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.

The Oyster

It lay unobtrusive in the belly of the oyster

Under the cold blue waters

A single grain of sand

An irritant

The beginning of a blessing

Trouble twists and turns us

Along the path

But God uses hardships

For our benefit

The Lord transforms our peril into pearls

It is only through the irritant

That a pearl is formed

It is only through difficulty

That our character is carved

Into Christ's likeness

The Holy Spirit uses our pain

To produce within us His priceless pearls

Building blocks comprising Christian maturity

Joseph felt the sting

When they sold him into slavery

When they thrust him into prison

Though innocent

But these years made him

Into a man

Wise and full of integrity

At the appointed time

He was lifted to a place of prominence

Second in command of Egypt

The Lord transforms our peril into pearls

Suffering into a treasure of the sea

As we offer Him our lives,

God is changing you and me

A Glorious Invitation

God calls us to a glorious invitation. We have been invited to partake in a bountiful banquet. We have access to the presence of the King. The Lord desires intimacy with all His children, and it is possible for us to experience a deep personal relationship with our Lord. You can hear His voice. You can experience His presence.

Christ's blood was shed so that we could have boldness to enter into the holy of holies. All our past sins have been forgiven. They are washed by the blood. We must believe that we have been forgiven. God wants us to repent of our sin, confess it before Him, and accept His gift of righteousness.

The Holy Spirit desires to draw us into a more personal relationship with God. We can come into His presence through praise and worship and through prayer. We can also grow in our relationship with Him by reading and obeying His word. The Father is looking for those who will worship Him in Spirit and in truth.

Let's draw near to the One who changes hearts. Let's worship the Master. Let's approach Him in humility. In His presence is fullness of joy. Let's make it our practice to enter into His presence every day. When we spend time with our Father God, we experience inner transformation. When we draw near to Him, we are changed. Come and partake of the bountiful banquet the Lord has prepared for you. Come into the presence of the King. Make it your habit to come into the King's presence and you will never be the same – all because of His glorious invitation!

Dear Father God,

Thank you for inviting me into Your presence. Please forgive me of any sin that would hinder me from knowing You. I thank You that I have been made righteous because of Your precious blood. Lord, I surrender all to You and I worship You. You are pure and holy. Lord, I love you. Help me to know You more. In Jesus name I pray, Amen!         

Inside This Well

Lord You see the recesses of my heart

Every nook and cranny

Every single part

Is the water clean inside this well?

Am I bound to heaven or bound to hell?

Is wisdom flowing from this spring?

Or is it foolishness I bring?

Help me Lord to live for You

To abide in love

To live for truth

You see the rooms inside my heart

Take up your throne

Fill up each part

When Your blood atones for my misdeeds,

Then I shall be pure

Then I shall be clean

Let me not taint the water I give away

With selfish deeds and selfish ways

Come search my heart oh Holy Spirit

Let me know Your truth

Let me always fear it

Come search my heart oh Holy King

Come seek until you find anything

That grieves Your heart and brings displeasure

May Your blood cleanse and bring this treasure

Of a willing heart and willing mind

Of a well within where beggars find

Your living water flowing full and free

Bringing others to blessed eternity

Whatever God Touches Flourishes

If you'd like to read a devotion of mine that was published in christiandevotions.us, please click on this link...
www.christiandevotions.us/viewblogentry/109 

I believe this devotion will minister to you greatly. Have an awesome day!

Blessings,

Tom Toya

A Brand New Day

The beauty of another day

Commences with light bursting on the horizon

Your mercies are new every morning

The sins of yesterday forgiven

All is new

We can set our sights high

Up where the stars dwell

We can make it our goal

To please Him

You created the heavens and the earth

Your handiwork like the strokes of a master painter

Fill the canvas of the sky

Lord teach us to number our days

Train us in Your ways

You are the Mighty One

Creator God

We are your people

Washed in the blood of the Lamb

We are your children

Ready to face a brand new day

A Word From the Lord

I gave this prophecy this morning at FaithBridge Church, West Chicago, IL.  To God be the glory!


There is a banner flying over our heads.  The banner over us is love.  It is love that causes the army of God to prevail.  You are winners, overcomers in His name.

I am your source of victory, your strength.  Lay aside the guilt, lay aside the burden, lay aside those besetting sins and come to Me.  Come to the cross and let Me be your victorious King.  Let me give you My victory.

