TREASURE HUNT by Evangelist Dorothy Duhart

Read (Matthew 6: 19-21)

All of humanity is engaged in a worldwide treasure hunt.  Some people seek treasures from earthly sources, such as wealth or public acclaim.  Others seek God's treasures by making Him the Cornerstone of their lives!

The world's treasures are difficult to find and difficult to keep.  God's treasures are everlasting! It's sobering to think about how much time, effort, sacrifice, compromise, and attention we give to increasing our supply of something that is totally insignificant in eternity.

"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also"

Matthew 6:21

THE EFFECTUAL FERVENT PRAYER

“Is any among you afflicted? let him pray.  Is any merry? Let him sing psalms.  Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:  And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.  The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much”  (James 5: 13-16)

As I faced cancer last year, having the prayers of my family were crucial.  From the diagnosis, to the surgeries, and throughout the treatment it was because of the sincere praying of the saints that the Lord delivered me,

There are people around us that we should lift in prayer daily.  I met many patients while I was going through chemotherapy that were so sick.  I found myself asking for their names so that I could put them in my prayer chest.  Take it sincerely when interceding on the behalf of others.  Our prayers are needed. 

Perhaps there are some people (or a person) that the Lord has laid upon your mind to pray for.  He is wanting you to stand in the gap for them and pray on their behalf.  It may be a friend, co-worker, relative, or someone you may have met in passing.  Intercede on their behalf today.  Don’t let Satan tell you that your prayers doesn’t matter.  All prayers matter when they are sincere and from the heart.

The effectual fervent prayer of the righteous availeth much!

FOLLOWING THE ROAD MAP

Read (Joshua 1: 1-18)

“There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life:  as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.  I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee”  (Joshua 1:5)

Reading Joshua 1:5 I recall a conversation that my sister and I had with my pastor the day we buried our dad.  This was in May of 2007.  As we sat around her dinner table and talked of the goodness of God, and how He’d moved so mightily throughout her life, she encouraged us, as she always did.  “Daughter, when you step out to obey Jesus, there’s nothing that He won’t do for you.  You will be blessed, and God will open many doors for you.”

God worked many miracles, signs, and wonders through Prophetess Mother A.B. Jackson.  She passed away in June of 2012, but the same Jesus that she served is still on the scene.  He is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.  The Lord spoke to Joshua, “Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.  Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses” (Joshua 1: 2-3)

Joshua had to step out on faith.  God had given the children of Israel the law (Torah or the Pentateuch).  “Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee:  turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein:  for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (Joshua 1: 7-8)

Though we may not be called to do the same work as the ones who taught and instructed us, God still has a specific plan and purpose for our lives.  We too must follow the road map that He has laid out.  There will be battles to fight, and Jordan Rivers to cross, but the Lord will be there every step of the way.

“Have not I commanded thee?”  (Joshua 1:9) 

God has ordained, equipped, and qualified you for the journey.  Whatever it is that He has placed on your heart to do, walk in faith and obedience to His word.  He will not fail you!

DON'T WORRY

Read (Matthew 6: 25-34)

I ran across this quote recently, ‘Worry is like a rocking chair.  It gives you something to do, but gets you nowhere’.

One of the messages that Jesus taught from the sermon on the mount was about worry.  “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; Or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  (Matthew 6:25)

Yet we still find ourselves fretting about the basic necessities in life.  ‘How am I going to pay my bills?’ ‘What if my car breaks down?’  ‘If I lose my job, then what?’

Many things we worry about instead of simply taking them to the Lord.  “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them” (Matthew 6: 31-32)

When we approach the Lord we can be certain that He already knows what we stand in need of before we ask.  Come in faith to Him and not doubt.  It does no good to worry about what tomorrow may bring because we’re not promised if we will live to see it or not.  Tomorrow’s troubles will still be there so put your confidence in Jesus Christ today.

CHRIST INTERCEDES ON OUR BEHALF

Read (Romans 8: 26-27; Hebrews 7: 24-25; I John 5: 14-15)

I can recall on many different occasions when I got down to pray, the words did not come.  Have you ever felt this way?  Everything under the sun would then explode my mind, making it even more difficult to pray.

