose".  Choose His way of peace.  That forgiveness meant, when that situation came to mind, to bless those people that had hurt me, and say again, "I choose to forgive them, Father, because that is Your way, and I want to be in step with Your Spirit, and to please You.  I am still hurting, but I know Your way is best for me.  Help me to feel that forgiveness inside of me, but until I do, I will choose to forgive them, whether I feel it or not, because You have asked me to."
     The world relies on blocking out all the bad feelings and only allowing the good ones in.  Cleanse your mind, feel the good, throw out the bad.  Jesus knows we can't forget, but He can help us forgive and live forward, in spite of those bad situations, and memories.  It may take months or years to get to the place where you will think of situations in your life, and not feel the pain of that time.  It's ok.  Just continue to forgive.  To bless.  To give it to Jesus.  Some time in the future, God will use that painful place to bring healing and hope to others, if you will allow Him to.
     The peace Jesus brings to us, will cause rifts and wars, just because it cannot compromise at its very heart.  The truth is the truth, whether it feels good or not.  When you are walking away from God, the Gospel message will not "tickle" your ears.  It will irritate and annoy you.  It will bring conviction and challenge to your life.  It will keep at you, until you  either acknowledge it, or turn from it in your own attempt to run from God.  That is why God's message of the Gospel cannot be compromised with.  Because the Gospel message is Jesus.  Jesus, who was born of a virgin, lived among us, died on a cross, and rose after three days, and went to heaven on a cloud of glory, and Who will come back again, to gather His people.  He came to give us the keys to the Kingdom of God.  To restore to us, the lordship of earth.  If we walk in His ways, we have the authority given to Adam in the garden of Eden.  We are no longer bound by the curse, but set free to walk with God.  Other religions won't accept who we say Jesus is.  We cannot say He is any different than Who He IS, God dwelling among us.  Emmanuel.  God with us.  Because He lives, we live.  His divine blood bought us the right to be called "sons of God".  Hallelujah!
     So, we do want to walk in peace.  We don't want to fight, but we are in a war, and that war means we live at peace as much as we can, but we hold our ground on God's Word and His promises to us.  We allow others to be themselves, but we share the Truth of God's Word, when God opens those doors to share with others.  We allow Him to show us the way.  Remember, our war is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers in heavenly places.  That is why we need to walk in God's peace.  He will show us when we need to listen, when we need to talk, and when we need to fight.  Let Him be your guide.  Remember, we are to walk in step with the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit will tell us when to go left or right or stop or turn around or which way to go.  If we are listening.  If we have hardened our hearts, because we don't want to hear "God's plan", or to "do God's plan", we will not be able to hear Him so clearly.  Let His peace soften your heart.  Be willing to be the one to forgive and to walk in forgiveness.  To be kind and do good, so you can overcome the evil plans of the enemy.  Remember, this is not just about you or me, Jesus came to save and seek the lost.  He wants to bring everyone into the Kingdom of God, and we need to be open to listening to the plans.  Let's remember when division and strife start acting up, it means there is something important at stake here, and we need to be extra alert and willing to be calm and listening to the Spirits call.  Let's not be a part of the problem, but a part of the solution.  Let's let God lead us into His Peace that passes all understanding.
     When we are in His peace, we will feel a stability that will ground us.  We won't be double-minded.  We will just know that God is working, and we will have an unerring trust in God's protection and covering.  I pray you will feel that true and blessed peace that can only come from God.  Jesus.  Let His blanket of love comfort you, bless you, and bring you to a greater understanding of your destiny here on earth.  You are called and chosen.  You are an ambassador of the Kingdom, an ambassador of peace.  God bless you with an abundance of His precious peace.