Love Never Fails

Like a river let Your love flow

Through my heart Lord

Cause me to grow

Love is stronger than bitter hate

Love can grip a nation and make it shake

Love is pure and undefiled

Warms the heart

Makes a home thrive

Love lays pride low to the ground

Becomes a servant

With actions loud

The love of God can renovate a heart

Run to Him and never part

Call upon His merciful name

He who banishes guilt and shame

Faith Hope and Love endure

But the greatest is love

It is the cure

Faith Hope and Love will last

But the greatest of these will accomplish the task

When we are motivated by this heart

We find success, we hit the mark

Come let's set our sails

And propel to the direction of God's love

For love never fails

Chosen

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 
1 Peter 2:9

I can remember the reoccurring event. Two boys stand in a field; both pick a team for a scrap football game. I waited as boy after boy after boy was chosen. I wiped my sweating palms against my pants. My heart raced until I finally heard my name. Sometimes I was picked last, other times I landed higher up in the pecking order. It is not cool to be chosen last, and it is embarrassing.

But God chose us before the foundation of the world. He set His affection on us before we were born. He has called the entire world to receive His gift of salvation, but it is only those who respond to the call that become His chosen ones. God foreknew who would accept Him and who would reject Him.

We can rejoice in the knowledge that we are chosen by God. He didn't choose us because we had it all together. No, we can never earn His acceptance. We are accepted in the beloved because of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. He paid the price for us to be redeemed.

Those of us who have invited Jesus to be their Lord and Savior can bask in the truth that we are His chosen ones and we are members of His wonderful family. We are all equal before Him, and none of us have been chosen last. Let's rejoice in the fact that we are chosen by God the Father. What an awesome truth to behold. We each have been picked to be a key player on God's winning team!

Salvation - a Free Gift

Salvation is a free gift to those that choose to receive it. It is free to us but not to God. Jesus paid the ultimate price, when He hung upon the cross. His life became a ransom for our sins. He took upon Himself the sins of the world, and God the Father judged Him for our sin. After three days, He rose again from the dead. Jesus, who is 100% man and 100% God, won salvation for us who believe. In Romans 10, it says that all those that confess that Jesus is Lord, and all those who believe in their heart that He rose from the dead shall be saved. 

We cannot earn our way to heaven. In fact, we can never be good enough, because God's holiness demands perfection. But when we invite the Lord into our lives, He takes our sin and imparts to us His righteousness. This is the miracle of salvation – the greatest miracle of all. When we come to him, we must bow low. In humility we can surrender our lives to God the Father allowing Him to cleanse us from our every sin. Our salvation is not based on the denomination we may or may not be part of; it is only based on the position of our hearts before God. If you would like to become a follower of Jesus, please pray the prayer below....

Dear Heavenly Father,

I believe that You sent Your Son, Jesus, to die and pay for my sin debt. I believe that Jesus rose from the dead, and I declare that He is my Lord and Savior. Thank You for forgiving me from all of my sin. Lord, I repent of all my sin and choose to follow You. Thank you that I have a home in heaven waiting for me.

Congratulations! You have made the most important decision of your life.

I would like to encourage you to:

Pray every day – its like talking to a Friend.

Daily read from the Bible – it is food for your soul.

Share your faith with others – let them hear the good news.

Go to church regularly – we need the fellowship of other believers, and we need to hear the word of God preached.

Reflections

The moon reflects the sun
Over the still water its picture is clear
But when the waves roll in, the moon is indistinguishable
When we walk in peace with our God,
We reflect our Savior
But when turmoil rules within our hearts,
We no longer bear Christ’s image to the world

When we allow truth and love to abide inside us,

Peace rules
And we shine the light of Jesus to those around us
May our hearts know the calm
Of being cradled by our Heavenly Father

 

 

 

 

Overcoming Fear

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

It is easy to be moved by tumultuous circumstances. But as Christians we are commanded not to fear. When I was a young man, I struggled with a fear of the future. I approached my coming days with a lack of confidence. It was not until I faced my fears with the word of God that I found victory. I learned to take scriptures like 2 Timothy 1:7 and speak them aloud. By doing this, I strengthened my confidence, and I was able to loosen Satan's hold over my heart and mind.

God has given us a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. These gifts of grace cause us to overcome the spirit of fear. We also find victory over fear when we grow in our understanding of God's love for us. The Bible says that perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18).

Let's take our stand against any form of fear in our lives. Although we are to fear or respect our Lord, we are not to entertain any other kind of fear. As we submit to God and resist the devil, he will flee. Become grounded in the word of God and the love of our heavenly Father. The Lord will give you victory. He will lift you out of the mire of anxiety and trepidation. As you surrender to Him and take up your sword (the spoken word of God) and use it against the enemy, you will find freedom from all fear.

Now I live with a faith-filled expectation of the future ahead of me. You too can realize who you are in Christ. You are more than a conqueror in Him. With God's help you too can overcome your fears.

Let's Make Our Father Smile

Here is a post from the past that I hope you will enjoy...

And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it. 1 Chronicles 21:1-2

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. Psalm 20:7

God calls His children to a life of faith. He wants us to trust Him in the big and little things. King David allowed Satan to influence his thinking and consequently his actions. David asked Joab to number the people.

