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MeMaw Thoughts

Number 469

March 31, 2020///

Change, in this life is inevitable!

Life as we knew it just a while back has drastically changed.

We can embrace the changes we are seeing and ask God to show us the best way to navigate this and we can fight it!

As children of the most high God we have authority!   We have the weapons to bring the enemies tactics to its knees!

2 Corinthians 10:4 (KJV)
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

Hebrews 4:16 (KJV)
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.  

It is time for the Christians to march Boldly into God’s presence and through praise, prayer and supplication, pull down the strongholds and plans of the enemy….the devil….satan….who is defeat.

The enemy of all that is good, inundates us with lies, doubts and fears!  But we have a Father who Loves and Cares for us and though the mountains be cast into the sea, we will not fear!

Psalm 46:2 (KJV)
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.

Let us come boldly to God.  Let us rebuke the enemy and send this Covid-19 back to hell where it belongs.

WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN AUTHORITY!  

We need to take that authority and declare that the Glory of God is covering the earth!   We serve the one with whom all things are possible!

I am a staunch believer that we have not even begun to see what can be done through the Power of praise and prayer.  I believe that we can change our world and those around us through the power of praying that God’s Spirit invade our land and our people!

“Star Trek” had a saying that we as God’s Beloved Children need to adopt!

It is:    “BOLDLY GO WHERE NO ONE HAS EVER GONE BEFORE!”

We as the loved, anointed, powerful, strong, wise and faith filled, children of God, need to boldly go in prayer where no one has ever gone before.

We need to begin to declare victory and lo pull the devils kingdom down!!

God told Joshua:

Joshua 1:9 (KJV)
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Do you understand?  God is with us! We have authority!  We have already won the victory!

Pray Bold prayers and as they are being answered reach out to others in bold ways!

God also told Joshua in part of verse 4 of Joshua 3!

Joshua 3:4 (KJV)
: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.

We have not passed this way before, but may we understand that we can “BOLDLY GO WHERE NO ONE HAS EVER GONE BEFORE!”, through the Power of all mighty God.

BE ENCOURAGED! GOD IS WITH US!!!

Take the authority that He has given us and walk in Faith and Victory, going into the enemy’s camp and taking back what the devil stole from us!!

We are the light of the world!  We are the salt of the earth! We have Victory over all the plans of the enemy!!

PRAISE, PRAY, ASK, RECEIVE!!  DO NOT FEAR!!  WALK IN GREAT FAITH!

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Father, thank you for stirring up within your children the boldness to pray Faith Filled prayers that defeat and stomp on the enemy.  The enemy is under out feet!  We praise you Lord God Almighty!!   We adore you and glorify your name!  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I left up all who read this and decree and declare anointing, power, peace and boldness is flooding each of them.  Thank you for turning what the enemy meant for bad into a worldwide revival!  In Jesus name I pray! Amen!

Go Boldly into Praise and Prayer!

Love, MeMaw

 

MeMaw Thoughts

Number 468

March 24, 2020///

John 14:6 (KJV)
Jesus saith unto him, I AM the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me..

I am in the Bible is powerful!  In Exodus God spoke to Moses from the burning bush and said to him:

Exodus 3:14 (KJV)
And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

God will be to us all we need Him to be!   He is the Great I am!

You finish this sentence of what God is to you:

Are you sick?                                                           I AM…………your healer

Exodus 15:26 (KJV)
: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.

Are you searching for something deep inside?  I AM,,.your spiritual bread and water

John 6:35 (KJV)
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Do you feel like darkness is all around you?    I AM………the light of the world

John 8:12 (KJV)
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Has life got you down and discouraged?                       I AM……..abundant life

John 10:10 (KJV)
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Do you feel abandoned?                                        I AM…..the good shepherd

John 10:14 (KJV)
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

Is there hope?                                                          I AM……..the resurrection and life

John 11: 25 (KJV)
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

Are you filled with fear?                                         I AM………thy God and strength

Isaiah 41:10 (KJV)
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Are you feeling things are out of control?          I AM…………in control

Isaiah 44:24 (KJV)
Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

God is our everything.  When we lean on Him and commit all our care and worries and concerns to Him, He will give us Peace in the midst of turmoil and calmness in the midst of chaos!   Lean on Him!!   The solid Rock of ages!!!

