Thursday, December 31, 2009

FOR THOSE THAT ASK TO RECEIVE...PT 2





“Thus says the Lord, Who makes a way through the sea and a path through the mighty waters, Do not remember the former things; neither consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:16, 18-19)


I Share with you All that the Lord has told me--has poured into me!!  Amen!

My friends, I encourage you to do as I am doing with the Lord....He has been speaking to me nonstop...well, lol--He does that anyway...but the lift in His voice- the strength of His love poured into me these past few days has been enormous!! Overflowing out of me!!  I am so happy and full of Joy and Peace!
I couldn't Wait to deliver this message to you all!  Glory, Glory!!  Yes Lord!!

I was ushering in the New Year a few months ago...In a Spiritual Way as the Lord does things.
So here we are at the actual natural time, day and place...of a New Year about to start...New Beginnings!

This is the time, the season to leave your past with the Lord, to leave with Him your mistakes, your hurts, your sins, your pain, your disappointments, lost opportunities, unforgiveness, all of that past stuff from this year...He is calling for us to leave it ALL with Him  AND to move forward with Him and lets get to work!   Lets continue to ALLOW His Spirit to Work in us and for us!  Amen!

  Then He tells me to BRING to Him my (our) youth, our powers, our love and as He is our Spirit Guide for getting through this upcoming year, He with us,  He will continue to prepare us to Work With Him to complete everything that has been spoken for us to do with Him!
Glory to the Lord I love Him SO MUCH!

He forgives all that ask for it--at that point He is able to begin to heal those areas of your life!  AS you forgive others,  He forgives you!
Amen!

He will share with us all burdens, all joys, all that lies ahead for us He Will Share in with us--He Will be with us!

I tell you I am VERY excited about the beginning of our natural new year....I am Very expectant of His All for this new approaching year!!  As I have never been before!! 

I have grown, and been matured and been used in order to be used some more! lol
I am probably going to get on unbelievers and fake christians, and young christians  nerves for the next few days! WHEEWWW!!  And that's Alright by me...the Truth will free you!! 

He will bring to us His agelessness, His powers, His love mixed with ours...With Him sharing the burdens of His work with us..us sharing the burdens with Him...we are unstoppable , we are efficient, we are effective in doing Everything that the Lord has asked us to do for Him!  AMEN!

The Lord told me that I (we) need to Open our eyes, so that we can See and Discern the times and seasons that He has moved us into!  He says that we are  within a time of renovation, and restoration!
That this is the time of Spiritual Cleaning, repairing and rebuilding!

The Lord told me not to dream, or ask or desire anything small...not to be afraid to desire, to dream, to ask for Large, GREAT things from Him--As He has put into us Large, Big Desires..He is larger and greater than we could ever imagine! Why would He give us small dreams, small desires, Now He may start us off small ,,, begin in small ways with us..but ohhhh how what He does will Grow Large, and whatever the Lord starts Always Grows!  It does not become stagnant or shrink!

....think about that for a moment....

Oh how I love the friends my sisters and brothers that the Lord has placed in my life! Most of you I only contact via email or phone...a few i see in person--some i have never met in person...no matter to me--you are the ones that He sent to me...
And  I love you all!  Even when some of you run from me., avoid me, don't say thank you for delivering the messages to you from Him.. I still love you and will not leave you unless the Lord directs me to do so! Amen!

I am staying with the Lord...He is rebuilding my life and wants to do the same with you and your life...but you must leave the past in the past -- and step forward into this New Beginnings, And Yes you will need some courage, some faith, some trust and lots of obedience!

What we will see in the natural realm is a sign of what He is transpiring in the Spirit realm.  He is renewing and restoring us to a New Life and Vigor!! 
He wants us to take heart And Yield to His Spiritual Stimulation that Will without doubt, Invigorate us at the deepest levels of our Being!

Remember, His true believers, those that are Beloved to Him, Watch for Him every day and night...not just one night out of the entire year!!  Don't get caught up with empty rituals, and religious traditions that will Not move you any closer to the Lord if your motives are not correct ...but in fact may keep you from growing in His love!  Check your MOTIVES.....

I encourage you to OPEN your and your ears, and your heart to SEE that we are in His time and season of His Work of restoring, rebuilding, spiritual cleaning and Holy Uplifting Us by His love. 
Expect Him at All Times and He Will not Disappoint you!  He has Never Disappointed me...not one time and I don't Expect Him to Ever disappoint me! 

Hallelujah!!  Glory to the Lord, The KING of KINGS!  Jesus Loves us so much!  I pray that You will be able to leave your past all of it--in the past and come on and step forward with Him.,...let us continue to share in His work with Him!  There is Much to do!!

Happy New Year to you all-I appreciate you all and value your life!
Sending much Love to you from my heart and home to you and yours!
In the name of Jesus, AMEN, AMEN, AMEN!

*NOTE*  I know this message is full of anointing and power and sounds GOOD!!  But He does expect you do to more than just read this and say amen...He is Expecting YOU to come to Him in prayer, In praise and in Worship and Do what He has directed us to DO!--Obedience is a Form of True Worship to the Lord!**



You look at life differently when you walk through things that
within your own power cannot be changed--
you Know that Only God can do the Impossible!

“I have set the Lord continually before me;
because He Is At my right hand, I Shall Not be moved.”

Psalm 16:8

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PRECIOUS IS YOUR NAME CHAKA KHAN RICHARD SMALLWOOD



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REPRISE


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THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD-Cissy Houston-Hezekiah Walker











On feet of Faith & Peace
Joshua 1:9/ Isaiah 52
Resting In His Faithfulness,
One Day At A Time By Faith.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

FOR THOSE THAT ASK TO RECEIVE...PT 1




Good day my friends, my sisters and brothers....


**I pray and hope that each of you that reads this will be open, will stay teachable and willing to His Love, His directions, His guidance, surrendered fully to continue to be changed by His love from who the world has made us to be - into who He Created us to be!  He does and can speak to each heart accordingly…In the name of Jesus, I pray and hope this will be true for you-that you have asked to receive from our Lord, and Now you continuously Expect Him!  Amen.**


The Lord has a strategy for each of us that will ask Him for it, And then Wait for Him to reveal it completely in His timing.  He has prophecy, declaration of His Will, He has a sword of Truth to cut from you what needs to go and for you to use to provide freedom to those in bondage….

He has knowledge, wisdom, understanding, all for those that ask for it… He will give….He has promises, the results of being blessed, miracles, healing, for all who do but ask for them all…He Has promised to tell/to warn His people of things to come…If you have ears to hear and eyes that can see, then you will not turn away the message, the warning, that He sends….


We have to Wait until He leads us to do, to say, to help-be of service--How He says and When He says….we cannot do His Work our way, by our thoughts, by our sight, by our power…that is just religious busyness…walking in place, helping no one including ourselves!

