IN THESE TIMES

 In These Times
 
Many of us that are brothers and sisters in Christ know that the kingdom of God is at hand. We do not know the time or place and that is why Christ told us to be ready and also to be busy doing His Father's work. As the time seems to grow closer with passing months and years, we see the world grow darker around us, for the enemy is ramping up his attacks on God's people. The enemy know his time is limited.  Because of this, it will be the time of the greatest darkness for those who do not love God, but the time of the greatest glory for those who do. You see those who do not have true faith anchored in Christ Jesus will think negatively and will begin overtaken by fear. However, for those of us who have faith and are led by faith in Jesus Christ, will be given peace, understanding and courage. During this time, we should see this as one of the greatest opportunities of all, when our positive choices will do far greater good. Even a small decision to do what is right in the sight of the Lord could spark a great revival. A subtle turning in the direction toward the Lord can become a huge opportunity to witness and add lost souls into the kingdom of God, that is what this nation needs- to turn to God! But, to those that refuse Christ, there will be magnified consequences to their evil choices. God's people will come out from the world and be separated. 
Think about Isaiah 60, think about "Harvest is plenty but the workers are few". You see the harvest is when all of the seeds, both the wheat and the tares, come to full maturity. This is why we see in Isaiah 60 that when darkness is covering the earth and deep darkness the people, the glory of the Lord will be revealed in His people.  We are entering the ultimate battle between light and darkness, between good and evil. After this conflict, ALL will be able to see clearly what both good and evil are. Now we are in a time when many are calling good evil and evil good, honoring the dishonorable and dishonoring the honorable, but this WILL CHANGE. This is the time of EXPOSING!  This is only exposing the wheat from the tares. As we see in the Gospels, the tares are the first to be plucked out of the earth, and that time is coming. And as unsure and uncertain you may be right now reading this, please know that ultimately,  LIGHT WILL OVERCOME DARKNESS!  PRAISE GOD!    In Isaiah 60:3, we see that the result of this clash between light and darkness will be that the whole world will come to the light.  Light is going to prevail, regardless of what it may look like for a time. Now is the time to show and tell others to choose the light, so that we will walk in the way of the light. Now is the time to let our light shine boldly. SHINE ON!
     Those who do not speak according to the Word of God do not have the light, and they are not of the light but are in darkness. Now is the time when people will be determining who they will follow, and this will determine where they will spend eternity.  Now is the greatest opportunity given to us to minister to the lost and we need to walk with God, talk with God, be in His will, stand up for His Word and His truth, and to preach the Word of God! The fruit of the Spirit will be magnified during this time.
     I have seen many of God's people moved and shifted around to different areas and places in there walk with God and more so in these latter days. I truly feel the Holy Spirit is calling us into position to prepare us for what we need to know during this time. I have talked with several Pastors that feel there is going to be a great wave of the Holy Spirit move across area of the entire earth and feel it is very crucial for every individual to be in God's will and be where He called them to be and do. Only those who follow Him, obeying Him as Lord, will be in the right place at the right time to receive what is promised. God fulfills everyone of His Promises! 
         We must seek God and seek the kingdom of Heaven. The treasure of the world of a single grain of sand, but the treasures of Heaven are the true riches!  Spend time with God, find a quiet place so you can hear Him, ask Him to help you see things as He does, ask Him to help you every step of your day. So many promises and blessings are never received and are missed by so many because they are too busy with everyday life. Few are able to pull themselves away from the functions and chaos of their lives to climb up to a place of vision where they can see with His eyes and hear with His ears!
To discern the purposes of the Lord, they have to be our main focus. We must truly “seek first the kingdom” in order to see its coming. After the apostles had been beaten and threatened for doing what they were called to do, they went out rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for the sake of the Lord. They understood the true riches of the kingdom! No grain of sand earthly treasures! Seek and Do God's will, set your mind on the kingdom of God. Preach His Word, share your testimony of faith and you will have favor of the Lord!  The favor of the Lord that we have experienced has already been much more than I could have ever dreamed, and much more of His favor is coming. His generosity knows no bounds, and He rewards many times over what we ever deserve. Now hold on to His promises, seek Him will all your heart and walk with God!
God Bless!

Wisdom for the Day

Can A Mother Die From A Broken Heart?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2062743/Women-times-likely-suffer-broken-heart-syndrome-men.html
Interesting Article; Women are known to be more emotional and when it comes to their children or spouse the heartbreak can be a killer. 