I AM…..the beginning and the end

Revelation 1:8 (KJV)
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

I …..the one who holds the keys of death and hell

Revelation 1:18 (KJV)
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

In this time of life in a upheaval and nothing as it was a month ago, I encourage you to join me is leaning on the Great I AM and knowing He will handle anything I am going through or experiencing and He will be everything I need!!

Father God says to each of us:    I AM whatever you need!!!

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Father, in Jesus name I thank you that you are real, mighty and will keep each of us steady, walking in Faith and Victory knowing that you are able to give us Peace, Joy, and spiritual, physical and emotional healing.  You, Lord God, are all we need to walk from darkness into light and let that light shine, so others see you!   Amen

Walk in Peace, Love, MeMaw

MeMaw Thoughts

Number 467

March 17, 2020///

As you are aware the goal of our leaders right now is to stop or severely limit the spread of this crazy virus that has interrupted the normal patterns of our life.

We are warned that close contact is the way this is spread.  May I say that we can walk in Faith and not Fear in the middle of this entire craziness. However, that is not what I want to address today

Today I want to compare the spread of this virus to the spread of the Love of Jesus Christ.  What if we as Christians had so much of the Love of Jesus Christ flowing through us that it was contagious!!!

What if everyone we came in contact with was in danger of catching the truth of the greatest story on earth and experiencing a transformation that changes them from the inside out!!

I like to call it the Contagious Gospel.  If we were so in Love with Jesus that we could not keep it to ourselves, this earth would be filled with the Glory of the Lord God Almighty!!

Just as this virus is caught without a person being aware at first, what if in every place we found ourselves we prayed silently for all those around us to be open to the Love Jesus declared on the Cross!

What if, as they continued in their daily activities, your prayers began to open them up to God’s Truth.  The possibilities are endless just as the possibilities of the spread of the worldwide virus are endless.

John 8:12 (KJV)
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

We spread that light by our lives, our prayers, our contact with others.   When we are full of Jesus, we are full of light and light dispels the darkness everywhere it shines!

Our Light should be more contagious than the coronavirus, the flu, the measles, and all the diseases of the world.

Matthew 5:16 (KJV)
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

As we allow the Contagious Gospel to show forth in our lives and in all we do it will affect all those around us.

We can change our situation and our world as we walk with so much Love of Jesus that people cannot escape it.  God Loves all people and we should too!!

Now do not misunderstand this next comparison. I appreciate all our leaders are doing to protect us.  I am referring to our spread of Jesus.

As this virus is causing isolation the enemy of your soul, the devil, would love to isolate you from spreading the Contagious Gospel! He wants us to isolate ourselves from being the example and praying for all we meet.

The devil encourages us to act and think like the world and we spread nothing.

But the apostle Paul give us the directions our lives should take:

Acts 20:24 (KJV)
But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

May I encourage you to practice spreading Contagious Gospel even in this time of staying away from people.  Even in isolation you can:

• Pray for your family, friends, nation and world
• Make calls to others to encourage them to walk in Faith and not Fear
• If you are on social media use it to spread the Contagious Gospel
• Use the mail: send cards or notes to others to spread the Contagious Gospel

There are symptoms to this deadly virus and there are symptoms of being a real Christian, showing you have the Contagious Gospel.

It is the Love of Jesus so strong in us that it cannot be contained!

May those of us who know the giver of life spread that truth to all we can reach!

****

I recommend that you go to “Joshua’s Place Church” face book and listen to our pastor’s sermon from this past Sunday. (IT WILL BE AVAILABLE BEGINNING WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON 3/18/2020) It is titled “WHAT SHOULD WE DO?”

It will help you!!

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Father God, in Jesus name, I ask that you help each of us to spread the Contagious Gospel in any way and any place we can.  The true Gospel is what our world and all who are around us need.  I decree and declare in Jesus name. wisdom for the leaders of our Churches, counties, states, nation and the world.  Wisdom comes from you and you Love your creations!!  Amen

Spread the Contagious Gospel!!   Love, MeMaw

MeMaw Thoughts
Number 466
March 10, 2020///

I remember a story my sisters told me about hiding in the attic at our house that we referred to as “The house on the hill”, because it sat up on a hill. A stranger had come into the house and I don’t remember the details of what the stranger was trying to do but the sisters that were home at the time hid in the attic until the unwanted visitor was gone.