People are always telling others, “I’m blessed!”…but they do not live like they are.  If you know you have been blessed by the Lord, then live in the results of being blessed; you will not have to tell anyone that you are—it will be seen by the way you live, the way you act, they way you talk.

The Lord wants you to Rise Up into this new level of Faith that He has moved you INTO.  Rise Up and Know that He Is with you, with us that asked, that lean on Him, that rely on Him, that are willing and teachable…... 

He is leading and guiding us into the Fullness of our destiny spoken by His heart for each of us…and He Will be With us throughout this Journey until the very end of the age.

He will always provide to us Spiritually First, then in the natural.  It is His Process of divine order. Being impatient will not hurry Him, but will hinder you and your progress.  Stop seeking material stuff for instant gratification! 

Think about this….If people spent as much time in God’s presence as they do shopping, thinking of what they don’t have, thinking about how to get more stuff, etc…they would not be so shallow and empty as they are. Trying to fill up the spaces and places in their lives that ONLY the Lord can sit in.

I hear people talking about catching the sales, wondering how they can spend their gift cards…the thought came to me…I wondered if any of these people used those sales to buy some things for the women’s and childrens shelter….I wondered if any of the people that received gifts cards (that they maybe really didn’t need) just walked up to someone who is poor and maybe homeless and just gave them away…I wonder…..


 Do Not turn and hide and run away, fearful of the world and its evil…do not allow the power of evil to direct your thoughts, your speech, and your heart speaking its lies to you.

Our destiny has been written and sealed by Him, And it Shall come to pass if only you will Believe.  Abide in Him, Walk with Him Stay with Him knowing that as each storm of life arises He is with us Greatly to help us through them.  We come out stronger than we went in.

Out of Heaven out of the Kingdom shall flow all that we need, all that we require for each day. But you must ask to receive as He sends.
Amen.


Isaiah 45:11-12
John 16:13
Romans 8:38


 Many of you keep recoiling at the first smell, sight and hearing of any approaching adversity, and this is because of all that each of you has already been through.


But, let me tell you this truth from the Lord, He is calling us forth to a new level of Boldness, of Faith, of Trusting Him so that we can press through with His Power that  He has already Provided. He Is calling us to Rise Up to this new level that He has put us on. 


Through our Faith we Know the assurance that He Is Always With us and will always give us the strength we need to overcome, pushing through, learning what we don’t know and receiving the correction that we need.  The deepness of the Peace we have because we put our Faith to His Power, adds to our character and our purpose.


John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”


 
As you begin to reflect on this past year of your life, examine how far He has brought you since last year.  Do not give importance to what you have done on your own, whether they be mistakes or something you feel is good; but See what the Lord has done for you, through you and for His people, for Himself, His Kingdom.  


Please do not measure yourself by the worlds standard of being human and of living…you will always be disappointed and ineffective this way.  See and know the truth that He has done for you and in you, the changes that He knew needed to be done, and continue to Allow His Spirit to correct everything else that needs to be as He knows it. 

Confess to Him that you have made up yoru mind to stay this course, or the winds of trouble, will blow you over and under the waters that we walk on!

Look for every way, place and space in which you have blocked your own growth in His love.  Reflect upon the times where you have disobeyed His directions and ignored His guidance when given to you….Guided by His Holy Spirit, Start here and move forward for the upcoming year.

Are you gathering stuff in place of growing in Him? Are you fence sitting concerning certain parts and areas of your Spiritual and natural life?  Examine your ways to see if you are still living and moving and thinking by His Spirit.

The Lord has Already Poured over us His Extra Measure of Grace that we need.  He knows this – Now, so do we.


He has Already exerted His Holy influence over our lives in order to Spiritually and naturally strengthen us to build up our Faith in Him.

We have been given the Spirit of and the power to discern all things.  We have to discern what He has already done for us and through us, to enjoy the fragrance that His presence releases when He is around.  Such sweetness does His Love provide to those that He cherishes…..

2 John 1:3


-end of part 1-



 On feet of Faith & Peace
Joshua 1:9/ Isaiah 52
Resting In His Faithfulness,
One Day At A Time By Faith.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

TAKE A MOMENT TO SEARCH YOUR MOTIVES....




Greetings to you on this wonderfully made day given to us as a Gift from the Lord!

Please, Slow Down, and be careful of tricks, and traps set/sent by the enemy to try to get you off-balance by pulling you in too many directions.

He loves to use this Season to trick the Lord's people into forgetting the Truth and the Reason for the celebration...

He tries to get us to get caught up in the buying and selling, to get us to use our energy to acquire stuff and to give stuff for the wrong reasons. Forgetting who we live for and Serve. If he gets us all caught up in focusing on stuff then he keeps our minds off of what people really are in need of.....

He attacks us either physically by having too much to do and/or mentally and emotionally. Bringing up past hurts, and memories of missed people...sow those tears and that sadness unto the Lord in Prayer, Praise and Worship KNOWING that He will take them and return His Beauty for your ashes!

Amen!

And yes, the enemy will use other people that serve him to attack us ....the person who takes your parking space, the person who jumps in front of you in line, the clerk who woke up with a case of the nasty A.T, the people who think you are here only to please them, the car that cut you off almost hitting you; and all the other bad behavior that is revealed during this Season and really every day of the year...

How you re-act to these people speaks more about the Lord who Lives in you --who you Serve then it does the nasty acts.

Let it all go by the wayside...Let it go..smile and see these times as the opportunities that the Lord has given for you to pray and forgive these people. You will grow and mature from these situations.... if you really want to.

He will trick you and make you think that you have not done enough...that your children and family and friends will be upset and disappointed because they did not get the stuff they wanted...

Well, if that is the truth and the case...then maybe we all need to take a look at how we are raising our children, take a look at who we have allowed to be our friends, and to see if we are living for the approval of our family members, our friends and our children instead of God's approval....
Because the enemy of the Lord will trick you into thinking that you Should seek the approval of people instead of God!

How many of us will ignore the Lord leading us to GIVE Freely and with Joy to the people He Says we are to give to, but will do all for those that He has not directed us to help or give anything too?

The enemy's plan is to make us feel scattered, confused, guilty, and not appreciated, not loved unless we give stuff.  And usually to the wrong people..

I encourage you to Rise up against these attacks and refuse to allow his evil to have any of it's power over you. Each of us controls evil's power Over us...whether it will work or not is up to us...

It's not the power of evil that controls us...it's us if we allow it to control us!

The Power of His Holy Spirit that Loves and Lives within each of us is ALL POWERFUL...all we have to do is Yield to Him and allow Him to do what He was created to do for us...And when we do that brings Honor and Glory to our Mother/Father God, in the name of Jesus!

