Endless!

John 21:25 “Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written.”

Greetings,

I love books, and I love reading!  Once when I visited the Library of Congress, I self-imposed a moment of silence.  I was awestruck.  It is the world’s largest library, after all, with over 120 MILLION items.  That is mind-boggling!

What’s even more mind-boggling is this verse, which testifies to the AWESOMENESS of our Lord.  Notice how it says, “Jesus DID many other things.”  Jesus is a man of action.  He didn’t think about doing stuff, he didn’t sit around planning to do stuff - HE DID STUFF.

I am certain that if “the whole world could not contain the books that would be written” (this includes the Library of Congress) about everything Jesus did, that this means He has already done every single thing that we are need of. In other words, He’s been there and done that, and He will do it again.

I wonder how many requests He's had for a healing touch on a marriage, for a place to live, for a new job, for a rebellious child, for a sick family member, for money to pay bills, for peace from a tormenting situation, for hope that everything will be okay, for someone to share life with, for the ability to have a baby, for self-control...The list is literally endless. 

And Jesus’ ability, power, and desire to help us is literally endless as well.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You that we serve an awesome God!  It is beyond our comprehension that Jesus did so many wonderful things, but we are overjoyed to know that He is active in our lives today.  We are eager for our miracle to be listed among the works of Jesus.  Help us in this area ________________________ today.  In Christ’s name, AMEN~ 

Grab the Keys!

Greetings,

Matthew 16:19 “You have complete and free access to God’s kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven.”

One of my favorite TV shows is the 1960's sitcom The Andy Griffith Show.  It’s such a funny, wholesome show, and it seems like almost every episode someone winds up in jail. The main characters, after all, are Andy the town sheriff and Barney, his inept but lovable deputy. One time a character named Otis was locked up for the night and waiting to be released.  Unknown to him, however, was that all along the keys were right outside his cell hanging on a peg.  That’s one of the running jokes of the show: The keys are always hanging on that peg within easy reach of anyone who is locked up.

I hate to admit it, but I am a lot like Otis.  Sometimes I find myself imprisoned in a jail of worry, confusion, stress... and I forget the keys are right there.  Or worse, I doubt whether they will really unlock the door or not, so I don't reach for them.

What keys am I really talking about?  The keys to the kingdom, which are PRAYER and more PRAYER.  It always comes back to prayer. Many of us stay locked up in fear, loneliness, hopelessness, sickness, and need because we don’t use the keys.

Prayer is the means by which heavens doors open up and bless us here on earth.  Prayer eliminates barriers. Prayer gives us complete and free access to everything God has to offer.  (Please refer to Psalm 103 for a quick summary of what  those blessings are). 

Prayer is the means by which God decided to make a bridge between heaven and earth.  Christ gave us His life to build that bridge, and like they were for Otis, the keys are within easy reach. 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for so freely giving us the keys to the kingdom.  Some days we forget to use the keys, we forget they are right there, or doubt they work.  But thank You that they are the easiest things to access; all it takes is a little talk with Jesus.  We say “YES!” to Jesus and the health, protection, peace, love, guidance, and hope that He offers right here where we are on earth.  And we say “No!” to anxiety, disease, worry, fear, loneliness, and hatred.  Heaven agrees with us, and we receive it! In Jesus’ name, AMEN!

A POWERFUL FAITH BUILDER

Greetings, 

I love the entire ninth chapter in the book of Matthew in the Holy Bible, and I encourage you to read it today.  Christ heals a paralyzed man, forgives sin, calls a man to be one of His beloved disciples, heeds a desperate father's request to resuscitate a child who has died,  restores the sight of two blind men, casts the demon out of a possessed man, and literally "traveled through all the towns and villages...announcing the Good News about the Kingdom, healing every kind of disease and illness...having compassion on the crowds..."

Jesus brings health and wholeness to the soul, the body, and the mind. He defines a life's purpose for Matthew when He called him to be a disciple, and He rewards faith. And Christ did all these blessed things with compassion and unparalleled power and authority.

There is not one area of your life, nor one aspect of your being that is beyond the reach or the might of Jesus to bring health and wholeness. 

Remember the paralyzed man Christ healed? "Some men brought him to Jesus."

Remember the girl who Jesus raised from the dead? He did so in response to a father who pleaded, "Come and put Your hand on her, and she will live."

Remember the two bind men whose sight was restored? First they, "followed Him, calling out, 'Have mercy on us,  Messiah!'"

Remember the demon-possessed man? He was "brought to Jesus."

Let us bring others to the Lord in prayer, and let us plead for ourselves while we are at it. Let us follow after the One Who has infinite compassion, power, and authority.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for Matthew chapter nine. This is a faith-building chapter because Your unlimited power is on display. We praise You for Your willingness to use it in response to prayer! You know what is best, and we need You in every area of our lives  -  soul, body, and mind.  Have mercy on us, Messiah! In Jesus' name, AMEN.