You might ask, “What's the harm in numbering the nation?” But God listens to the rhythm of our hearts. He peers into the center of our souls. We humans recognize some sins as serious, such as murder and adultery, but God saw David's actions as a lack of faith. He did not trust God to protect Israel. Instead he fell into Satan's trap. The sin may have been more in the heart attitude of David than in the actual act of counting the individuals. Romans 14:23 says that everything that does not come from faith is sin. The Lord punished David by sending a plague to the nation.

David did repent of his sin, and the plague was eventually stayed by God, but there were many casualties. What can we learn from this unusual story? Our lack of faith displeases our Father. It also can cause us to do things that affect others. A lack of trust on our part can have a rippling effect. It can bring negative things in our lives and the lives of those around us.

What is the cure? First we must repent or turn about face and ask for forgiveness. Next we need to feed our faith with God's word. Romans 10:17 says that faith comes by hearing God's word. It is also beneficial for us to speak God's word over our lives; this helps to build our faith. Finally, we must obey God, and expect Him to do what He says He will do in His word.

Faith is a choice. When we choose faith, we please God. The decision to walk by faith also has a rippling effect. Our faith not only blesses our lives, it blesses others as well. When we give in to fear, doubt, and worry, we can come to the Father and receive His love and forgiveness. Let's allow our Lord to build us up in faith. As we act on this faith by trusting Him, we make our Father smile.

 

Dear Father God,

 

I want to please You. I want to walk by faith. I want to make You smile. Forgive me for doubting You at times. Help me to feed daily on Your written word so that my faith can be established. Lord I love You and I choose to put my trust in You. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

All Creation

The redwood reaches to the heavens

Its arms lifted high praise the King

The ocean waves crash against the rocks.

Their sound is a symphony of worship

The swallow sings psalms to God

The peacock's beauty reflects the glory of the Lord

The mighty mountain feeds water to the valley

Our Father is a reservoir

He meets our every need

All creation displays the majesty of God

Let all men fear the mighty One of Israel

Let us worship the Lord on His throne

Each element of creation speaks

Of the wisdom and splendor of God

May our lives ever glorify God as well

The Benefits of Praise and Worship

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Psalm 150:6

Praise is the language of faith. We are to praise God even when our situation looks bleak. We can praise God in the desert when no fruit can be seen on the vine. When we pray for God to move in our lives, praise carries us through the valley to the heights of the manifested blessing of the Lord.

Praise magnifies our Lord. As we sing praises to Him, we begin to see Him as bigger than our circumstances. Praise is how we express our faith.

Praise is also a weapon against the enemy. The Scripture says that praise stills the avenger (Psalm 8:2, Matthew 21:16). Praise stops the enemy. Praising God also gives us strength. Praise brings joy and the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

Worship is an expression of adoration and love for our precious Lord. Praise lifts up Jesus and exalts Him for what He has done and what He is doing on our behalf, but we worship the Lord for who He is – for His attributes and incomparable character. We are to worship our Savior in Spirit and in truth. This means we are to be Spirit-led and Bible-based in our worship. We are also to speak the truth to the Lord – the truth of who we are and how we feel.

As we behold the Lord through worship, we are changed in His presence. 2 Corinthians 3:18 KJV says, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

Let's make it our goal to magnify the Lord through praise and worship regularly. With the Holy Spirit's help we can make praising and worshiping God a way of life. There is power in His presence to bring us joy, strength, and answers to prayer. As we praise and worship God, we draw closer to the One who made us and delivered us from oppression. As we worship and praise our Lord, we behold Him and we are changed from glory to glory. We slowly take on more of His nature. When we draw near to Him, He promises to draw near to us (James 4:8). Let's speak the language of faith. Let's praise and worship our Master – He in turn will bless us in many ways and will give us a satisfying taste of His presence.

A Letter that Jesus Might Write

At times, you have seen hardship and suffering. Painful days that sap your strength. I bore your pain. You may be experiencing disease and physical limitations. I bled for your healing. You may feel the weight of guilt and sin. You were not made to carry this burden. I laid down My life so you could experience new life.

Come to Me all who are weary. Come to Me all who long for a loving relationship that is everlasting. Call upon My name and be saved. Surrender your dreams and disappointments, surrender your life to Me. I will not abandon you. I will be the source of your strength, the fulfillment of your soul. Come and invite Me into your heart and into your life. You will never be the same. Come to Me and I will give you rest.

Yours Truly,

Jesus Christ

Like a Flag

We were chained

Bound up in our souls

We were lost

Heading out of control

You redeemed us

Through Your precious blood

Bought our freedom

Because of your great love

Like a flag held high

In the middle of my heart

I am free, I am free

Like a flag held high

In the middle of my soul

I am free, I am free

You plunged my sin

Into the depths of the sea

You've forgiven me

You've forgiven me

And to all who choose

Redemption as their song

They are forgiven

All life long

Like a flag held high

In the middle of our hearts

We are free, we are free

Like a flag held high

In the middle of our souls

We are free, we are free

Have Fun!