Yes You can do this...here's how= by deliberately spending quality time in quiet contemplation of His Will, Purpose and Word to regain Spiritual serenity, clarity and balance, to seek His face, His presence, His All for your life...

Willingly and Rejoicingly Desiring Spiritual And Emotional Maturity;

I speak this for you in the name of Jesus, And His Holy Spirit Will provide All that you are in need of!

I know this to be the Truth from the LORD! Amen!

The Lord is The Source of our Peace, our Strength, our Abilities, our Compassion, our Growth, our ALL!

In the Name of Jesus, With Love, Faith, Truth, Trust, and Peace do I send this out to you... I truly Love all of you--You are my Spiritual Family!

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27


"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
Luke 2:14 (NIV)

 

On feet of Faith & Peace
Joshua 1:9/ Isaiah 52
Resting In His Faithfulness,
One Day At A Time By Faith.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

HELP FOR MY FAMILY.....


 Galatians 4:3-8 

3So we [Jewish Christians] also, when we were minors, were kept like slaves under [the rules of the Hebrew ritual and subject to] the elementary teachings of a system of external observations and regulations.
    4But when the proper time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born subject to [the regulations of] the Law,
    5To purchase the freedom of (to ransom, to redeem, to [a]atone for) those who were subject to the Law, that we might be adopted and have sonship conferred upon us [and be recognized as God's sons].
    6And because you [really] are [His] sons, God has sent the [[b]Holy] Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba (Father)! Father!
    7Therefore, you are no longer a slave (bond servant) but a son; and if a son, then [it follows that you are] an heir [c]by the aid of God, through Christ.

My friends, my sisters and brothers, my Family....In the Name of Jesus I pray to the Father to provide All the Spiritual and the natural Help that we all need for each day.  I pray that we willingly receive what He says we need based on His Will and Purpose for our lives, not by what we think or desire according to our own will and weaknesses.  I Praise and Thank the Father in the name of Jesus for Hearing me and Answering my prayers to Him, Amen.
I am used by Him to help those that Serve Him, those that He has called to be His Helpers and Workers.  And what a beautifully, varied group of people that He has chosen to Serve Him.....

I also pray that all of you will continue to Seek His Way and timing, will continue to Wait for Him, and Will continue to answer His Calling in complete and total obedience...that you Will continue to allow Him to Change you into the person with the heart and character that is worthy to belong to Him and to be used by Him. This is one of the many ways that we show Him how much we Love Him. I Pray That you Will Actively Love  Him, and Serve Him in and through the Holy Spirit--This is the Only Way to present to Him an Acceptable Sacrifice.

That we all continue to Allow the Processes that His Love has started to change us and teach us how to be Spiritually Lead, instead of emotionally and naturally lead.

I ask of Him to HELP my Family as He has put all of you on my heart, just as I seek His Help and Will for my natural family. And for them I am always seeking His All to be poured out for us as every Day and every month we are in need...And I know that our Need calls out to Him before I even open my mouth, Amen.

He supplies everything that we need--it is up to us to take hold of what He supplies and use them as He directs.  Accepting how He does what He does and the timing of His help.
We must have the Gifts of The Spirit Living and Growing, Maturing in us before we can atempt to live out the Beatitude in His Name.

Gal 5
Matthew 5

Saying that you trust Him and have Faith in Him that you Believe Him--but don't actually turn these good sounding words into Action is empty and shallow.  You will only be following your own will and flesh, not the Lord's Will for your life.

Complete Help for my Family do I pray the Lord for.

Stay in your right mind adn a mind focused and thinking aout Him and His Glory...

We Must completely obey His Will without hesitation if we are to realize the Blessings...Yes the Path is Straight and Narrow that leads to His Kingdom...Yes it is difficult at times , yes, you may be tempted at times to pull away from The Straight and Narrow path...Yes, you will get tired, and lonely, and frustrated, and irritated and so many other human emotional feelings....

And Yes, by calling on Him, maintaining your living connection with Him, talking to Him, singing to Him, asking Him which way to go and what to say and then WAITING on His answers..All things we are called to do Can and Will Be Done through His strength and Love...not ours.....Listen for His guidance then you will know when you are in need of physical and Spiritual REST in Him.


We live by His Promises knowing they are true and that He Will do as He has said He will.
We Must Trust Him Wholly With Everything! Doubt will cause delays...Are you trusting Him with All or not?
It gets easier As You Do It....

If any of us turns aside and follows our own will, surely we will end up on paths of detours where His Fruits of The Spirit Do Not Grow, and in places where His Blessings Are Not Poured Out for us or in us. As with myself,  I'm sure that many of you have experienced times like these in your life...when you knew the Lord had not told you to do something and you did it anyway.....And I Hope that you called out to Him to Come and Get you out of the mess that you put yourself into...and so He Will.

We must remember in rocky times that we have spoken to the Lord A "YES Lord", Use me as you have planned---with that willingly given 'YES", comes so much that we had no clue about....some troubles, some trials and tests, some pruning and purging--Some work in places with people that on our own we would never have stepped toward....

These places and people are His Lost Sheep--Not Ours!  This is why we must follow and obey Him when He directs us toward specific places and people---And to do without Hesitation what He says to do.
We cannot pick and choose who and when we will help...if we do that, then we are not moving in His Spirit but by our flesh.

We long to be used as a Blessing by Him to help His people in  this world that has so many sorrows....He has placed this in our hearts....Just as He has placed all of you on my heart to pray for and to help praise your way through!

Do you know understand that He has answered your prayers?  This is why once you answered 'YES LORD", you must stay in close contact with Him, every day!

People will buy a cell phone for every person in their family so that they can stay connected and in touch with each other through out every day....they will pay those cell phone bills in a snap!  Even pray to the Lord for help to pay them...but they will not daily stay in contact, in touch with the Lord,  nor teach their children how to have a relationship with Jesus, nor how to pray and listen to Him every day....

Something to think about....isn't it?

Through the witnessing of 'us' growing through each challenge, rising to meet each and every Work that He sends us on, because we speak Faith to Power out loud, and suffer for Him, we show so many others how we have Courage that could ONLY come by Way of Divine Help.

This Divine Help is our Daily Perpetual Guidance From our Lord, through His Holy Spirit.

I have an Abundant amount of Joy from knowing that every detail of my life is planned by my Loving and Good Mother....these plans that She built on a Wealth of tenderness and love just for me and my natural family, And for my Spiritual Family...You!

We are A Living Letter of Jesus Christ....What is someone going to learn if they began to Read your life?  

Jesus said that all would know His followers, His sheep by their Fruit...have you checked to see what is growing out of your heart lately?  Is it Fruit that would honor the Lord or the flesh?


