Faith

This is a small, but powerful word, when it is functioning. Faith comes by hearing the Word, and it is not hard to use the faith you have, and let it grow.

Faith comes when you have heard others tell about how they received what they prayed about. There was a need to pray, and the intercessors were all praying quietly. The room was in a hush, because there was a, need to sit quietly, and see what would happen. Someone spoke wisdom, but that left, and there was still a need to hear some words. I had two or three words, and that is all.

I sat on them, but the speaker kept saying, “It doesn’t matter. Speak what you have. ”

I stood and told them the words that had been on my mind, and it was the key of the speaker’s message. He knew I had something, and it is rare for me to ever interrupt, or say what is on my mind. I knew it was God, but it was very short, and to the point.

Now i am smiling, because this was long ago, and the words were what broke the bondage, and caused the meeting to turn it attention to those who needed to see our faith in action. I was younger, but I never have been shy about speaking up since.

Wisdom comes and it is needed for clarity, and for the Holy Spirit to move in that direction. As a prayer kind of person, I don’t always have the English for what I pray. I pray what He wants, and I bind Satan, Sin, and self before I start praying. All I know from an older, view point is that God has something special for everyone.

If you have shelved the little, gift that God gave you, then take it up, and use it for Him. Little is much when God is in it. My little bit grew, and I did teach some with the anointing to hear what God wanted me to say.

I talked for an hour one time, and my son said, “Why did you speak so long?”

I said, “The gifts, and calling of God are not taken away just because we have no chance to speak what we are receiving.

I said, “I told the audience all that was on my notepad, and God had more to say than that. I said what He wanted me to say, and yes, it went long, but I have spoken three, words before, and God still used them.

Have You Read the Easter Story?

The real Easter Story is in the Bible. It is found in John 19, and 20. It wouldn’t take long to refresh your thoughts and mind about what actually happened on the cross.

Pilate scourged Jesus. That means that he had him beaten with a whip 39 times. The solders put a crown on him. It was a crown of thorns. They put on a kingly robe, and mocked him, for being the King of the Jews. They gave him blows to the face, and spat on him.

Pilate found no guilt in Jesus, and he turned Him over to the Jews. He was wearing the crown of thorns, and a purple robe. Pilate said, “Behold the man!”

He found no guilt in Him, but allowed him to be robed in a purple robe, and the crown of thorns to be placed on his head. This was only the beginning of His suffering.

The crowd shouted,” Crucify Him”.

The people told Pilate about their laws, and they insisted that Jesus be crucified. Jesus did not answer Pilate’s questions.

Pilate said, “Don’t you know I can kill you, by Crucifixion!? ”

The people wouldn’t have the thief,  crucified instead of Christ. They set him free. Jesus was delivered over to be hung on the cross. It was a common thing for thieves, and robbers, and sinners to be hung on the cross. He was there with two other men, who were dying on crosses. One went to heaven, because he believed Jesus is the Son of God. The other thief went to hell. That is what happens when you don’t receive Christ as your own Savior.

Jesus died, shedding His precious blood for you, and me. He died on the cross, giving up his life so that we who believe on Him would have eternal life. It is the same today………those who accept Him as their own Savior, receive the living Christ into them, and they live for Him ……..changed lives.

Have you received the living, Christ as your own Savior? Read John 19, and 20 and ask God the Holy Spirit to speak to you personally about Christ’s death. He died for you, personally. Without the shedding of His blood, there would be no forgiveness of sins. Those who come to Christ must believe that He is, and that He is able to forgive them of their sins. Put your name in John 3:16 and say it to God, in Jesus name. That is……if you believe that He died for you, to take away your sins.

I Will Draw Close

Person praying , cartoon , drawing by Ruby J Craft, illustration of praying and being close to God. Honesty, humility, cloud.

We draw close to God by faith. We are trusting in Christ as our Savior, and come in faith knowing that God will hear us when we come honest, humbly, and with faith, in Jesus’ name.

Psalm 144:1-2; Warring hands, and fighting Fingers

David was always in warfare. Even his family came against Him. He wrote many of the Psalms in the Bible because he was a man who clung to the Lord. In trouble he cried out, and the Lord was always there to deliver him, give him peace, and to comfort. That is why I love to run to the Lord.

He is silent, but then when I read the Word, I know which verses seem to be going right for my heart. Some days I need His comfort, other days I need the joy of the Lord, and the power to stand strong in Him. My days are easier than David’s. He was a king of Israel, but because he set his heart on God, he was loved by the people and by God.

The Word says when we draw close to Him, He will draw close to us. I try not to miss a day when I am in the Word. It can be long, or it can be quick. Then I carry the Presence of the Lord where ever I go.