No, there was no way to call the police or anyone else. Cell phones had not been invented and if regular phones were around, we did not have one.

BUT>>>>they found a hiding place!!

May I tell you that in this world that is filled with hurt, disease, and evil, there is a hiding place. A place we can run to and be safe! A place that we can feel secure with the knowledge that we are held in the arms of Almighty God, Creator of the Universe!

Psalm 91:1-7 (KJV)
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

Psalm 91:9-11 (KJV)
9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

What amazing privilege to be able to dwell in the secret place! The place of Peace in the midst of the coronavirus and wars and hate and hurts and lies and deception.

Jesus promises that because evil abounds, we will have troubles, our lives will not be perfect, but He tells us the He, Jesus, has overcome the world.

We can trust Him and let Him be our hiding place and walk in the security of knowing that the Lord God Almighty is on our side and will take every situation or circumstances and turn it around for our good and His Glory!

John 16:33 (KJV)
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

In the midst of concern and even panic about the coronavirus, political wars, and physical wars, may we understand that we, as the children of Almighty God can walk in peace and pray with great faith for all that is going on in the world today!

May I suggest to you that this may be the greatest time we who are living today have ever seen for evangelism. For showing and sharing that the only true peace and security comes from a real relationship with Jesus Christ!

Advertisements of goods and places to visit use the avenue of the eyes and ears to stir a desire in us for the food, vacation spots, clothes, equipment, cars, etc.

May we use these same avenues by walking in such peace in the middle of all that is happening in our world, that it creates a desire in others to understand how we can be so secure and confident. And as they are curious and inquiring, we can share that our peace and security comes for deep within. That our trust lies in our relation ship with the Lord Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the Cross!

The stock market, the presidential election, the potential wars with other countries, the border problems and healthcare issues, the coronavirus and trouble all around should not shake our peace and trust in the One Lord God Almighty.

Acts 20:24 (KJV)
But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

May we be the calming factor in our homes, neighborhoods, workplaces and wherever we find ourselves because we are secure in our walk with the Lord God Almighty! Trust Him, Leaning on Him!

Snuggles don’t struggle!!
Praise don’t panic!!
Pray don’t worry!!
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Father, thank you for Peace in the middle of the turmoil in the world. Thank you that we can have Joy and the security of knowing that we are not alone, and you are with us and know all about the situations and circumstances we are facing. I ask that you invade all who read this with the “Peace that passes all understanding”! I ask in the powerful name of Jesus, our Savior!! Amen!!

Walk in His Peace!! Love, MeMaw

MeMaw Thoughts
Number 465
March 3, 2020///

First let me apologize for last week. I somehow thought I did Me-Maw Thoughts but amid preparing for Ronald to have some test the next day I did not. It was about Friday before I realized I had not done them. What can I say: I am a super senior!

That said, have you ever heard of people who do amazing feats out of love for someone else.

Maureen Lee pulled a cougar off her 3-year-old daughter and hurled it off! A middle age woman lifted a car that had fallen off the jack onto her son who was working on the car from underneath. A man fought off an alligator who had its teeth locked on his son’s arm!

There are many true stories we can read about people doing what in normal circumstances would be impossible. These acts are done out of Love with no hesitation!!

May I ask you today: What would you do because you Love Jesus. Will you do the impossible, knowing that with God all things are possible. Will you do what does not make logical sense out of Love for your Savior.

In John 20 we read about the resurrection when Mary was at the tomb weeping because Jesus body was gone, and she did not know what had happened. Look what she said in verse 15.

John 20:15 (KJV)
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

Mary did not hesitate to promise to do what seems impossible. How was she going to move the body of a dead person? A dead person is dead weight and is heavy for several men. But because of her Love for Jesus she was only concerned for caring for His body!

Love for Jesus should make us willing to attempt whatever needs to be done for Him, knowing that His strength will make us able to say with the apostle Paul: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!”

In Matthew 14 we read the story of Jesus walking on the water toward the boat the disciples were in. The wind was tossing the boat all around. When they realized it was Jesus Peter spoke up with no hesitation, out of Love for the Savior!