As a young believer, I took seriously the calling to follow after Christ. I attended church regularly, prayed, read my Bible, and tried to reach others for Jesus. But there was one ingredient missing in the recipe of my life – joy. My shortage of joy was directly related to a lack of understanding of the grace of God. It took time for God to get through to me. Gradually, the Lord began to reveal His great love for me. One day I wrote a song called “Have Fun”. Here is a sampling of it:

“Have Fun in the presence of the, have fun in the presence of the, have fun in the presence of the Lord.”

“He wants to be your Buddy and your Friend. His love for you will never, never end. His peace is sweet. His joy it overflows. Holy laughter from the Holy Ghost.”

I believe we can have fun in our relationship with Jesus, and we can carry that joy into the various ways we serve Him. The Bible says that the joy of the Lord is our strength. Joy is also contagious. Without joy our witness for Christ proves empty and dry like land experiencing severe drought.

We can take this journey of Christianity with joy as our companion. We can have fun as we follow the King. Lets ask God to reveal to us His love. Let's take hold of the freedom that is ours through His sacrifice.

Come my friend draw near to the Lord. Have fun and experience His joy.

Asking the Right Questions

Here is the link to a devotion of mine that was recently published in christiandevotions.us.  I hope it ministers to you.  http://christiandevotions.us/?wpmlmethod=newsletter&id=857&mailinglist_id=0&subscriber_id=1063&authkey=71a3cb155f8dc89bf3d0365288219936


Blessings,


Tom Toya

Whatever God Touches Flourishes

And God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning – the sixth day. Genesis 1:31

God created the world in six days. Each of these six days, he accomplished some act or acts of creation. On the sixth day, he created man. Each day he reflected upon what he had done and saw that what he had created was good. But after he formed man, his response was that this creation was very good. This shows me that whatever God touches flourishes. It also reveals the heart of God towards man. Although Adam and Eve fell, God sent his Son to restore what we lost through the fall.

If we look at the creation story closely, we will discover that God spoke the world into existence. He said let there be light and light was. He said let the waters teem with life and they did. And so it was with all his creation. But when he made man, he formed him from the earth then he breathed life into him. So when it came to man, God physically created him with his hands. After this, God saw that what he had made was very good.

Those of us who have embraced Christ as our Savior, have been made new by God on the inside. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” God has touched us. We are children of the King. In 1994, a band called The Halo Benders named their first album, God Don't Make No Junk. There is great truth to that. When God touches you, you are transformed into a new person. And he is bringing us from glory to glory, as we behold him and invite him to change us.

When our Lord places his hands on something or someone, he cause that thing or person to thrive. When we invite Jesus into our situation through prayer and obedience to his word, the Lord causes that area of our lives to prosper. We may not see the fruition of it right away, but like a seed that is faithfully tended to, we will witness our negative circumstance bow to the power of Almighty God. We will see God's promises over our lives come to pass, because whatever God touches flourishes.

My friend, if you are in need of a touch from God whether in your heart, your mind, your body, your family, or your finances; please pray this prayer with me....

Dear Father God,

I am in need of a touch from your hand. I invite to come and have your way in me and through me. Dear Lord, please forgive me for the ways in which I have failed you. Be Lord of every area of my life and come and show me what steps I must take to see you bring your blessing into every area of my life. Thank you Father for hearing my prayer. I believe your miracle for me is mine to enjoy. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. 

Love is Who You Are

As a circle, Your love knows no end

As far as the east is from the west

The measure of Your compassion

Your commandments form the genetic makeup

Of Your love

Each stroke outlines who You are

God of love we find our hope in You

Your decrees frame Your Divine Face

We choose to dwell on Your words of love

We meditate upon who You are

Your love stimulates caring action through us

Love is both who You are

And Your greatest commandment  

Conversation with God

Here is a conversation I had with God today.  I hope the words minister to you...

 

Dear Lord what would say to me?

My son, today is a day of healing - healing for the past and present.  Healing for the troubled mind – for the soul beaten and bruised.  My Spirit is a balm, my word an ointment. I will heal the hurting.  I will touch those lost in a maze of pain.  Through my Son, Jesus, the healing is manifested.  My Son is risen with healing in His wings.  Come to the fountain.  Come to the place where the blessing flows.  Know that I hold you in the palm of my hand.  I have begun a good work in you and I will complete it until the day of Christ. I will perfect all that concerns you.  In my time, I will answer all your questions.  I speak grace to you, great grace.  No weapon formed against you shall prosper.  I am with you, says the Lord.