Day before yesterday, it was to the hospital to see a friend who has cancer. Ed and I stayed to take the woman’s daughter to eat, and to encourage her to stand strong in the Lord. It is hard when some one is vacillating between death and life. They are waiting, and wanting to go home. I haven’t been praying that this person would go home yet. I have reminded the Lord that she is young yet, and has more years ahead of her if He would heal her.

The Lord is my strength. When I count the word “my” in the psalm, I think it appears 9 times. God teaches us to war with our hands and our fingers. The weapons of a Christian are the Word of God and prayer. Putting scripture to the prayers make the praying powerful for pulling down strongholds.

So what is a stronghold? It can be thieving, stealing, and letting your hands do something that is against God’s laws, and man’s laws. If you want to get rid of the habit, you have to give your heart to God, and your hands also.

Put oil on them, and say, “God, my Heavenly Father, I have sinned against you. My hands have stolen and I am a thief. I ask you to forgive me. I can’t help it some times. Would you take this habit away from me in the name of Jesus. I give them and all of me from head to toe, inside and out, mind, soul, and spirit to you. Now take this bad habit away, and forgive me of my sins, in Jesus name. ”

Now you will have to humble yourself, and take the things back to the owner. You may have to spend some time in jail, but when God sets you free from the habit, you are free indeed. No more looking behind you for who is coming to get you. Sinners steal. Christ died for all sinners. If you weren’t a sinner, then He wouldn’t have died for you. But the Bible says everyone has sinned.

You can’t help it. It is the nature that you have when you are born. But Christ died that you may have LIFE and have it more abundantly. Get real with God, and stop pretending that you are alright. Submit to Him, and confess your sins, and He will come into your body and make you a new person. Old things will pass away, and everything will be new because you are brand new in your faith with Christ. If you prayed this prayer, tell someone. Tell a Christian, because they will be tickled pink! The joy of the Lord comes when you have come clean.

Sinner carry heavy burdens, but when you come to Christ, the sin burden rolls away. God puts your sin behind His back, and it is gone as far as the East is from the West. Do you want the peace that God gives? Then confess your sins, and your relationship will be restored. Ask God the Holy Spirit to come live inside you after you confess your sins to God in Jesus name.

He will come in and it is like dynamite inside you. You will see things from a new perspective, because God makes things new when you invite Him to take your life and use it for Him. Submission is easy, but hard. Self never wants this. When you are ready, ready through this again, and then take the most important step you will ever take. Give your life to God, in Jesus name.

God teaches you when you become His child. He teaches you to read the Word for strength, and to lean on Him for wisdom, and for strength. We are in a spiritual battle. We pray in Jesus name, and He gives us wisdom, strength, and purpose.

God talks. He is our goodness, our high tower, our deliverer, our shield, and the one we learn to trust. He subdues people and makes them stop agitating and become a nuisance. God is as close as you will allow Him to be, and when you stop thinking that you can walk with Him on your own, then He will do more for you.

Leaning on His arms is the way it should be. Remember the hymn? It may be an old one, but I treasure it. We need to have the attitude of leaning on Him, on His everlasting arms!

COMPUTER ART BY RUBY J CRAFT- MARY, STOP WEEPING!

COMPUTER ART BY RUBY J CRAFT, JESUS MEETS MARY IN THE GARDEN. HE IS ALIVE. SHE IS WEEPING. SHE THINKS HE IS STILL DEAD.

Find Your Peace

The Woman Who Got Through the Crowd to Jesus..Luke 8

I just posted a drawing about this same woman in Luke 8. I thought I would explain the story a little more. Jesus had a healing ministry. Sometimes he rebuked the demons and they left and the person was instantly whole. Thousands of people were being touched by His teaching and His ministry, because they believed when they saw what was happening.

That is why there was a crowd pressing around Jesus as He went to Jairis’ home. A twelve-year-old was seriously sick, and Jesus was on His way to pray over her. I don’t know if Jesus knew what delays would do. He was just walking as fast as he could in a crowd.

 They were all eager to touch Him. One lady was particularly eager. She had been hemorrhaging for 12 years. There was no cure for what she was going through. She thought,”If I could just touch His garment.” She probably grabbed the tassel on His prayer shawl.

Suddenly and immediately the healing went through her. She knew the power of God had healed her. At this point Jesus hollered out, “WHO touched me?!” His disciples told him that everyone was pressing near and anyone could have touched Him. It could have been five or six!. Jesus said, “Power left my body and I know someone touched me and was healed. Who was it??”