Matthew 14:28-29 (KJV)
28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

For someone to walk on the water was quite a feat and as long as Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, he was doing just that.

Peter did not debate the logic of his actions; he just got out of the boat and did the impossible.

We may not need to fight animals or lift cars or walk on water, but what is it that is a desire deep inside you that is illogical and seems impossible.

Out of Love for Jesus we can do all things. We can Love those who are against us. We can forgive those who speak lies about us and we can put an arm around and lend a helping hand to the abused, rejected and abandoned!

Out of Love for Jesus we can pray and encourage and lift the spirits of the depressed and show love to the neglected.

Maybe these do not sound as dramatic as lifting cars, fighting animals, walking on the water or moving bodies, but they have eternal value. Making a difference in someone’s life by stepping out of our comfort zone is what we were created for.

Maybe your feat is to go on a mission trip, start a business, or be a foster parent!

Maybe your feat is to teach and love children by working in a kid’s ministry!

Maybe your feat is to finally put your story down on paper to bless and guide others or maybe your feat is to meet your new neighbor and invite them to go to church with you!

Maybe your feat is to volunteer in a soup kitchen or hand out clothes and shoes to the homeless or even to start a homeless shelter.

No matter what your impossible looks like, may I remind you that with God all things are possible. Just take a step toward that impossible and God will show you the next step.

“JUST DO IT! NO HESITATIONS, NO RATIONALIZATION, JUST ACT OUT OF LOVE FOR THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD: JESUS!”
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Father God, in Jesus name I come thanking you that with you all things are possible. What a blessing that we do not have to live in the normal or logical but when we follow you, we will be the instruments of the impossible being possible! Strengthen us with the determination to follow your leading and the dreams and desire that we have been placed here on earth with. We open our hearts, minds and will to you. Amen!

Love, MeMaw

MeMaw Thoughts
Number 464
February 18, 2020///

DECEPTION IS:
 Believing a lie
 It can’t happen to me
 I can’t be deceived while I serve God

Deception is a process and the process has steps!
1. Thoughts become beliefs.
2. Beliefs become our words.
3. Words become our actions.

It all begins as a tiny seed planted in our minds!

I understand that ball teams have playbooks. Those plays may change from time to time!

But may I tell you that satan, the enemy of all that is good has a play book that never changes. He is using the same deceptive tactics right now that he used in the garden of Eden.

He plants seeds of doubt and as we allow them to settle into to our minds and spirits, they grow into traps and errors that take us places we never thought we would go and deeper in deception than we may have thought impossible.
One little seed he starts with is: Did God really say……….you finish the sentence!

I’m under Grace not law so it does not really matter……God forgives!

Nobody really cares what I do, and I am hurting no one but myself!

God wants us to be happy so if this makes me happy, I should do it!

People are judging and talking about me!

No one understands. If they understood they would know that what I am doing is ok!

I’m not really judging, just making observations of others wrongs!

OR!!

You’re not good enough to do that! No one wants to hear what you have to say!

You are living your best life; don’t think you can succeed!

Genesis 3:1 (KJV)
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, YEA, HATH GOD SAID, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

Galatians 6:7 (KJV)
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

1 Peter 5:8 (KJV)
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

John 8:44 (KJV)
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

The Bible is clear! The devil lies and deceives and seeks to destroy you through seeds of doubt and fear. Doubt and fear are the opposites of Faith and come through seeds that we let take up resident.

How do we guard our hearts and minds? How do we recognize and send deception back to hell where it belongs?

Know and speak the word, be so full of the love of Jesus that the Holy Spirit within us recognizes the seed of deception being planted and uproot it and destroy it.

If a snake appeared in your child’s room, you would not think twice about destroying and removing it before it can do irreversible harm. In the same way when we recognize our thinking is opposite to the Word, we must pull it down and destroy it!

May we destroy the lies of the enemy with the truth of the word!

John 8:32 (KJV)
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

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Father in Jesus name, I ask you to open our hearts and minds to your truth and we will not be deceived by the lies of satan. Thank you for reminding each of us that we are victorious, and the truth is a mighty weapon against the deception of the enemy! Amen!

