My eyes will be on the faithful in the land that they may dwell with me.

Psalm 100:6a

God’s Word is  a word to us today.

A fresh spring rain  fell this morning providing a blanket of moisture for the waiting garden.

The newly  planted cherry trees  rejoiced as did the purple velvet pansies flanked by the profusely blooming  magenta azaleas.

Roots need water.

The hummingbird who  scouted and built a nest deep inside a front door pot  at my home was busy tending it as three eggs are  waiting.

Life needs water.

Across our land  recentlythere have been  rivers at flood stage in Iowa, tornado warnings through out the southern states of Mississippi and Alabama, and thunderstorms in Oklahoma and Texas. The hurricane season is coming.

Weather comes.

Sometimes we wait for it because we have had an alert and sometimes it is a ” suddenly.”

We are all  living… waiting upon the Lord… if we are His.

HE is faithful to keep watch over the faithful.

Are you one of them?

You know if you are.

Thank goodness His word does not say that  He is faithful to the perfect for no one would qualify.

The faithful is a very inclusive, diverse, muti national, group of ethnicities who have come to Him  broken, confused, lonely,weary….empty.  The void that God placed within each us can only be filled up by a Savior sent for that purpose.

The Faithful God who watches over the faithful knew Jesus would have to come to earth to make a way for the lost to be found.

That is All of us.

The way was the CROSS.

The sacrifice  was the life of Christ.

The belonging to HIM begins when we see our need for Jesus and receive.

Then we become the faithful  that HE watches over day by day.

WHAT A PROMISE!

The faithful need  resusitating and so He sends the rain to water our souls.

Our roots need it.

But there is more.

The faitful dwell with HIm.

Imagine the security  of knowing that whatever comes…. He is with us.

We dwell with Him.

He is with us  in  this season of economic instabilty, job loss, anxiety,uncertianty… fear for the future.

A frail gasping faith won’t make it.

A flourishing faith is  rooted in in the Word of God.

His Word is a prayer to us.

His promises deliver HOPE.

HE is faithful to the faithful.

Invite Jesus to come into the dry places.

He’ll being the rain and He’ll bring the harvest.

He will dwell with you…forever.

Reborn we receive.

Revived we rise.

Rooted we reign in Him.

Rejoicing in His life todayfor you,

Billie

But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love….

We wait in hope for the Lord; He is  our help and our shield.

In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust  in his holy name.  Psalm 33:18,20-21

As the world grows darker, God’s unfailing love grows brighter.

This is the hope in which the children of God live.

It is the promise given in His Word.

Every morning we awaken to Hope.

Every night we sleep in the shadow of His watchcare.

We can choose to walk in it in the midst  of crisis.

We are.

All around us is brokenness….

Fractured families, a  failing economy and  a future  fraught with debt.. fans fear.

If we do not look up and seek our God, we will lose our footing.

Faith in Christ Jesus is  the capstone of a foundation that can stand when the winds of change threaten our way of Life.

They are here.

Our Lord watches over His people.

HE sees the challenges we face and knows the outcome already.

HE IS SOVEREIGN.

We rest in His Sufficiency.

Our HOPE is in the One who is a shield.

We cry out to him.

He comes.

We rejoice in Him.

We are lifted.

We trust in Him.

We are assured.

He is our hope.

Our world is spinning with anxiety and uncertainty.

We are sheltered in His unfailing Love.

He does not fail.

He remains…. forever.

We praise YOU O Lord for these  truths which we  receive.

Increase our faith.

The CROSS  gave us Jesus.

The Blood of Christ covers our sin.

The Bible reveals YOUR unfailing Love.

In it we live and move and have our being.

In Jesus’  Name we bow down in prayer.

Thus far the Lord has helped us. I Samuel 7:12

Our lives we must review.

Reflection is our work to do.

In looking back perspective comes.

A Heavenly Father,

A  Heavenly home awaits the pilgrim journey bound.

In  holy purpose, mission… found.

What will this coming year bring?

Will He find us offering… the best we have to a God that’s true,

A God who’s walked the path with you?

Through illness, loss  with little or much,

In trial, triumph, His precious touch…prevails.

Our times do change.

Our God does not.

HE is the ONE the saints have  sought.

Through ages past , they lived and died—looked forward with committed lives.

Lamps made ready,

Candles burning,

Hearts aflame,

Souls  a’ yearning.

REVELATION is HIS  story.

Christ in me  the hope of Glory.

In Him alone  is liberty, freedom and  transparency.

A  forward faith stands with your brother.

Calling out to him , we build another.

Covering  his back with  fervent prayer,

Preaching  the Word reveals our care,

Serving others by the way we live,

Raising His standard of Truth to give.

Thus far He has helped us….this we know.

Onward !

His Grace will grow.

Forward!