Breastplate of Righteousness

     "And having put on the breastplate of (righteousness) integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God."  We put on the breastplate of righteousness next.  We put upon ourselves, Jesus.  He is our righteousness.  He is the One God sees when He looks at us.  We are covered by His Presence.
     Remember, in another blog how I told you that our righteousness is as filthy rags before God.  It is only the blood of Jesus that gives us righteousness.  All our good works and deeds are nothing, if they are not done in obedience to Jesus.  It is His blood that bought us our freedom and right standing with God.  Our righteousness.  Rejoice in the fact that we are called "the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus."
     As we put on that breastplate of righteousness, let us remember that it is the blood that Jesus shed on the cross, that won us that freedom.  His blood bought us power over ALL the works of the enemy, because Jesus triumphed over them, as He conquered the grave.  One drop of His precious blood, wins us the battles, as we stick close to Him.  We are surrounded and covered by His protection.  He covers us with His wings, and He surrounds us with His angels.
     When I was first married, I was in a bad accident.  I was trying to help a friend learn to drive, and we were on a gravel road.  She was going very fast, and I looked over and I told her that she should slow down.  I thought she'd take her foot off the gas, and let the car slow down normally.  Instead, she hit the brakes.  I knew we were in trouble the second she did that, and I breathed, "Jesus, help" and then I saw us going from one side to the next, and then we flipped.  After the dust settled, we all got out.  She had her young son in the back seat, and this was a convertable.  We had landed in the only ditch along the road, right in the middle, so we were all ok, except where I had gotten hurt, and a few cuts and bruises they had.  The miracle didn't stop there.  If my cut had been just an inch right or left, I'd have been dead.  You can't count how many miracles happened in this one accident.  God's protection was there big time.  I had put on my breastplate of righteousness, as I breathed, "Jesus, help".  That righteousness, covered us.  Jesus.  He is our righteousness.  He covered me and my friend and her son.  Hallelujah.
     There are times in your life, too, that I am sure Jesus covered you with that breastplate of righteousness.  Why not begin to put this on each and every day.  Put Jesus' righteousness on your heart.  Ask Him how He wants you to act and walk and work today and each day.
     I encourage you to think about this.  To let Jesus show you the path of righteousness.  Sometimes, we think we know it all.  We think in our own intelligence, but why not let God help us to look into our hearts for His understanding and wisdom.  That is what the breastplate covers, our hearts.  You see, the Bible tells us our hearts are wicked.  They want their own ways.  Each night, I put on my armor, and I also pray that" the eyes of my understanding would be opened."  I pray that "my eyes would see, my ears would hear, and that my heart would understand."  He is the only One who can help me to see, to hear, and to understand.  I know He has helped me in more ways than I can ever imagine.  Try it, and see if you don't have better eyes to see with, ears to hear with, and a more understanding heart.  Let your heart be surrounded by His righteousness and see what happens.

     Each piece of this armor is vital to our lives.  Each piece brings a part of Jesus' power, to help us in our battles with the enemy.  As we surrender to His authority in our lives, we will see a more peaceful, loving, forgiving and understanding life happening inside us.  We will be more stable and secure in our understanding of who we are in Christ.  I encourage you to rejoice and be glad.  God is definitely for you.  God bless you with His covering.  God bless you with His righteousness.  God bless you with a more powerful witness in your life, due to your letting Him change you from the inside out.  I know you will have people asking you, what has happened to you?  How do you have so much peace, joy, or love in your life?  It is due to Jesus covering you.  It is due to you surrendering to Him.  Love and prayers to you all, my dear ones.