Come Unto Me

Come unto Me

All who are frazzled to the bone

All who are looking for a home

And I will give you rest

Release your cares to Me

I will make haste to set you free

You will find peace within your souls

My love and truth will make you whole

Peace is flowing like a river

Cease your striving and recover

Find the strength you've always longed for

Leave your world of weary shores

Sail away, get on board

Along the river of grace and peace

Come and set your heart at ease

Come unto Me all that labor

Let me undergird you with my favor

Nothing will be impossible to you

If you trust in Me

I will heal you through and through

Come unto Me

And find My gracious liberty

It is For Freedom

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Galatians 5:1

Freedom is a precious commodity.  If you could ask a slave bound to a toilsome life what his freedom is worth, he would say it’s priceless.  We too were slaves once, when we lived in darkness far from the liberty that Christ supplies.  But it was for freedom that Christ set us free. He freed us because of His great love.  Now we can sing praises to the Master.  Now we can dance with our feet no longer bound with chains. 

If you sense in your heart that freedom for you has been elusive, cry out the Eternal God.  Ask Him to bring you this gift worth more than gold.  You can have the freedom to enter the presence of the King.  You can rejoice in His saving grace.  Just confess your sins to Him with a heart of repentance and embrace His forgiveness and freedom.  Christ purchased your emancipation on the cross.  If you turn to Him my friend, you will never be the same.

The Ability to Produce Wealth

When you have eaten and are satisfied praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.  Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day.  Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery…. You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.”  But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.  (Deuteronomy 8:10-14; 17-18 NIV)

It is God who gives us the ability to make or produce wealth.  The Holy Spirit is our Enabler all throughout our Christian experience.  He causes us to succeed.  It is the same in the business arena.  God gives us the ability or power or anointing to produce wealth.  We have the Lords favor; we have His supernatural ability.  God desires to bless us, but His blessing does not come without His warning.

First, we are admonished to observe the Lord’s commands.  We are to obey the words of Scripture.  When we do this, God promises to bless the work of our hands. This does not mean that we live perfect lives - it simply means that our hearts desire is to serve the Lord.  When we fall, He picks us up.  He helps us to follow His decrees.  

Secondly, we are told that when our Father gives us increased wealth, we are not to become proud.  We must watch our hearts and always remember that it is the Lord who brings the blessing. 

Thirdly, we must remember that finances are not only for ourselves.  We have been blessed to be a blessing and to help carry out kingdom business (See Genesis 12:2-3).  We are to give towards the work of our local church first and then to other Christian ministries as we are able.  The more God increases our wealth, the more we should be giving towards the Lord’s purposes.

If we are diligent, if we make it our aim to obey the Bible, if we extend our faith in the area of scriptural prosperity, and give to the Lord’s work, God will bless us.  Then it becomes our responsibility to remember that all the blessings we enjoy come from the hand of our Lord and Savior.  He alone is to be worshiped and praised.  Let’s thank the Lord for giving us the ability to produce wealth!

He is Risen!

An innocent man

Condemned to hang on a tree

A righteous soul – pure and holy

Tortured as a criminal

Yet without sin

But He became sin for us

So that we could be made righteous in Him

He was whipped for our healing

Bruised and scarred for our liberty

Blood flowed down upon the cross

On to the ground

Where the serpent writhed in glee

Jesus cried out it is finished

And the sun hid it's face

Just as the Father hid His

They buried him in the tomb

A large stone was set in place

Sealing the entrance of the sepulcher

On the third day, the stone was rolled away

Brilliant light streamed from that tomb

Christ came forth with victory in his gaze

From the dead He had been raised

The serpent screamed in horror, his muscles grew numb

His head now bruised beyond recognition.

Glory to God in the Highest!

He is Risen!

This One they had condemned to death

Has set the captives free!

This One has ransomed you and me!

Your Blessing

You bless us richly as we trust in You

Your faithfulness always comes on through

Abundance drips upon Your narrow road

You carry our every single load

As we give to others, You give to us

Your blessing flows - in You we can trust

Nothing is impossible to You

We will walk by faith; Your word for us

Will come true

Like faithful Abraham we are

Blessed to be a blessing

Extending God’s kingdom near and far 

Help us Lord to follow Your commands

And to see You prosper everything we hold in our hands

Cultivating Ears to Hear and Eyes to See

“...He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they to not recognize a stranger's voice.” John 10:3-5 NIV

Our God is not mute nor is He absent. The Lord is our Shepherd, and He speaks to us. He said He would never leave us nor forsake us. He is kind and loving and He desires to communicate with us every single day. When we read the Bible, we saturate ourselves with His words. Many times He will speak directly to us through the Scriptures, but He also chooses to speak to us through His still small voice in our hearts. We can cultivate an ear to hear what He is saying. We can learn to see His vision within our hearts. He often will show us pictures that convey a particular meaning.

God is not dead; He is very much alive and He desires to talk to us. Paul said regarding prophecy that the words given should edify, exhort, and comfort the listener (1 Corinthians 14:3). This is a pattern for how God speaks to us personally as well. God's Spirit does not bring confusion or condemnation (1 Corinthians 14:33, Romans 8:1); these are from the evil one. God always speaks the truth in love. He does correct us at times, but He does so in a way that affirms our dignity.