"3What we have seen and [ourselves] heard, we are also telling you, so that you too may [a]realize and enjoy fellowship as partners and partakers with us. And [this] fellowship that we have [which is a [b]distinguishing mark of Christians] is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah)."
1 John 1:3

1 John 2

1 John 4:17-21




On feet of Faith Peace
Joshua 1:9/ Isaiah 52
Resting In His Faithfulness,
One Day At A Time By Faith.

Friday, December 11, 2009

NOTES OF ENCOURAGEMENT & TRUTH TO MYSELF....


And Hopefully You will also be encouraged and strengthened......In the name Of Jesus, Amen.
 

Prayers ending on a High Note of Praise, Joy, and Expectation in the Lord...

The visions the Lord has so lovingly placed in my heart, fills every area of my natural and Spiritual being.....
It is my container to move from here to there....His love is my impetus....

He corrects me-preparing me for leadership-which is critical to the definition of what I see through His Eyes.  To put the vision into motion and bring it to completion, I must continue to be willing and teachable, humbled...to be prepared by Him....and so I am...

It is not a valid point at all that others do not see what I see--the important point of my visions, is that they are within me and that God is already there at the beginning, in the middle and at the completion of them.


He Is already in Place to carry me through the processes of their completion.


He has manifested His Love, His Kingdom, His Glory within me-- this and more will provide the leadership necessary for each step that I take with Him. I without doubt know this...though my human condition is always in need of His comfort, assurances and presence, He knows this and He gives Freely as I seek....Amen.


Joshua 1:3-9




It has been an uphill climb that You my Father have led me on,  I trust, I know that things will begin to level out very soon...That is Your Way.

I trust that the leveling out will also be a process and I will not become discouraged if I do not see some results immediately...


What You have poured into me, I have grown into a place and space of unquestioning Faith in You--a Place in You where I am calmly within Spiritual Faith And, I patiently await Your next move...


You have taught me to have Quiet Trust which is very important at this juncture....The Trust of a child who brings to her mother a tangled, knotted string to fix, but does not stand there anxiously waiting, wondering if her mother
'can fix it'....but drops the string in her lap knowing without any doubt that the tangled knotted string will be repaired; the child turns to continue her work of playing....

You, my Lord are fixing things concerning my life, my heart, my character that need to be fixed...Such an intimate task, a very personal Love do you have for me and my family that which You Will accomplish.....


 "But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God and made Him my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works."
Psalm 73:28




 You, my Lord see the hearts of Your intercessors and You hear the earnestness of our prayers...Through the Gift of Faith in us --I watch and discern....
My prayers and Praise do not come from human faith, but through a divine Faith that requires an Answer from You!
Yes my Father, elevate my focus so that I will continue to be able to see through Your Eyes and Will pray according to Your Will!

My dearest Mother, I know that You are guiding me into a realm of Greater Expectation as You move me deeper into Your Divine Purpose for my life.....I am grateful....

I Cor. 12:7-11

I express my Faith in You as Your instrument of Praise and Love...My Trust sings of Your Faithfulness from the moment Your Love awakens me in the morning til it comforts me to sleep at night

 I know to end all my Prayers on a Note of Joy Filled Praise...this Note of Praise, so You have taught me, is not only my Divine Faith rising up through my difficulties to greet You...It is more ....
It is born from my heart on the waves of Your Spirit, it echos that my HELP is on the Way....

Through my Trusting You with Quiet, unquestioning Faith and Love , I am able to sense the approach of You and I rejoice for truly and verily My deliverance draws near!

I will continue to take Each Day as a Joyous sunrise Gift from You...that my simple daily tasks are done in Your Strength and Love....bringing to me the consciousness of All my Highest Hopes......I Expect Great things through my struggles and sacrifices done in Your name in obedience to Your directions....

I EXPECT GREAT THINGS OF YOU MY LORD!
In the name of Jesus, I thank you as I know You Father, have heard me and have answered me, Amen.

"This is the day which the Lord has brought about; we will rejoice and be glad in it!"Psalm 118


 
On feet of Faith, Love & Peace
Joshua 1:9/ Isaiah 52
Resting In His Faithfulness,
One Day At A Time By Faith.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

REPOST*** Part 1-A LITTLE BACKGROUND INFO ON THE ANNUNCIATION- MARY- AND GABRIEL

.....People are very curious about images and information concerning this subject matter--So I decided to Re-Post this from 2008. I hope that you Enjoy the images, And carry with you the Joy, Power, and Love from the Season of Second Chances, of Love and of Giving, Every Day - Every Where you go Sharing it with Every one that you meet or cross paths with.
May God continue to Bless and Watch out for you, and may you continue to Seek His Face for there will you find everything else you are in need of. In the name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.
Below is the original post from 12, 2008
******************************

The times that I look through the information provided by statcounter and the rss feedburner, I notice that many people search for information and or pictures of the Archangel Gabriel and the Virgin Mary among other pictures of Biblical stories.
So I am inspired to put together a small amount of information and pictures of these subjects and themes to help those that search. He said, “Knock and the door will open, seek and you shall find.” Amen.


Being an Art teacher and an artist, this is a reminder of some of my class work from college and from putting together lesson plans for my classes that I taught for 18 years. I hope to make this plain and simple and not further complicate those that want to know but do not have an extensive background in Biblical Art or much training of the details of the Bible stories.

I will try to keep this to the key points to clear up any confusion some may have. I also have provided a few of the hundreds of paintings that fall into the theme
"The Annunciation" (of Mary and some of the shepherds) Also known as
"The Visitation".

I also have supplied the artists names and years when known.

My Hope is that this will be a blessing to those that read it.
“Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room!” Amen!

Most of the paintings dealing with Biblical themes in the art books that I would use to teach with, were strongly represented from the European point of view concerning art and religion. And the the rest of us just seemed to be thrown in the book somewhere. The choices of books that were available at times to order where pretty much all on the same level. So I would chose the best of the bunch that the state had approved of.


Well, that was alright with me! I have a small collection of art books and history books that include all the people that the books made for school use don't have. And I took them to school with me everyday every year.

I learned from my years as a teacher that many people do not know the details behind such artworks that depict Jesus, Mary, and the Archangel Gabriel to name a few of the characters from the Bible. I also realized that many people do not know 'how' to view such paintings either. Through the years many people just take for granted that artists rendered these images and these must be what the people actually looked like. This is far from the truth concerning Biblical images. What is wrong about these paintings is the actual “look of the people” and the clothing worn by them.

As you would need to do background work to have a deeper understanding of the Hebrew culture and the culture of each and every artist that has produced art work with these themes. The Bible stories do give us some insight by offering narrow physical descriptions of certain people. For example, in Isaiah 53:2 which describes Jesus’ appearance it states; “He had not beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him.”