His Life to know,

A people  strengthened to live today,

Expectantly we bow in praise.

Happy New Year!

In All Things, HE Reigns,

Billie

My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for HE has been mindful of the humble state of his servant…. His mercy extends to those who fear HIM from generation to generation.

HE has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant...   Luke 1:46, 47a50,51,53,54a

Mary the mother of Jesus had much to think about– to ponder.

The unexpected had come upon her, a supernatural happening.

The angel Gabriel  was the messenger of incredible tidings.

She  was a betrothed virgin  but in an instant  she was told  that she would conceive  a child through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Gabriel  announced that she had been chosen  to bring forth” the holy one who would be called  the son of God.” ( Luke 1:35b).

His name would be Jesus.

She was incredulous.

She was overcome.

Then she was in awe.

Questions came followed by answers.

This humble devoted teenager chose to receive the impossible by proclaiming, “  For nothing is impossible with God. I am the Lord’s servant…May it be to me as you have said.” Luke 1:37-38

She surrendered to God’s plans for her.

Then a timely visit  came with Elizabeth, a relative well advanced in years who was also miraculously pregnant.

Oh the wonder of God!

Mary had time to think and  thank  God –to pause and ponder upon “His Mighty arm”  and she began to praise HIM for HIS favor and goodness to her.

Indeed HE had “helped his servant”and HE will help us.

As we look at our world filled with calamities of every kind–we see stock markets plummeting, economic fear rising , joblessness and wars amassing, rampant crime and homelessness evolving, natural disasters erupting, illness and family estrangements developing.

Loss comes and we cry out to God for help!

When we do, HE comes.

HE is RESCUE, COMFORT, REFUGE.

JESUS came for you and me.

His beloved birth was followed by a brutal death on the CROSS.

Sin breaks us.

We need a Savior who can forgive us, clean us up and give us purpose and belonging.

How  then do we get to HOPE from our brokenness?

We humble ourselves.

We present our lives.

We open the door of our hearts to HIM.

We invite HIM to come in and live there forever.

We thank HIM for our relationship.

We praise Him for His ways.

We thank HIM for Provision.

We wait in belief for the impossible.

HE IS BEAUTY and JOY.

HE COMES!

Will you pause and ponder upon HIM this Holy Season?

Will you remember all HE has done for you?

Will you delight in HIM and be made ready to receive the gift  HE has planned for you?

if you do, HIS  Mercy and Goodness will surprise you with the Miraculous.

Mary did.

So can we.

Christmas Blessings to you,

HE REIGNS,

Billie

Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord…. for you are their glory and strength Psalm 89:15,17a

Let us surge together in prayer for break through in this crisis which impacts all people and affects all nations:

HOLY Father;
We come together as one and bow our hearts before YOU.
Sovereign YOU are, knowing what is imminent, standing in the midst of it and carrying YOUR people to the CROSS daily for strength.
We submit to YOUR Divine Authority.
It is the place of rest and trust.
We must live there.
It is the place of provision and patience.
We must go there.
It is the place of HOPE.
We must believe and receive.
Our nation is at a Crossroad of economic crisis.
We repent from chasing the wind and wandering in the ways of the world.
We repent from the idols we have created which are useless diversions positioned to take us out when we most need strength.
We repent from sloth and selfishness, inward adulation and closed access.
Crisis calls us back to what is real.
YOU ARE REAL.
Thank YOU.
We repent from our ways.
Cleanse us from our own darkness and ignite Truth in the hearts of YOUR People.
We know what it means to walk in the Light, to love YOUR Presence, to acclaim YOU as our God —our strength.
We come to ask for break through in this oil crisis.
We come humbly for we have no personal power.
We come boldly because YOU do and we lay this down before YOU— deliberately!
Families are suffering.
Food is being stripped away.
Industry is crippled.
Markets are plunging.
People are in turmoil.
Finances are dwindling.
Choices for good are being undermined by greed.
Hear our cries for supernatural intervention.
YOU PROVIDE.
Oil is needed for daily living–cooking, driving, traveling, heating, cooling, delivering, building, selling growing.
It is energy for the earth.
It comes from the earth and therefore is a gift from YOU.
Man did not create it and he cannot mandate its availability.
YOU hold the keys to the Kingdom.
You hold the keys to RESOURCE.
YOU ARE the KEY.
So we come in faith with expectancy that YOU will hear our cries and act in this world crisis which affects all peoples.
Many will recognize YOUR Mighty Hand and find ” the good way” that has been forgotten– YOUR WAY. Jeremiah 6:16
We believe.
We wait.
We watch.
Come in Strength and Glory!
REVEAL YOUR POWER!
We pray for this together in Jesus’ Name.

Let us be faithful in prayer as we expect God to move.
In All Things, HE REIGNS
Billie
Let us be faithful in prayerf