Many have found that a good way to hear from God is through journaling. When I journal, I simply write my prayers down and listen for the Lord's response. I then write down what I believe He is saying to me (See Habakkuk 2:1-3). We can first write down what we are hearing and seeing and then test it afterwards. One of the ways to recognize God's voice is to determine if it is accompanied by peace in our hearts (Colossians 3:15). Again God's words to us will always edify, exhort, and/or comfort us. When we are discerning whether what we hear is from God, it is important to test it with Scripture. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth; everything He says to us will line up with the Bible. We can simply throw out anything that does not pass these tests, without feeling guilty that we did not hear from God clearly. Like a baby who is learning to walk, we will stumble. The Lord is always there to pick us up. He encourages us to try and try again.

Are you hungry for more of God? Do you desire to grow in intimacy with Him? Learn to cultivate ears to hear what God is saying and eyes to see Him. You will find that God is closer to you than you had ever thought possible.

I Found You

Here are the lyrics to a song I wrote for Lou my wife.  April 7th is the anniversary of the day I proposed to her.  I love you Lou!

© Copyright 2014 by Tom Toyaas

I Found You

I walked a lonely road feeling out of place.

I watched the years roll by, looking for her face.

I asked my Lord to bring someone to my life.

I trusted Jesus to bless me with a wife.

Chorus

I found you, I found you, I found you girl. (2x)

You are my angel in disguise. A beautiful surprise.

A gift from God above. An expression of His love.

Thank You Jesus.

The two became one. Vessels of His love.

With Jesus in between, we live the victory.

Though sometimes we fall, God loves us through it all.

I am so grateful that I found you.

Grace is Free

Grace is free

Births liberty

But Grace paid the highest price

When Jesus gave His life

Blood flowed down from His veins

From the Truth, the Life, the Way

He hung against the criss-cross beams

A ransom for our God-inspired dreams

He held the world upon His shoulders

Held the young and the older

His sacrifice once and for all

Redeemed us from the fall

The veil was torn that dreadful day

The day He gave His life away

Two days passed and then the third came

Then resurrection power kissed His grave

“I am the resurrection and the life”

Said the Christ

He comes to bring us liberty

He's alive

His grace is free

A Prophetic Word

Lord had me give this at FaithBridge Church, West Chicago, IL on Sunday, March 23, 2014

Come to Me. Come if you are hurting. Come if you are confused. I will meet your every need. I will wipe away your every tear. I was like a seed that died and was buried. Behold I am now a tree. Like birds that rest in the branches of a tree, you can rest in Me. You can find refuge in my arms. Come away with Me. Come and receive My embrace. I am longing to hold you. I long to make you My own. Come I say and rest in My branches, and I will make you whole.

The Transforming Power of God's Love

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

At eighteen years of age, my future was a kaleidoscope of confusion. Fear hunted me down and wounded me like a young deer caught in a bear trap. As a senior in high school, I scouted out colleges, while I wondered at what I would do with my life. Should I pursue something in the sciences? How about music – I love to play guitar? But my questions were not hopeful they were laden with self doubt. At the same time, God was pursuing me. During this time, I received an advertisement in the mail from Wheaton College. They offered a three-day “Get Acquainted Weekend” where potential students could learn about the school. I decided to go. Part of the package included a free concert with a man named Leon Patillo, who formerly sang for the group Santana.

This singer and keyboardist played and sang skillfully. The message of God's grace permeated his music and ministry. At the end of the concert, I walked forward to receive Christ into my life. I wish I could say that fear immediately left me after I met Christ. The truth is that it took time for me to find freedom. That freedom came as I slowly learned of God's love for me. And that knowledge came as I meditated upon God's word, as I spent time in the Lord's presence, and as I fellowshipped with other believers.

If you are struggling with fear in your life, my first recommendation to you is that you make sure that you are born again. When I received Christ at that gospel concert, Leon, the performer, led me and others in a prayer. Here is a similar prayer that you can pray if you do not know Jesus, the Wonder- worker.

Dear God of Heaven,

I come before you as I am. Forgive me for my fears and failures. I acknowledge that I am a sinner and that I need your mercy. Thank you, Jesus, for dying for me on the cross, and for taking the punishment for my sin. Lord, I surrender all to you. Have your way in me and through me. I choose to follow you all the days of my life. Help me to grow as a new believer, and help me to know you more and more. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Once you become a born again Christian, take time every day to read God's word (the Bible) and pray, and find a church where you are loved and where God's word is powerfully preached. Ask the Lord to reveal to you his love for you. He will, and it will come in stages. The love that comes from God the Father acts like the sun that melts away the icicles of fear in our lives. Love always drives fear away. When we choose to love God and others, that love flows more and more freely in our lives.