Walk in truth! Love MeMaw

MeMaw Thoughts
Number 463
February 11, 2020///

We are created for fellowship, communication, and sharing with others. Relationships are important and the greatest relationship is with our Creator God through Jesus Christ.

We are created to interact with each other and even though we need some alone time and time in the presences of God, if we isolate ourselves completely from others, we soon become a recluse and think only of ourselves and our needs or lack.

However, the sad thing is that we can be all alone in a crowd of people. We may work on a job, go to a gym, or attend a church and still feel alone and withdraw within ourselves.

We may look around at those who are really connecting and think that we would like to be able to do that but just cannot.

Maybe we are shy, maybe we are self-conscience about our looks, where we came from, our family or our status in life.

Maybe we have been hurt by people so much that we have built a wall around our heart and will not get past a surface greeting or simple answer to a question.

Or maybe on the other hand you are one of the outgoing, laughing people who appear to have it together yet on the inside you are hurting and can never truly share who you are.

Or maybe you are open and friendly and share your heart with others. Maybe you are part of the group at your work or church who are close and connected.

If you are one of the open ones may I encourage you to look around when you are with others and take care to reach out to those who either are alone or not really joining in, or seem to be happy but it is not real.

Jesus saw the real person and the Holy Spirit in you can reveal the real person if you listen to His still small voice.

The Bible, which is the written Word of the Living God and quickens our innermost being as we read it with the intention of hearing it, has wisdom for each of our lives no matter what category of fellowship you find yourself in!

Proverbs 18:24 (KJV)
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

The key here is to allow yourself to reach out and begin to converse or even smile and connect with someone else. Take that first hard step and be the one to greet someone else in sincerity and caring.

Understand it is not all about you but about spreading the Love of Jesus that should be flowing from you.

We can risk putting ourselves out there to others because we can take hold of the later part of that scripture that we have friend that sticks closer than a brother.

That friend, Jesus Christ, will invade all the hurt places of our lives, listen to all our complaints and joys and never tire of our company! That friend allows us to love others in the right way!

A couple of lines from an old gospel song says it clearly:                                                                                                                    “I am loved, I am loved, I can risk loving you. For the one who knows me best loves me most!”

We can be so confident in His love that we risk loving the unlovable and risk being hurt by stepping out to be a real friend!

Proverbs 17:17A (KJV)
A friend loveth at all times,

To those who have no trouble talking and sharing thoughts and cares with others consider this scripture:

Galatians 6:2 (KJV)
Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Asks the Holy Spirit to keep you aware of those around you and prompt you to ask the right questions and draw out all the cares and concerns they have hidden deep within.

Are we willing to be Jesus with skin on and communicate such love to those who are hurting that walls crumble and fortresses of protection are broken down!

Jesus is our example and Jesus loved people and reached out and touched the untouchable, the outcast and the prominent leaders.

There is no one whom Jesus cannot touch, change and restore if we will be his hand extended.

Are you lonely? Step out and be a friend!!
Are you outgoing and open? Reach out to those who need a friend!!
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Father, in Jesus name I ask you to touch each person who reads this with the knowledge that we were created to interact with others and with you! May we be aware to see others the way you see them and may each of us truly be your representative, here on this earth that you created! Love through us, touch through us and live through us! Amen

Be a real friend! Love, MeMaw!!

MeMaw Thoughts
Number 462
February 3, 2020///

Here are some thoughts I turned into three short verses!

“So, bow with me in the throne room of heaven,
My Masters Touch is all that I need!
His life for me has already been given,
The fellowship is awesome and sweet!”
COME REST WITH ME IN THE SELAH PLACE!

“Lord hear my heart, when words can’t be spoken!
My tears that flow speak words loud and clear!
You look from above on a heart that is broken,
And out of your Love wipe away ever tear!
COME REST WITH ME IN THE SELAH PLACE!

How great is your Love, that sent us a Savior,
from heaven above to give us new life!
You came to give peace and show us your favor!
You cause a heart change that frees us from strife!
COME REST WITH ME IN THE SELAH PLACE!

Selah
Selah (/ˈsiːlə(h)/; Hebrew: סֶלָה, also transliterated as selāh) is a word used 74 times in the Hebrew Bible—seventy-one times in the Psalms and three times in the Book of Habakkuk. It is probably either a liturgico-musical mark or an instruction on the reading of the text, something like “stop and listen.” Another proposal is that Selah can be used to indicate that there is to be a musical interlude at that point in the Psalm. The Amplified Bible translates selah as “pause and think of that.”