Belt Of Truth

     I have been delayed in getting back to my blog, and I sincerely  apologize to all who have been checking it out each day, waiting for the continuation of our spiritual armor.
     We first "gird on our loins, the belt of truth."   We tighten it around ourselves.  We make sure that we are wearing that truth tightly to ourselves.    We put on this armor daily.
      We need to remember, that each piece of this armor is a representation of Christ in our lives.  We are putting HIM on ourselves each day.  As we speak each piece over ourselves, we should be remembering that this is Christ, that we are putting on.  As we continue, you will see how true this is.
     Why is the belt of truth first?  I used to always put the helmet of salvation on first, because (in my ego) I thought that made more sense to put on salvation, and then add each piece after that.  One day, I realized that was pretty presumptuous of me to think I was right, and the Bible was not, so I asked God why the belt came first.  He told me "that if we didn't put on His Truth first, we would be subject to the lies the enemy wanted to use on any part of that armor." What I understood that to mean was this, at any time after we put truth on, that piece was covered by God's Truth.  The pieces we put on before that, were open to the enemy's attack.  You better believe I started putting the armor in the right order after that.  I sure don't want to give the enemy any more ammunition than he already has.
     Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  When we gird that belt on, we are girding on His Way, His Truth, and His Life.  He told His disciples that "If they abode in His Word [held fast to His teachings and live in accordance with them], they are truly His disciples.  And they would know the truth and the truth would set them free."   This word is for us today, too.  When we hide God's Word in our hearts, we begin to change into the image God has of us in our completed state.  He sees us as complete, but we still have work to do, to get there.  That work, is living in accordance to God's Word.  Read John 15 and 16 to get a better understanding of what I am talking about.  In John 15, Jesus tells His disciples that it is good He is going away, because then the Spirit of Truth will come, and He will testify of Jesus.
     So, having that belt around us is so vital and important.  In the Amplified Bible, it says this of the Spirit of God, "Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, and Standby".  I find each of these names so vital to our lives.  Truth is needed in each of these areas, and in each of these areas, we have the Spirit of Truth reminding us of Jesus.  The belt was to support the soldier by holding him up, by helping him keep his armor on.  It was also important for holding the weapons of war, that soldier would be fighting with.  The Holy Spirit does those things for us, and brings us back to Jesus, and His Life in us.
     We can never be free in our lives, as long as we hold onto an untruth.  My family helps me to stay in tune to the truth.  My husband, my children, my brothers, my sisters, my mom and my dad, all help me to work on issues I need to face and deal with.  My church family does this as well.  My friends do this.  But what if I were unwilling to hear and listen?  Their efforts would not work.  I would stay chained to my issues, and not grow.  How about you?  Do you want to grow?  You will have to hear some things you might not want to hear.  You will have to make some changes that will not be easy to do, but the efforts will be richly worth it all.  If you do not face the problem, the problem will never change.  You see, you ARE part of the problem, whenever you refuse to listen to wisdom.  Truth hurts, but its wisdom lances our pain, to get the pus and junk out, so we can heal cleanly.  I for one, would rather get the poison out, and have good health, than to have poison running rampart in my body or soul.
Some people enjoy staying in their problems, because it gives them attention.  I don't want attention for something that is holding me back.  I don't like to talk about the issues of my health, not because I am ignorant of them, but because I am choosing to live my life to the fullest I can in spite of it.  I know God is touching my body.  Each day I get up, is victory time.  Do you find yourself talking about that "pain" that "disease" that "child" that "man" that "woman" that "friend" that "anything", that is holding you back in YOUR mind?  Give it to God.  Ask Him to show you the truth that you need to know, and let Him lance it with His Truth, and get it clean, so you can be the amazing person God has called you to be.  I have been praying for healing for years, and God has told me it will take a long time.  He wasn't kidding.  I get discouraged, and I get to feeling bad because I can't do more.  You know what, when I tell people all the things I do, they can't believe I do it.

     Truth hurts, but it is also brings laughter and joy when you finally get it.  I used to wonder why people would laugh when I was telling them a serious truth from God's Word.  It really bothered me when I was so seriously telling someone something, and they'd begin to laugh.  I would go away, feeling hurt and rejected because I didn't get it.  I finally began to pray about it, and ask God to help me understand why this happened all the time.  He told me, "Laura, you spoke the truth, and it set them free, and they received joy because of it."  I began to not mind so much when this happened, because I rejoiced that they were getting free, more, than I cared how it made me feel.  Soon, it didn't even make me feel bad that they were laughing, it just made me so happy inside that truth was setting someone free.  You see, we need to ask God to help us understand when we don't get the reactions we expect.  It might be totally different than how we were believing it to be.

My dear ones, don't be afraid of the truth.  Don't be afraid to let God highlight those dark places, with His illuminating Light.  Know that if He is illuminating it, it is time to deal with whatever it is.  It might hurt, to have to face that issue, but remember, that hurt will pass, and the joy and freedom you will receive, will so far surpass your pain, that you will be forever grateful He brought you to that healing place.  I encourage you, place that belt of truth firmly in place, and walk boldly forward to that next piece of armor.  God bless you dear ones.                                    

Starting With Our Spiritual Armor

I started writing a blog on Monday night, and spent three hours working on it, and almost done, it got deleted somehow.  I have been having a few episodes where that has been happening, and almost losing the blog, but had always been able to save it in the end, somehow.  Not this time.  I took a few days off, because I was extremely discouraged by putting in so much time and effort, just to have it disappear on me.  Yesterday, I was thinking about it, and I thought, it's not lost, somewhere out there in cyberspace, it is making an impact.  An angel, a demon, or one of those great clouds of witnesses that are up in heaven, has seen that blog, and been impacted by it.  I was impacted by it.  So, forgive me for having a mini meltdown, but I am back to business.  (when I say a demon may be impacted, they are impacted by the fact that I am giving Jesus honor and worship, they don't like it, so it is a weapon in their face.  That is what I mean by that.).
As I was praying to God about my meltdown, I felt like He was telling me, to work on something He has been laying on my heart to do.  A long time ago, I was totally impacted by our spiritual armor and what it means to us.  What each piece does, and how we need to think of it, as we put it on.  So, today I will be writing the verses that talk about our spiritual armor, and then on future blogs, I will be going over each piece of that armor.
In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].
Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.
For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the depotisms against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.
Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your grouond on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].
Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude (righteousness) and right standing with God.
And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.
Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].
And take up the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.
Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty.  To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people).     Ephesians 6:10 - 18
For you are all sons of light and sons of the day; we do not belong either to the night or to darkness.
Accordingly then, let us not sleep, as the rest do, but let us keep wide awake (alert, watchful, cautious, and on our guard) and let us be sober [calm, collected, and circumspect].
For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who are drunk, get drunk at night.
But we belong to the day; therefore, let us be sober and put on the breastplate (corslet) of faith and love and for a helmet the hope of salvation.  I Thess. 5:5-8
And He saw that there was no man and wondered that there was no intercessor [no one to intervene on behalf of truth and right]; therefore, His own arm brought Him victory, and His own righteousness [having the Spirit without measure] sustained Him.
For [the Lord] put on righteousness as a breastplate or coat of mail, and salvation as a helmet upon His head; He put on garments of vengeance for clothing and was clad with zeal [and furious divine jealousy] as a cloak.  Isaiah 59:16-17

