Eager for a purpose? Share what God has done for you so far and trust Him to equip you for the next step. Without knowing how to pray or ask, just show up wanting to be useful. Just be there silent.  Allow your spirit to listen and read a broken, struggling spirit. Allow the Spirit of God in you to minister to them by His grace and power.  Just ask, “Tell me all about what keeps you awake? “Matthew 15:30 “Great crowds came to Him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at His feet; and He healed them.” Invite the Holy Spirit to enable you to hear how to pray for the lame, broken, and sick in spirit. Immanuel, God with us, is in the midst listening. His Spirit ministers through us. He comforts, He heals, and gives relief with hope for a future with Him.

Not only during Christmas, but all year long, our God wants to speak to us. A long time ago, Abraham heard His voice and faithfully followed God’s instructions. He did not have a written word from God. Abe did not have the next 5 steps or a vision of the future. BUT God steers a willing, moving vessel easier without our interference. Submit your reasoning mind that gets frozen in how God will provide.  Without faith in God, we will be counter productive to His plan.  Our faithful Father waits to surprise us with what He can do with our simple willingness to trust Him.

We serve God’s through our submission to the Spirit of God.  “Only believe!” — our Lord has assigned to each of us a purpose. One plants a seed of faith, another waters it, but God makes all things grow in Him. “So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.” 1 Corin 3:5 Our part is to listen, and trust the word He gives us.

The attractive, pure content inside our vessel is what God uses to attract others. CS Lewis “Your soul has a curious shape because it is a hollow made to fit a particular swelling in the infinite contours of the divine substance of the Holy Spirit. He is the only key that unlocks one of the many doors in the paradise of many mansions.” For it is not mere humanity in the abstract that is to be saved, but the individual spirit that is trapped inside. Release the spirit in you and allow it to connect with the Divine Spirit.   How blessed and fortunate is the creature who craves connection. Behold He that is within is greater than all that one can see or imagine.  All that mankind is, apart from sin, is destined to God’s purpose. Submit and allow God to have His good way. Our place in heaven will be made to precisely fit who God created us each to be.

In this broken 💔 world there is much sickness, deception, sadness, and awful suffering — BUT GOD — “The deeper the pain, the less words are needed.” The presence of spirit-aware friends is all that is needed. When Rick Warren’s son Matthew chose to end his life on earth, a small group of friends showed up, and their quiet presence of God ministered to Pastor Rick.

Millions of  miracles have been recorded, but for many, the miracle is delayed for His purpose. The way we choose to hang on to our own comfortable ways, prevents Him from doing a new thing in us, for His glory. Our purpose often emerges out of our need to be useful. Glory to God!

“The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.” Luke 2:10-14 Jesus came to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve Him without fear in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days. Go on and share your testimony. The Spirit of the Lord will give you courage and the words to speak. Therefore, SHINE on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death.   Humanity lives in the wilderness until Jesus appears to them through the light we shine. We grow strong “in Him” as He reveals more truth to us.

Isaiah 52:7 “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

The creative thinker who believes in the unseen realm of the ongoing spiritual war, is not a daydreamer, nor a highly educated intellectual spewing out lofty ideas. Such a thinker writes out of a burden to share truth. The tragic woes of this godless society beg our thoughts to manifest into agreement with God. Inspired thinkers are not lazy folk; we are people with great wisdom about eternity.  A soul sanctified by God gazes into the vision of His glory with a desire to communicate truth in a relevant and urgent way.

“Come to Me all who are burdened with worry.”  Oh God, may a breath of levity enter mindkind as the power of the Holy Spirit creates a hunger for God. With thoughts that rise above the narrative, we are stilled by the still, small voice. We examine the eternal seriousness of our thinking towards the Creator of all. Humanity is now traveling at the speed of light towards their final destination.  Our belief or unbelief in Jesus Christ matters greatly. The Bible is the living, active Word of God. He gives us freedom to choose His Way. It is the narrow path that leads us into His holy Presence forever.  Our choices do determine where we spend eternity. With zero escape routes, we must choose. Be certain about your planned retirement. Your permanent destination after earth. Release His Spirit to work in you and through you. There is no greater gift to give or receive from God Almighty.

“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.” Ephesians 5:1 When we finish our days on earth and we humbly stand before our Lord face to face — will we be able to ask, “Lord did I get it right? Did I shine Your light? Did I resemble Your love? Did I represent Your faithful character during difficult times?” Our Lord has given us all of Himself in the Holy Spirit. Our Father held nothing back! We are more than actors on a worldwide stage. As God’s chosen Ambassadors we are to behave with engaging joy, kindness, gentleness, wisdom and self-control. The Holy Spirit transforms us as we allow. For all believers the “Reward” for all eternity will be our Lord Jesus saying, “Well done My good and faithful servant.”

When sorrow grips your soul, pray like Jesus.  “In bitterness of soul, pray unto the Lord.” 1 Samuel 1:10  Choose to pray, not grumble. When we pray, our words reach God’s ears. Only He can comfort, ease pain, heal broken hearts, and reconcile us to His purpose and plan. The prophet Daniel prayed, and history was changed. The apostle Paul prayed, and cities were opened to the gospel. Hanna prayed, and God lifted her burden, and she conceived a child. She dedicated that child to God.  If you are in anguish, cry out to the One who can change your situation.  His Way of teaching often requires a broken humbled heart. God is still on the throne and prayer changes us from being self focused, to God centered. BE encouraged by the faith and wisdom of Job

Welcome December! To all my brothers and sisters, whom I love, may your JOY burst and spread!  Dear friends, stand firm on the Rock and rejoice in the Lord always! Smile and frolic in this marvelous season and let your gentleness be evident to all. The Prince of Peace is near. With the mind of Christ, allow the Spirit in you to transcend all of what the world promotes. The Holy Spirit will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Celebrate this season by thinking whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from Jesus —put it into practice and expect the God of peace to remain in you, as He ministers to others through you. AMEN ❤️ Philippians 4

“This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and, therefore, speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.” 1 John 4

Purposeful Retreat

A Mexican Christmas

Trees of Tradition