Reading Romans 8: 26-27 gave me real hope.  “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities:  for we know not what we should pray for as we ought:  but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints, according to the will of God.”

Jesus Christ Himself prays on our behalf, according to God’s will.  We can get down to pray and start asking for things off the top of our head, but when we allow Christ to become our Mediator to the Father, then we can rest assured that not only is our prayers being heard, but they will also be answered.

“And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us:  And if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him” (I John 5: 14-15)

“Wherefore He is able also to save them who come to God through Him, since He ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25)

There is nothing greater than to know that Christ is always there….even when we struggle to pray….to intercede on our behalf.  Our groans and tears are never a waste to Him because He knows the meaning behind every one of them.

NEW START, NEW CREATION by Evangelist Dorothy Duhart

"If any man be in Christ, He is a new creature:  old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new"   (2 Corinthians 5:17)


"NOW WE LOOK INSIDE, AND WHAT WE SEE IS THAT ANYONE...UNITED WITH THE MESSIAH GETS A FRESH START AND IS CREATED NEW.  THE OLD LIFE IS GONE.  A NEW LIFE BEGINS!

God loved you and me so much that He gave His only son, JESUS CHRIST.  The Bible says that Jesus came in the form of a man and walked the earth.  The same earth we're now walking in today.  He was tempted in every way so that He could fully relate to us.  But He never gave in to the temptation.  He lived a sinless life. He became the sacrifice for our sins by dying on the cross.

All of the things we've done wrong; all of our mistakes; all of our sins...past, present, future...was placed on Jesus.  Then He took our place on the cross and was crucified.  He was laid in a tomb and three days later, by the power of the Holy Spirit, He rose from the dead.  He overcame our sin!

The Bible teaches us in Romans 10: 9-10 through the cross we receive forgiveness from our sin and through His resurrection, we have a new life and a new beginning.  A fresh start!  If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified.  And it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved!

WATCH YOUR WORDS

READ (JAMES 3: 1-12)

Recently I was compelled to study scriptures on the mouth and how our words can either build someone up, or tear them down.  I came away from that study watching not only what came out of my mouth, but also how I responded when being spoken to.    It is vitally important to turn to the Lord for help in this area.  James 3: 7-8 “For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind.  But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”  The words that we use can either hurt or heal.  They can start fires, or put them out.  No one can tame the human tongue except the Lord.  Before we speak ask Him to put in your mouth wholesome words.  Even if someone is speaking unkind things to you respond back to them the way the Lord would have you to.  I always ask myself, “What would Jesus do?”  “Would Jesus speak this way?” 

Be kind in your speech to others, and be on guard of how you choose to answer.  Always know that the Lord Jesus Christ is watching and listening to every word.

PRAY FOR OUR LEADERS

Read (I Timothy 2: 1-8)

Today our President-Elect Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th President of the United States of America.  We also welcome his new cabinet, the men and women who will be advising the President on many important issues facing our nation.  Whether or not he was your candidate of choice, we are to stand behind our new Commander In Chief with our prayers.

If ever there was a time to pray for America, it is now.  With the rise of terrorist groups (ISIS), racial tensions, increase in crime and violence in our streets, it is no time to get lax.  We are urged to pray....and to pray fervently.  Those in authority face many difficult decisions to make, and some of them are not always right.  It is our responsibility to stand behind our nation in prayer.

"I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people.  For kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives"

I Timothy 2: 1-2

I encourage you all, as our President, Donald J. Trump is sworn in today, that we back him, and our nation, with our prayers!

GOD DISCIPLINES HIS CHILDREN

Read (Hebrews 12: 5-11; Proverbs 3:12; Revelation 3:19)

When I was a little girl, I got into all kinds of trouble.  There was many a times that I got my behind whipped by my mother.  I didn't understand then that those spankings saved me from a lifelong of sorrows.  They kept me out of jail.  They kept me off drugs and alcohol.  The discipline that I received from my mother was because of her love for me, not because she was being mean.

There will be occasions when we will get disciplined from the Lord, and it won't be a pleasant feeling.  We might be tempted to even ask, "Lord, why are you allowing this to happen to me?"

If we went our entire life without discipline, then we are not truly legitimate children.  But God surely loves us as sons and daughters.  He cares about what happens to us.