This lets us know that Jesus was not a particularly handsome man as He is depicted in hundreds of paintings and drawings that have been created of Him. This also gives us insight into the vanity of the human heart when it comes to what society has deemed to be beautiful to the natural eye and thus acceptable as good. From this description we see that His Beauty comes from within and is outwardly shown through His goodness, compassion and intellect. His Beauty comes From the condition of His heart and that He would maybe be someone that blended in with the crowds if alone. An average looking person with a supernatural heart!


There are images that are used to symbolize certain thoughts and beliefs of certain times and cultures, that many artists used such as; the clothing, the environmental settings, the actual ‘look’ of the people in these themed paintings are based more so on the life and experiences of the artists and on the will of the wealthy patrons that would commission some of these paintings.


The main point here is that you have to know what the 'style' of art was at the time the painting was done. Was it the Italian Renaissance, Baroque, or the Modern art movement. All of this plays into why the depiction looks as it does. Many Old Master artists also stroked the patron’s ego along with their own by idealizing the images in their paintings. To make everything ‘appear’ to be perfect-when it actually cannot be. Art styles and techniques have gone through many changes and belief foundations.
That is why I love the painting by Tanner. It is simple and quiet. Mary’s innocence is very apparent and humbled. Being that Tanner used his wife for the model, it’s no wonder where the warmth and care comes from that the painting gives off.

There are even some wealthy patrons that paid the artists to use their images-their likenesses-their heads on the bodies of certain characters of their favorite Scriptures in these paintings. So to believe that certain people looked just like they are depicted in some of these paintings is to allow yourself to be fooled and accepting of an un-intended falsehood. To raise themselves up to the standard of these characters is full of vanity and pride on the parts of these patrons.

Unless you do background work on the artist, the time period and who paid the artist to do the painting, you would not know these pieces of informational truth.

Many artists were believers in Jesus Christ and poured over the Scriptures inspired to depict them as honor and glory to God. Many just did them to get paid in order to eat and pay bills and supply for their families. To know why each artist created the Biblically based paintings that they did you would have to read their bios and any writings they may have left behind.

First, let me tell you that there are very few paintings/drawings exist that actually show Jesus, Mary or any other biblical person in their true form. This means that there were no artists walking around drawing these people at the time they lived and walked this earth. If any were made, they are long since destroyed or in pieces by now.

To know the bone structure, body type, hair varieties that existed then is to know what most of the people from the times of the Bible may have looked liked.

So when you view Biblical based art work such as paintings, you are viewing what the artists felt, saw, wanted to convey through their limited and or vast knowledge of the stories and the people they put in the paintings to represent each Biblical figure, these depictions will ALWAYS resemble the people that lived at the time the artists lived.

For example, if the artist was Flemish, German or Italian, then the people in the painting will look Flemish, German or Italian, and so on. Not Hebrew as Mary and Jesus actually were.
We know there were Assyrians, Persians, Phoenicians, Philistines, Egyptians, Romans and Africans, to name a few of the varied cultures that dominate the Bible stories. Also, many cultures mixed together to produce a variety of people as far as body types, hair textures and facial features are concerned.

Many of these artists probably never saw a Hebrew person before to know them to be so. Many of them also may have had limited knowledge of the scriptures, though I know most all of them were educated, well read and skilled in their art form enough to receive payment. Bibles in that time were limited in production and limited to who could get and have one.

Mary was not rich; she was a peasant, a villager. Because of her place in their society, she was probably not widely educated- by their laws women were not generally taught how to read and write so any skills in this area that she possessed were taught to her by other women most likely in secret.

She would have never been dressed in such fine garments of supreme colors as she is depicted wearing in most all of the paintings that are displayed. If she actually had such clothing the people of her day would have assumed that she stole them and would have questioned her about them.

Certain colors and textures of material were only for the well off of the land. As colored garments were hand-dyed from the inks of shellfish, fruits, vegetables, and the bark of trees, flowers and an assortment of other natural colors.

Getting the colors out of these natural plants and from the ground was not an easy job—it is a process that only the rich could afford. Certain villages and towns were known for providing specific goods to sell and trade with.

The color purple came from a particular shellfish that lived in the waters where The Phoenicians dwelled and it was very expensive to own anything that had been dyed purple. Therefore the people of that time gave certain colors power and designated them to only be worn by royalty.

In other words the colors and textures of your clothing revealed your place in society then. Mary and her people probably wore colors that were a bit more drab-grays, red-browns, dark blue-greens, shades of tans, and maybe they owned a few white pieces.
Also, Mary was not in her twenties or thirties as her face appears to be in many paintings of her—she was about 13, 14 or 15 when Gabriel was sent to her by God.

That is the way they lived then and even now it is still a part of their culture-how they view and value the women in their society. It is not based on Western thoughts and ideas, But from the Jewish culture and laws of their way.

The environments that many artists placed Mary and Gabriel in were not true to form either. Any stone i.e. marble, granite, or fine brick structures are solely from the artists view on the story based on their knowledge from the time they lived. The people of Mary’s time on her level of society lived in thatched roofs and mud brick dwellings. They also lived in dwellings that were hewn from the rocky mountains and hillsides.

Please keep in mind also, that these artists lived many hundreds of years AFTER the Annunciation, the Birth and the life of Jesus, His death, resurrection and ascension to Heaven.

When artists paint her or any other character from Scripture—using these expensive, wonderfully made colored clothing and place her sitting in these massive marble, with the finest of wood furniture, these elegant environments holding a bible appearing to be a woman of means; it is not done to ridicule her but to honor her and to give her the status that she deserves as she is the one young woman that God chose to bless by carrying and birthing the Messiah. Also, these artists may have had a limited understanding and knowledge of actual Jewish/Hebrew laws and life structure.
Hers was a very simple, hands on - hard life to survive day by day.

Next, Let us look at Gabriel.
Gabriel the Archangel
"Fortitudo Dei", one of the three archangels mentioned in the Bible.

There are only four appearances of Gabriel recorded: In Daniel 8, where he explains the vision of the horned ram as portending the destruction of the Persian Empire by the Macedonian Alexander the Great, after whose death the kingdom will be divided up among his generals, from one of whom will spring Antiochus Epiphanes.

In chapter 9 after Daniel had prayed for Israel, we read that "the man Gabriel . . . . flying swiftly touched me" and he communicated to him the mysterious prophecy of the "seventy weeks" of years which should elapse before the coming of Christ In chapter 10, it is not clear whether the angel is Gabriel or not, I tend to think Daniel saw Christ- but many may apply to Gabriel the marvelous description in verses 5 and 6. In the New Testament he foretells to Zachary the birth of the Precursor and to Mary that of the Savior.

From here out he is considered the angel of the Incarnation and of Consolation.

