The Earth

The earth is rich with nutrients

Seeds planted in the soil burst forth with goodness

Green shoots soon will bear fruit

The root word of humility is humus

Humus is the good earth

When we allow God to make us humble

Our hearts become fertile soil for God's word to take root

His word brings forth a harvest

Practicing His Presence

Here is something I believe the Lord spoke to me today.  I believe it will encourage you to practice His presence.

Tom, keep me in the center of your heart, the object of your focus. Pray to me throughout the day. Practice my presence. Develop a more keen ear to hear my voice. Watch for my vision – those inspired pictures that come to mind, that tell a story. I want you to be Spirit led. So draw near to me. Even in the middle of your busy days you can draw near to me. Value your time with me as the most important part of your day. It is the river that overflows into every area of your life. I will cause your life to spring up like the fresh flowers in spring. That which lay dormant in the winter seasons of your life will take root and grow yielding a tremendous harvest. Come to Me My son. Come to Me. I am with you.

The Day After Christmas

What was the day after the first Christmas like? I suppose Joseph and Mary's minds swirled with wonder. I'm sure they had little or no sleep the previous night. Their baby was born, and the angels had proclaimed His importance. As Mary pondered these things in her heart, the baby quietly cried for milk. Joseph and Mary sat amidst the animals, cuddling their little one. Mary gently satisfied Jesus' thirst. A sheep “baaed” then a cow “mooed”. Perhaps they were praising the newborn Son of God. Perhaps they too wanted to be fed.

Joseph smiled as he looked at their Miracle. He realized that this was the beginning of something special. He felt the weight upon his shoulders. He must train this child and lead Him in the ways of God. He must be a strong godly example for Him. Little did he know that this Jesus would lead not only himself, but all of mankind into a relationship with God the Father. Jesus would give his life for this cause. Jesus the baby will grow in wisdom and stature under the covering of His parents, but it would be through His relationship with God the Father that he would truly become all He was meant to be.

If you haven't invited the One called Jesus into your life, why not call on His name now. Admit your a sinner in need of His forgiveness. Forsake your sin and come to Him. Here is a prayer that you can pray. If you mean it with all of your heart, you will become His very own, you will begin a new relationship with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. You will find a love so full and real that it has transformed the lives of millions. And you will inherit everlasting life in heaven, when you pass on.

Dear Father God,

 

Thank you for Your love for me. Thank you for sending Jesus as a baby so He could grow and show me how to live. I acknowledge that I am a sinner. Please forgive me and wash my sullied soul. I need your mercy. Thank you for dying for me on the cross. I forsake my sin and I cling to You. Jesus be Lord of my life. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.  

I am Complete in Christ

I am complete in Christ

My sense of completion is not based on what I do

It's not diminished

When my grasp does not reach my ambition

It's not what I have or wish to gain

That makes me significant

My significance comes from

Being in Christ

I am complete in Christ

My identity is rooted in

The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ

When He died, I died

When He was buried, I was buried

When He rose, I rose

I am complete in Christ

It is good for me to develop my talents

It is good to serve the Lord

But my number one aspiration must be to know the Lord

I am complete in Christ

Even the act of praising and worshiping the Lord

Does not make me complete

If it lacks adoration that stems from a pure relationship with Christ.

I am complete in Christ

In Christ

In what He did for me upon that tree

In Christ I am complete  

Pray for the Philippines

Please pray with me for the Philippines.  There is a hurricane headed for their shores.

Dear Father God,

We pray for the Philippines this day.  Lord, protect this nation and it's people.  We plead Your blood over the nation.  We speak to this storm, "Be still and know that Jesus is God!  We command you to miss every island of the Philippines and to cause no one harm!" Thank you Lord for moving in this way.  In Jesus name we pray.  Amen.

Go

A prophetic word given at FaithBridge Church in West Chicago, IL on 11/30/14

I saw a picture of the Lord on His throne. He was pointing to the earth.

Go my people, go into all the world. Go and speak of my great name. Proclaim my message. Let my love motivate you. Let my love make you bold. Invite your friends. Invite your family. Invite the ones in darkness to partake of my feast. Bring them into my family. For the power of the cross has not diminished. Go and I will make them my own. Go and I will bless you one hundred fold.

Be Thankful

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. Thessalonians 5:18 NLT

Thankfulness is the proper response to God's blessing. One day Jesus healed ten lepers (Luke 17:11-19). He sent them to show themselves to the priests. As they went, they were cleansed, but only one returned to Jesus to give thanks. This man was a Samaritan who received praise from the Lord. But Christ asked, “Where are the other nine?” We may wonder at times what God's will is for our lives. We ask God's will for big and little decisions. We don't always know what we should do, but it is always God's will that we be joyful and give thanks.

Learning to be thankful starts as a decision. A decision that we make with God's strength. As we learn to give thanks regularly, gratitude becomes our lifestyle.

We are to thank God in all circumstances but not for all circumstances. Not everything we face in life comes from the Lord's hand.

When we thank God, we invite His presence in our lives. We also open the door for us to become more intimate with our Father God. Being thankful also defeats the enemy in our lives.

Let's remember the things that we can be thankful for. Things like good health, food to eat, friends and

family, and especially our relationship with the Savior. All of us have things that we can be thankful for. This Thanksgiving let's praise and thank our Heavenly Father for His many blessings.

Dear Father God,

Thank you for all your blessings and for your great love for me. Help me to be thankful always. Help me also to share my blessings with others. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.