My Momma Didn't Raise No Fool~

Greetings,

I grew up in the 1980s.  I graduated high school, took my first international trip to Panama, which was also my first plane ride, held my first job as a cashier at the local pharmacy, went to college, met and married Jorge, and I had a baby in this glorious decade.  So many milestones and so many memories.  The slang of this unforgettable era has also stuck with me. 

Hang out with me and you just might hear me say things like, “Gag with me a spoon,” “take a chill pill,” or “don’t have a cow.”  However, my favorite phrase always was and still is, “My momma didn’t raise no fool!”

And it’s true, I’m no fool, and neither are you if you “regard God as awesome.”  But if you “despise wisdom and self-discipline or reject good advice” then, sorry, the Bible says, “you’re a fool, stupid, and stubborn.” Ouch! (See Proverbs 1:7).

It sounds so harsh but that’s only because there is so much at stake.  God wants us to live in tranquility, make smart choices, get along with our families and others, have financial peace, and live a good life.  It starts with regarding Him as AWESOME.  And when we do that, when we acknowledge Him as awe-inspiring, beautiful, all-wise, magnificent, powerful, forgiving, trustworthy, merciful, and gracious, we pay attention to what He has to say. We also connect to Him via prayer to receive all His wonderful blessings into our lives.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, we do not want to be foolish, so we worship You as awesome! We desperately need Your guidance and protection.  These moments we share here with You are necessary and life-giving.  Open our eyes to Your goodness for our lives.  We embrace all of You! In Jesus’ name, AMEN.  

Holy Benefits Package~

Good morning,

One of the most important things job applicants look into when considering employment are the benefits.  Most every employer offers them, and sometimes the way future employees are wooed into a new company is by an extensive benefits package.

Health insurance, stock options, college tuition payments, and two weeks vacation are great  - if you can get them. However, as God's children, we all have a Holy benefits package that is the best one!

Psalm 103 provides a list:

• God forgives all our sins
• He heals all our diseases
• He saves our lives
• God crowns us with love and mercy
• He wraps us in goodness 
• The Lord renews our youth
• He makes everything come out right for us and our children
• God is not easily angered
• He is rich in love, mercy, and grace

God woos us as well.  He wants us to choose Him because He desperately wants to lavish us with His benefits.

Let's accept!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for Your incomparable benefits; unlike the limitations of benefits on earth, Yours keep on giving. You continually forgive us, heal us, save us, crown us, and wrap us up in Your love.  Thank You that You are making everything right for us and those we love.  We receive all Your benefits, in Jesus' name! Amen~

I Will Carry You~

Greetings,

Recently I have had a spate of senior moments, which I suppose is normal now that I am over 50.  I was at a friend’s house recently, and she proudly pointed out a 20-year-old picture of the two of us at our daughters’ school field day that she has hanging in her hallway.  I could barely see it, so I went up to the glass frame and with my thumb and index finger tried enlarging it.  Of course, because God has a sense of humor, the only one who noticed it was my husband.  He mentions it way too often. And then I was leaving a voicemail for someone when I literally said: “Hello comma this is Yenise period How have you been question mark Call me when you have a chance period smiley face heart flower praying hands”

Laugh if you want to, but at least I find comfort in knowing that as I grow older, God is looking out for me.

“I will be your God throughout your lifetime – until your hair is white with age.  I made you, and I will care for you.  I will carry you along and keep you safe” (Isaiah 46:4).

In fact, it does not matter how old any of us are; God will always carry us along.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for Your love and care.  Thank You that You know we need help and support.  Thank You that You come to our rescue.  We open our hearts to You.  You are welcome to come and deliver us.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

WHAT NERVE!!!

Greetings,

As we prepare to celebrate Mother's Day this weekend, let's take a look at one fabulous, inspiring mom from the Bible whose name is Hannah.

Hannah desperately longed for a baby, but she could not get pregnant. It was heartbreaking, and to make matters worse, another woman, who had the blessing of children, "taunted her cruelly" because of it. I guess mean girls have always been around.  And, surprise surprise, her own husband didn't understand her. He was so clueless that in 1 Samuel 1:8 he asks her, "Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?” 

(Eye roll, please).

Hannah did the wisest, most powerful thing she could do.

"Crushed in soul, Hannah prayed to God and cried and cried - inconsolably. 'Oh, God...take a good, hard look at my pain, go into action for me by giving me a son, I’ll give him completely, unreservedly to you. I’ll set him apart for a life of holy discipline'" (I Samuel 1:11-12).

Hannah prayed...And from what the verse above says, it was a desperate, no holds barred, anguished plea; it was also a mighty invitation.