The little lady fell at His feet. She told Him how she had been to every doctor. Her problem was incurable. Jesus said to her,” Woman, your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

The lady touched the Lord’s garment with her hand but in her heart she was saying, “I would get well if I could touch the hem of His garment.”  I believe God the Holy Spirit had much to do with that. He gives us insight and discernment when we pray about our problems. You can fill in a blank here. If I could just ———– I would be healed. Be careful to think right. Once I knew I needed to go to another church other than mine to have them pray for me. Sure enough I got well. Our church prayed also, but I knew I had to go to this other group of believers. I was healed. A lady put her hand on my back where the place was, and I felt the warmth of God going into my place. I can’t explain that. I was healed. I went back and told my church and Ed.

I believe the best place to go for healing is the Lord. God’s people in your church can pray for you and those elders are yours to call on if you are a member there. Once I had a severe knee problem. I took this to the elders and they prayed with me. God shared with me what to do and I was healed. I had to change my diet, but that was wisdom He gave me after I had prayers for my knee.

The power of God left Jesus and went into the woman and healed her. He still had the power of God to do more miracles. He faith was when she thought,If I could just touch the hem of His garment, I would be healed.”

Jesus brought her to the light because the glory went to God alone this way. Her story was wonderful to tell. What about your story? Have you told it??

I Will Serve the Lord

Here is a prose type verse that I wrote last week about serving the Lord. It has a tune to it, and I sang it back to the Lord. You can make up your own verse like I have. You just put down your thoughts. Mine was slow and strong versed.

I will serve you, Lord God.

I will bless you, Lord  God.

I will bless you, Lord God.

For You are my God.

 

There is none like you!

There is none like You!

There is none like You!

 

I will serve you all of my days.

I will serve you, Lord Jesus all of my days.

I will serve you, with my heart.

For You are Wonderful,

You are Counsellor,

You are my God, and I love You So!

 

I give my life to you, O God.

I give my life to You,

I give my life to You , O God.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

You are my God, and I worship You!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

 

I worship You, for You are my God,

And I will Praise You in Spirit and in truth.

As You pierce the darkness with Your light.

Your Word is light,

You are the light and the Word!

 

Let the words of my mouth be

acceptable to You,

Let them be acceptable in Your sight,

 

O God, You are my strength,

You are my portion,

You are my God in whom I trust.

I give you my heart,
I give you my hands,

Make me Your instrument of love.

Make me Your instrument of joy.

Make me Your instrument of Peace.

 

(Additional lines added today!)

 

I will serve you, Lord for you are my God,

I will bless your name forever,

You are everything to me,

You are everything to me,

You are everything to me.

 

You are everlasting,

You are wonderful

You are El Shadiah,

You are mighty and great!

Your angels watch over me,

Your angels watch over me,

I love you, dearly, Lord God

I give my self to You,

Make me Your instrument.

Make me Your instrument.

Help me , but make me Your instrument of peace.

Weekend Prayer

Father,

Thank you for continually watching over me and my family. Thank you for covering me with protection. Thank you for the blood of Jesus that covers me as I type this out. I love you , Father. Thank you for the many times you have kept me from an accident or serious injury. Thank you for near escapes from death itself. I know that you have a wonderful plan for me, and Yes, I am your child and want to live for you all the days of my life. Thank you for the Presence of the Lord that I have felt all day, even at work. I know someone is praying!

Now I lift up all the burdens of my heart and I ask you to help me .  Cleanse me from doubt and unbelief, tiredness and lethargy. I want to bask in Your presence now and to listen to your voice as I submit to You more fully. I have learned to lean on you, and to watch. I have learned to get up early in order to prepare for the day. I pray for those who are getting ready for tomorrow like I am. It is a big day, and I want you to give me wisdom, and insight into the things of the Holy Spirit. Thank you for helping me study this week. I am really excited over the Revelation study so far. Thank you for all that you are teaching me.
Lord I give my weekend and Monday to you. I pray, Holy Spirit of God, that you would encourage us in our faith. I pray that you would come visit us Sunday, because where two or three are gathered together in your name there you are in our midst. I want to just worship you tonight and I ask for freedom to do just that.

Thank you for blessing us before we see it. Thank you for answering prayer for us way before we call and then hearing our request as we call. Thank you for understanding the situation and adding cheer, love, peace and wisdom. I do submit more to your voice, Holy Spirit of God and forgive me for being stubborn and sometimes not walking closely with you.

Forgive me for those times I haven’t listened to you. Forgive me for not thanking you enough for who you are and that I get to talk with you. Help me to know you and the power of your resurrection.Set me free from anything that is in the way between us, Lord. I do want to pray and to receive. Cleanse me, and I draw closer to you for right now. May the peace that passes all understanding keep my thoughts through Christ Jesus. Fill me now, Holy Spirit of God for the work that you have for me to do.  I want to do all that you have planned for me. I submit to You O God, my life, my will, and all my ways. I do acknowledge Your Presence Father. Teach me, now as I open up your Word. Ruby.