So in many Christian traditions Gabriel is the angel of mercy.
With different cultures and religions we find differences in how each viewed and valued each Archangel of God.

While Michael is thought to be the angel of judgment, at the same time, Gabriel is, in accordance with his name, the angel of the Power of God, and notice the frequency with which such words as "great", "might", "power", and "strength" occur in the passages referred to above.

The Jews indeed seem to have valued this feature in Gabriel's character and he is regarded by them as the angel of judgment, while Michael is called the angel of mercy. Whereby they attribute to Gabriel the destruction of Sodom and of the host of Sennacherib, though they also regard him as the angel who buried Moses and as the man deputed to mark the figure Tau on the foreheads of the elect (Ezekiel 4).

Jewish literature of later times use the names of angels and were considered to have a peculiar efficacy, and the British Museum possesses some magic bowls inscribed with Hebrew, Aramaic, and Syriac incantations in which the names of Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel occur. These bowls were found at Hillah, the site of Babylon, and constitute an interesting relic of the Jewish captivity.

In apocryphal Christian literature the same names occur, in Enoch, and the Apocalypse of the Blessed Virgin.

As noted above, I found that Gabriel is mentioned only twice in the New Testament, but it is not unreasonable for us to suppose with Christian tradition that it is he who appeared to Joseph and to the shepherds, and also I believe along with many others, that it was he who "strengthened" Our Lord during His Agony at the Garden at Gethsemane (Luke 22:43).

There are times where Gabriel is generally called only an archangel, but the expression used by Raphael, "I am the angel Raphael, one of the seven, who stand before the Lord" (Tobit 12:15) and Gabriel's own words, "I am Gabriel, who stand before God" (Luke 1:19), have led some to think that these angels must belong to the highest rank; but this is generally explained as referring to their rank as the highest of God’s messengers, and not as placing them among the Seraphim and Cherubim which are different Holy beings.

Next let us look at the meanings of some of the symbols that artists used in their paintings that depict these themes.

Throughout the course of history and because of the limits placed on who could be educated and how far to educate them, many people could not read the bible even if they possessed one-(could afford to have one made). So they were taught the Scriptures orally or through pictures-artwork.

Also keep in mind that the men seated in the Rulers chair often oppressed the people by not allowing them to be widely educated and a Class system was strengthened. They also used religion and symbols to control and guide the people the way they wanted them to believe. Not necessarily how God wants us to view Him, ourselves and each other. Jesus came to re-affirm this for us.

The most important elements of these paintings are the Archangel Gabriel, the Virgin Mary, and The Dove. There are many other symbols associated with the scene, such as the Lilly—but these vary according to each artist and the year that the painting done.

The Dove
The Dove represents the Spirit of God as present in the being. Often referred to as the Holy Spirit-the Holy Ghost in Christianity. In the annunciation paintings the Dove usually is shown coming down from heaven on rays of light toward Mary.

Mary
Depending on when (the year) the painting was done, she may be shown with a Bible either in her hands or nearby on a wooden prayer stand. She is reading the Book of Isaiah chapter 7 verse 14 about the Virgin birth of the Messiah prophecy.

Gabriel
The Archangel is sent in his office of God’s messenger to deliver to Mary the offer to be the Mother of the Messiah for God. To let Mary know that God has chosen her and this is His Will for her life. Before visiting Mary he foretold the birth of John the Baptist.

the Lilly
Is a symbol of Mary’s purity-virginity. In many paintings that use the Lilly, it means the event took place in the springtime. Sometimes the artist has Gabriel holding the flower, which speaks of him declaring that Mary is a virgin and is pure for God’s use.

The Cross
The cross symbolizes Christianity.

**In his depiction of The Annunciation, that is part of an Altar piece (the center panel) for the Church of St. Columbia; German artist Rogier van der Weyden (1399-64), has Gabriel’s scepter wrapped in a scroll with the phrase;
“Ave Gratia Piena Dominus” which translates as
“Greetings most famous One, the LORD Is with you.”
These words were later used by Roman Catholics as a prayer to Mary known as Ave Maria or Hail Mary.


**PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO NEXT POST FOR THE PAINTINGS**

Resting In His Faithfulness,
One Day At A Time By Faith.
Joshua 1:9



REPOST** PART 2- PAINTINGS DEPICTING THE ANNUNCIATION BY GABRIEL TO MARY

**THIS IS A REPOST**
Please take the time to read the post above this one--if offers understanding behind the images in this post***


Below are a few examples of the hundreds of paintings depicting
Archangel Gabriel and the Virgin Mary =

“The Annunciation of Mary” and "The Adoration" and "The Annunciation to the Shepherds"
(Some of the paintings do not have the artist name.)



"The Annunciation" Gabriel and Mary
John Collier Contempary artist


"The Annunciation"

"The Annunciation of the Shepherds"
Benjamin Gervitsz Cuyp Dutch (1612-1652)


"The Annunciation" Gabreil and Mary



"The Annunciation"
El Greco



"The Annunciation" c.1898
by Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859-1937) American artist


"The Annunciation" Gouache 1186-1896
by James Jacques Joseph Tissot (1836-1902)
French painter and illustrator


"The Annunciation"
As shown in the movie "The Nativity"



"The Annunciation"
Leonardo da Vinci (c 1472-1475) Italian


"Adoration of The Wise Men"
Romare Bearden American artist

"The Annunciation"
by Sandro Botticelli (1444-1510) Floretine artist




"The Annunciation" c.1437
by Fra Angelico (1400-1455) Florentine artist





"The Crèche" by Joseph Stella

(krĕsh, krāsh)(the Nativity), representation of the Infant Jesus in the manger, usually surrounded by figures of Mary, Joseph, shepherds, animals, and the Wise Men; also called Christmas Crib. The crèche has been displayed in churches during the period from Christmas Eve to Jan. 6 since the Middle Ages, especially after St. Francis of Assisi instituted the custom in 1223 at Gréccio, Italy. It is a Christmas tradition in many homes. The term crèche is also applied to a day nursery.




Resting In His Faithfulness,
One Day At A Time By Faith.
Joshua 1:9

Thursday, November 26, 2009

REV. IRENE MONROE: REMEMBERING TWO-SPIRITS THIS THANKSGIVING




I have a very deep love and admiration for the Rev. Irene Monroe.

I praise the Lord for her life and the Work she does in His name.

While there are So Many Rev's, Pastors, Ministers, etc...out here that preach hate, division, and just plain wrong Biblical teachings, by using manipulative words & ways to try and 'change' lgbtq people into thinking that God is not pleased with us, and that being lgbtq is a choice we made and not how we have been born/designed by God; and they also create in many straight people a false reason to hate what is not like them....Sadly, These people turn more people away from learning about the Lord than they bring to Him.
Rev. Irene is a breathe of fresh air.