GO INTO ACTION FOR ME!

That's kind of bold.  Little made-of-dust us telling Almighty God to take a good, hard look at our suffering and then demanding He do something about it? What nerve!

But that's precisely the kind of "nerve" God responds to.

By the time we get to verse 20 in this same chapter we read, "Before the year was out, Hannah had conceived and given birth to a son. She named him Samuel, explaining, 'I asked God for him.'”

This phrase, "before the year was out," really touches my heart and fills me with hope.  I have several prayer requests that I would love to see answered before the end of the year.

Do you? 

Then let's pray! 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for moms. Some of our moms are in Your tender care, and we are grateful we will see them again. For those moms here on earth, bless them with long healthy lives. And we also praise You for the bold language of the Bible: GO INTO ACTION FOR US.  I especially need to see Your power displayed in this area of my life _________________________, and may You grant my request before the year is out. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

A Praying Mother ~

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord.  "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

Greetings,

The verse above is one of my all-time favorites because part of God's good and hope-filled plan for my life was to give me a praying mother.

I think of her often  -  especially around this time of the year  -  and of all the things she could have left me when she went home to heaven, nothing is more precious or more valuable to me than knowing she prayed for me every single day.  

She asked the Lord daily for His blessings, guidance, healing, protection, forgiveness, wisdom, and moral clarity to infuse every part of my being. 

If you had or have a praying mother, praise the Lord for that incomparable gift.  If you didn't or don't, then pick up the mantle, if you haven't already, and be part of that good plan God has for you and your family.  There is nothing you could do that is more beneficial or powerful and no greater legacy you could leave behind.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for moms. We also thank You for opening our eyes to the importance of prayer.  We want to be part of Your good plans, so we lift up the children we love before Your throne and pray down a blessing right now.  Meet us and our families at the point of our need.  You have every single thing that is necessary to get our lives moving and staying in the right direction.  In Jesus' name, AMEN.

National Day of Prayer

Greetings,

The first Thursday of every May is the National Day of Prayer, and this year marks the 66th anniversary of this wonderful and necessary event.  It even has a dedicated website, which states, in part, "Our hope is that individuals, churches, and spiritual leaders in America, will humble themselves and unify in prayer for the next great move of God in America.  We can come together in clear agreement that this is our greatest need"(http://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/theme_and_verse).

I certainly agree that my greatest need is for God to move in my life, in the lives of those I love, and even in the lives of those I don't know personally, like our politicians.  

Let's join our voices to the others praying today with a supplication straight out of the Bible in Psalm 33.

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, We sing for joy, and we praise You. Your Word holds true, and we can trust everything You do.  Your unfailing love fills the earth. You spoke and the heavens were created. You breathed a word, and the stars were born. Speak and breathe new life into us today.  Speak and breathe new life into our country today. Give us wisdom to lead our families, and give our leaders wisdom to lead this country. Frustrate any scheme against our nation; protect us from our enemies. Thank You that Your intentions can never be shaken. Your good plans stand forever. What joy for this amazing United States of America whose God is the Lord.  You look down from heaven and observe all who live on the earth.  You made our hearts, so You understand just how much we need You.  Only You can save us. Thank You that You watch over us and rescue us. You are our shield. We rejoice in You and trust Your holy name. Let Your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for ultimately, our hope is in You alone. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

Lift Others Up~

"As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.  When Moses’ hands grew tired, Aaron and Hur took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset..the Amalekite army was defeated" (Exodus 17:11-13).

Greetings,

The above passage is interesting for sure, and what I am drawn to is not the peculiar way God gave the Israelites a victory against their enemy, the Amalekites. What really blesses me is that when Moses grew weary, two faithful buddies came to his rescue and held him up!

If I were to rephrase this verse to fit my life it would read, "Once upon a time, there was a woman named Yenise who really believed in the power of prayer. After all, there was so much at stake.  She had so many concerns for her husband, children, grandbaby, family, friends, and herself. And as long as she persisted in prayer she knew in her heart she would receive answers that would profoundly bless the lives of those she loved.  But somedays Yenise was tired, weary, and discouraged. The answers were nowhere in sight, and she felt like giving up. But then along came a couple of dear sisters in Christ who stood with her in believing God for answers, and they WOULD NOT LET YENISE PUT HER ARMS DOWN. These precious ladies hunkered down and did the praying for her when Yenise could not- would not. As a result, Yenise remained steady until the answers came, and to this day Yenise still revels in the victory!  Oh, and because Yenise received so much love and support from these dear, modern-day, "Aaron" and "Hur," she now tries to pay it forward by lifting up the arms of others!  Glory~

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Help us lift others in their time of need. The Bible makes it clear we will all share in the victory together! In Jesus' name, AMEN.