My dear friends and family, think on these words tonight or tomorrow.  Let them sink deep into your heart.  Meditate on what God is speaking to you about them.  I eagerly look forward to sharing this with you on Saturday night.  I have to take tomorrow off, as it is Kaylee's birthday, and we will be celebrating her wonderful place in our family.  God bless you all.  Love you my dear ones.

Sowing and Reaping

Today our Pastor Dave and Pastor Fred did a tag team effort on their sermons about tithing.  Both pastors brought great insight and knowledge about what tithing is and isn't.  One thing that is very clear in our tithing, is that we need to do it for God and not for ourselves.  What I mean is that when we give, if we are giving to get something from God, we have already lost what we were hoping for.

We need to give out of an abundant heart of love towards God, not for what we can gain.  I have always loved tithing, and I even had some trouble once, because I gave some pennies, and for some reason, it was a problem.  I don't know why, I just remember everyone asking me if I had given that money, and I told them, "yes, I did, but I didn't understand what the problem was."  I guess it might have been a specific amount given that blew them away, or I have no clue, but it left me with a determination to give, even if no one else understood why I gave, or how I gave.  I was going to give, like God always led me to give.  Freely and completely.

There is a verse in the Bible that talks about us reaping what we sow.  The world calls it "Karma", but it has been in the Bible a long time.  It is a truth that many of us are just learning about, but it is true nonetheless.  I have been led by God to give flowers from time to time.  I never know why He has led me to do so, but I have done it in faith.  In the years since I have done that, I have reaped lovely bouquets of flowers of all kinds.  Star of Davids, fresh flowers from gardens, these lovely Narcissus blooms that a friend gave me for a birthday gift.  Flowers from my husband and children, tulips, and so many more precious blessings.  I have found that the kindness of remembrance to ease a hurting heart, has been more than replenished in my life, at times when I, too, needed those lovely blooms to help me along.

What have you sown lately?  Good or bad?  Truth or lies?  Help or a turned back?  Have you sown into God's Kingdom by tithing?  Truly that is the most awesome gift given to us.  I recently sent a tithe to someone who God had laid on my heart to give to.  This person ministers to the Lord, by helping others with no hope of being given payment for her time and effort.  God told me she is His minister, and that I was to seed into her life.  The gift I gave to her, has enabled her to get a computer to help in even more ways.  She had been trusting God for the money, and Isolino and my obedience, helped her to do that.  Now, we have a part in her ministry, because of that seed that was sown.  When we give to our local church bodies, we help them to help others that need help.  Because of our little church body, people in disaster areas have been helped.  We have a few husband and wife teams that go out and help in these disaster areas and their help is vital to those in such need.  One husband went to Haiti a few times, and his sharing of that time was tremendous.  We are part of that, through our fellowship together, and how our church seeds into this ministry.

You may not always agree with how the money is spent or what its going for, but your job is to not give to the church because you agree with them, but because God has placed you there, and you are called to support your local body.  You are to be giving to God, not man anyway.  So, if you think you are giving to man, by tithing to the church, then you have already gotten it wrong.  What the people of the church do with that money, is even a greater place of obedience.  You see, once you give, they are answerable to God in how they use that money.  You are the one that has acted in obedience to give as God lays on your heart to give.

A Little Bit Of Rain

Rain can be a depressing time for some people.  The darkness, the constant damp, and the overcast skies, keep their spirits dampened and oppressed.  There is another aspect of rain that is forgotten in this type of mood.  Rain nourishes and feeds the plants the ground, animals, and mankind.  Rain brings help to areas that have been in a season of drought and can bring hope to hurting hearts.

