Deuteronomy 31:7
7 Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, "Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their forefathers to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance.
*************************************************************************************
As the stormy winds of life threaten to shake our faith; as we stand in the midst of our trials without clear direction, God rises up the Joshua in us and commands us to move. In His infinite love, He rescues us from the pit of our situation and lifting our soul inspires us to keep walking. It’s a promise. A promise that was made long ago...
Sometimes we don’t know why we’re going through certain things…we just know we are walking in the right direction…in God’s direction. We can’t see right or left, past or future, but at least we SEE now. The darkness has been lifted and we’re free to move. We might not know exactly were we’re going, but we know who’s with us. We know it because of the peace inside. There’s nothing like it. Though the journey home may last a lifetime...He’s with us, and that’s all we need to know.
Yesterday I took my baby niece to the park. There, most of the kids were way bigger than her. They were running and screaming, sharing the same space and toys. She didn’t even notice danger...all she knew was that I was there...and that was all she needed to know. I didn’t left her one millisecond. She knew she could TRUST me to take good care of her because she knows how much I love her. I spent the afternoon protecting her; she had a blast. I firmly believe that’s what Jesus meant when He talked about having the FAITH of a child. It is an absolute, nothing wavering, all believing faith.
Whatever you situation is, my brother or sister, I pray that you’ll know He’s here. That’s all you need.
In His Light,
Janet.
Monday, October 30, 2006
Friday, October 27, 2006
Surrender
``I am the Alpha and the Omega'' [the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End], says the Lord God, ``Who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.''
— Revelation 1:8
Surrender
There’s something noble in lifting up a white flag and surrendering. Contrary to what the world will like you to believe, we’re not omnipotent, we’re not omniscient, we’re not omnipresent…our God is.
If you did Art in kindergarten,
If you planted a flower and saw it grow,
If you used paint and a blank surface to express yourself,
If you wrote a poem,
If you cried when you saw your child learn something new
…you felt like God.
You have a vision, a dream.
Something inside you, a fire, makes you gather what you need to materialize it.
You apply your hands, your heart, and your mind.
It consumes your self; it becomes something you must do.
You bring it to life.
After you finish,
You look at it with compassionate eyes, with creator’s eyes.
You see that somehow it became an independent being.
If you were separated from it...
Even if it separated from you...
You’d still love it.
You’d notice how it had taken a piece of you.
To make it part of itself.
Your joy is infinite.
…
There is no separation where love is the binder.
…
Jesus is LOVE.
:o)
Your sis.
— Revelation 1:8
Surrender
There’s something noble in lifting up a white flag and surrendering. Contrary to what the world will like you to believe, we’re not omnipotent, we’re not omniscient, we’re not omnipresent…our God is.
If you did Art in kindergarten,
If you planted a flower and saw it grow,
If you used paint and a blank surface to express yourself,
If you wrote a poem,
If you cried when you saw your child learn something new
…you felt like God.
You have a vision, a dream.
Something inside you, a fire, makes you gather what you need to materialize it.
You apply your hands, your heart, and your mind.
It consumes your self; it becomes something you must do.
You bring it to life.
After you finish,
You look at it with compassionate eyes, with creator’s eyes.
You see that somehow it became an independent being.
If you were separated from it...
Even if it separated from you...
You’d still love it.
You’d notice how it had taken a piece of you.
To make it part of itself.
Your joy is infinite.
…
There is no separation where love is the binder.
…
Jesus is LOVE.
:o)
Your sis.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Truth
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." -- John 14:6 (NKJV)
Truth
I never grow tired of repeating the truth. I think people tend to forget things when not repeated enough. When I say I’m in love with Jesus because he’s “the way, the truth, and the life”, I always apply those powerful words to our earthly reality. I think each generation can only truly understand and love God when He's recognized in everyday life. God is in the hand that feeds the homeless man that is hiding in a downtown corner; God is in the soul that generously lets others get in front at rush hour; God is in the smile of the cancer patient that is telling his family “everything will be alright”. God is where Hope, Love, Truth, and life are. Ever since my conversion, I’ve noticed how different the world is from the perspective of Jesus; I’ve stopped being focused on the what’s-in-it-for-me mentality; I’ve noticed how random acts of love are inspiring; I’ve realized the infinite power in self sacrifice; the beauty in humility; and the literality of the expression “His Word washes your soul”. I remember a time when I didn’t understand what it meant…until I felt it.
We live in a desperate, bleeding world…we all know that…nothing special about another human being screaming, another rape in Africa, and another mother loosing her son. We’re so accustomed to pain we don’t even care anymore. There’s no greater lie in this time and age than the saying “there’s nothing I can do to change the world”. There’s so much we can do…as Christians, as God’s chosen people.