"If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.  Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence:  shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?"

 Hebrews 12: 7-9

Take comfort in knowing that when we are chastened of the Lord it is to produce peaceable fruit that lasts for eternity.  God demonstrates His love for us through discipline, to keep our feet on the straight and narrow path of life.  

LEARN TO FORGIVE YOURSELF

Read (Psalm 145: 1-18)

God always reminds me that no matter how many times I mess up, that He stands ready to forgive.  I'm my biggest critic.  At times I'm way too hard on myself.  The Lord is teaching me to forgive and to be kind to myself.  He does not condemn us when we fall.  His attributes:  Gracious.  Full of love.  Slow to get angry.  Merciful.  

Seeing we have such a God as this, there's no need to berate and belittle ourselves when we fail.

"The Lord upholds all that fall, and raises up all those that be bowed down.  The Lord is near to all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth"

Psalm 145: 14, 18

How refreshing to know of the unfailing love of God!  He loves you today and His mercy is everlasting!  When you start to get down on yourself, let Him teach you how you are viewed through His eyes.  Learn to forgive yourself!

 

GOD IS WITH YOU ALWAYS by Evangelist Dorothy Duhart

God is not a distant being!  Nooo!!!

He's right here continuously reshaping the lives of those who dwell in it.  God is with you always, listening to your thoughts and prayers.  He catches your tears.  He watches every move!  

God in you is the hope of glory!  So don't lose faith.  Lose doubt and fear.  Feed your faith, and starve those doubts.  Be strong.  Have faith in God! 

DESPISED AND REJECTED

“Well, I don’t know what will happen now.  We’ve got some difficult days ahead.  But it really doesn’t matter to me now, because I’ve been to the mountaintop.  And I don’t mind.  Like anybody, I would like to live – a long life; longevity has its place.  But I’m not concerned about that now.  I just want to do God’s will.  And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain.  And I’ve looked over.  And I’ve seen the Promised Land.  I may not get there with you.  But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land.  So, I’m happy, tonight.  I’m not worried about anything.  I’m not fearing any man.  Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord”

Read (Deuteronomy 34: 1-4; John 15: 18-25; Matthew 16: 24-25) 

The ‘I’ve Been To The Mountaintop’ speech was the last one given by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on April 3, 1968, at the Mason Temple Church of God In Christ.  He was assassinated on the following day.  This speech was one of the most poignant ever given.  As I look back, and recall on this 31^st observation of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, what stands out to me most was this: “I just want to do God’s will.  And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain”.

God has a plan for all of us, but we must be willing to sell out and follow Him.  Just like Dr. King, the journey will not be an easy one.  We will most likely be hated; despised; rejected by man.  The Light of the Gospel always exposes the darkest of sins.  We must be ready for all the opposition that we will face.  Jesus Christ, the Son of God, laid down His life so that all could be saved.  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., laid down his life for standing up for African American Civil Rights.

In this way we will have both valley and mountaintop experiences.  We may not all be required to give up our natural life, but we are called to stand for what the bible teaches, without fear of man, or whatever may come our way.  Jesus said in Matthew 16: 24-25 “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it:  and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.”

As Jesus Christ, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., are you willing to be despised and rejected for the truth?  We have no way of knowing what trials we will face, but we are encouraged to endure till the end and to endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ.  Afterwards we will receive a crown of righteousness.  Praise God!

STOP WORRYING AND GIVE IT TO GOD

Read (Philippians 4: 1-7)

Are you beating yourself up over things in your past?  Are you constantly wondering about tomorrow, and what's going to take place?  True enough, we have reasons to be concerned about things, but are we truly trusting the Lord to handle our problems?

I read a quote recently which said '99% of things you worry about never happen.'  But, why do we find ourselves anxious about things that are out of our control?

The Apostle Paul encouraged the saints in Philippi, "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done" (Philippians 4:6)

Stop worrying!  Give it to God!  Thank Him for everything He has done!  

You will be given a peace that surpasses all your natural understanding.