How Many Times Can a Heart Be Broken?  How many band-aids do you have on your heart trying to hold the pieces together?  What about a Mother? 
The worst broken heart is one of a mother. The pain is  a dagger in your heart twisting, you can't breathe, you can't think, you can't concentrate at all. The sadness consumes you and falls over you like a 10 foot wave in the ocean, but only not fresh water, but volcanic lava. It hurts so bad it takes your breathe away. It kicks you in the stomach and there you were bent over, not breathing, your heart pumping and pumping all the blood and love you have.You feel like you are dying inside and your heart is breaking into a million little pieces and even though your heart already had numerous band-aids in it holding it together, this time it's different for the damage you feel is much too severe to be patched together.  The wound is too deep. You cry out gasping through the tears, "God, please help me for I need this dagger to stop twisting",  I feel as if it's becoming a sword to put me in the ground. It's a pain no other could understand except for a Mom.
 A mother's heart is broken, the mother cries out to God for the tears will not stop, my eyes are swollen and my head pounds, I hurt all over and my strength is failing. Heal me Lord,  you know the heartache and pain  am feeling.  Just weeks ago there was joy for my child followed you and obeyed you, You spared his life and 8 weeks later he is choosing to make choices of the world that caused him to nearly lose his life to begin with.  Lord, I cannot walk this alone and I am so tired and need you to heal me, hold me and carry me for my strength is going quickly and the misery and hurt I feel in my heart I cannot take.
For you Lord, is my only trust and hope.  

Yes I believe the heart break of a mother is not like just any heart ache, but the worst type of all.  I know this all too well and have several scars on my heart from God putting my broken heart back together so many times.  As I type through tears the only advice I can tell any mother that is going through the same, is to cry out to Jesus, for when a child of God hurts, He feels it.  Only God can take the broken pieces of your heart and make it whole again.

 

Men with Clenched Fists Cannot Shake Hands- Forgive & Be Free

FORGIVE AND BE FREE!

Too many times people will tell us that they forgive us only to later let us know they did not forget. They keep reminding us that they forgive but will never forget. I ask this question- How do you express true forgiveness when you know you will never forget what someone has done to you?
If you keep reminding the person that you will not "forget" what happened, but you will "forgive" them, how is that true forgiveness?
What is Forgiveness anyway?  Forgiveness is the willingness to change your attitude about something or someone who you felt offended or hurt by. True forgiveness is the perfume of a crushed flower on the heel of the one who just trampled on it. Forgiveness unlocks the door of resentment, bitterness, hate, and hurt. It gives us the grace to change our attitude and our course of thinking in life and prevents collisions that would otherwise be catastrophic to us and others.  True forgiveness never brings up the situation again. True forgiveness is given to us by God as He threw our sin into the sea of forgetfulness, never to remember again. If God forgives and forgets, then why is it man will not? When a person says they have forgiven someone, but will not let the person forget it, the person has never truly forgiven that person to begin with.  When someone will not forgive AND forget, the resentment, chronic thoughts of what the person did, the ongoing hurt, strife, bitterness, and hate will never go away and the person is literally being locked behind bars voluntarily while they continue to hold the key!  It would be as if the person put their own self in jail and no one can open the door and let them out, for the person is the only one holding the key.  Forgiveness without forgetfulness causes you to develop physical symptoms such as: ongoing fatigue, irritability, insomnia, short-tempered, hormonal imbalances, migraines, high blood pressure, depression, anxiety, and the list goes on and on. Not everyone may internalize as others, but if you do not deal with the situation and allow God to help you forgive AND forget, your physical health can be hindered. 
Recognize that forgiveness is an ACT of your WILL, not of your emotions-  if you decide to wait until you "feel" like forgiving, you will live with bitterness in your heart and that bitterness will destroy you. You can actually block your own blessings by not forgiving and continuing to hold onto the hurt!  Being healed by the power of forgiveness and allowing God to help you forget is an act of your will. Forgiveness is NOT for the other person that might have hurt you, forgiveness is for YOU!
It sets YOU FREE! You are not submitting toward another persons brutality, or condoning their injustice to you, you are willingly forgiving to bring cleansing to you! Forgive your enemies; it is the ONLY way to free your mind and emotions from the toxic poison of that painful hurt or memory! God will help you FORGIVE AND FORGET!
Let's remember in Matthew 5:23-24 when Jesus said, "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, you should leave your gift before the altar and go your way to first be reconciled to your brother and then come and offer your gift". Forgiveness must take place NOW! Jesus essentially said, "Stop now and forgive the one that hurt you, and then return to the place of prayer, for all of the other good things you do in the name of the Lord are worthless until you decide to deal with your own forgiveness"!   
We must forgive TOTALLY! When the apostle Peter asked Jesus how many times should he forgive his brother when his brother wronged him, it shocked Peter when Jesus said, "Seventy times Seven"
That a total of 490 times! The message Jesus was trying to get across to Peter was: Forgive until it becomes a habit. QUIT counting offenses!! If someone offends you in some way, forgive them.... and keep on forgiving them. You do not have to be a doormat, but you do have to forgive TOTALLY, COMPLETELY and CONTINUALLY!  God will help you "Forgive and Forget". 
Remember your CHOICE determines your future; If you harbor anger and bitterness toward someone and will not forgive nor forget, then Christ can hold it against you. Matthew 4:32.  We should forgive one another even as God in Christ forgave you! Let go of the grudges you harbor, let go of the bitterness, and all resentments from the past. We must forgive from the heart and FORGIVE and FORGET from the heart totally and completely. Forgive and Be Free!
Be Blessed!
Tammy