In Jesus, we find the strength.
Yesterday, I was reading some of Padre Pio’s writing; I find it soothing and profound. As I flipped through the pages of the little booklet, my eyes saw the following sentence:
"Jesus loved you while you were running away, how much more now that you love him back."
My dear Friend, tears came to my eyes.
I know that if you belong to him, this sentence has moved you too…because He loves us so much…
Who knows? Perhaps TODAY you’ll show this LOVE to someone else.
His,
Janet.
Truth
I never grow tired of repeating the truth. I think people tend to forget things when not repeated enough. When I say I’m in love with Jesus because he’s “the way, the truth, and the life”, I always apply those powerful words to our earthly reality. I think each generation can only truly understand and love God when He's recognized in everyday life. God is in the hand that feeds the homeless man that is hiding in a downtown corner; God is in the soul that generously lets others get in front at rush hour; God is in the smile of the cancer patient that is telling his family “everything will be alright”. God is where Hope, Love, Truth, and life are. Ever since my conversion, I’ve noticed how different the world is from the perspective of Jesus; I’ve stopped being focused on the what’s-in-it-for-me mentality; I’ve noticed how random acts of love are inspiring; I’ve realized the infinite power in self sacrifice; the beauty in humility; and the literality of the expression “His Word washes your soul”. I remember a time when I didn’t understand what it meant…until I felt it.
We live in a desperate, bleeding world…we all know that…nothing special about another human being screaming, another rape in Africa, and another mother loosing her son. We’re so accustomed to pain we don’t even care anymore. There’s no greater lie in this time and age than the saying “there’s nothing I can do to change the world”. There’s so much we can do…as Christians, as God’s chosen people.
In Jesus, we find the strength.
Yesterday, I was reading some of Padre Pio’s writing; I find it soothing and profound. As I flipped through the pages of the little booklet, my eyes saw the following sentence:
"Jesus loved you while you were running away, how much more now that you love him back."
My dear Friend, tears came to my eyes.
I know that if you belong to him, this sentence has moved you too…because He loves us so much…
Who knows? Perhaps TODAY you’ll show this LOVE to someone else.
His,
Janet.
Friday, October 20, 2006
Hope
"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." (Jeremiah 29:11)
In a world were people tell you they've lost hope,
In a world were sometimes we worry that other people wish us evil,
In a world were things seem out of control,
In a world were the future looks turbulent and scary,
In a world were nuclear bombs are tested and children die hungry
...
We have a Voice, a Friend, a Father
Who grabs our hand and gently holds it by His heart
Who breathes life unto us and gives us peace
One who will never leave us
One who is faithful and caring
One who's name is lifted higher than the stars and the universe...
Welcome Him,
and your eyes will see.
In Hope.
May His presence be in you.
Your friend that loves you.
In a world were people tell you they've lost hope,
In a world were sometimes we worry that other people wish us evil,
In a world were things seem out of control,
In a world were the future looks turbulent and scary,
In a world were nuclear bombs are tested and children die hungry
...
We have a Voice, a Friend, a Father
Who grabs our hand and gently holds it by His heart
Who breathes life unto us and gives us peace
One who will never leave us
One who is faithful and caring
One who's name is lifted higher than the stars and the universe...
Welcome Him,
and your eyes will see.
In Hope.
May His presence be in you.
Your friend that loves you.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Goliath
Isaiah 54:14-17
14 In righteousness you will be established:
Tyranny will be far from you;
you will have nothing to fear.
Terror will be far removed;
it will not come near you.
15 If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing;
whoever attacks you will surrender to you.
16 "See, it is I who created the blacksmith
who fans the coals into flame
and forges a weapon fit for its work.
And it is I who have created the destroyer to work havoc;
17 no weapon forged against you will prevail,
and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
and this is their vindication from me,"
declares the LORD.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Goliath
What do we do when we’re fighting Goliath?
Do we back down and go hide in a corner or do we throw the stone?
What do we do when someone we love is being caught in the hell of cocaine?
Are we allowed to be judgmental and just abandon that person in the dark?
Are we allowed to let drug dealers get away with their wickedness and destroy the lives of those we’ve seen grow before our eyes?
I believe not.
Jesus said not to be afraid of those that can kill the flesh, but of those that can destroy our soul.
Furthermore, He was a compassionate man. He helped those that came to him in need.
Something in his heart moved him to do it: it’s called unconditional love!
...
Is there someone that has recently come to you asking for help?
...
Is there someone in your life that lives in the world of drugs?
...
Would you be a light to this person and extend your helping hand?
Should you be a coward and let them rot and be destroyed by the enemy?
No, please do something for them. Be the Good Samaritan.