Pam Spaulding at PamsHouseBlend posted Sister Irene's ThanksGiving message and I decided to post it here also. I Hope that you enjoy this message and will return often!

REMEMBERING TWO-SPIRITS THIS THANKSGIVING

As I prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday, I am reminded of the autumnal harvest time's spiritual significance. As a time of connectedness, I pause to acknowledge what I have to be thankful for. But I also reflect on the holiday as a time of remembrance - historical and familial.
Historically, I am reminded that for many Native Americans, Thanksgiving is not a cause of celebration, but rather a National Day of Mourning, remembering the real significance of the first Thanksgiving in 1621 as a symbol of persecution and genocide of Native Americans and the long history of bloodshed with European settlers.

I am also reminded of my Two-Spirit Native American brothers and sisters who struggle with their families and tribes not approving of their sexual identities and gender expressions as many of us do with our families and faith communities.

"Yes, there's internalized homophobia in every gay community, but as Native Americans we are taught not to like ourselves because we're not white. In our communities, people don't like us because we're gay," Gabriel Duncan, member of Bay Area American Indian Two Spirits (BAAITS), told the Pacific News Service.

And consequently, many Two-Spirit Native Americans leave their reservations and isolated communities hoping to connect with the larger LGBTQ community in urban cites. However, due to racism and cultural insensitivity, many Two-Spirits feel less understood and more isolated than they did back home.

But homophobia is not indigenous to Native American culture. Rather, it is one of the many devastating effects of colonization and Christian missionaries that today Two-Spirits may be respected within one tribe yet ostracized in another.

"Homophobia was taught to us as a component of Western education and religion," Navajo anthropologist Wesley Thomas has written. "We were presented with an entirely new set of taboos, which did not correspond to our own models and which focused on sexual behavior rather than the intricate roles Two-Spirit people played. As a result of this misrepresentation, our nations no longer accepted us as they once had."

Traditionally, Two-Spirits symbolized Native Americans' acceptance and celebration of diverse gender expressions and sexual identities. They were revered as inherently sacred because they possessed and manifested both feminine and masculine spiritual qualities that were believed to bestow upon them a "universal knowledge" and special spiritual connectedness with the "Great Spirit." Although the term was coined in the early 1990s, historically Two-Spirits depicted transgender Native Americans. Today, the term has come to also include lesbian, gay, bisexual, and intersex Native Americans.


The Pilgrims, who sought refuge here in America from religious persecution in their homeland, were right in their dogged pursuit of religious liberty. But their actual practice of religious liberty came at the expense of the civil and sexual rights of Native Americans.

And the Pilgrims' animus toward homosexuals not only impacted Native American culture, but it also shaped Puritan law and theology.

Here in the New England states, the anti-sodomy rhetoric had punitive if not deadly consequences for a newly developing and sparsely populated area. The Massachusetts Bay Code of 1641 called for the death of not only heretics, witches and murderers, but also "sodomites," stating that death would come swiftly to any "man lying with a man as with a woman." And the renowned Puritan pastor and Harvard tutor, the Rev. Samuel Danforth in his 1674 "fire and brimstone" sermon preached to his congregation that the death sentence for sodomites had to be imposed because it was a biblical mandate.

Because the Pilgrims' fervor for religious liberty was devoid of an ethic of accountability, their actions did not set up the conditions requisite for moral liability and legal justice. Instead, the actions of the Pilgrims brought about the genocide of a people, a historical amnesia of the event, and an annual national celebration of Thanksgiving for their arrival.

In 1990, President George H.W. Bush ironically - if not ignorantly - designated November as "National American Indian Heritage Month" to celebrate the history, art, and traditions of Native American people.

As we get into the holiday spirit, let us remember the whole story of the arrival of the Pilgrims and other European settlers to the New World.

On a trip home to New York City in May 2004, I went to the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture to view the UNESCO Slave Route Project, "Lest We Forget: the Triumph Over Slavery," that marks the United Nations General Assembly's resolution proclaiming 2004 "The International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and Its Abolition."

In highlighting that African Americans should not be shamed by slavery, but instead defiantly proud of our memory of it, I read the opening billboard to the exhibit that stated, "By institutionalizing memory, resisting the onset of oblivion, recalling the memory of tragedy that for long years remained hidden or unrecognized and by assigning it its proper place in the human conscience, we respond to our duty to remember."

It is in the spirit of our connected struggles against discrimination that we can all stand on a solid rock that rests on a multicultural foundation for a true and honest Thanksgiving.

And in so doing, it helps us to remember, respect, mourn and give thanks to the struggles not only our LGBTQ foremothers and forefathers endured, but also the ongoing struggle our Native American Two-Spirit brothers and sisters face everyday - and particularly on Thanksgiving Day.

***



On feet of Faith & Peace
Joshua 1:9/ Isaiah 52
Resting In His Faithfulness,

One Day At A Time By Faith.


Monday, November 2, 2009

A TRUE FRIEND PROVIDES FREEDOM


The Work He has called me to do is never going to be larger than the Power that He has provided me to do the Work with.

I've learned to say thank You Not just on the bright sunny days when no cares, concerns or troubles come my way, but also on the grayest of days.

Each and Every day is One deserving thanks unto Him... for I do not want to repeat any lessons that He is teaching me...This is not required for everyone to do..but truly it is for those who have asked to serve Him Well. There is great and careful training for those called to do a Great Work for Him.

The Lord will test you--He Will use these tests to stretch you in order to Build in you the Character that is supposed to be in you. To relearn how to do things His Way.
This is to make sure that your Character matches your gifts, talents, abilities and anointing that He has placed within you.

A True Test of Faith is coming. How you grow through it by accepting it, will determine if you shall receive the desires that you have prayed for.
He wants us to be prepared before He delivers His promises..Which He Will and they will arrive On Time. But the question is....Will you be ready for them when they come? If you deny and reject His preparation you will lose them, allow them to be stolen, which will not allow you to use them to produce the Fruit that He designed them to do. What ever God gives Grows! Love Grows but many want it to be one way.

I read a quote by Gwendolyn Brooks and it made me think about the truth that a real friend will bring to you....Especially a friend that Works for the Lord and is sent by the Lord with His truth.

No matter how much you do not want to hear the truth, you may not want to face what is wrong in you...will not change the person sent speaking what you need to hear. If you reject the truth of a truth bearer then you merely will re-enforce the lies that you live by.

From the Gwendolyn Brooks quote I set out looking in the Bible for Wisdom concerning friends....And of course the Lord provided what I was seeking.

Her quote spoke about people not wanting to hear the truth in full, but in fact would rather it be sugar coated which allows us to ignore the fullness and the depth of the truth in order to continue to "Feel Good' and to stay in the midst of some lies.