Which way do you see the rain?  Could you turn to look at it with a good heart?  Could you see that the end result of the rain will be life and abundance?  Don't let the negative aspects of the weather get you down.  There will always be problems while we live on this earth, but God wants us to look to Him for our supply.  He wants us to believe Him for our protection and help in times of need.

We need to remember that the Holy Spirit is also seen as a type of Raingiver.  The Giver of Healing Water.  The River of Life, the Well of Hope, The One Who Stirs the Air, The Wind of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.  So many names we could give to our Helper.  Our Nourisher.  Do we see the rain of the spirit?  Do we let God take us through the situations we are in with thanksgiving and praise in our hearts, due to the knowledge of Him working through us with the Holy Spirits help?

Let us not give up hope, when our circumstances look dark, but let us look to the Source of our Supply.  The One Who makes a way where there seems to be no way.  He is the Strong Tower, our Shield, our Help in times of trouble.  Let us praise Him, and see the good in our situations, through His Eyes showing us the way.  Dear Ones, don't let the negative reports be the ones you believe.  Take hold of God's Hand, and let Him show you the way through the mist and the gray, to that nourishing place He wants you to be in.  God bless you all.

Dreaming Of The Future

I love magnolia trees, especially these purple and white ones.  They have a wonderful fragrance as well.  Ever since I found out about magnolia trees, I have been a bit in love with them, and wanting them for myself, in my own yard.  This weekend, on our road trip, I saw so many gorgeous magnolia trees, and this one, that I took a picture of, was one that Isolino stopped especially for me to capture.  Thank you, honey.

My kids were sick of hearing me say, "There's a magnolia tree", and at the end of the trip, I told them I wouldn't talk about the magnolia trees for the rest of the trip.  I think I failed at that, as I did mention about one tree I saw, but it was a gorgeous tree with a full bouquet of magnolias on its limbs.  But that is what our dreams should be for us.  We should be talking about them, dreaming about them, and praying about them.  If God has given you a dream, a promise, or a Word to hold onto, you should be holding on to that with all you have, and meditating on what God is doing.  It is like what I sense with the magnolia tree.  I may not have one now, but someday, I am dreaming that I will have a garden full of the plants and flowers and trees that I love, that will be a blessing to all who come and visit there.  It is like what I get to do, when I go to my good friend Cindy Winn's house.  She has a garden that is tended with such loving care.  She has plants that she has tended for years, and is now seeing the fruit of her labors, and she shares this delight with her friends and church family.

This garden is full of whimsical designs and plans, and she has given lots of thought and care to how and where things are planted, to give them the best chance of survival and the most delight to her garden.  She has water features all over the garden, as well, and to hear the soft movement of water while you walk in the shady places, is like a chorus for your soul to burst out singing psalms to God in.  Each time I have visited her lovely garden, I find new delights to flood my senses with.  Each season has been planned for, so each season you visit will have its own treasure to take home with you.  This is how we should tend the dreams, promises, and Words that God has given us.  We should plan for each season of their lives, before they come to fruition.  Plant that seed deep in your heart.  Water it, tend it, prune it, love on it, with the words God gives to you to hold you to the vision.  Watch it grow.  In God's Word we read that "My people perish for lack of vision".    Where there is no vision to implant God's plans, we will die spiritually.  If we do not have something to work towards, we lose hope in a good future.

God has given me some big dreams to hold onto.  I don't know how He would do what He says He is going to do, but my job isn't to worry about how all of it will come about, but to believe Him.  To trust Him to work the details out, while I work on keeping close to Him.  I know many of you have been given dreams to hang onto.  Things you can't share, but that God has placed in your hearts to believe for.  Hold onto Him.  He is Faithful and True.  He will hold you to the course, as long as you don't give up.  Believe me, you don't want to miss out on what He will do.  His plans are always more than we can imagine.  Whatever He has placed in your heart to believe for, it will be more than you were told to believe for, because that is how God is.  He is BIG.  I am sure you've heard the term, "You can't out give God"?  Well, I believe that is true.  He is always giving more than we can even dream of expecting.

My dear ones, may you be blessed with your dreams exploding within you.  May you have hope flooding you, even during this time of economic upheaval.  Let God restore your dreams to your heart.  Let your task be to open yourself up to having dreams again.  My dear ones, without hope, our hearts and minds get heavy with all the distractions around us.  We lose heart to believe for a better future.  Don't let that happen.  Tend to those dreams with the love of God in your heart.  Let Him guide you on the journey of making those dreams come true.  God bless you tonight.