WHEN MAKING DIFFICULT DECISIONS

Read (Proverbs 3:5-6;  19:2;  21:5)

Recently my husband and I were facing a very difficult business decision and we didn't know which direction was the right one to take.  I woke up early the following morning as the Lord led me to some verses to read.  When I spoke with my husband a little while later, the answer that the Lord had given to me He had spoken the same thing to him.  Which leads me to write this to you today.

Over the course of my life I've had to decide on many things and the answers never came easy.  I've learned that when I pray and give it to Jesus, He always leads me in the right direction.  It is never good to make rash decisions on anything because when we do we have to face the consequences of them.  

Some of you may be facing a tough decision right now.  The tendency is always to wrestle over it day in and day out, with still no concise answer.  Trust in the Lord and acknowledge Him in all your ways.  He promised to direct your path.  Don't try to figure things out on your own.  It is never good to lean to our own understanding or to base our decisions on how we're feeling at the moment.  What works.....ask the Lord, "What is Your will for me?"  Wait on the answer.  Don't be in a rush.  Sometimes the answer is yes.  Sometimes no.  Sometimes not right now.    

Be assured that God knows what's best for us so pray and ask His will before you make decisions that you may regret later.  

TAUGHT FROM A CHILD

Read (Proverbs 4: 18-27)

What memories do you have of your childhood?  Are they fond memories, or ones you would rather forget?

I'm so thankful of my upbringing.  I was blessed to have a mother who taught me about Jesus and how to behave myself as a young woman.  I was taught to respect my elders, not to use profanity, and how to dress.  I'm the woman that I am today because of the wisdom and instruction given to me by my parents.  

One of the most important piece of advice that we could ever give our children is to develop their own personal relationship with the Lord.  No amount of money, or any other material possession, is more valuable.  We have a vast responsibility to train up our children the way the Lord instructs us.

"Train up a child in the way he should go:  and when he is old, he will not depart from it"

Proverbs 22:6

King Solomon advises to "give careful thought to the paths of your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.  Do not turn to the right or the left.  Keep your foot from evil" (Proverbs 4:26-27)

When you submit yourself to the Lord, He will lead you down the right path.  You may be facing a difficult decision in your life right now and don't know which way to turn.  Why not give it over Jesus!  He cares about every little detail of your life.  

A FRUITFUL GARDEN by Evangelist Dorothy Duhart

When you walk with Jesus your wilderness will become a fruitful garden.  Your weakness will be covered with His grace.  Your sorrows turned into joy!

When Mary became pregnant by the Holy Ghost people mocked her, but Mary was so happy to carry that child.  The angels did not appear to the people.  You know, people cannot see your blessings.  They will turn your garden into a desert.

God can give you deliverance, fruitfulness, strength, holiness, and joy unspeakable joy as you yield to Him.

Be blessed!

REST IS NECESSARY

"And He said to them, Come you yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while:  for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat"

Mark 6:31

Read (Mark 6:31; Mark 1:35; Genesis 2:2-3; Exodus 20:-10)

Do you believe that rest is a necessity, and just as important as working all the time? Are you of the mindset that in order to get ahead it requires that you work yourself into a nervous breakdown? 

It's sad, but millions of people feels this way.  There's nothing wrong with working (it's important to provide for yourself and your family), but it's safe to say, some people don't know when to quit.  Hospitals and mental institutions are filled with people who never take time off to rest.  

Jesus knew the importance of ministry (preaching and teaching; healing the sick; raising the dead) and crowds were always around.  His disciples He sent forth to preach, heal the sick, and cast out demons.  At one point they were so surrounded by the masses of people that had no time even to eat.

Jesus will call us to come aside from our toils at times.  He knows that though ministry is important, so is time alone with Him.  Even Jesus retreated to solitary places so that He could commune with the Father.  It is hard to hear the voice of God when you're around the crowds.  

It is always good to set some time aside to just rest.  I know for many people it is not a priority, but it should be.  Sooner or later, you will break down, and your body and health will suffer.  

Try spending some time alone just meditating on the Word of God.  Try putting away Facebook for a day and pick up the Good Book.  I like to take a weekend out of the month just to read and pray.  I don't turn on television or log into social media.  I seek to draw closer to God.  This is the best rest, and so necessary.  