I am now 47 and with God's help I have overcome all my foreboding fears. My wife, her cousin and husband, and I run a caregiving agency. I also serve on the praise and worship team at my church. I no longer fear the future. Instead I live life blossoming with the Spirit's joy.

You too can experience the transforming power of God's love. Come and invite Jesus to shower you with his love – I promise you, you will never be the same.

Creative Power

When troubles multiply
I speak your word
When my heart wonders why
I speak your word

When I’m tempted to fear
You come, You draw near

There’s creative power in the words You’ve given
Power to build and to destroy
Your word spoken calls the angels to be employed

They move swiftly bringing Your word to pass
They are God’s servants accomplishing the task

Dear Father,
Teach us to speak your word
In faith and power
You will move in Your hour

Nothing is impossible to You
We trust You Lord of love and truth

Fishers of Men

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fisherman. “Come, follow me, “ Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Matthew 4:18-20

Jesus extended an invitation to Peter and Andrew. He asked them to come and follow Him. He urged them to drop their nets and become His disciples. He called them to no longer be fisherman – this was their livelihood, it was all they knew. Now Jesus was calling them to fish for men or win others for God's kingdom.

It is interesting that Jesus did not look for the religious leaders or scribes of his day to follow Him. He did not recruit scholars. Instead He chose the foolish things of this world to confound the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27). He was looking for those who had a teachable spirit, those who could be molded by the Master for God's purposes.

Peter and Andrew said yes to the call. They became His disciples and His witnesses. God used them mightily. We are not all called to leave our secular jobs to become full-time ministers for the Lord, but wherever we find ourselves in the working community, we can shine for Him. We can lay down any behaviors or attributes that do not glorify God, we can clothe ourselves with Christ's character, and we can compel others to come to our Lord. Jesus is still crying out Come and follow me; He still desires to make all of us fishers of men. Will you answer the call?

Dear Father God,

I am humbled be the fact that You would choose me. I ask you to fill me with Your Spirit. I say yes to your call to follow You. Make me more and more like You and help me represent You in this fallen world. Give me a heart for souls. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

To Love Again

I found myself in the dark

My eyes failed to perceive

Lost in an abyss that left me blind

My heart forgot its focus

Deep inside I failed to follow You

When selfishness took the place of love

When hatred triumphed over me

How can I find my way out of this labyrinth?

I cried out to You my Shepherd

You sought and found me like a lost sheep

You extended to me the key

Thank you Jesus for teaching me to love again

Through Every Season

Seasons change like the shifting colors of a chameleon. Like leaves stirred by the wind. Like the dawning of a new day... Light shines revealing what's new. Sometimes difficulty surfaces. At other times blessings are exposed. No matter what new thing we face, we follow the One who has already been there.

He has already won the victory, defeated the armies, canceled the curse. Jesus is Lord of our seasons. He will help us foot any terrain. In Him, we are more than conquerors – champions who can face any foe. The Holy Spirit, will show us things to come. He will prepare us for all that is to come. We can rest under the shadow of the Most High. His wings are our refuge. His grace enables us to win, to grow, to rise above during every season of our lives.

At times, we will loose our footing. When we fall, He causes us to come up higher. At times, we may get discouraged, but He will help us as we learn to encourage ourselves in the Lord. God is with us, He is with us before, during, and after each new season of our lives. Do not fear, the Lord is with you through it all. Seasons change, but our Lord never does, and His love will surely see us through.

Hope

Hope is an anchor for the soul

Securing us amidst the chaos

When the storm ensues

We will look to You

You give us peace when our eyes

See Your face

You're the anchor that holds

Beneath the waves

We wait in expectation

For Your glory to be revealed

For You to come upon the scene

We know You are the One

Who will make all things new

The Messiah, The Christ

Jesus the reason for our Hope

You will soon return

We wait patiently for You

A Very Reluctant Prophet

Jonah ran

Far from his calling

Swiftly in the opposite direction

From where the Lord prescribed

The Ninevites were enemies of the Jews

The thought of them repulsed Jonah

The antithesis of all he held dear

They had brought nothing but misery to his people

Yet God loved them

And the Lord called Jonah to them

To proclaim His living and active word

Jonah’s rebellion caused the sea to quake

When he was thrown into the violent waters

The sea's turmoil ceased

God sent a great fish

It swallowed Jonah whole

Three days and three nights passed

Jonah repented in the belly of the sea creature

In the belly of the whale He offered God

His sorrow and his praise

The obedient fish spewed Jonah

Upon the shore

To the Ninevites he marched

Proclaiming God’s word

“Forty more days and Ninevah will be overturned”

A spirit of repentance swept across the land

Multitudes dwelt in the valley of decision

Salvation embraced this wicked city

Jonah’s gloom returned

He longed to die

His heart remained bitter

 

But God loved this great city

On the Throne of Our Hearts

Here is a devotion I wrote that was published today at christiandevotions.us. It is titled On the Throne of Our Hearts.  Here is the link to it...  http://christiandevotions.us/on-the-throne-of-our-hearts-tom-toya/  This website posts daily devotions from a variety of writers.