“What if?” you may ask, “that’s what they have chosen for themselves…?”
“What if?” I ask you, their so called 'choice' was really a deep need for love, YOUR love? Christ’s love?”
My dear friends, there’s a point in life when we simply cannot allow ourselves to do nothing…
A point where we’re called to fight for a cause greater than ourselves.
There’s a reason why God gave us Isaiah 54.
May HIS Love and HIS grace be with you today!
In Him,
Janet.
14 In righteousness you will be established:
Tyranny will be far from you;
you will have nothing to fear.
Terror will be far removed;
it will not come near you.
15 If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing;
whoever attacks you will surrender to you.
16 "See, it is I who created the blacksmith
who fans the coals into flame
and forges a weapon fit for its work.
And it is I who have created the destroyer to work havoc;
17 no weapon forged against you will prevail,
and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
and this is their vindication from me,"
declares the LORD.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Goliath
What do we do when we’re fighting Goliath?
Do we back down and go hide in a corner or do we throw the stone?
What do we do when someone we love is being caught in the hell of cocaine?
Are we allowed to be judgmental and just abandon that person in the dark?
Are we allowed to let drug dealers get away with their wickedness and destroy the lives of those we’ve seen grow before our eyes?
I believe not.
Jesus said not to be afraid of those that can kill the flesh, but of those that can destroy our soul.
Furthermore, He was a compassionate man. He helped those that came to him in need.
Something in his heart moved him to do it: it’s called unconditional love!
...
Is there someone that has recently come to you asking for help?
...
Is there someone in your life that lives in the world of drugs?
...
Would you be a light to this person and extend your helping hand?
Should you be a coward and let them rot and be destroyed by the enemy?
No, please do something for them. Be the Good Samaritan.
“What if?” you may ask, “that’s what they have chosen for themselves…?”
“What if?” I ask you, their so called 'choice' was really a deep need for love, YOUR love? Christ’s love?”
My dear friends, there’s a point in life when we simply cannot allow ourselves to do nothing…
A point where we’re called to fight for a cause greater than ourselves.
There’s a reason why God gave us Isaiah 54.
May HIS Love and HIS grace be with you today!
In Him,
Janet.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Wisdom
"Man may make plans in his heart, but what the tongue utters is from the LORD.All the ways of a man may be pure in his own eyes, but it is the LORD who proves the spirit.Entrust your works to the LORD, and your plans will succeed."
Proverbs 16:1-3
Dearest friends,
Yesterday, as I read God's Word on Proverbs, I was puzzled by "Entrust your works to the Lord". Yes, I know we've all heard it before, but as I read it for the hundredth time, somehow it had a new meaning. Have you ever looked at an old thing with new eyes? Doesn't it look strange and fascinating? Crawling in life WITH God is pretty much a re-discovery of everything around us. People's faces change, colors change, one develops an extra sensible appreciation for things that used to go unnoticed. I'm in love with God, and with God's people; with His creation and with the changes He's making in all of us...
Today the Holy Spirit will bring you to something beautiful you used to overlook before...enjoy it!!! Smile!!! Give thanks!!!
May your day be filled with His Blessings!
Love,
Janet.
Proverbs 16:1-3
Dearest friends,
Yesterday, as I read God's Word on Proverbs, I was puzzled by "Entrust your works to the Lord". Yes, I know we've all heard it before, but as I read it for the hundredth time, somehow it had a new meaning. Have you ever looked at an old thing with new eyes? Doesn't it look strange and fascinating? Crawling in life WITH God is pretty much a re-discovery of everything around us. People's faces change, colors change, one develops an extra sensible appreciation for things that used to go unnoticed. I'm in love with God, and with God's people; with His creation and with the changes He's making in all of us...
Today the Holy Spirit will bring you to something beautiful you used to overlook before...enjoy it!!! Smile!!! Give thanks!!!
May your day be filled with His Blessings!
Love,
Janet.
Friday, October 13, 2006
Gentleness
God is so gentle..."what can be done to heal each other?", said Kem in his Album II.
Just as I wrote you five minutes ago, I'm hurting. There's a Christian sister that works with me, and she said "Janet, you've got to listen to song 9 in this new CD I bought. She has no idea what's been going on with me this morning...but our God does.
My dear friend: It's a healing song.
Oh Father, I thank you so much for this Love you pour on us.
Thank you for giving us always that breath of life
When all life seems to be...is pain
Thank you for being present
Every second every hour
For being merciful
And understanding our hearts
Only you, Jesus, know the pain that is inside
Only you, Jesus, know how to grab that pain and turn it
Into love.