I encourage you to try taking some time out to rest, but give it to the Lord.  Shut off everything else so that you can clearly comprehend what He wants to speak to you.  He says, "Draw nigh to Me, and I will draw nigh to you".  Take some time to rest in Him!

LEARNING TO SEE AS GOD SEES

Read (Judges 6:1-17)

God saw in Gideon a fearless courage, but yet Gideon still was in doubt.  

When the LORD appeared to Gideon He saw the battle already won.  Gideon only saw his own weakness as a man.

Many times when I have been faced with difficult challenges in life it was easy for me to doubt and rely upon my own abilities.  When I did this failure was assured.  What God was trying to teach me was I have to lean on Him and rely upon His strength.

When I read the story of Gideon in it always is the image of myself.  Looking at the storm, and not the One (Jesus Christ) who rides the storm.  Wondering, and speaking just as Gideon, "LORD, if this is You speaking to me, then show me a sign."

(God saw Gideon as a Mighty Warrior)

You may be praying to God about certain matters, and wondering if He is truly leading you as He promised.  It is a very easy thing to do when we doubt, but it takes a fearless courage to trust God.  One way to distinguish the voices in your own head, and the voice of God is through His word.  The LORD will always back up His word through the scriptures.  On this you can be confident.

"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away"

(Matthew 24:35)

I encourage you today to develop an attitude of reading and studying scripture everyday.  Pray and ask the LORD to give you spiritual understanding of what He is speaking.  You will begin to see the battles in your life as already won instead of focusing on your own human weaknesses. When you just realize how the LORD sees you, the victory is already won.  Don't wait until the battle is over to shout now!

CAN'T SLEEP? PRAY!

Millions of people are affected by insomnia in America.  Are you one of them?  

I am a firm believer in the Word of God.  There are times when sleep is withheld from me for a reason.  I lay in bed and shut my eyes, but I can never drift off.  When this happens I know that the LORD is wanting to talk to me.  It's then that I pray.  

If you're just laying there watching the clock you may as well pray.  Read some scriptures and talk to God.  Prayer and meditation always works for me.  When I turn my mind off and start praying I'm always led by the Spirit in the word to read what the LORD is wanting me to grasp.  I keep a prayer journal next to me to jot down whatever I'm given during those moments of meditation.  

"When you lie down, you shall not be afraid:  Yea, you shall lie down, and your sleep shall be sweet"

Proverbs 3:24

Instead of turning on television try picking up the word of God and read it for awhile and then pray.  This always refreshes me.  Even if you don't suffer from insomnia as millions of others do, there may be times when you're worried about a matter and mulls over it as soon as the lights goes off.  Instead of worrying....pray.  Prayer Works!

Turn it all over to Jesus and let Him handle it.  Besides...He promised you sleep..."And that it will be sweet"!

TO WHOM DO YOU TRUST

There were many instances last year as I was going through treatment for breast cancer that I had to ask myself, "Are you really trusting God to believe everything that's written in His word, or "Will you trust and believe everything that the doctors are telling you?"

I can recall many times as I was going for tests to see if the cancer had metastasized to other places in my body that I had to rely on what the LORD was speaking to me in His word.  It's not that I don't trust the expertise of doctors, but there's a man, 'The Great Physician', whose word supersedes anything that man can tell me.  Before going through chemotherapy I didn't know what I was going to face.  I only know that at the start I was reading on what other cancer patients who had been through chemotherapy before had to say, and also I was warned by my oncology team that I could have some pretty rough side effects.  I was a nervous wreck, even before my treatments began.  Then one morning the word of the LORD spoke to me:

"It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man"

I then asked myself, "Whose word are you going to believe?"  "God...or man?"

"Lord, I choose to believe You!  I trust You to bring me through all my cancer treatments, whatever I may face".  When I learned to put my confidence in God's word, I focused less on what man said.  Trusting His word took me through many dark storms last year.  And if you trust in God's word, He will do the same for you.

What trials are you facing today?  Perhaps you may have gotten a not so good prognosis from the doctor, or you are facing challenges in your career, or you are having financial troubles.  Whatever it may be, just know that you can trust God's word.  

"For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and returns not there, but waters the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater.  

So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth:  it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it"

Isaiah 55: 10-11

God cannot lie!  He will do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.  All we have to do is trust Him.  