I hope it is a blessing to you.  Have a Happy New Year!

Tom

Divine Appointments

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. 
Acts 1:8

Some years ago, I decided to take a music theory class at a local junior college. I introduced myself to one of the students there named Frank. I always greeted him warmly when I saw him. In my heart I believed that he needed to know the Lord. One day after class had finished, I was about to leave the school building and drive home, when I sensed the Holy Spirit prompting me to stick around for awhile. I believed the Lord wanted me to minister to someone, but I didn't know who. I had my guitar with me. Sometimes after class, I would pick out a small music room to practice in. But that was not what the Lord wanted me to do – at least not yet.

In my spirit, I felt the grieving of the Holy Spirit so I prayed in tongues silently, while I waited in the cafeteria for God's further direction. Honestly, I felt a little bit foolish waiting around like this, but I believed the Lord was leading me. After twenty minutes had transpired, I saw Frank waltzing through the cafeteria. I said, “Hi Frank.” And then, “Would you like to hear some of my songs? We could go to one of the practice rooms upstairs.” He said, “Sure. I'd like to hear them.” We made our way to a practice room and I played a few of my songs. I could see that the Lord was moving in my friend's heart. Then I witnessed to him about the free gift of salvation, and he accepted Christ into his heart and life. Hallelujah!

After the music theory course was over, I lost touch with Frank. But about four years later, I ran into him again. He told me he was doing well. He said he played in the band at a church he was a part of and that he was living for the Lord. That was music to my ears.

As I write about this story, I am motivated to allow the Lord to use me in ways like this again and again. I hope you feel the same way. You may be thinking that you cannot be used by God in such a way, but let me encourage you that you can. A good prayer to pray is to ask God for divine appointments. God has a way of bringing us into the lives of people we are uniquely qualified to minister to. In my case, I ministered to a music student, with my music. You may have other skills. You may have unique knowledge and experience that make you able to reach certain types of people.

Let's open up to the Lord by asking him for divine appointments and the boldness to reach people. Jesus is a Master at putting such appointments together. He has empowered you and I to be his witnesses. The word “power” in Acts 1:8 can also be translated ability. Jesus has given us His ability to be witnesses. Let's rise to the challenge.

Dear Father God,

I ask you to give me divine appointments. I want to reach others for the Kingdom of God. Lord, use my unique skills, knowledge, and experience to minister to others. I ask you for the boldness and ability to carry this out. Thank you Lord! In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Achieving God-given Dreams

Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law. Proverbs 29:18

Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor. Proverbs 12:24

My wife and I celebrated our honeymoon in Hawaii during the summer of 2002. One day, while on the island of Maui, we discovered a music store. I am a guitar player, so I naturally began trying out different instruments. Then a disheveled man in his thirties strolled into the store. He wore tattered clothes and his dark hair was out of place, but he picked up a guitar and then a ukulele and made the two instruments sing. It was evident that the man had musical skill.

The store owner approached him. “Bob (I don't remember his real name), why don't you work for me as a teacher?”

Bob replied with a smile, “I don't think so. I like my life the way it is.”

Bob lived on the beach; he decided not to work, even when he was offered a job that he probably would enjoy.

So what does this story have to do with accomplishing our dreams? I believe that God offers to everyone a dream, vision, or revelation for his or her life. If we are living for Him, and we seek Him, the Lord will reveal to us the plans He has for us. Then it is up to us to apply diligence toward the fulfillment of the vision God has instilled in us. The Scripture says that diligent hands will rule. This means that God will make us leaders as we apply ourselves in the direction He has revealed to us.

I'm not sure what Bob's purpose is. I hope he is doing more with his life than watching the waves go by. Taking a job as a music teacher would be a good first step for him to become productive. Maybe you've heard it said that God cannot steer a parked car. When we become faithful in little things, God will see to it that we step into the bigger dreams of our lives.

Let's ask God to reveal to us His vision for our lives, and then let's apply diligence toward the completion of our goals. In the parable of the talents, the Master added talents to those that were faithful and He said to them, “Come and share in your Master's happiness.” There is joy in pursuing and achieving God's goals for our lives.

One of my goals is to write songs that are a blessing to the body of Christ. During that trip to the music store, my wife bought me a compact traveling guitar. This was a wonderful gift. I have used it to lead worship in small groups, and I have also used it to write songs.

Whatever the dreams are in your heart, determine today that you will not let time slip from your grasp. Work hard to see the dreams in your heart, come to pass. Do this with a desire to further Christ's kingdom and bring Him glory. Then your life will drip with significance.