I think that sometimes we rush through our reading of the word without taking time to pause and think about that or to stop and listen to what the Holy Spirit wants to show us through the scripture we just read!

Sometimes we rush through our prayer time anxious to get all our request in without taking the time to think about the promises God has given us and how big our God is!

We sing through songs without ever truly allowing the words to seep deep into our innermost being!

The longer I live, the more I believe the true growth in our Spirit comes when we pause and think about how much the Lord God has Blessed us and what the Cross means and sit in His presence and let His love strengthen and empower us!

As I was having my quiet time with the Lord one morning, the verses at the start of this blog, come pouring from my pen.

He is truly all we need, and He provides for us consistently and desires to fellowship and be our comforter.

On the bottom of my nephew, Dave’s, emails is a John Piper quote that is worth taking a Selah moment and thinking about!

“GOD IS ALWAYS DOING 10,000 THINGS IN YOUR LIFE, AND YOU MAY BE AWARE OF THREE OF THEM.”

Pause and think about that!

Another precious friend has this on the bottom of her email:

“WHEN YOU CARRY THE BIBLE, SATAN GETS A HEADACHE….. WHEN YOU OPEN IT, HE COLLAPSES….. WHEN HE SEES YOU READING IT, HE FAINTS….. WHEN HE SEES THAT YOU ARE LIVING WHAT YOU READ, HE FLEES…..”

Stop and listen to yourself as you read that out loud!

I am convinced that there is so much good we hear and read but we are rushing through our days and just do not take Selah moments to take in their truth.

A familiar verse in the Bible sums up what I am trying to point out today!

Psalm 46:10 (KJV)
10 Be still, and know that I am God:                                            SELAH!
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Father God, I sit in your presence and I bask in you Love. With you all things are possible. Nothing is to hard for you and you desire to Bless your children. I position my heart to hear and my mind to pause and think about your Love and care! Fill each person who reads this with a Spirit of ease and rest in you. Let each of us understand you are on our side. In Jesus name I ask! Amen!

Stop and think about His Love! Love, MeMaw

Me-Maw Thoughts
Number 461
January 28, 2020///

If I had a title to this week’s thoughts it would be “In the Shelter of His arms!”

Think back to your childhood and how your fear would dissipate, and the scare would disappear when you were in the shelter of your mom or dads’ arms!

Maybe you woke from a bad dream or felt like some ominous creature was lurking under your bed or in your closet but the moment you felt a parent’s arms of Love and Care around you, all was right with the world.

I remember growing up my Dad worked at night so after school I was alone in the house for a little while until my Mother got home from her job.

It still warms my heart to remember how the atmosphere in the house changed when she walked in the door. Suddenly all was right with the world.

I may have tried to learn to make biscuits like she did and wasted a LOT of flour, but her hug made everything ok.

I may have started to make the salad for supper as instructed and used cabbage instead of lettuce but when Mom appeared it was ok.

During the summer and nights when Dad was off his humor and love would erase whatever school or any other concern I had.

Their example and their Love for God and His Word gave me an understanding that when we receive what Jesus did on the Cross, we can run into the arms of our Father God and find shelter and acceptance and Love.

Psalm 61:3 (KJV)
For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

Psalm 17:8 (KJV)
Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

Psalm 143:9 (KJV)
Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.

Are you overwhelmed? Are you confused? Are you scared of what tomorrow may bring? Is fear over taking you? Are you uncertain which way to go or what to do?

Just run into those arms of Love. Snuggle under those protective wings and allow the Creator God to dispel all the darkness, uncertainty and fear.

Fear is a tool of satan to keep us from being at rest and accomplishing our purpose on this earth.

But just as being in my Mom and Dad’s arms, or just having them walk in the house set all thing aright, being in the shelter of the most high brings peace to the turmoil we may be facing!

Psalm 71:3 (KJV)
Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.

Psalm 62:7 (KJV)
In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

I knew when Mom got home or Dad got home, or Mom and/or Dad got to wherever I was, they would take care of me and would handle any situation!