GOD GIVES US A WILL TO OVERCOME by Evangelist Dorothy Duhart

"For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" 

Philippians 2:13

God has the power....to make us want to be free.

He can put in us a will to overcome....and the power to perform that will.

If Satan can put a will in man to sin, God can and does put in His children the will to overcome.

Our part is simply just believe God can sanctify our will and put in us an 

overpowering desire to resist the Devil.  It is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure.

GOD GIVES US A WILL TO OVERCOME!

THE LORD IS ON YOUR SIDE

The LORD is on my side!  

As I meditated on this verse this morning it struck me that I spend way too much time thinking about all the harm people can do to me, whether it be in word or action.  It's not that I go around all the time thinking about what people can do, even if it's a few minutes out of the day I shouldn't focus on anything except knowing that the LORD is on my side.  When the LORD is on our side, we have absolutely nothing to fear!

When we spend our time focusing on what other people are doing to us, how we're being mistreated or taken advantage of, are we not giving more room for others to control our thinking and take up valuable space in our mind?  If we only stop to consider what it means to have the LORD on our side.

I can remember when I was a little girl the kids all seemed small with their threats as long as I knew mama was going to take care of everything.  I always told her when I was being mistreated at school, and somehow, she always made things better for me.  Even though she was not always there physically I knew that I had nothing to fear because mama always took care of the problem.  

I've learned to pray about situations and people that try to bring me down nowadays, and focus more on God, and not my problems.  The more you focus on your problems the bigger they become.  This is such a true saying.  But, when you focus on the LORD, the bigger He will become in your life and you will have no need to fear anything....or anyone.

Are you facing challenges today?  Give them over to the LORD.  Don't let the enemy put into your head that you have to fight your battles alone.  Recognize who's on your side....the LORD Jesus Christ, who ever lives to fight and defend you!

WELCOME TO 2017....ANOTHER YEAR TO PRAISE THE LORD

"I will bless the Lord at all times:  His praise shall continually be in my mouth"

PSALM 34:1

WELCOME TO 2017!

I feel so grateful to be writing to you today and starting this year off by giving praise to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  I can't think of anything better than to honor His great name.

As I look back on the trials and tribulations of 2016, being diagnosed with triple negative stage 3C invasive breast cancer, going through 3 surgeries (including a lumpectomy and axillary lymph node dissection), and enduring 16 rounds of aggressive chemotherapy and radiation treatments, no one has to tell me to praise the Lord.  Only by God's amazing grace did I make it to sit and write to you today.  At the start of 2016 I didn't know what the year was going to bring.

I won't sit here and say that 2016 was easy, but it was a necessary path that the Lord took me down in order to grow my faith.  I would never had imagined that cancer was to be a tool God used to test how much I was going to trust Him, but indeed this storm He took me through so that my relationship with Him would be stronger, and that there was no doubt who was in control of my life. I have such a renewed will to write and share all that Jesus places within my heart with the world.  When you face something like getting a diagnosis that you have a potential terminal disease it definitely puts things in a whole new perspective in your life.  I go into 2017 with a bold faith that God holds my future in His hands, and for this I'm so thankful.  I praise Jesus with all that I have.

I will be taking my blogs into a different direction this year.  I will still be sharing scriptures daily, but I will also be writing more of what the Lord places on my heart to share with His people.  Also I have enlisted other talented writers who will be sharing inspirational words and testimonies of what the Lord is doing in their lives.  This has me excited beyond words!

It is my prayer that 2017 is a year that you've made plans to spend time with the Lord in daily prayer and bible study.  There are many resolutions being made to do this or that, but have you included Jesus in those plans?  We never know what tomorrow is going to bring, or even if we will live to see tomorrow.  Wouldn't it be so wonderful to develop an attitude to praise the Lord at all times, through the good and bad?  He has promised to never leave nor forsake us.  We are not promised that things will always be easy, but that through all that we go through, He will be with us. 

"Fear you not; for I am with you:  be not dismayed; for I am your God:  I will strengthen you; yea, I will help you; yea, I will uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness"

Isaiah 41:10

Scripture of the Day (Sunday, January 1, 2017)