And I pray that we are successful Every Day in killing off self, flesh , ego and pride for the only thing that lasts as long as Truthful UnconditionaLove is stupidity born of ego, pride, and fears which keeps So many from seeing, accepting and living the Truth--that they say they want for their lives....


Proverbs 27:5-6 (Amplified Bible)

5Open rebuke is better than love that is hidden.A)">(A)

6Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are lavish and deceitful.

Proverbs 27:5-6 (New King James Version)
5
Open rebuke is better Than love carefully concealed.
6
Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

These verses from Proverbs tell us that true friendship includes honest rebuke when needed, and states that it is better that a True friend correct you than to hold on to the insincere compliments from an enemy, who may also be masquerading as a friend.

Even though a friend's words of correction may wound us, it is in fact an act of love.
The Lord sends us His truth in order to spare us from present and approaching trouble and pain. Preparation is the key here and a willingness to receive it and grow in maturity.

The friends who are close to us know us better than others who are just acquaintances and also those others that use manipulative love against us and are really enemies. These people are toxic and keep us from growing, from facing out truths that are sent to better us. They always have a selfish, controlling love to offer and so many are fooled into thinking that is Real Love. And the many who hang onto people supplying this kind of toxic human love will indeed be transformed into a toxic waste dump allowing everything good to be killed and replaced with a growing selfishness, a neediness that produces bitterness spreading to everything and everyone in your life.
You Deserve better than this.
People confuse and twist need to make it try and look like love.
Need and Love are not the same thing.


Our true friends are able to see both our good and our bad sides and know that is a part of being human. True friends will never try to use our past experiences as tools against us--they will never try and manipulate us nor lie to us....And we should be the same way with them. Many true friendships/relationships are ruined for a lack of accepting self-truth, And many toxic friendships/relationships are held onto for the same reason.

Most times our 'bad sides' are places and areas of our character that are immature; whether it be emotionally, Spiritually or mentally immaturity. These are places in which the Truth needs to be allowed to Come In and Make All Right. For without the Truth there will be No positive forward moving growth.

I know there are Many who are comfortable with their sadness, misery, disappointments, struggles and complaining about how their life is--Yet they Never do anything that is Possible to change their circumstances even when these opportunities are given to them....And when that becomes a person's language I will step our of the way, as that is a toxic way of living and Will contaminate my life. I cannot And will not allow that to happen to me nor my family.

A true friend will give us the space to grow without judgment or taking things personally, even when words and actions that are spoken and done Are in a personal manner.
Friends are a Gift from God and it is important to maintain our friendships. A true friendship requires time spent together in order to maintain it and to allow healthy growth to proceed. It is during those times that we are able to see into the souls of those whom we can count on. When we truly love our friends, we will always want the very best for them and they us.

True Christian friendships have an added element that makes them even more blessed. That Spiritual ingredient is the presence of the Lord Jesus in the midst of All our relationships. Friendships in Christ are some of the most blessed gifts we can experience as they continue to grow and produce Fruit for the Lord that is to be shared with all.


Proverbs 17:17 "A Friend loveth At All Times, and a brother is born for adversity."

A True Christian friend will love us At All times, even those times when we are not being so loving. They will even be to us equal to a sister or brother who will stand with us when we go through adversity. They are not to carry our crosses for us, but to assist us when we carry our own, Faithfully following the Lord Jesus.

This kind of friend will also speak the truth to us in love, when we are doing something that is wrong. As the Holy Spirit directs a truth bearer to speak His truth in order to warn us of upcoming tests, troubles and hidden traps of sin; Please do not confuse their act of obedience to the Lord as one of trying to hurt you or shame you.
They come on feet of peace, love and faith obedient to Pleasing the Lord, not to please you. If you attempt to shift some blame or fault them, there again the Lord is revealing in YOU what needs to be corrected.

When they speak the truth--it Is a Time in which We need to hear it. It is done as an act of loving kindness to us, as it can prevent us from going astray. The other purpose is to help us to mature in Christ, The Lord said that is one way to help us Spiritually grow up.

Ephesians 4:15 "But speaking the truth in Love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ."

Iron Sharpens Iron! Proverbs 27:17

Proverbs 18:24 "A person who has friends must show them self friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother."

For us to have true friends, we must reach out and be a true friend to others. We also must nurture those friendships by demonstrating loving kindness, understanding, and forgiveness to name a few of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. (Gal. 5)

The Bible tells us that there is a friend that will stick to us closer than a sister or brother, closer than a father or mother, that friend is Jesus.

Be careful how you treat your human friends, for that is exactly how you are treating Jesus also!
Have you ever had an old friend that you have not heard from in years call you up in some kind of need? Is that when you call up Jesus? When you are only in need? No other time to you spend with Him, allowing long lengths of time to pass in between troubles and then you call on Him? And/or call on everyone around saying you need them to pray for you Before you call on Him?
That strengthens their relationship and faith with Him, not yours.

Our friendships in the natural have limitations, but ours with Jesus has no limitations at all, unless we set some in place--He never does.
Every True Christian has been given the opportunity to cultivate a relationship with Jesus in order that He will become our closest and dearest friend. This relationship must be given our time, and space willingly, a wanting desire for His company and teachings in order to strengthen and nurture us and the friendship/relationship.

There are many True friendships in the Bible, and there was a man who was known as a true friend of God. How wonderful it will be to be known as God's friend.

Going to church every Sunday won't make you one, reading the bible every now and then won't make you one, saying Christian quotes and sayings won't make you one, appearing to look like a friend of His wont make you one, helping others only at Thanksgiving and Christmas or Easter won't make you one....It is going below the surface of memorizing a few scriptures, and doing what He tells you to do that is a sacrifice for you, that which is not convenient for your daily plans, to Please Him first Every Time...that will get you headed in the right direction.

Spending time with Him every chance you have...
Like Abraham did and to this day He is known as a True friend of God.


James 2:23-24 (Amplified Bible)

23And [so] the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed in (adhered to, trusted in, and relied on) God, and this was accounted to him as righteousness (as conformity to God's will in thought and deed), and he was called God's friend.A)">(A)

24You see that a man is justified (pronounced righteous before God) through what he does and not alone through faith [through works of obedience as well as by what he believes].



In the name of my Lord Jesus I pray to You, God my Mother and my Father, and I know that You have heard and answered my prayers.

1 Thessalonians 2:3-4 RKJV
3
For our appeal [in preaching] does not [originate] from delusion or error or impure purpose or motive, nor in fraud or deceit.

(Amplified Bible)
4But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the glad tidings (the Gospel), so we speak not to please men but to please God, Who tests our hearts [a]">[a]expecting them to be approved].


On feet of Faith & Peace
Joshua 1:9/ Isaiah 52
Resting In His Faithfulness,

One Day At A Time By Faith.