Maybe you did not have a Dad or Mom you could run to or depend on!

May I tell you that you have a Heavenly Father who dotes on you and calls you the apple of His eye and wants to protect and fight your battles.

But we must run into the shelter of His arms and just allow Him to take care of us.

We must allow Him to give us the peace and understanding deep within that everything is alright, and we are loved and protected by the greater one than all others!

Psalm 91:4 (KJV)
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Psalm 61:2 (KJV)
From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

When life gets you down, when your overwhelmed by fears and uncertainty, run to the one who Loves you more than you will ever comprehend! He’s got this!!!
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Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and I thank you that I can rest in the shelter of your arms! Thank you that you have myriads of angels that you dispatch to fight my battles. I surrender every fear, hurt and confusion to you and just allow you to Love and Protect me. May each person reading this feel your Loving presence and know that in spite of the chaos in this world, that you are our shelter and our strong tower. Amen

Walk in His warmth and peace!
Love, MeMaw

Me-Maw Thoughts
Number 460
January 21, 2020///

“Whose report will you believe!”

“If God is for us, who can be against us!”

“With God all things are possible!”

Sunday Pastor Rick preached on looking inside. Then I was privileged to hear two of grand-sons-in-law preach. Jeremy preached on being a prisoner of the Hope that Jesus places inside us and Timothy preached on being called a Mighty Man of Valor even when you are (like Gideon) the least of the least!

All three sermons were on looking on the inside, what God is calling you to, what He promised He will bring to pass.

May I say to you this morning that God is calling to that vision and dream that you think will never happen.

When the spies were sent from the camp of the Children of Israel to spy out the land God had promised them, they came back with conflicting reports. Joshua and Caleb said, “we are well able to take the land”, but the other ten spies said, “we are like grasshoppers in their sight, they are too much for us”.

Because the people believed the Ten over the Two, they wondered around in the wilderness until that generation had passed away.

Whose report are we believing. Are we going to let our generation pass and not see God’s promise come to pass because of unbelief?

We must look at what God says about us, our abilities, and our circumstances. God will bring to pass those things He has called us to when we lock ourselves into the Prison of Hope.

Instead of rehearsing in our minds and spirits what others are saying or what is logical we need to think and meditate on who God says we are and what He has created us to do.

We need to look at others through the eyes of Jesus and begin to see who God intended them to be. Who does God say your children are? Speak that into their ears!

God may give you an illogical direction but when we understand who He is and that He created all things, that impossibility becomes possible because it is all about Him, not about us.

When Samuel went to Jessies house to anoint the next King of Israel, Jessie just left his youngest son David in the field caring for the sheep.

His other sons were older, more handsome and surly one of them was to be anointed the King to follow Saul!

But God: God saw what He had created within David and knew that David, no matter how it looked now, was to be anointed the next King of Israel!

Let us look at this pivotal verse. This verse spoken to Samuel about one of David’s older brothers is also what God is saying to us.

1 Samuel 16:7 (KJV)
But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; FOR MAN LOOKETH ON THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE, BUT THE LORD LOOKETH ON THE HEART.

God says to you this day, do not concentrate on what you look like you can be or do. I see you as what I created you to be. Come to my prison of Hope and allow me to do the impossible in your life.

God has been instructing us at Joshua’s Place, during our Friday night prayers to pray bold prayers. Prayers for things that can only come to pass as the almighty God orchestrates all that needs to happen.

What a privilege to know that if we truly say to the Lord Jesus with a pure and sincere heart what Mary said to the angel Gabriel, we will see those dreams and vison begin to happen.

Luke 1:38 (KJV)
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.

May we truly grasp the fact that if we say, “your will be done” and take one step at a time, we will see the impossible become the possible!

“WHOSE REPORT WILL YOU BELIEVE, I BELIEVE THE REPORT OF THE LORD!”

May it be so in each of our lives!
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Father, you see us as you created us to be and when you give a promise you accompany it with hope. May we grasp and become a prisoner of that hope that we can be all you created us to be no matter our background, education or opportunities. May we mediate on all that you have placed deep in our spirits and may we see it in our hearts. May each one reading this believe the report of the Lord! In Jesus mighty name I pray. Amen!

Believe the report of the Lord!
Love, MeMaw