Just as I wrote you five minutes ago, I'm hurting. There's a Christian sister that works with me, and she said "Janet, you've got to listen to song 9 in this new CD I bought. She has no idea what's been going on with me this morning...but our God does.
My dear friend: It's a healing song.
Oh Father, I thank you so much for this Love you pour on us.
Thank you for giving us always that breath of life
When all life seems to be...is pain
Thank you for being present
Every second every hour
For being merciful
And understanding our hearts
Only you, Jesus, know the pain that is inside
Only you, Jesus, know how to grab that pain and turn it
Into love.
When we hurt
Galatians 5:13-23
"13For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
14For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."
15But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
16But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
17For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
19Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
20idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
21envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was badly hurt this week. I had to tell someone some things about my life and she used it against me all the way. She wrote some unfaithful words about my life that simply crushed my feelings. I cried painfully to God, and told him how tired I was of being so naive when dealing with people. God told me to just cry out all my tears, and then He gently suggested I stop. There's a point in our hurt where we need to let go, or else we fall into our sinful nature's trap. If we don't let go our hurt we end up in bitterness, frustration and hate... I had responded to the lady with my thoughts about what she did; I said she needed to be merciful when writing about a human being. This morning when I checked my e-mails I realized my response never went through. Somehow God stopped it so that I woulnd't repay evil with evil. My dear friend, is so hard for us to let go of our pain, but if we're to walk in God's Love, we have to. As I spend today's hours begging him for healing, I pray for her soul, and for all the hearts that, like mine, have been crushed this week by someone's actions.
May God bless you and bring healing to your heart.
Walking in His light...with Love,
Janet.
"13For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
14For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."
15But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
16But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
17For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
19Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
20idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
21envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was badly hurt this week. I had to tell someone some things about my life and she used it against me all the way. She wrote some unfaithful words about my life that simply crushed my feelings. I cried painfully to God, and told him how tired I was of being so naive when dealing with people. God told me to just cry out all my tears, and then He gently suggested I stop. There's a point in our hurt where we need to let go, or else we fall into our sinful nature's trap. If we don't let go our hurt we end up in bitterness, frustration and hate... I had responded to the lady with my thoughts about what she did; I said she needed to be merciful when writing about a human being. This morning when I checked my e-mails I realized my response never went through. Somehow God stopped it so that I woulnd't repay evil with evil. My dear friend, is so hard for us to let go of our pain, but if we're to walk in God's Love, we have to. As I spend today's hours begging him for healing, I pray for her soul, and for all the hearts that, like mine, have been crushed this week by someone's actions.
May God bless you and bring healing to your heart.
Walking in His light...with Love,
Janet.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
God's Word on Fear
"Don't be afraid. Just Believe."
Mark 5:36
These words Jesus spoke are so present in my everyday life. I breathe them, digest them, make them a part of every cell of my body...and so should you. Amazingly enough, I need to read and repeat them everyday. We live in a world that seems to be centered in fear. We are taught, from a very early age, to be afraid of animals, people, sometimes even of those that are supposed to be our protection. All we need to do is turn on the news, or just pass by a television set by accident, and someone will make sure that danger is around and threatening us.
That's why I find Jesus's message so liberating and wonderful. He tells us to take the leap unto the unknown by trusting Him. He tells us not to be afraid while everyone else is telling us to hide and go with the flow. He tell us to trust Him, while everyone else is telling us to trust the unworthy, or to trust nothing. My goal is to remind Christians that our Lord told us to be bold, and corageous. So let's go out there, and make disciples. Let's go to our Bible and find what tools God has given us to conquer fear so that it doens't paralize our ministry, even our own lives. In order to live up to what God made us, we have this one obstacle to overcome. In Christ, we can do it!
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
2 Timothy 1:7
Mark 5:36
These words Jesus spoke are so present in my everyday life. I breathe them, digest them, make them a part of every cell of my body...and so should you. Amazingly enough, I need to read and repeat them everyday. We live in a world that seems to be centered in fear. We are taught, from a very early age, to be afraid of animals, people, sometimes even of those that are supposed to be our protection. All we need to do is turn on the news, or just pass by a television set by accident, and someone will make sure that danger is around and threatening us.
That's why I find Jesus's message so liberating and wonderful. He tells us to take the leap unto the unknown by trusting Him. He tells us not to be afraid while everyone else is telling us to hide and go with the flow. He tell us to trust Him, while everyone else is telling us to trust the unworthy, or to trust nothing. My goal is to remind Christians that our Lord told us to be bold, and corageous. So let's go out there, and make disciples. Let's go to our Bible and find what tools God has given us to conquer fear so that it doens't paralize our ministry, even our own lives. In order to live up to what God made us, we have this one obstacle to overcome. In Christ, we can do it!
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
2 Timothy 1:7
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